[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR15.23]

[Page 80-81]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
 CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                INTERIOR
 
PART 15_WILD BIRD CONSERVATION ACT--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart C_Permits and Approval of Cooperative Breeding Programs
 
Sec. 15.23  Permits for zoological breeding or display programs.

    (a) Application requirements for permits for zoological breeding or 
display programs. Each application shall provide the following 
information and such other information that the Director may require:
    (1) A description of the exotic bird(s) to be imported, including:
    (i) The common and scientific names of the species, number, age or 
age class, and, when known, sex; and
    (ii) A statement as to whether, at the time of the application, the 
exotic bird is still in the wild, has already been removed from the 
wild, or was bred in captivity;
    (2) If the exotic bird is in the wild or was taken from the wild 
include:
    (i) The country and region where the removal will occur or occurred;
    (ii) A description of the status of the species in the region of 
removal; and
    (iii) A copy of any foreign collecting permit or authorizing letter, 
if applicable;
    (3) If the exotic bird was bred in captivity, include:
    (i) Documents or other evidence that the bird was bred in captivity, 
including the name and address of the breeder, and when known, identity 
of the parental birds, and hatch date; and
    (ii) If the applicant is not the breeder, documentation showing the 
bird was acquired from a breeder and a history of multiple transactions, 
if applicable;
    (4) A statement of the reasons the applicant is justified in 
obtaining a permit, and a complete description of the

[[Page 81]]

breeding or display program to be conducted with the exotic bird 
requested, including:
    (i) A breeding or education protocol that provides information on 
educational materials on the ecology and/or conservation status of the 
species provided to the general public;
    (ii) Plans, if any, for developing or maintaining a self-sustaining 
population of the exotic bird species in captivity;
    (iii) A statement on efforts to obtain birds from alternative 
sources or sources within the United States;
    (iv) The relationship of such a breeding or display program to the 
conservation of the species in the wild; and
    (v) Plans for disposition of the exotic birds and any progeny.
    (5) A description of the care and maintenance of the exotic bird, 
and how the facility meets professionally recognized standards of the 
public display community, including:
    (i) The name and address of the facility where the exotic bird will 
be maintained;
    (ii) Dimensions of existing enclosures for the birds to be imported 
and number of birds to be housed in each;
    (iii) Husbandry practices;
    (6) A history of the zoological facility's breeding programs with 
the same or similar species, including:
    (i) Participation in any cooperative breeding programs;
    (ii) Breeding and inventory records for the last two years, 
including hatching, survival, and mortality records; and
    (iii) Causes of any mortalities and efforts made to correct any 
problems.
    (b) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in 
accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, the Director will decide 
whether or not a permit should be issued. In making this decision, the 
Director shall consider, in addition to the general criteria in part 13 
of this subchapter, the following factors:
    (1) Whether the zoological breeding or display program is adequate 
to justify removing the exotic bird from the wild or otherwise changing 
its status;
    (2) Whether the proposed import would be detrimental to the survival 
of the exotic bird species in the wild, including whether the exotic 
bird was bred in captivity or was (or will be) taken from the wild, 
taking into consideration the conservation status of the species in the 
wild;
    (3) Whether the permit, if issued, would conflict with any known 
program intended to enhance the survival of the population from which 
the exotic bird was or would be removed;
    (4) Whether the breeding or display program for which the permit is 
required has conservation merit; and
    (5) Whether the expertise, facilities or other resources available 
to the applicant appear adequate for proper care and maintenance of the 
exotic bird and to successfully accomplish the zoological breeding or 
display objectives stated in the application.
    (c) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set 
forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this 
section shall be subject to special conditions as the Director may deem 
appropriate.
    (d) Duration of permits. The duration of the import permits issued 
under this section shall be designated on the face of the permit, but in 
no case will these permits be valid for longer than one year.