A CANBERRA pet store has been slapped with a $1250 fine for illegally selling central bearded dragons.

Territory and Municipal Services acting manager for licensing and compliance Michael Brice says compliance officers were told the store was selling the protected native animal.

“The pet store in question imported the lizards from interstate where they are legal to sell, through another store in their franchise,” Mr Brice says.

“The central bearded dragons were seized and the store was issued with an infringement notice for illegally selling a protected native animal and cautioned for importing them into the ACT and keeping them without a license.”

Animal licensing officers also found the pet store was selling Indian ring neck birds, unlicensed, but officers since issued the store with a licence to sell them.

“Our licensing officers have worked with the pet store to ensure that all pets sold through the shop are now compliant with the ACT’s legislation,” Mr Brice says.

More information on legislation surrounding the sale and licensing of animals can be found at tams.act.gov.au