FRANCAIS

July 14, 2006

Manitoba habitat and native wildlife will be better protected through changes to the Exotic Wildlife Regulation, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"The amendments will improve tracking, disease control and record keeping of certain exotic wildlife species," said Struthers. "Owners will be given time to comply with the new regulation."

The Exotic Wildlife Regulation now prohibits the possession of exotic cervids such as reindeer, Sitka, roe, fallow and Père David’s deer, and wild boar, except under the authority of a wildlife farm licence. Anyone possessing these exotic species is now required to obtain a licence.

The licence is available from the province for a fee of $110 and must be renewed every three years. The possession of all exotic cervids or wild boar is now subject to licence conditions which include the following:

• an annual inventory of all exotic animals held or disposed of under the authority of a wildlife farm licence must be provided to the province;

• each animal must be permanently numbered with a unique identifier that can be traced back to the owner of the animal; and

• all animals must be tested for diseases specified by Manitoba Conservation, results must be included in an annual report and any positive tests must be reported immediately.

Owners of exotic cervids or wild boar have until April 1, 2007, to apply for a wildlife farm licence.

"The new regulation is intended to more effectively control exotic species and help protect habitat and native Manitoba wildlife while allowing people to keep exotic species in the province," said Struthers.

More information is available from regional Manitoba Conservation offices, the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch or http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife.

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