Notice2026-04079
Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10107-10109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04079]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2025-0902; FXIA16710900000-267-FF09A30000]
Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to
comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign
species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed
species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such
activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before
issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with
respect to any endangered species.
DATES: We must receive comments by April 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The applications, supporting materials, and
any comments and other materials that we receive will be available for
public inspection at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> in Docket No. FWS-HQ-
IA-2025-0902.
Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the
name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your
comment. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
<bullet> Internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2025-0902.
<bullet> U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-HQ-IA-2025-0902; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS:
PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
For more information, see Public Comment Procedures under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy MacDonald, by phone at 703-
358-2185 or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f0b4bdb1b6a2b0968783de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1f161a1d091b3d2c28753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make
[[Page 10108]]
international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
A. How do I comment on submitted applications?
We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies
to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested
permits, we will take into consideration any information that we
receive during the public comment period.
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods in
ADDRESSES. We will not consider comments sent by email or to an address
not in ADDRESSES. We will not consider or include in our administrative
record comments we receive after the close of the comment period (see
DATES).
When submitting comments, please specify the name of the applicant
and the permit number at the beginning of your comment. Provide
sufficient information to allow us to authenticate any scientific or
commercial data you include. The comments and recommendations that will
be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are: (1) Those
supported by quantitative information or studies; and (2) those that
include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and
regulations.
B. May I review comments submitted by others?
You may view and comment on others' public comments at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> unless our allowing so would violate the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) or Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).
C. Who will see my comments?
If you submit a comment at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, your entire
comment, including any personal identifying information, will be posted
on the website. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal
identifying information, such as your address, phone number, or email
address, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold
this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so. Moreover, all submissions from organizations
or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.
II. Background
To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected
species, and in consideration of section 10(c) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we
invite public comments on permit applications before final action is
taken. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits certain activities with
listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such
activities. Permits issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA allow
otherwise prohibited activities for scientific purposes or to enhance
the propagation or survival of the affected species. Service
regulations regarding prohibited activities with endangered species,
captive-bred wildlife registrations, and permits for any activity
otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species
are available in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part
17.
III. Permit Applications
We invite comments on the following applications.
Applicant: Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA; Permit No. PER22439339
The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-born female
snow leopard (Uncia (=Panthera) uncia) to Calgary Zoo, Canada, for the
purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species. This
notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Pinola Conservancy, Shreveport, LA; Permit No. PER22579904
The applicant requests a permit to export nine captive-born blue-
billed curassows (Crax alberti) to Weltvogelpark Walsrode, Germany, for
the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.
This notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA; Permit No.
PER22439241
The applicant requests a permit to export one captive-born female
leopard (Panthera pardus) to Bjorneparken AS, Vikberget, Norway, for
the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.
This notification is for a single export.
Applicant: Memphis Zoo, Memphis, TN; Permit No. PER22876538
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species, to enhance the propagation
or survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
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Common name Scientific name
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Black-and-white ruffed lemur.............. Varecia variegata.
Bontebok.................................. Damalisucs pygarus (=dorcas)
dorcas.
Cheetah................................... Acinonyx jubatus.
Leopard................................... Panthera pardus.
Red-ruffed lemur.......................... Varecia rubra.
Siamang................................... Symphalangus syndactylus.
Snow leopard.............................. Uncia (=Panthera) uncia.
Southern white rhinoceros................. Ceratotherium simum simum.
Tiger..................................... Panthera tigris.
Northern white-cheeked gibbon............. Nomascus leucogenys.
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Applicant: Texas African Adventures, Hondo, TX; Permit No. PER19939244
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for red lechwe (Kobus leche), Eld's brow-antlered deer
(Cervus eldi), swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli), and Arabian oryx (Oryx
leucoryx), to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. This
notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a
5-year period.
Applicant: Dragonstone Ranch, Gatesville, TX; Permit No. PER23194144
The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under
50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following species, to enhance the propagation
or survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
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Common name Scientific name
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Black-and-white ruffed lemur.............. Varecia variegata.
Brown lemur............................... Eulemur fulvus.
Red-ruffed lemur.......................... Varecia rubra.
Ring-tailed lemur......................... Lemur catta.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant: Texas African Adventures, Hondo, TX; Permit No. PER19939245.
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
red lechwe (Kobus leche), Eld's brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi), swamp
deer (Cervus duvauceli), and Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from the
captive herd maintained at their facility, to enhance the species'
propagation and survival. This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Multiple Trophy Applicants
The following applicants request permits to import sport-hunted
trophies of male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus
[[Page 10109]]
pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management
program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancing
the propagation or survival of the species.
<bullet> Applicant: Russell Lee Brines, Durham, CA; Permit No.
PER22571162
<bullet> Applicant: James Cannella, Palm Harbor, FL; Permit No.
PER22702471
<bullet> Applicant: Marla Dobson, Ranger, TX; Permit No. PER22722124
<bullet> Applicant: Adam Nietsche, Giddings, TX; Permit No. PER22723099
<bullet> Applicant: Ronald Browning, Lansing, MI; Permit No.
PER22993975
<bullet> Applicant: Dustin Knutson, Mitchell, SD; Permit No.
PER23001703
<bullet> Applicant: Benjamin Norris, Vestavia, AL; Permit No.
PER23002769
<bullet> Applicant: Ryan Allowitz, Georgetown, TX; Permit No.
PER23002846
<bullet> Applicant: Vanessa Lindner, Nashville, TN; Permit No.
PER23023066
<bullet> Applicant: Leonard Wood, Midland, TX; Permit No. PER23023968
<bullet> Applicant: Amanda Bentley, The Woodlands, TX; Permit No.
PER23053747
<bullet> Applicant: Sheldon McVay, Bartow, FL; Permit No. PER23188968
IV. Next Steps
After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding
permit issuance. If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed in
this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. You may
locate the notice announcing the permit issuance by searching <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> for the permit number listed above in this
document. For example, to find information about the potential issuance
of Permit No. 12345A, you would go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> and search for
``12345A''.
V. Authority
We issue this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and its implementing
regulations.
Timothy MacDonald,
Government Information Specialist, Branch of Permits, Division of
Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2026-04079 Filed 2-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.