LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

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CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT

CHAPTER 67:01

Act
16 of 1958
Amended by
14 of 1963
*31 of 1980
137/2016

*See Note on Validation on page 2

Current Authorised Pages

Pages Authorised
(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–2 ..
3–6 ..
7–14 .
15–28 ..

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Index of Subsidiary Legislation

Page
Conservation of Wild Life Regulations (Act No. 16 of 1958) … … 20
Conservation of Wild Life (Prohibition Against Hunting During Certain Periods)
Regulations (LN 116/2002)… … … … … … 28

Note on Omissions
(Appointment of Game Wardens and Honorary Game Wardens)
The appointments of Game Wardens and Honorary Game Wardens have been omitted. (See the
following Legal Notices: Nos. 49/1965; 135/1984; 203/2000; 204/2000; 194/2003; 69/2006).

Note on Validation
The Act of this Chapter was re-enacted with retrospective effect and all acts done under it
validated by Act No. 31 of 1980.

Note on Legal Notice No. 352/2012

Amendments effected to the Conservation of Wild Life Regulations by LN 352/2012 took
effect from 1st October 2012.

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CHAPTER 67:01

CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Game Sanctuaries.
4. Hunting, etc., in Game Sanctuary.
5. Hunting protected animals.
6. Hunting, etc., in State Lands.
7. Hunting prohibited in close season.
8. Establishment and composition of Wild Life Conservation
Committee.
9. Residents’ Licences.
10. Special Game Licence in certain cases.
11. Vermin.
12. Powers of search and seizure.
13. Persons found offending.
14. Arrest without warrant.
15. Punishment for assaulting or resisting Game Warden.
16. Right of Game Warden to conduct case.
17. Acceptance by Game Warden of compensation for offence.
18. Exportation of animals.
19. Customs laws to apply to animals.
20. Penalties, fees, etc., to be paid to Comptroller of Accounts.
21. Offences punishable summarily.
22. Penalties where no express penalty.
23. Appointment of Game Wardens and Honorary Game Wardens.
24. Regulations.

FIRST SCHEDULE.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
THIRD SCHEDULE.
FOURTH SCHEDULE.
FIFTH SCHEDULE.
SIXTH SCHEDULE.

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CHAPTER 67:01

CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT

16 of 1958. An Act to make better provision for the Conservation of

Wild Animal Life in Trinidad and Tobago.
Commencement.
49/1963. [15TH MARCH 1963]
Short title. 1. This Act may be cited as the Conservation of Wild
Life Act.
Interpretation.
[14 of 1963].
2. In this Act—
“animal” means any mammal, bird or reptile and includes the
eggs, carcase, meat, nest or young thereof; but does not
include any domesticated animal or any animal which has
been lawfully kept in captivity;
“Chief Game Warden” means the Conservator of Forests and
includes any officer of the Forest Department authorised by
him to act on his behalf;
Fifth Schedule. “close season” means the period of the year specified in the Fifth
Schedule;
“Forest Reserve” means a Forest Reserve declared as such by the
Land Regulations for the time being in force;
“Game Sanctuary” means any area declared to be a Game
Sanctuary in accordance with section 3;
“Game Warden” means any person declared to be a Game
Warden in accordance with section 23(1) and includes an
Honorary Game Warden;
“gun” includes an air-gun, blow-pipe, set gun, sling-shot and
any article from which any shot, bullet or other missile may
be discharged;
“hunt” means killing, wounding, pursuing, capturing or
molesting by any method, any animal, and also attempting
to do any of such things; and includes any act immediately
directed at the killing or capture of any animal;
“protected animal” means any animal not specified or mentioned
Second and
Third
in the Second or Third Schedule;
Schedules.

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“State Lands” includes—

(a) the waste or vacant lands of the State within
Trinidad and Tobago; and
(b) all lands vested in the State whether by
forfeiture, purchase or exchange and not
dedicated to the public.

3. (1) The areas, the boundaries of which are set forth in Game
the First Schedule, are hereby declared to be Game Sanctuaries.
Sanctuaries.
First Schedule.

(2) The Chief Game Warden with the approval of the

Minister may by Notification amend the First Schedule by adding
thereto or deleting therefrom any area specified in such notice
and may alter the limits and boundaries of any Game Sanctuary.

4. (1) Except as provided by sections 9 and 10 any Hunting, etc., in

person who—
Game
Sanctuary.
(a) hunts or is a member of a party engaged in
hunting any animal in a Game Sanctuary; or
(b) is found within a Game Sanctuary under
circumstances showing that he was hunting any
animal; or
(c) takes any dog or knowingly permits any dog to
enter or be in a Game Sanctuary for the purpose
of hunting; or
(d) carries in a Game Sanctuary any gun or other
weapon or device capable of being used to
hunt animals,
is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for
three months.
(2) Any person found in a Game Sanctuary in
possession of any animal shall be deemed to have hunted such
animal in such Game Sanctuary unless the contrary be proved,
the onus of which proof shall lie upon the person charged.

5. (1) Except as provided by section 10, no person shall Hunting

hunt or shall be a member of a party engaged in hunting any

protected
animals.
protected animal.

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(2) Any person who—

(a) contravenes subsection (1); or
(b) has in his possession the whole or any part of a
protected animal,
is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for
three months.

Hunting, etc., in 6. (1) Except as provided by sections 9 and 10 no

person shall—
State Lands.

(a) hunt or be a member of a party engaged in

Second hunting any animal specified in the Second
Schedule, on State Lands; or
Schedule.

(b) be found within State Lands under circumstances

showing that he was hunting any such animal; or
(c) take or knowingly permit any dog to enter or be
on State Lands; or
(d) carry in State Lands any gun or other weapon or
device capable of being used to hunt such animals,
save in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence
issued by the Chief Game Warden (in this Act referred to as a
State Game Licence).
(2) A State Game Licence shall be in the prescribed
form, shall be valid for the period specified therein, and shall not
be transferable.
(3) Any person who obtains a State Game Licence issued
under this section, and is found on State Lands in circumstances
showing that he is hunting, shall on demand produce such licence
for inspection by a Game Warden or constable, and in default
thereof is liable to a fine of one hundred dollars.
(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable
to a fine of four hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three
months and to be disqualified from holding or obtaining a State
Game Licence for such period as the Magistrate thinks fit.

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(5) Any person who, while disqualified from holding or

obtaining a State Game Licence under subsection (4)—
(a) hunts or is a member of a party engaged in
hunting on State Lands; or
(b) obtains or attempts to obtain a State Game
Licence,
is liable to a fine of two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for
six months.
(6) A person convicted of an offence under subsection (5)
shall, without prejudice to the power of the Court to order a longer
period of disqualification, be disqualified for a period of not less
than twelve months from the date of the conviction from holding
or obtaining a State Game Licence, and on a second conviction for
a like offence shall be permanently disqualified from holding or
obtaining a State Game Licence.
(7) Any Game Warden may arrest without warrant any
person found committing an offence under subsection (5).

7. (1) Except as provided under subsection (2) and section Hunting

10, no person shall hunt or be a member of a party engaged in
prohibited in
close season.
hunting any animal during the close season.
[14 of 1963].

(2) The Chief Game Warden may, on such terms and

conditions as he may think fit, on application made by the owner
or custodian of dogs normally used for hunting, in writing,
authorise such owner or custodian to exercise such dogs by
pursuing agouti and deer in lands other than Forest Reserves and
Game Sanctuaries during the close season.
(3) No person authorised to exercise dogs in the manner
described in subsection (2) shall, while engaged in such pursuit,
have in his possession any gun or other weapon or device for the
capture or killing of any animal.
(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or
subsection (3) is liable to a fine of two thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for six months.

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Establishment 8. (1) There shall be established a Committee to be called the

and
composition of Wild Life Conservation Committee. The Committee shall consist of
Wild Life the Conservator of Forests as Chairman and not more than nine
other members to be appointed by the Minister as follows:
Conservation
Committee.

(a) one member to represent amateur hunters in

Trinidad and Tobago;
(b) one member to represent field naturalists in
Trinidad and Tobago;
(c) one member to represent the Trinidad and
Tobago Police Service;
(d) one member to represent the Agricultural
Society of Trinidad and Tobago;
(e) one member to represent the Zoological Society
of Trinidad and Tobago;
(f) one member to represent the interests of Cage
Birds fanciers;
(g) one member being a duly qualified ornithologist;
(h) one member being a duly qualified zoologist;
(i) one member to represent the Minister.
(2) Every member of the Committee shall, unless his
appointment is sooner determined by the Minister or he sooner
resigns by notice in writing to the Minister, or he sooner dies,
hold office for three years from the date of his appointment but
shall be eligible for reappointment from time to time.
(3) The Minister may appoint any person to act in the
place of the Chairman or any other member of the Committee in
the case of the absence or inability to act for such Chairman or
other member.
(4) The Committee may act notwithstanding any
vacancy in the number of members constituting the Committee.
(5) The Committee shall have power to regulate its own
procedure.
(6) The Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to
the Minister on all matters pertaining to the conservation of wild
life in Trinidad and Tobago.

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9. (1) The Chief Game Warden may, on application made Residents’

in writing, grant to any person who is ordinarily resident within Licences.

State Lands or a Game Sanctuary, a licence (to be known as a

Resident’s Licence) to keep dogs, guns and other weapons or
devices capable of being used to hunt animals while such person
is so resident.
(2) A Resident’s Licence shall be in the prescribed form
and shall be valid for the period specified therein and shall not
be transferable.

10. (1) The Chief Game Warden may upon such conditions Special Game
as he thinks fit, grant licences (in this Act referred to as Special Licence in
certain cases.
Game Licences) which shall entitle the holder to hunt any animal
specified therein for any of the following purposes:
(a) scientific research;
(b) collection of specimens for zoological gardens,
museums and similar institutions;
(c) the eradication of animals declared to be vermin
by section 11.
(2) A Special Game Licence issued for any of the
purposes mentioned in subsection (1) may authorise the hunting
of any animal, whether in a Game Sanctuary or not.
(3) A Special Game Licence granted under
subsection (1) shall be in the form set forth in the Fourth Fourth
Schedule and shall state the species, number and sex of each
Schedule.

animal which may be hunted and shall be limited as regards the

period and area within which the hunting is to take place.
(4) The Chief Game Warden may suspend or cancel any
Special Game Licence granted under subsection (1).

11. (1) The animals mentioned in the Third Schedule are Vermin.
hereby declared to be vermin.
Third Schedule.

(2) Subject to sections 4 and 6, the owner or occupier of

any lands, his agent or servant may, without licence of any kind,
on such lands hunt and destroy any animal mentioned in the
Third Schedule whether during the close season or not.

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Powers of 12. (1) If any Game Warden or Constable has reasonable

search and
seizure. grounds for suspecting that any person has contravened any of
the provisions of this Act he may—
(a) require any such person to produce for inspection
any animal in his possession or any licence or
other document issued to him under this Act;
(b) stop and search any person and any vehicle, boat
or other conveyance in the possession of such
person or in which such person happens to be,
and open and search any baggage or other thing
in his possession;
(c) enter and search any tent, building or land in the
occupation of any such person; but no dwelling
house shall be entered without a warrant except
in the presence and with the consent of the
owner or occupier thereof;
(d) seize any animal in the possession of any such
person;
(e) seize all guns, dogs, boats, vehicles or other
equipment which he has cause to suspect was
used in connection with any such contravention.
(2) When any person is convicted of an offence under
this Act, any animal in respect of which the offence has been
committed, and all guns, dogs, boats, vehicles and other
equipment used in the commission of such offence are liable to
be forfeited to the State by order of the Magistrate or to be
otherwise dealt with as to the Magistrate may seem just. Such
forfeiture may be in addition to any other penalty or
compensation prescribed for such offences.
(3) Where the carcase or meat of an animal is seized
under this section, the Magistrate before whom such animal is
brought, shall, if in his opinion it cannot be adequately preserved,
forthwith order the same to be tendered as an exhibit, and shall
thereafter make such order with respect to its disposal as may
seem to him just and reasonable.
Persons found 13. Where any person is found committing an offence against
this Act it shall be lawful for any other person to require such
offending.

offender to give his name and place of abode, and in case the

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offender does not give his name or place of abode, or gives a

name or place of abode that is false, such offender shall, in
addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable under this
Act, be liable to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment
for thirty days.

14. Any Game Warden may arrest without warrant any Arrest without
person found committing an offence against this Act whose name
warrant.

or place of abode is unknown to him, and may detain such person

at a Police Station until the name and place of abode of such
person can be ascertained.

15. Any person who assaults, obstructs or resists any Game Punishment for
Warden in the execution of his duty is liable to a fine of one
assaulting or
resisting Game
thousand dollars or to imprisonment for three months. Warden.

16. Where any Game Warden makes a complaint against any Right of Game
person for an offence against this Act, any other Game Warden
Warden to
conduct case.
may appear on his behalf before a Magistrate who is hearing the
said complaint and shall have the same privileges as to
addressing the said Magistrate and as to examining any witnesses
as if he were the complainant.

17. (1) The Minister may, by writing under his hand, Acceptance by

empower a Game Warden—

Game Warden
of compensation

(a) to accept from any person admitting the

for offence.

commission of any offence against this Act, the

fine for which does not exceed two hundred
dollars, a sum of money not exceeding two
hundred dollars by way of compensation for
such offence; and
(b) when any property has been seized as liable to
forfeiture, to release the same on payment of the
value thereof as estimated by the Game Warden.
(2) A Game Warden acting under subsection (1) shall
issue to the person admitting an offence a receipt for all moneys
paid by way of compensation or value.

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(3) On payment of such sum of money, or such value or

both, as the case may be, to the Game Warden, such person, if in
custody shall be discharged, the property if seized shall be
released, and no other proceedings shall be taken against such
person or property in respect of the offence.
(4) All moneys received under this section shall be paid
to the Comptroller of Accounts who shall place the same to the
credit of the general revenue.
Exportation of 18. (1) No animal shall be exported or carried coastwise
without the written permission of the Chief Game Warden.
animals.

(2) Any person who exports or brings any animal to any

quay or other place to be shipped for exportation or to be carried
coastwise without the written permission of the Chief Game
Warden is liable to a fine of two thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for six months in addition to any other penalty to
which he may be liable under this Act.
Customs laws to 19. All provisions of the Customs Act relating to
uncustomed and prohibited goods and proceedings for breaches
apply to
animals.
Ch. 78:01. of the law relating thereto, shall apply as fully and effectually to
animals prohibited to be exported or carried coastwise under and
by virtue of that Act.
Penalties, fees, 20. Subject to section 21 all penalties, compensation and
etc., to be paid
to Comptroller other moneys recovered under this Act and all fees received in
of Accounts. respect of licences granted or issued under this Act shall be paid
to the Comptroller of Accounts who shall place the same to the
credit of the general revenue.

Offences 21. All offences against this Act shall be punishable on

punishable
summary conviction before a Magistrate who may direct that any
portion not exceeding one-half of the penalty imposed shall be
summarily.

paid and awarded to any person other than a Game Warden or

Constable who had given information which led to the conviction
of the offender, provided that such person be not an accessory.

Penalties where 22. Any person guilty of an offence against this Act for
which no penalty is expressly provided is liable to a fine of two
no express
penalty.
hundred dollars.

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23. (1) The holders of the offices mentioned in the Sixth Appointment of
Schedule are hereby declared to be Game Wardens for all the
Game Wardens

purposes of this Act.

and Honorary
Game Wardens.
Sixth Schedule.
(2) The Minister may from time to time by notice
published in the Gazette appoint fit and proper persons to be
Honorary Game Wardens for the purpose of assisting in the
carrying out of this Act.
(3) An Honorary Game Warden shall have all the
powers conferred by this Act upon a Game Warden.

24. (1) The Minister may make Regulations— Regulations.

(a) altering and amending the Second or Third

Second and
Third
Schedule by adding thereto, or removing Schedules.

therefrom, the name of any animal and may

apply any such alteration to the whole of
Trinidad and Tobago or confine it to any district
or other area thereof;
(b) prescribing conditions as to the numbers or sex
of any animal which may be hunted in lands
other than Game Sanctuaries generally or in any
such lands in particular;
(c) prohibiting or limiting at any time for the whole
of Trinidad and Tobago or any part thereof any
method employed for hunting any animal which
appears to him unduly destructive or improper;
(d) prescribing forms and making provisions for the
issue of, and fees for, licences under this Act;
(e) restricting or imposing conditions for the
keeping of any animals in captivity;
(f) prohibiting the sale or purchase of the meat of
any animal;
(g) providing generally for the better carrying out of
the objects of this Act;
(h) prescribing penalties not exceeding two hundred
dollars on summary conviction for the
contravention of any regulation.
(2) The Conservation of Wild Life Regulations
(formerly contained in a Schedule to this Act) shall be deemed to
be made under subsection (1) and may be amended or revoked
under this section.

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Section 3. FIRST SCHEDULE

[141/1968].

GAME SANCTUARIES

1. Northern Range Game Sanctuary

Portion B—The Boundaries are those of Portion B of the
Northern Range Reserve as proclaimed in Gazette,
Proclamation No. 8 of 1922 dated 2nd February 1922.

2. Valencia Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—Valencia Road.
E.—Oropouche River, exclusive of alienated land to the
West thereof.
S.—Quare River, exclusive of alienated lands to the North
thereof.
W.—Oropouche Vega Road, exclusive of alienated lands to
the East thereof.

3. Central Range Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—Boundary of Central Range Reserve from pillar 4A to
Cumuto Road.
E.—Cumuto Road and Brasso-Tamana Road.
S.—Brasso-Tamana Road.
W.—Boundary of Central Range Reserve from pillar 4A to
Brasso-Tamana Road.

4. Trinity Hills Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—Northern boundary of the Moruga Reserve eastwards
to the private road of the Trinidad Leaseholds Limited.
E.—Trinidad Leaseholds Limited private road from where it
enters Moruga Reserve until it reaches the eastern boundary
of the Trinity Hills Reserve, thence the Reserve boundary to
the sea.
S.—The sea.
W.—The eastern boundary of Cat’s Hill Reserve, from the
northern boundary of the Moruga Reserve, a line joining the
south-eastern corner of the Reserve to the north-western corner
of the Trinity Hills Reserve thence the western boundary of the
Trinity Hills Reserve and its prolongation to the sea.

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5. Southern Watershed Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—The northern boundary of the Southern Watershed
Reserve.
E.—The Morne Diable Road and its continuation to the sea.
S.—The sea.
W.—The Quinam Road and its continuation to the sea.

6. Little Tobago Game Sanctuary

The whole island.

7. Saut d’Eau Game Sanctuary

The whole island of Saut d’Eau also called Maravaca, situate
near the North Coast of Trinidad.

8. Soldado Rock Game Sanctuary in the Serpent’s Mouth, off

Icacos Point.

9. Caroni Swamp Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—By the southern bank of the Blue River from the
western bank of No. 2 (North and South) drain to the
western bank of No. 4 (North and South) drain.
E.—By the western bank of No. 2 (North and South) drain.
S.—By a line demarcated by stakes running from the
western bank of No. 4 (North and South) drain to the
western bank of No. 2 (North and South) drain.
W.—By the western bank of No. 4 (North and South) drain.

10. Kronstadt Island Game Sanctuary

The whole island.

11. Morne L ’Enfer Game Sanctuary

Boundaries—
N.—By the Forest Reserve Main Road.
E.—By Bungalow and No. 20 Road.
S.—By Blue Basin and No. 31 Road.
W.—By New Camp Road.

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12. Bush Bush Wild Life Sanctuary

Comprising 3,840 acres of the Nariva Swamp and bounded
as follows:
All that area of the Nariva Swamp comprising 3,840 acres
and bounded as follows:
On the East from a point located 4,000 lks. from the
45 m.m. on the Manzanilla Road, on a bearing of
approximately 255 degrees (having co-ordinates
based on the Cassini Soldner Projection of 305,500
lks. N. and 592,770 E.) thence by a cut and staked line
running in a direction of bearing 165 degrees for a
distance of 11/2 miles.
Thence on the South, by a cut and staked line running in
a direction of 255 degrees for a distance of 4 miles;
Thence on the West, by a cut and staked line running in
a direction of 345 degrees for a distance of 11/2 miles;
Thence on the North, by a cut and staked line running in
a direction of 75 degrees for a distance of 4 miles to the
point of starting.

Section 6. *SECOND SCHEDULE

PART I
Animals—
Alligator or Cayman
Lizards
Agouti
Armadillo (Tattoo)
Deer (in Trinidad only)
Lappe
Quenk (Peccary or Wild Hog)
PART II
Birds—
Black Vulture (Corbeau) (Coragyps atratus)
Herons: Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), Cocoi heron
(Ardea cocoi), Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax
nycticorax), Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa
violacea), Boat–billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)
* This Schedule has been amended by the following GNs.: 178/1971, 143/1972, 126/1973,
170/1973, 195/1973, 42/1974, 158/1974, 159/1974, 125/1975, 126/1975, 140/1975, 150/1977,
157/1978, 194/1978 and 137/2016.
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Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

Orange–winged amazon parrot (Amazona amazonica)
Rallidae: All birds belonging to the Family Rallidae (Coots,
Rails, Gallinules and their allies)
Ramier or pigeons: Scaled Pigeon (Columba speciosa), Pale-
vented Pigeon (Columba cayennensis), Eared Dove
(Zenaida auriculata), Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina
talpacoti), White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi),
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla)
Wild Ducks: Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna
autumnalis), Fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna
bicolor), Muscovy (Cairina moschata).
PART III Regulation 4.

Cage Birds—
Cage birds which may be captured or kept captive by cage:
Cravat or Trinidad Euphonia (Euphonia trinitatis)
Parakeet or Green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus)
Semp or Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea)
Cage birds which shall not be captured but may be kept
captive by cage:
Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Canary (Serinus canaria)
Chats: Nun Chat or Lesson’s seedeater (Sporophila
bouvronides), King Chat or Lined seedeater (Sporophila
lineola)
Chicki-Chong, Bullfinch or Chestnut-bellied seed-finch
(Oryzoborus angolensis)
Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Lovebirds (Agapornis spp.)
Picoplat or Grey seedeater (Sporophila intermedia)
Yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis).

THIRD SCHEDULE Section 11.

Animals declared as vermin—

Black rats (Rattus rattus)
Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus)

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Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus)

House mice (Mus musculus)
Large coral snakes (Micrurus lemniscatus diutius)
Manicou or Black-eared opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
Mapepire Balsain or Fer de lance (Bothrops asper)
Mapepire Zanana or Bushmaster (Lachesis muta muta)
Red-tailed squirrels (Sciurus granatensis)
Small Asian Mongooses (Herpestes javanicus)
Small or common coral snakes (Micrurus circinalis)
White-winged vampire bats (Diaemus youngi)
Yellowtail, Cornbird or Pogga (Psarocolius decumanus).

Section 10. FOURTH SCHEDULE

FORM OF SPECIAL GAME LICENCE
THE CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT

Licence is hereby granted to ..................................... of .....................................

(address)
........................................................................... to hunt the following animals:
(occupation or profession)
(species, number and sex) *

in the ........................ Game Sanctuary or ..........................................................

(describe area of State Lands)
from the ................. day of ......................... to the ........................ day of ..........
..........................., 20.......

*delete where inapplicable. Chief Game Warden

Section 2. FIFTH SCHEDULE

CLOSE SEASON

Period Places
From 1st April to 30th Throughout Trinidad and
September. Tobago.

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SIXTH SCHEDULE Section 23.

Assistant Conservators of Forests

Forest Supervisors
Forest Officers
Wardens
Assistant Wardens
Ward Officers, as follows:
*County of St. George
The Principal Ward Officer, Arima
The Ward Officer, San Rafael
The Ward Officer, St. Joseph and Tunapuna
The Ward Officer, Arouca/Caura
The Principal Ward Officer, Blanchisseuse
The Ward Officer, Brasso Seco
The Ward Officer, San Juan/Santa Cruz
The Ward Officer, St. Ann’s/Maraval
The Ward Officer, Diego Martin/Mucurapo
The Ward Officer, Carenage/Chaguaramas
*Eastern Counties
The Ward Officer, Valencia
The Principal Ward Officer, Biche
The Ward Officer, Grande Riviere
*Counties of Victoria and St. Patrick
The Principal Ward Officer, Moruga
The Ward Officer, Siparia
*Ward of Tobago
The Ward Officer, Roxborough

*See Act No. 21 of 1990.

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SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE REGULATIONS

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATION
1. Citation.
2. Form of licence.
3. Licence fee.
4. Restrictions on capturing birds.
4A. Permit required for the keeping in captivity of specified birds.
4B. (Revoked by LN 117/2002).
5. Prohibition against lights.
6. Close season.
7. Hunting in Forest Reserve.
8. Special authority necessary.
9. Protected animals.
10. Selling protected animal.
11. Powers of Game Warden or Constable.
12. Magistrate’s power under regulation 11.
13. Form of acknowledgment.
14. Clipping wings of protected birds.
15. Permits for protected birds.

FIRST SCHEDULE.
SECOND SCHEDULE.

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[Subsidiary]

*CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE REGULATIONS

deemed to be made under section 24

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Conservation of Citation.

Wild Life Regulations.

2. (1) State Game Licences issued under section 6 of the Form of licence.
Act shall—
[†352/2012
132/2016
(a) be in the form set out in the First Schedule to 137/2016].

these Regulations;
(b) be issued by Game Wardens authorised by the
Minister for the purpose;
(c) be issued separately, each of a different colour, in
respect of each of the following animals, up to a
maximum of three State Game Licences per person:
(i) those animals listed in Parts I and II of the
Second Schedule to the Act; and
(ii) those cage birds listed in Part III of the
Second Schedule to the Act which may
be captured;
(d) expire on the last day of February in every year;
(e) on expiry, be returned to a Game Warden at the
office of the Forestry Division at which the
licences were issued.
(2) No person shall have in his possession or knowingly
cause to be issued to him, four or more State Game Licences.
(3) The Mandatory Data Form forming part of the State
Game Licence shall be correctly completed by the licensee and
returned to the Forestry Division formerly known as the Forest
Department, on or before the 31st day of May in every year.
(4) Any person who contravenes the provisions of
subregulation (2) or (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred dollars.

*Amended by LNs. 216/1986; 175/1987; 156/1989; 41/1991; 133/1992; 47/1996; 195/1997;

11/2000; 117/2002; 352/2012; 132/2016 and 137/2016.
†See Note on page 2.

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[Subsidiary] Conservation of Wild Life Regulations

Licence Fee. 3. Subject to section 6 of the Act there shall be paid for each
[156/1989
132/2016]. licence issued the sum of one hundred dollars.
Restrictions on 4. (1) No person shall capture, or keep captive, in a cage,
any bird referred to in Part III of the Second Schedule to the Act,
capturing birds.
Second
Schedule. unless the dimensions of the cage, in respect of each captive bird,
are as follows:
[137/2016].

(a) subject to subregulation (2), not less than one

square foot in floor space;
(b) not less than one foot in height; and
(c) not less than one cubic foot in volume,
excluding the trap section.
(2) Where a person captures, or keeps captive, in a
cage, more than one bird referred to in Part III of the Second
Schedule to the Act, the person shall ensure that an additional
twenty-five per cent of the minimum floor space referred to in
subregulation (1)(a) is provided for each additional captive bird.
(3) No person shall use bird-lime or any similar
substance or means for the purpose of capturing any bird
specified in Part III of the Second Schedule to the Act.
(4) Any person who contravenes subregulation (1), (2) or
(3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.

Permit required 4A. (1) A person shall not keep captive in a cage any of the
for the keeping
following birds referred to in Part III of the Second Schedule to
the Act:
in captivity of
specified birds.

(a) Chats: Nun Chat or Lesson’s seedeater

[137/2016].

(Sporophila bouvronides), King Chat or Lined

seedeater (Sporophila lineola);
(b) Chicki-Chong, Bullfinch or Chestnut-bellied
seed-finch (Oryzoborus angolensis);
(c) Picoplat or Grey seedeater (Sporophila
intermedia);
(d) Yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis),
except in accordance with a permit to be issued by the Chief
Game Warden in such form and on such terms and conditions as
the Chief Game Warden may determine.

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Conservation of Wild Life Regulations [Subsidiary]

(2) A person who contravenes subregulation (1)

commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred dollars.

4B. (Revoked by LN 117/2002).

5. (1) No person shall use an artificial light for the purpose Prohibition
of hunting. against lights.
[117/2002].

(2) A person who contravenes subregulation (1)

commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred dollars.

6. (1) No person shall have in his possession, serve, Close season.

purchase, sell or expose for sale—
[47/1996
117/2002
(a) during the close season, any animal referred to 137/2016].

in Parts I and II; or

(b) from 1st October to 31st October annually, any
animal referred to in Part II,
of the Second Schedule to the Act. Second
Schedule.
(1A) No person shall purchase, sell or expose for sale
during the close season, any cage bird referred to in Part III of the
Second Schedule to the Act.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of
subregulation (1) or (1A), is liable on summary conviction to a
fine of two hundred dollars.

7. (1) No person shall hunt or be a member of a party engaged Hunting in

in hunting any animal specified in the Second Schedule to the Act in Forest Reserve.
Second
any Forest Reserve between the hours of 7.30 o’clock in the evening Schedule.
and 5.00 o’clock in the morning of the next succeeding day.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of
subregulation (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two
hundred dollars.

8. (1) Except in pursuance of an authority specially granted Special

by the Chief Game Warden under this regulation, no person shall authority

hunt more than five Wild Ducks and five Herons in any one day.
necessary.
[216/1986
137/2016].

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[Subsidiary] Conservation of Wild Life Regulations

(2) Any person who hunts any animal contrary to

subregulation (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two
hundred dollars.
(3) If any party engaged or who has been engaged in
hunting Wild Ducks or Herons is found in possession of a
quantity of Wild Ducks or Herons which have been hunted and
which having regard to the number of guns carried by that party,
is in excess of the quantity which may be hunted under
subregulation (1), every member of such party is liable on
summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.
Protected 9. (1) No person shall keep a protected animal in captivity
unless he is authorised so to do by permit issued under these
animals.

Regulations. However, the legal personal representative of a deceased

holder of a valid permit issued under these Regulations shall be
deemed not to have committed an offence under these Regulations
by reason only of the fact that a protected animal which has been
kept in captivity by such deceased person under the authority of
such permit remains in captivity after the death of such person.
(2) Any person who contravenes subregulation (1) is
liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.

Selling protected 10. (1) No person shall sell or otherwise dispose of any
animal.
protected animal kept in captivity under the authority of these
Regulations without the written permission of the Chief
Game Warden.
(2) Any person who contravenes subregulation (1) is
liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.

Powers of 11. (1) A Game Warden or Constable who finds a protected

Game Warden
animal in captivity may, if the person in whose possession it is so
found is not authorised under these Regulations to keep that
or Constable.

animal in captivity—
(a) require that person to release the animal
immediately or to dispose of it to a person who
holds a permit under these Regulations to keep
such animal in captivity within two weeks of the
date on which such Game Warden or Constable
has so found the animal in captivity; and if he is

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Conservation of Wild Life Chap. 67:01

Conservation of Wild Life Regulations [Subsidiary]

unable so to dispose of it within the period of

two weeks, to release it at the end of such
period. However, if such person demonstrates to
the satisfaction of such Game Warden or
Constable that the animal does not wish to go
free the Game Warden or Constable may leave it
in the possession of the person and such person
shall be deemed not to have committed an
offence against these Regulations and may be
granted a permit under these Regulations to
keep the animal in captivity;
(b) make application to a Magistrate to determine
whether the animal is wild or domesticated.
(2) Upon the hearing of an application under
subregulation (1)(b), the proof that the animal is domesticated
shall lie on the person in whose possession the animal was found.

12. If the Magistrate on application of a Game Warden or Magistrate’s

Constable under regulation 11 decides that a particular animal is power under

wild, he may order that it be set free, or handed over to a person

regulation 11.

who holds a permit under these Regulations to keep in captivity

such an animal on such terms as the Magistrate may think fit.

13. Whenever a protected animal is released from captivity Form of

on the requisition of a Game Warden or Constable acting under acknowledgment.

regulation 11 an acknowledgment in the form set out in the

Second Schedule to these Regulations shall be given by such Second
Game Warden or Constable to the person from whose possession Schedule.

such animal has been removed.

14. (1) No person shall clip or cause to be clipped the wings Clipping wings
of a protected bird or in any way mutilate or cause to be mutilated of protected

any protected animal or bird in order to prevent it from escaping

birds.

from its cage when opened.

(2) Any person who contravenes subregulation (1) is
liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.

15. Permits to keep in captivity protected animals or birds Permits for

shall be issued by the Chief Game Warden and shall be in such
protected birds.

form as the Chief Game Warden may determine.

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[Subsidiary] Conservation of Wild Life Regulations

Regulation 2. FIRST SCHEDULE

[156/1989
117/2002].
FORM OF STATE GAME LICENCE
THE CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT, CH. 67:01

CATEGORY .....................
Issued to ............................................................................................................
Address ..............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Occupation ........................................ Identification ........................................
(Passport, I.D. or D.P.)
Issued to hunt animals on State Lands subject to the provisions of the
Conservation of Wild Life Act and Regulations made thereunder.

Fee Payable ............................................

Date of issue ..........................................

Date of expiry ........................................

................................................
Chief Game Warden

Detach here and return to Forestry Division on or before 31st March annually.

Mandatory Data Form

000108

Date Number Weight and Sex

of of Condition of Location Remarks
Catch Animals Animals Male Female

Date ................................................ ....................................................

Signature of Hunter

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Conservation of Wild Life Regulations [Subsidiary]

CONDITIONS

1. Period of Open Season is the period of the year not specified in the
Fifth Schedule to the Act.

2. Mandatory return data form must be returned to the Forestry Division

on expiry of licence in order to obtain a new State Game Licence.

3. Hunting with guns is prohibited for the months of ..............................

4. (Deleted by LN 117/2002).

5. Failure to comply with any of the above conditions will lead to

cancellation of the State Game Licence and prosecution under the
Conservation of Wild Life Act.

SECOND SCHEDULE Regulation 13.

THE CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE ACT

Serial No.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RELEASE OF PROTECTED ANIMAL

I, .................................................................. have today released the following

(designation)
protected animals and birds ..............................................................................
(here insert number)
............................................................................................................................
(and species of animal and bird)
from the custody of .............................................. of ........................................
(name) (address)
I certify that the animals and birds herein above specified were not mutilated
in any way.

....................................................
Game Warden/Constable

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[Subsidiary]

116/2002. CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE (PROHIBITION

AGAINST HUNTING DURING CERTAIN PERIODS)
REGULATIONS
made under section 24

Citation. 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Conservation of

Wild Life (Prohibition Against Hunting During Certain Periods)
Regulations.

Prohibition 2. (1) A person shall not hunt, during the month of—
(a) October, the birds listed in Part II; or
against hunting.

(b) March, the animals listed in Parts I, II and III,

Second of the Second Schedule to the Act.
Schedule.
(2) A person who contravenes subregulation (1)(a) or (b)
commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of two hundred dollars.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION

UPDATED TO 31ST DECEMBER 2016