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August 16, 2007
Subject: Implementation of the Captive Wildlife Safety Act
Background:
The Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA) of 2003 amended the Lacey Act to prohibit the interstate and international movement of certain live big cats and instructed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to develop implementing regulations. The CWSA stipulated that new prohibitions would not go into effect until Service regulations were in place.
CWSA prohibitions, which include import and export, apply to live lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars; all subspecies of these species; and any hybrid combinations of these species. The CWSA provides exemptions for certain individuals and entities (including many of those who routinely import or export this type of wildlife).
Final Service regulations implementing the CWSA were published in the Federal Register on August 16, 2007. Both those regulations and the prohibitions established under the CWSA will go into effect on September 17, 2007.
Action: Effective September 17, 2007, no one may import or export any live big cat as identified above unless they qualify as exempt under the CWSA. Interstate sale, purchase, acquisition, and transport are also prohibited.
Exempt entities include those licensed under the Animal Welfare Act to possess big cats and those registered under that statute to transport them. Exemptions are also provided for state colleges and universities; state agencies; state-licensed wildlife rehabilitators; state-licensed veterinarians; and wildlife sanctuaries that meet specific requirements.
Importers and exporters who want to learn more about the CWSA should consult our online factsheet.
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