[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: 50CFR15.24]

[Page 81-83]
 
                    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. 15.24  Permits for cooperative breeding.

    (a) Application requirements for permits for cooperative breeding. 
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 still 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

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    (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, when known, the identity 
of the parental birds and hatch date; and
    (ii) If the applicant is not the breeder, documentation showing the 
bird was acquired from the 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 statement detailing the applicant's 
participation in a cooperative breeding program approved under section 
15.26 of this chapter, including;
    (i) Copies of any signed agreements or protocols with the monitoring 
avicultural, conservation, or zoological organization overseeing the 
program; and
    (ii) Applicable records of the cooperative breeding program of any 
other birds imported, their progeny, and their disposition;
    (5) A complete description of the relationship of the exotic bird to 
the approved cooperative breeding program, including;
    (i) A statement of the role of the exotic bird in a breeding 
protocol;
    (ii) A plan for maintaining a self-sustaining captive population of 
the exotic bird species;
    (iii) Details on recordkeeping; and
    (iv) Plans for disposition of the exotic birds and any progeny 
produced during the course of this program.
    (6) A statement outlining the applicant's attempts to obtain the 
exotic bird in a manner that would not cause its removal from the wild, 
and attempts to obtain the specimens of the exotic bird species from 
stock available in the United States;
    (7) A description of the care and maintenance of the exotic bird, 
and how the facility meets professionally recognized standards, 
including;
    (i) The name and address of the facility where the exotic bird will 
be maintained;
    (ii) Dimensions of existing enclosures for birds to be imported and 
number of birds to be housed in each; and
    (iii) Husbandry practices;
    (8) A history of the applicant's past participation in cooperative 
breeding programs with the same or similar species, including;
    (i) Breeding and inventory records for at least the last two years;
    (ii) Hatching, survival, and mortality records;
    (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 cooperative breeding 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 cooperative breeding program for which the permit is 
required would be likely to enhance or promote the conservation of the 
exotic bird species in the wild or result in a self-sustaining 
population of the exotic bird species in captivity; and
    (4) Whether the expertise, facilities, or other resources available 
to the applicant appear adequate for proper care and maintenance of the 
exotic birds and to successfully accomplish the cooperative breeding 
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

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permits be valid for longer than one year.