Since 2008, the Release Ordinance has banned the handling of red-eared sliders, as the animals are invasive in Switzerland and harm biodiversity. However, no one who bought or received such an animal years ago needs to part with it. A registration allows zoos and sanctuaries to keep red-eared sliders. Private individuals must transfer their animals to a registered sanctuary and conclude a contract with the sanctuary to lend them for use. The long-term goal is a Switzerland without invasive red-eared sliders.
Rotwangenschmuckschildkröte
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Applications for exceptional license for the direct handling of red-eared slider in the environment in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Release Ordinance (SR 814.911) should be submitted to:
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
Biotechnology Section
3003 Bern
Tel. 058 462 93 49
e-mail: contact.releases@bafu.admin.ch
The application forms for the direct handling of red-eared slider in the environment can be found below. Generally, a procedure of approximately three month should be expected.
Gesuchsformular Haltung Rotwangenschmuckschildkröten (PDF, 925 kB, 31.10.2017)Only available in German at the moment.
Musterleihvertrag zur Eigentumsübertragung und Gebrauchsleihe von Rotwangen-Schmuckschildkröten (PDF, 109 kB, 20.03.2019)Available in German, French and Italian
Dispositions
Verfügung D23.001 (PDF, 652 kB, 14.02.2023)Application by the Auffangstation Aarebrüggli AG, submitted by Ivan Schmid, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D22.002 (PDF, 561 kB, 17.06.2022)Application by the Auffangstation Martin Berger, submitted by Martin Berger, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D22.001 (PDF, 728 kB, 31.03.2022)Application by the Tierdörfli Olten, submitted by Susanne Klein, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D20.001 (PDF, 582 kB, 03.09.2020)Application by the foundation TierRettungsDienst, submitted by Tanya Hofer, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D19.006 (PDF, 313 kB, 24.03.2020)Application by Tierpark Bern, submitted by Marc Rosset, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D19.005 (PDF, 488 kB, 02.10.2019)Application by the foundation TbB Schweiz, submitted by Jana Spranger, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D19.004 (PDF, 435 kB, 25.07.2019)Application by Turtle Refuge Ruth Huber, submitted by Ruth Huber, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D18.003 (PDF, 254 kB, 20.12.2018)Application by Tierschutzverein Kreuzlingen und Umgebung, submitted by Heinz Lienhard, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D18.002 (PDF, 500 kB, 20.07.2018)Application by Basel Zoo, submitted by Thomas Jermann, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D18.001 (PDF, 539 kB, 20.07.2018)Application by the group of interests for turtles in Switzerland, submitted by Roger Limacher, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D17.002 (PDF, 419 kB, 21.11.2017)Application by Centre Emys, submitted by Jean-Marc Ducotterd, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D17.001 (PDF, 396 kB, 30.06.2017)Application by REHAB Basel, clinic for neurorehabilitation and paraplegiology, submitted by Christian Weber, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D14.002 (PDF, 286 kB, 09.12.2014)Application by Walter Zoo AG, submitted by Ernst Federer, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D12.004 (PDF, 324 kB, 21.10.2014)Application by the Zoo Plättli, submitted by Walter Meierhofer, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Verfügung D12.002 (PDF, 269 kB, 08.12.2014)Application by the Auffangstation Amriswil, submitted by Hermann Koller, concerning an exceptional licence for the direct handling in the environment of alien invasive organisms in accordance with Art. 15 para. 2 and Annex 2 of the Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment (Release Ordinance, RO).
Further information
Last modification 14.02.2023
