U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus

dorcas) is an antelope that historically

ranged throughout the Republic of South

Africa. It nearly became extinct by overhunting and loss of habitat due to

expanding agricultural demands. The

bontebok population went from a low of

20 specimens in 1930 to more than 2,500

today. That government’s Department of

Nature and Environmental Conservation

established a management program in

the early 1980’s which encourages game

ranchers to maintain bontebok. The

management plan allows controlled

culling of excess males from registered

captive herds to provide an economic

incentive to ranchers to maintain

bontebok and its habitat.

Importing Your Bontebok

Sport-hunted Trophy

Do I need a permit?

Yes. The bontebok is protected in

Appendix II under the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES) and listed as endangered under

the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

You need a CITES export permit from

the South African Management

Authority and an endangered species

import permit from the Division of

Management Authority prior to bringing

a personal sport-hunted bontebok trophy

into the United States.

Why are permits necessary?

Permits ensure that the legal and

conservation requirements of CITES
and the ESA are met before the export

and import occur. The main purpose of

CITES and the ESA is to conserve

protected wildlife for future generations.

A CITES export permit can be issued if

the export is not detrimental to the

survival of the species and the specimen

was legally acquired. An endangered

species import permit can be issued if the

import will enhance the propagation or

survival of the species. The Service has

determined that the culling of male

bontebok through sport hunting on

ranches that participate in South Africa’s

management program will enhance the

survival of the bontebok, provided they

are imported by the person who hunted

them for personal use. South Africa

registers game ranches to ensure they

maintain pure-bred bontebok herds.

Since the establishment of this program,

registered, pure-bred bontebok herds on

South African ranches have increased

steadily.

How does the Service know which game

ranches are registered?

South Africa periodically sends the

Service a list of game ranches that are

part of their bontebok management

program. If you apply for an import

permit for an animal taken from a ranch

that does not appear on the list, and

South Africa can not confirm the ranch is

registered, your permit request will be

denied.

How long will it take to get an import How long will it take to get an import

permit?

Apply for a permit at least 90 days before

your departure. Under the ESA,

applications must be published in the

Federal Register to allow the public 30

days to comment on the proposed

import.

What should I know before I go hunting?

! Confirm that the game ranch on which

you propose to hunt is registered

with South Africa’s bontebok

management program.

! Obtain a letter from the landowner

giving you permission to cull a male

bontebok on his/her property. Send a

copy with your import permit

application.

! Be aware that you may only obtain an

import permit for a bontebok trophy

taken by you for personal use.

! If you are considering buying wildlife

souvenirs, check with the Division of

Management Authority to determine

if you will be allowed to import them.

What steps should I take?

1. Obtain an import permit from this

office. You may want to take a copy of the

import permit with you, but 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 South Africa’s laws

during your hunt.

3. Obtain a CITES export permit from

the South African CITES Management

Authority prior to importing the trophy.

4. Check the expiration dates on your

import and export permits before having

the trophy shipped. You could lose your

trophy if it enters the United States after

your permits have expired. Import

permits are valid for one year. Export

permits are valid for 6 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 U.S. 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. You may 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 72 hours prior to the

arrival of your trophy. 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