U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Captive-bred Wildlife Registration

under the U.S. Endangered Species

Act

The captive-bred wildlife registration

system was implemented by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service to decrease

Federal permit requirements for captiveborn, exotic, endangered and threatened

wildlife. Under the system, otherwise

prohibited activities can occur when the

activities can be shown to enhance

propagation or survival of the affected

species, provided the principal purpose is

to facilitate captive breeding.

What types of wildlife are covered?

Wildlife meeting the following criteria

are eligible:

! Listed as endangered or threatened

under the U.S. Endangered Species

Act.

! Living specimens.

! Exotic to the United States (has no

natural geographic distribution,

including historical range, in the

United States).

! Bred in captivity in the United States.

The following species are not eligible for

a captive-bred wildlife registration since

part of their natural distribution includes

areas in the United States: jaguar,

margay, ocelot, gray wolf, nene, and

thick-billed parrot. An endangered or

threatened species permit is required

prior to each transaction with these

species.

On a species-by-species basis, the Service

may determine that particular species

native to the United States are eligible

for the registration. At the present time,

the only native species that has been

granted eligibility under the registration

is the Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis).

What activities are prohibited?

Without a permit, it is unlawful for any

person subject to the jurisdiction of the

United States to commit, attempt to

commit, solicit another to commit, or

cause to be committed any of the

following activities:

! Take (meaning to harm, harass,

pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap,

capture or collect, or attempt to

engage in any such conduct) within the

United States and its territorial seas

or upon the high seas.

! Deliver, receive, carry, transport or

ship in interstate or foreign commerce

in the course of a commercial activity.

! Sell or offer for sale in interstate or

foreign commerce.

! Import or export.

! Possess, ship, deliver, carry,

transport, sell or receive unlawfully

taken wildlife.

What activities are authorized?

The registration authorizes take and

interstate commerce, PROVIDED the

purpose of the take or commerce is to

enhance the propagation or survival of

the affected species. Take includes

culling and euthanasia, provided such

activities are necessary to maintain a

genetically viable, self-sustaining captive

population of the affected species.

Interstate commerce pertains to the

purchase and sale of the affected species

among captive-bred wildlife registrants

who are not residents of the same state

and who are registered for the species

involved.

Take (harass) for captive wildlife does not

include generally accepted (1) animal

husbandry practices that meet the

Animal Welfare Act standards for

facilities and care; (2) breeding

procedures; and (3) provisions of

veterinary care for confining,

tranquilizing, or anesthetizing, when

such provisions are not likely to result in

injury to the wildlife.

What are the limitations?

! Activities involving non-living wildlife

and their parts and products are not

authorized under the registration.

Authorized activities may be

conducted only with living, exotic

wildlife born and held in captivity in

the United States.
! The registration may be issued when

the applicant documents that his

activities will serve to enhance

propagation or survival of endangered

or threatened species, as defined in 50

CFR 17.3 (see below) and the principal

purpose of the activities is captive

breeding.

! Authorized activities may be

conducted only with other captivebred wildlife registrants who are

registered for the same species. If

either the buyer or seller lacks a

registration, then the buyer must

obtain an endangered or threatened

species interstate commerce permit

prior to the sale.

! The registration may not be issued or

used to sell protected species as pets

or for hybridization of any listed

species.

As outlined in the regulations (50 CFR

17.3), enhance the propagation or

survival, when used in reference to

wildlife in captivity, includes but is not

limited to the following activities when it

can be shown that such activities would

not be detrimental to the survival of wild

or captive populations of the affected

species:

1. Provision of health care, management

of populations by culling, contraception,

euthanasia, grouping or handling of

wildlife to control survivorship and

reproduction, and similar normal

practices of animal husbandry needed to

maintain self-sustaining captive

populations that possess as much genetic

vitality as possible;

2. Accumulation and holding of living

wildlife not immediately needed or

suitable for propagative or scientific

purposes, and the transfer of such

wildlife between persons to relieve

crowding or other problems hindering

the propagation or survival of the captive

population at the location from which the

wildlife would be removed; and

3. Exhibition of living wildlife in a manner

designed to educate the public about the

ecological role and conservation needs of

the affected species. Please note that

registrations are not issued for

conservation education only.

Where do I apply

To apply for the captive-bred wildlife

registration,applicants must complete an

application form and submit it and the

processing fee to the Service’s Division of

Management Authority. (Consult the fee

schedule to see if you are exempt from

the processing fee.) Applicants should

allow for a 60- to 90-day processing and

review period.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

International Affairs

Division of Management Authority

4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700

Arlington, VA 22203

703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104

Fax 703/358-2281

e-mail: managementauthority@fws.gov

http://international.fws.gov

http://permits.fws.gov

Summer 2003