Wildlife You Cannot Bring Into Canada: Prohibited and Restricted Wildlife & Trophy Items
Important Disclaimer
This article provides general educational information and is not legal or regulatory advice. Canadian wildlife, CITES and animal-health requirements can change and may vary by species, country of origin, condition of the specimen and intended use. Always verify the current requirements with the applicable Canadian and foreign authorities before importing wildlife into Canada. Or call Rigel Logistics for further information and assistance with your wildlife import.
Not every hunting trophy, animal product or wildlife item can simply be packed into a suitcase and brought across the Canadian border.
Canada has strict rules governing the importation of wildlife, hunting trophies, animal parts and products made from wildlife.
Some items are completely prohibited in certain circumstances. Others may be imported only with specific permits, certificates, treatment or inspection. And some items that appear harmless can become prohibited if they were obtained illegally or if the country of origin has certain animal-disease risks.
For hunters, taxidermists, outfitters and wildlife shippers, understanding these restrictions before the shipment moves can prevent expensive delays, seizures and forfeiture.
This guide explains some of the most important wildlife and wildlife-product restrictions to understand when bringing items into Canada.
Important: “Restricted” does not always mean “permanently prohibited.” Canadian requirements can depend on the species, country of origin, condition of the specimen, intended use and documentation. Requirements should always be checked before shipping.
The First Rule: Legal Where You Hunted Does Not Always Mean Legal to Import
One of the most important principles under Canadian wildlife law is that an animal must have been legally taken and legally possessed in the country where it originated.
Canada's Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) prohibits the importation of animals or wildlife products that were taken, possessed, transported or exported in contravention of the laws of the foreign jurisdiction.
That means a shipment can have a problem even if the species itself is not prohibited in Canada.
For example:
Animal legally permitted in Canada
does not necessarily mean
Animal illegally harvested overseas can be imported.
The legality of the original harvest and possession matters.
What Types of Wildlife Are Regulated?
Canadian requirements can apply to far more than live animals.
Depending on the circumstances, regulations can apply to:
Live animals
Dead animals
Hunting trophies
Hides and skins
Fur and pelts
Skulls
Bones
Teeth
Tusks
Horns
Antlers
Hooves
Claws
Feathers
Animal oils and other derivatives
Taxidermy mounts
Jewellery
Artwork
Souvenirs
Other products made from wildlife
WAPPRIITA applies to animals and plants alive or dead, as well as their parts and derived products.
CFIA's animal-health import policy similarly covers a broad range of wildlife products, including hides, skins, furs, bones, skulls, teeth, tusks, hooves, horns, nails, claws, antlers, feathers and hunting trophies.
1. Raw Elephant Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn
This is one of the most important restrictions for anyone involved in international trophy shipping.
Canada introduced significantly stronger restrictions on elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn effective January 8, 2024.
Raw elephant ivory
Raw rhinoceros horn
Importation and exportation are prohibited unless the specimen qualifies for one of Canada's very limited permit purposes.
Permits for raw elephant ivory and raw rhinoceros horn are only available for purposes such as:
Museums
Zoos
Scientific research
Law enforcement
Hunting trophies are not eligible for these permits.
This means that a hunter cannot simply obtain an elephant or rhinoceros trophy overseas and assume that a CITES export permit from the country of hunt will allow the trophy to enter Canada.
It will not.
This includes hunting trophies
Canada specifically states that raw elephant ivory and raw rhinoceros horn hunting trophies will not be granted an import permit.
This is a critical distinction for hunters.
What About Worked Elephant Ivory?
“Worked” ivory means ivory that has been carved, shaped or processed.
Examples can include:
Jewellery
Sculptures
Musical instruments
Game pieces
Knife handles
Decorative objects
Canada requires permits for the import and export of worked elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn, including personal and household effects.
So an old ivory carving sitting in a household does not automatically qualify for entry simply because it is an antique or personal possession.
The permit requirements can apply even to pre-Convention specimens.
2. Illegally Harvested Wildlife
This is one of the broadest categories of wildlife that cannot legally enter Canada.
WAPPRIITA prohibits the importation of wildlife that was taken, possessed, transported or exported in violation of the laws of the country of origin.
This can apply even if the animal is not a CITES-listed species.
For example, Canadian authorities have prosecuted cases involving wildlife products that were not necessarily CITES-listed but were taken or transported illegally in another jurisdiction.
Why this matters
A common misconception is:
“It's not CITES, so I don't need to worry about permits.”
That is incorrect.
CITES is only one part of Canada's wildlife-control system.
The legality of the original harvest still matters.
3. CITES-Listed Animals Without the Required Permits
Canada regulates thousands of species through CITES and its implementing legislation.
It is illegal to bring a CITES-listed species—or its parts or derivatives—across the Canadian border without the required documentation.
Depending on the species and CITES Appendix, this may involve:
A CITES export permit
A CITES re-export certificate
A Canadian CITES import permit
Provincial or territorial permits
Other supporting documentation
Appendix I
Appendix I species receive the highest level of CITES protection.
For an Appendix I specimen entering Canada, a Canadian CITES import permit and the appropriate foreign CITES export document are generally required. Commercial trade is generally prohibited, subject to limited exceptions.
Appendix II
Appendix II species can generally be traded internationally, but the required permits must be obtained.
Appendix III
Appendix III species may require an export permit or certificate of origin depending on the circumstances.
The important point is:
CITES-listed does not automatically mean prohibited.
It means the shipment needs to be assessed under the applicable CITES requirements.
4. Wildlife From Animals That Were Illegally Exported From Their Country
An animal can also be refused because it was illegally exported from its country of origin.
For example, imagine:
Hunter legally takes animal
↓
Country requires an export permit
↓
Animal leaves country without required permit
↓
Trophy arrives in Canada
The fact that the original hunt was legal does not necessarily make the Canadian import legal.
Canada's legislation specifically addresses wildlife that was taken, possessed or exported contrary to foreign law.
This is why obtaining the correct documentation before the trophy leaves the country of origin is so important.
5. Certain Animal Carcasses and Meat
Animal-health regulations create another category of restrictions.
CFIA regulates animal products and by-products because they can introduce diseases into Canada.
The requirements depend heavily on:
Country of origin
Species
Disease status
Processing
Intended use
Whether the product is accompanying a traveller
Whether it is being shipped commercially
For example, Canada's traveller guidance states that game animal carcasses from countries other than the United States are not permitted as personal imports in the listed food category, while game carcasses from the United States can be permitted under specific conditions, including being accompanied by the traveller and having the required hunter's permit or licence. Provincial restrictions can also apply.
This illustrates an important distinction:
“Not permitted as a traveller's personal import”
does not necessarily mean
“No commercial import pathway exists.”
A commercial shipment may be subject to a completely different set of CFIA requirements.
6. Raw or Unprocessed Hunting Trophies
A raw trophy can present significantly more regulatory challenges than a fully processed trophy.
Examples include:
Raw hides
Fresh skins
Untreated skulls
Unprocessed horns
Fresh carcass parts
Unprocessed feet
Raw bones
Partially prepared trophies
CFIA's import policy covers these types of animal-origin products and may require permits, inspection, treatment or post-entry disinfection depending on the circumstances.
For wild-animal trophies from countries other than the United States that require further taxidermy or preservation, CFIA states that they must be directed to an approved disinfection facility in Canada.
This is why “raw trophy” and “finished trophy” should never be treated as the same commodity.
7. Wildlife From Countries With Animal-Disease Restrictions
Even when a species is legal and not CITES-listed, animal-health restrictions can prevent or limit its importation.
CFIA maintains country- and commodity-specific requirements because diseases such as:
African swine fever
Foot-and-mouth disease
Rabies
Avian diseases
Other foreign animal diseases
can be introduced through animals and animal products.
CFIA states that animal products and by-products—including animal skins and hunting trophies—can be restricted or prohibited from countries where foreign animal diseases exist.
This is one of the reasons the country of origin matters just as much as the species.
A trophy from one country may be admissible while the same species from another country may require additional treatment or documentation.
8. Bats and Products Made From Bats
Bats deserve special attention.
CFIA states that bats and materials originating from bats can carry serious diseases affecting animals and humans, including rabies and other significant pathogens.
As a result:
An import permit and case-by-case evaluation are required for materials originating from bats.
This can include wildlife products made from bats.
A person should therefore never assume that a bat specimen, hide, biological material or decorative item can simply be mailed into Canada.
9. Certain Wildlife Products Made Into Artwork or Souvenirs
One of the easiest mistakes to make is thinking:
“It's artwork now, so it's no longer wildlife.”
That isn't necessarily true.
WAPPRIITA can apply to wildlife parts and derived products.
Examples can include:
Jewellery
Carvings
Decorative items
Musical instruments
Furniture
Sculptures
Traditional crafts
Taxidermy mounts
Souvenirs
If the product contains material from a protected species, the underlying wildlife regulations may still apply.
Canada has prosecuted cases involving products made from protected wildlife, including ivory, coral, fur and other wildlife materials.
10. Shark Fins and Certain Fish Products
Wildlife restrictions aren't limited to land animals.
Canada's traveller guidance states that shark fins or parts of shark fins that are not attached to a shark carcass are prohibited under the Fisheries Act. It also identifies pufferfish and Chinese mitten crab as not permitted in the listed personal-import context.
Certain fish species and products are also regulated under CITES.
For example, some sturgeon and sturgeon products can require CITES documentation, and sturgeon caviar above specified quantities requires a CITES permit.
This is another reminder that the term “wildlife” extends far beyond traditional hunting trophies.
11. Some Canadian Wildlife Is Also Restricted When Moving Between Provinces
The Canadian border is not the only border that matters.
WAPPRIITA also regulates certain interprovincial movements of wildlife.
Canada explains that provincial regulations can require export permits for indigenous species when they are transported across provincial or territorial borders. Examples include black bear and wolves.
This means:
Alberta → Saskatchewan
can involve wildlife export requirements.
And:
Saskatchewan → Ontario
can involve requirements on both sides.
The fact that the shipment remains inside Canada does not automatically make it unrestricted.
12. A Finished Taxidermy Mount Is Not Automatically Exempt
This is an important issue for taxidermists and trophy shippers.
A finished mount can still be:
A CITES specimen
A protected wildlife product
Subject to provincial regulations
Subject to import requirements
Subject to animal-health requirements
However, processing can change the CFIA treatment.
CFIA identifies fully treated or preserved animal-origin products—including professionally prepared taxidermy specimens—as products that may be imported without CFIA requirements in specified circumstances.
But that does not eliminate CITES requirements.
A finished leopard mount, for example, remains a leopard specimen for CITES purposes.
The fact that it is now mounted does not make the CITES regulations disappear.
13. The Most Important Special Case: Elephant and Rhino Trophies
For Rigel's clients, this deserves repeating.
Raw elephant ivory hunting trophy
Do not assume it can be imported into Canada.
Canada states that raw elephant ivory hunting trophies will not be granted an import permit.
Raw rhinoceros horn hunting trophy
Do not assume it can be imported into Canada.
Canada's strengthened rules also prohibit the importation of raw rhinoceros horn hunting trophies through the normal CITES permitting process.
Worked ivory or rhino horn
These items require permits for import and export, including certain personal and household effects.
This is one of the clearest examples of a wildlife product where “I have a CITES permit from the exporting country” is not enough.
“Can I Bring It Into Canada?” — A Better Way to Ask the Question
Instead of asking:
“Is this animal allowed in Canada?”
ask:
1. What species is it?
Use the scientific name whenever possible.
2. Is it CITES-listed?
Check the CITES status and Appendix.
3. Where did it come from?
Country of harvest and country of export can matter.
4. Was it legally harvested or acquired?
Canadian law prohibits the import of wildlife taken or possessed contrary to foreign law.
5. What condition is it in?
Raw, salted, frozen, tanned, skull-only, partially processed or fully taxidermied can make a major difference.
6. Is it a personal trophy or commercial shipment?
The requirements can differ.
7. Is it being shipped or personally accompanied?
Some traveller exemptions are very specific.
8. Does CFIA have animal-health requirements?
Check the current import requirements for the exact commodity and origin.
9. Does the destination province have additional requirements?
Provincial wildlife legislation can apply after the shipment enters Canada.
A Quick Reference: Prohibited vs. Restricted
Wildlife item
General Canadian treatment
Raw elephant ivory
Prohibited except very limited permitted purposes
Raw rhinoceros horn
Prohibited except very limited permitted purposes
Elephant/rhino hunting trophies
Import permits are not available for raw trophies
CITES species without required permits
Not legally admissible
Illegally harvested wildlife
Prohibited
Wildlife illegally exported from country of origin
Prohibited
Certain raw/untreated trophies
May require permits, treatment or disinfection
Wildlife from disease-affected countries
May be restricted or prohibited
Bat products
Import permit + case-by-case evaluation required
Certain live wildlife
May require permits, health certification or may be prohibited
Shark fins detached from carcass
Prohibited under the Fisheries Act
Some CITES fish products
Permit/restriction dependent on species and quantity
Fully processed taxidermy
May have fewer CFIA requirements, but CITES/provincial rules can still apply
Why Country of Origin Matters
One of the biggest misconceptions in trophy shipping is that the animal determines the rules.
In reality, the requirements can be influenced by a combination of:
Species
Country of origin
Country of export
Condition of trophy
Purpose
Ownership
CITES status
Disease status
Destination
For example, the same species may have different CFIA requirements depending on where it originated.
This is why professional wildlife logistics should be reviewed shipment by shipment.
What Happens If You Try to Import a Prohibited Wildlife Item?
A prohibited or improperly documented shipment can be:
Detained
Refused entry
Seized
Forfeited
Returned to the exporting country
Subject to enforcement action
In serious cases, there can also be:
Fines
Criminal charges
Loss of permits
Restrictions on future importing/exporting
Loss of the wildlife itself
Canadian enforcement cases demonstrate that these rules are not merely paperwork requirements.
The Biggest Mistake: Shipping First and Asking Questions Later
The most expensive wildlife-shipping problems often begin with a simple assumption:
“We'll figure out the paperwork when it gets here.”
That's the wrong approach.
Many permits must be obtained before the shipment leaves the country of origin.
For CITES specimens, Canada states that the required permits must be in place before import or export. A permit generally cannot simply be obtained after the shipment has already arrived to make an otherwise non-compliant import legal.
The same principle applies to many CFIA requirements.
The shipment should be reviewed before it moves.
Rigel's Pre-Shipment Wildlife Review
Before accepting an international wildlife shipment, Rigel can help determine the regulatory path by looking at:
THE SPECIES
What animal is it?
THE ORIGIN
Where was it harvested or acquired?
THE CONDITION
Raw, salted, frozen, tanned, skull, horns, hide or finished mount?
THE DOCUMENTATION
What hunting licences, tags, CITES permits, export documents and other records exist?
THE DESTINATION
Where is the trophy ultimately going?
THE ROUTE
Which countries will the shipment pass through?
THE PURPOSE
Personal trophy, taxidermy, commercial shipment, museum, research or another purpose?
THE AGENCIES
Which Canadian and foreign authorities need to approve the movement?
Wildlife Shipping Checklist
Before sending wildlife into Canada, confirm:
Exact species identified
Scientific name confirmed
CITES status checked
CITES Appendix confirmed
Country of harvest identified
Country of export identified
Wildlife was legally harvested/acquired
Foreign export requirements checked
Canadian CITES requirements checked
CFIA import requirements checked
Current disease restrictions checked
Province of destination requirements checked
Trophy condition documented
Hunting licence/tag/registration documents available
Required permits obtained before shipment
Shipping documents match the actual contents
Transit-country requirements checked
Original permits and supporting documentation prepared as required
The Bottom Line
Canada does not have a simple list of “all wildlife that is prohibited.”
Instead, there are several layers of restrictions.
Some wildlife products are strictly prohibited in particular circumstances.
Others are restricted and require permits.
Others may be allowed only after specific treatment or inspection.
And some products can be imported without CFIA requirements but still require CITES or provincial authorization.
The clearest examples include:
Raw elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn
Illegally harvested wildlife
CITES specimens without required permits
Certain disease-risk animal products
Certain live animals
Bat-derived materials
Certain fish and wildlife products
The safest approach is to determine the requirements before the wildlife leaves its country of origin.
For hunters and taxidermists, this can make the difference between a smooth shipment and a trophy sitting at the border while government agencies determine what happens next.
Need Help Determining Whether a Trophy Can Enter Canada?
Wildlife import regulations can be complicated because the answer depends on more than just the animal.
Species + Country + Condition + Documentation + Destination = Import Requirements
Rigel Logistics can help hunters, outfitters and taxidermists navigate the paperwork and logistics involved in bringing wildlife and hunting trophies into Canada.
Before you ship, ask us first.
It is much easier to solve a regulatory problem before the trophy is on the plane.
Official Canadian Resources
Environment and Climate Change Canada — CITES and Protected Species CITES and protected species information
Environment and Climate Change Canada — Elephant Ivory & Rhinoceros Horn Current elephant ivory and rhino horn requirements
Canadian Food Inspection Agency — Terrestrial Animal Products & By-Products CFIA wildlife and trophy import requirements
CFIA — Import Policies Current animal-product import policies
