Rainbow Safari Bengals

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Prionailurus Bengalensis
Endangered Species Status

International Law

The primary source of information on endangered species is found with the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITIES). The laws from this convention are recognized by many nations in the world.

CITIES breaks down into three basic categories:

1. Appendix I shall include all species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species must be subject to particularly strict regulation in order not to endanger further their survival and must only be authorized in exceptional circumstances.
2. Appendix II shall include:

(a) all species which although not necessarily now threatened with extinction may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival; and

(b) other species which must be subject to regulation in order that trade in specimens of certain species referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph may be brought under effective control.

3. Appendix III shall include all species which any Party identifies as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the co-operation of other Parties in the control of trade.

4. The Parties shall not allow trade in specimens of species included in Appendices I, II and III except in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention.

[Source: CITIES Web Site: http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml]

The only species that is listed as Appendix I/Endangered is Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis. and only the populations of Bangladesh, India and Thailand; all other populations are included in Appendix II.

[Source: CITIES Web Site: http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml]

U.S. Federal Law

Federal laws are fairly uncomplicated. There are only two species listed as endangered according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department.

TESS Search Results
Scientific Name	Common Name	Species Group	Listing Status	Current Distribution
Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis	Leopard cat	Mammals	E	NA
Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis	Iriomote cat	Mammals	E	NA

[Source: CITIES Web Site: U.S.F.W. Species Search]

It is also important to remember that the United States is signatory to CITIES and so all CITIES regulations apply. That means that while the U.S. only recognizes two sub-species as endangered, all other sub-species are regulated under CITIES Appendix II.

Another information source to be aware of is Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC). Both of these agencies are branches of US Department of Agriculture. Rules adopted by these organizations affect policy within the USDA. Combine that with the pass of the Patriot Act requiring federal agencies like USFW and USDA with shared areas of responsibility to communicate and interact more closely and you have a system that can escalate legislative policy very quickly.