Importing Your Leopard or

African Elephant Trophy

Do I need a permit?

Yes, you need import and export permits

to bring a personal sport-hunted trophy

of either a leopard or African elephant

(with the exception given in the next

section) into the United States. Except

for elephants taken in Botswana,

Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe, the

African elephant and leopard are

protected in Appendix I, the highest

degree of protection under the

Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES). Also, leopards from

countries in southern Africa and all

African elephants are listed as

threatened under the U.S. Endangered

Species Act (Act). Leopards from

northern or central Africa are listed as

endangered under the Act, and the

Service has never issued a permit for the

import of a leopard trophy taken in these

areas.

What permits do I need for African

elephant trophies taken in Botswana,

Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe?

The populations of elephants from these

four countries are listed in Appendix II

to allow for trade in certain products

only, one of which is the noncommercial

export of personal sport-hunted trophies.

Thus, an import permit is not required

even though the African elephant is still

listed as threatened under the Act.

Under a special rule, the Service must

ensure that each country has an ivory

quota for the year of export and

determine that the import of a sporthunted trophy will enhance the survival

of the species. We have made these

findings for Botswana, Namibia, South

Africa, and Zimbabwe. They will remain

in effect until we find, based on new

information, that the conditions of the

special rule are no longer met and we

have published a notice of any change in

the Federal Register. Except for

information specific to import permits,

all other information in this fact sheet

applies to the import of trophies from

these four countries.

Can I re-export the ivory of my elephant

trophy?

No. Although all parts of a sport-hunted

African elephant may be imported, the

ivory may not be re-exported from the

United States, including the ivory of

Appendix-II populations of elephants

taken in Botswana, Namibia, South

Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Why are permits necessary?

The main purpose of CITES and the Act

is to conserve protected wildlife for

future generations. One of the reasons

the African elephant and leopard were

afforded their current protection is to

reduce the pressure placed on them by

poaching and trade in ivory, and the

fashion industry’s use of spotted cat fur.

Permits monitor the international

movement of wildlife in trade. For species

protected under the Act and included in

Appendix I, permits ensure specimens

are:

! Legally acquired.

! Imported and exported in a manner

that will enhance the survival of the

species, with no detrimental effects on

wild populations.

! Not traded commercially.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
What information does the Service

need from the species’ range country?

Before an import permit can be issued,

the Service must determine that the

import will not be for purposes

detrimental to the survival of the species

and, for elephants, will enhance its

survival. The Service looks at the overall

management program for a species in

each country. Factors considered may

include the biological needs of the

species, possible threats to the

populations, current population

estimates, quotas, management plans,

legal protection, implementation, local

community involvement, and use of

hunting fees for conservation.

Obtaining the information on

management programs may entail a

lengthy collaborative process between

the country of export and the Service. At

times delays occur due to communication

difficulties or political instability.

How long will it take to get an import

permit?

Apply for a permit at least 60 days before

your departure date. Generally, less time

is needed to process import permit

applications for leopards and elephants

from countries for which the Service has

recent information and that meet our

obligations under CITES. These

countries currently are:

! Leopard: Botswana, Namibia, South

Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and

Zimbabwe.

! African elephant: Tanzania.

These countries may change, however, if

the Service receives significant new

information. You may apply for a permit

to import a trophy from other countries,

but you should allow more time for your

application to be processed and a decision

to be made, since applications are

reviewed on a case-by-case basis and this

office may need to contact the foreign

country for information.

What should I know before I go hunting?

! A CITES permit for a leopard or

elephant trophy is for the specific

animal taken by the hunter for his or

her own use only.

! Only two leopard trophies may be

imported by a hunter in one calendar

year.

! You may not import skins or products

of leopard purchased as souvenirs. You

may import leather goods of elephants

that originated in South Africa or

Zimbabwe for your own noncommercial use without an import

permit. You may not import such

products originating in other

countries. All ivory, including carvings

and jewelry, may not be imported into

the United States.

What steps should I take?

1. Obtain an import permit from this

office (except for elephants hunted in

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and

Zimbabwe). You may want to take a copy

of your permit when you leave on safari

as some outfitters require a client to

show that an import permit has been

issued before scheduling the hunt. Leave

the original permit at home as you will

need to present it at the time the trophy

is imported into the United States.

2. Comply with all foreign laws during

your hunt.

3. Obtain a CITES export permit from

the CITES Management Authority in

the country where the

animal was hunted. A copy

of the import permit, if

Appenix-I trophies, will

need to be provided by the

person who applies for the

export permit.

4. Check expiration dates on

your import and export

permits before having the

trophy shipped to you. You could

lose your trophy if it enters the

United States after your permits have

expired. Import permits are valid for one

year, and export permits for six months,

as required by CITES. If the import

permit expires before the trophy is

imported, you need to apply for a new

permit. Return the original unused

permit, a newly completed renewal

application form, and the processing fee.

Allow at least 30 days for processing.

5. Import through a United States port

designated for wildlife. If you plan to use

a non-designated port, request that

exception at the time you apply for the

import permit. Otherwise, you will need

to apply for a separate Designated Post

Exception permit (Form 3-200-2). You

will be charged additional fees at the time

of import to cover the costs incurred by

the Service for using a non-designated

port.

6. Speak with the Service wildlife

inspector at the port of entry to arrange

for inspection at least 72 hours prior to

import. At the time of import, you will

need to present the original import and

export permits, as well as a completed

Declaration for Importation or

Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-

177, obtained at the port).

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