Captive Wildlife Rules Eased: Protecting Zoos and Grandfathering Private Owners.
This bill amends federal law regarding the possession and trade of captive wildlife, primarily benefiting licensed zoos and animal exhibitors. It removes snow leopards and clouded leopards from the list of strictly prohibited species. Crucially, it creates a path for private individuals to legally keep existing prohibited animals if they register them with the government and agree not to breed, sell, or acquire more.
Key points
Snow leopards and clouded leopards (and their hybrids) are removed from the list of "prohibited wildlife species" under the Lacey Act.
Private owners of existing prohibited species can keep them legally if they register each animal and agree not to breed, sell, or exhibit them publicly.
Exceptions to restrictions are expanded for licensed zoos and exhibitors, including Class B licensees and their staff (owners, volunteers, veterinary technicians).
Licensed facilities are now explicitly allowed to import and export prohibited species to and from authorized foreign entities.
Introduced
Citizen Poll