Gold Coast man dobbed in by postal staff over unlawful sale of native frogs

A Gold Coast man was dobbed in over the unlawful sale of native frogs by postal staff suspicious about the packages he was sending.

A GOLD man who allegedly sold native frogs online has been fined more than $4000.

Department of Environment wildlife officers finalised an investigation into allegations the man unlawfully took native frogs from his backyard and then sold them on Gumtree in January this year.

“Officers were notified after Australia Post staff on the Gold Coast became suspicious about a number of packages lodged with them,’ a spokesman said.

Native Australian frogs being released after they were intercepted at the home of a man trying to sell them.

“The frogs were removed from the man’s residence along with those that were purchased from him.

“As a result, he received three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) totalling $4401.

“The native frogs have since been released back into the wild at a suitable location close to where they were taken from.”

Native Australian Frog.

Wildlife Program Manager Warren Christensen said it was an offence to remove frogs from the wild, even if it is from the backyard of a residential address, and then attempt to unlawfully sell them.

“It is illegal to take or keep native animals from the wild, however, with the appropriate wildlife authority, it’s possible to keep a native animal bought from a registered seller.

“If people want to keep native animals, they must be sourced from a person or business who has permits to keep the animal, along with movement permits to prove the origins of the animal.

“Taking a native animal from the wild is illegal and can have a detrimental impact on local populations.”

Native Australian frogs being released after they were intercepted at the home of a man trying to sell them.