U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Exporting CITES Bred-in- captivity Wildlife

Captive breeding of wildlife is an and Flora (CITES). This treaty regulates Animals Regulations. important source of animals for pet trade in listed species, including hybrids owners, hobbyists, breeders, zoos, and captive-bred specimens, through a The Division of Management Authority researchers, and commercial dealers. If system of permits and certificates. administers CITES in the United States you plan to export captive-bred wildlife, and processes applications for permits take a few minutes Under CITES, a species is listed at one and certificates. to become acquainted with wildlife laws of three levels of protection, which have and regulations that may affect you. different permit requirements: What is bred-in-captivity under CITES? The terms captive-born, captive hatched, What is CITES and how does it apply to  Appendix I includes species captive-bred, and bred-in-captivity are me? threatened with extinction that are or often used interchangeably, but there To ensure that commercial demand does may be affected by trade. Import is is a difference. Captive-born or captive not threaten their survival in the wild, prohibited for primarily commercial hatched describe animals born or many wildlife species are protected by purposes unless the animals meet the hatched in captivity, but whose parents the Convention on International Trade in criteria for bred-in-captivity (see may have mated in the wild, i.e. when a Endangered Species of Wild Fauna below). A shipment requires both wild-caught female is pregnant at the export and import permits, issued time she is placed in captivity, or when only when the purpose of the import eggs are collected from the wild, then or export will not be detrimental to hatched in captivity. Generally, captive the species’ survival and the bred describes animals that were born or specimens were legally acquired. hatched in captivity and whose parents Export to an importer establishing a mated in captivity. breeding program to sell offspring is considered a commercial purpose. CITES countries have agreed that wildlife may be considered bred-in-  Appendix II includes species that captivity only if the exporting country may become threatened with finds that the animals meet the following extinction if trade is not regulated. strict criteria: All specimens require an export permit, issued for any purpose as  The parental breeding stock (founder long as export is not detrimental stock) was: (1) legally acquired, to species’ survival and specimens (2) established in a manner not were legally acquired. detrimental to species survival in the wild, and (3) maintained without the  Appendix III includes species listed addition of wild-caught animals, by their range countries to obtain except for occasional addition of international cooperation in animals to prevent or alleviate controlling trade. Export of deleterious inbreeding and for other non-native specimens born in the exceptional circumstances. United States requires a certificate of origin. Export of native speices,  The captive-breeding program has which the United States has produced offspring of second included in Appendix III, requires generation or subsequent generations an export permit. in a controlled environment or the species is managed in a manner that Export permits for any CITES-listed live has demonstrated reliable breeding to specimens may be issued only when the the second generaion by other Grey Parrot, applicant demonstrates that the animals breeders. Some second-generation CITES will be humanely shipped, e.g., if by air, specimens do not qualify under the shipment meets the International CITES as bred-in-captivity because Appendix II Reuben Yau CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Air Transport Association (IATA) Live the breeding program does not produce sufficient offspring to Does buying young animals provide maintain the diversity of the captive any assurance that they are captive bred stock. or of legal origin? Unfortunately, no. Young animals or For Appendix-II and -III species that eggs could have been removed from the meet the above criteria, the Service may wild. Their small size makes them issue a bred-in-captivity certificate. easier to conceal and trade illegally. However, for Appendix-I species, Captive-bred animals are not of legal additional restrictions apply. origin if one of the parents was obtained illegally. You can help conservation What about Appendix-I species bred in- efforts by finding out the source of the captivity? animals you purchase and refusing to Requirements differ, depending on buy questionable stock. whether or not the animal was bred for commercial purposes: How do I apply for CITES permits? In most cases, complete a standard  Bred for non-commercial purposes: application form (3-200-24) and submit it If the Service finds that the specimen with a processing was bred for non-commercial fee to the Division of Management purposes and meets the bred-in Authority. Allow at least 60 days for captivity criteria outlined above, it review. Also contact your State wildlife issues a bred-in-captivity certificate. conservation agency and the CITES This document authorizes the export Radiated Tortoise, CITES Appendix I Management Authority of the importing of the specimen. In addition, the Teague O’Mara, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 country to determine any additional importer does not need a CITES may be required for species requirements. Some species that are import permit. However, some subject to significant levels of illegal protected under CITES are also countries have domestic legislation international trade. protected by other U.S. laws under that requires an import permit. You which permit requirements may be need to contact the CITES  Inventory of captive population that more stringent, i.e., Endangered Management Authority in the country shows the number of animals by sex Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty of import to meet their requirements and age- or size-class. Act. prior to export (addresses available from the Division of Management  Annual production (eggs laid, young How do I get more information about Authority or from the national born or hatched, young reared to registering my facility? contacts page at www.cites.org). independence) and mortalities within The registration process for a captive population. commercial Appendix-I species requires  Bred for commercial purposes: extensive work. Application forms Such trade is prohibited under  Number of animals sold or (3-200-64) are available on our website, CITES except when the facility is transferred annually. www.fws.gov/international/. You can also registered with the CITES review the CITES Resolution, Resolution Secretariat. Breeding stock must  Number of animals added to the Conf. 12.10 (Rev. CoP15), for additional meet bred-in-captivity criteria for a breeder’s captive population from information. You can also contact our facility to be eligible for registration. another source. office for information at the email and Once a facility is registered, such phone number listed below. animals are treated as if they were in  Transaction records (i.e., date, Appendix II—that is, they can be quantity of animals, name and exported for commercial use by the address of seller, and a list of importer. No separate CITES previous owners, with a complete import permit is required. However, history of transactions back to the contact the country of import to meet breeder or importer. For imported their requirements. animals, try to obtain and keep a copy of the CITES permit and wildlife How can I show that my animals are import declaration). bred in captivity? U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Keep good records. For applications You may need to permanently mark involving exporting bred-in-captivity International Affairs your animals to track them, as well as 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 212 specimens, the Division of Management make available photographs or videos of Authority may require information on: Arlington, VA 22203 the captive propagation program and 703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104 facilities, including activities during How, when, and where parental stock e-mail: [email protected] nesting and production and rearing of http://www.fws.gov/international was obtained, and documentation to young. Additional information may be show its legal origin—obtain a receipt requested if you are breeding for September 2012 for your purchase and documentation commercial purposes and are applying showing source of specimens and to register your facility. @USFWSInternatl parental stock. Additional information Like us on Facebook USFWS_International Affairs