Notice2026-09234
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
May 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (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 90 (Monday, May 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25591-25593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09234]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2026-1057; 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 (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: Comments will be accepted on or before June 10, 2026. Comments
submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see
ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the
closing date.
To ensure your comment is received and considered, you must submit
it using one of the methods identified in the ADDRESSES section of this
document. Comments submitted through any method not authorized in this
document, or sent to an address not listed here, will not be
considered.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The applications, application
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-2026-1057.
Comment submission: All submissions must include the docket number
FWS-HQ-IA-2026-1057 for this document. You must submit comments using
one of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal at:
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search box, enter FWS-HQ-IA-2026-
1057, which is the docket number for this action. Then click the Search
button. On the resulting page, you may submit a comment by clicking on
``Comment.'' Please ensure that you have found the correct document
before submitting your comments.
<bullet> U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-HQ-IA-2026-1057, Policy and Regulations Branch, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church,
VA 22041-3803.
Comments submitted through any method not authorized in this
document, or sent to an address not listed here, will not be
considered. We will not accept comments via email, fax, or hand
delivery. We are not required to consider comments that are submitted
after the comment period ends or that are submitted via a method
outside of these instructions. Comments containing profanity,
vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate content will not be
considered.
We will post all comments at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. You may
request that we withhold personal identifying information from public
review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. For
more information, see Public Comment
[[Page 25592]]
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#41050c000713012736326f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd8d1dddacedcfaebefb2fbf3ea">[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 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 (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 (CFR) in
part 17.
III. Permit Applications
We invite comments on the following applications.
Applicant: Tanganyika Wildlife Preserve dba Tanganyika Wildlife Park,
Goddard, KS; Permit No. PER23008706
The applicant requests a permit to import two live, captive-bred
male siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) from Safari Niagara,
Stevensville, Canada, for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or
survival of the species. This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Phoenix Herpetological Society dba Phoenix Herpetological
Sanctuary, Scottsdale, AZ; Permit No. PER30802353
The applicant requests a permit to import two Siamese crocodiles
(Crocodylus siamensis) of unknown origin from the Republic of Korea for
the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.
This notification is for a single import.
Applicant: Ox Ranch Investments, LLC, Uvalde, TX; Permit No.
PER24623358
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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Arabian oryx.............................. Oryx leucoryx.
Swamp deer................................ Cervus duvaucelii.
Eld's brow-antlered deer.................. Cervus eldi.
Red lechwe................................ Kobus leche.
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Applicant: Zoological Subdistrict of the Metropolitan Zoological Park
and Museum District dba Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO; Permit No.
PER30725674
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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African lion.............................. Panthera leo melanochaita.
African wild ass.......................... Equus africanus.
African wild dog.......................... Lycaon pictus.
Amur leopard.............................. Panthera pardus.
Tiger..................................... Panthera tigris.
Asian elephant............................ Elephas maximus.
Babirusa.................................. Babyrousa babyrussa.
Banteng................................... Bos javanicus.
Black rhinoceros.......................... Diceros bicornis.
Cabot's tragopan.......................... Tragopan caboti.
Cheetah................................... Acinonyx jubatus.
Grevy's zebra............................. Equus grevyi.
Hartmann's mountain zebra................. Equus zebra hartmannae.
Humboldt penguin.......................... Spheniscus humboldti.
Palawan peacock pheasant.................. Polyplectron emphanum.
Prezewalski's horse....................... Equus przewalskii.
Rothschild's (mynah) starling............. Leucopsar rothschildi.
Snow leopard.............................. Uncia (Panthera) uncia.
Southern rockhopper penguin............... Eudyptes chrysocome.
Southern white rhinoceros................. Ceratotherium simum simum.
Vietnam pheasant.......................... Lophura edwardsi.
White-naped crane......................... Grus vipio.
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Applicant: Acacia Ranch, LLC Auburn, IN; Permit No. PER30746146
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
[[Page 25593]]
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
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Common name Scientific name
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Grevy's zebra............................. Equus grevyi.
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Applicant: Project Banteng, LLC, Laredo, TX; Permit No. PER30778775
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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Arabian oryx.............................. Oryx leucoryx.
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Applicant: Ox Ranch Investments, LLC, Uvalde, TX; Permit No. PER0039889
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), Swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelii), Eld's
brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi), and red lechwe (Kobus leche) 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.
Applicant: Project Banteng, LLC, Laredo, TX; Permit No. PER30779073
The applicant requests a permit authorizing the culling of excess
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 pygargus) culled from a
captive herd in the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of
enhancing the propagation or survival of the species.
<bullet> Applicant: John William Poole III, Spring Hill, KS; Permit No.
PER30592949
<bullet> Applicant: Stephen Worzella, Plover, WI; Permit No.
PER30597024
<bullet> Applicant: George Indorf, Jamestown, KS; Permit No.
PER30603518
<bullet> Applicant: Tom E. Altmann, Plover, WI; Permit No. PER30722154
<bullet> Applicant: Todd Hinkins, Orangeville, UT; Permit No.
PER30869667
<bullet> Applicant: Jay Dee Hunt III, Slidell, LA; Permit No.
PER30871371
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.
Scott Carleton,
Acting Branch Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2026-09234 Filed 5-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 11, 2026.
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.