Statutory guidance

Protected animals: licence for taxidermists to own dead animals (GL02)

Get a licence to own dead species protected under annex 4 of the Habitats Directive for scientific or educational purposes.

From:
Natural England
Published
31 December 2013
Last updated
1 January 20232024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Licence for taxidermists to possess dead specimens of animals listed on Annex 4 of the Habitats Directive (GL02)

HTML

Details

You need a licence if you plan to transport specimens of dead protected species (listed under annex 4 of the Habitats Directive) for scientific or educational purposes. All specimens must have been lawfully taken from the wild within the United Kingdom or the European Union.

There’s no need to apply for general licences but you must follow the conditions in the licence, including:

  • the specimen must be for scientific or educational purposes
  • you need to be a member of the Guild of Taxidermists
  • you need to be registered with Natural England

How to register with Natural England

You need to register with Natural England within one month of first possessing the dead specimen. Register with Natural England by email or phone:

Wildlife licensing (Science, education and conservation)

Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

Email wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk

Telephone 020 8026 1089

Published 31 December 2013
Last updated 1 January 20232024 + show all updates

  1. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

  2. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.

  3. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.

  4. Annual licence update.

  5. Added accessible version of the licence - HTML.

  6. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  7. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019

  8. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  9. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017

  10. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016

  11. Added updated general licence. New version valid between 1 January and 31 December 2015.

  12. First published.