(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), it is unlawful for any person to—(A) import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce; or
(B) breed or possess;
any prohibited wildlife species.
(2) Limitation on applicationParagraph (1) does not apply to—(A) an entity exhibiting animals to the public under a Class C license from the Department of Agriculture, or a Federal facility registered with the Department of Agriculture that exhibits animals, if such entity or facility holds such license or registration in good standing and if the entity or facility—(i) does not allow any individual to come into direct physical contact with a prohibited wildlife species, unless that individual is—(I) a trained professional employee or contractor of the entity or facility (or an accompanying employee receiving professional training);(II) a licensed veterinarian (or a veterinary student accompanying such a veterinarian); or(III) directly supporting conservation programs of the entity or facility, the contact is not in the course of commercial activity (which may be evidenced by advertisement or promotion of such activity or other relevant evidence), and the contact is incidental to humane husbandry conducted pursuant to a species-specific, publicly available, peer-edited population management and care plan that has been provided to the Secretary with justifications that the plan—(aa) reflects established conservation science principles;(bb) incorporates genetic and demographic analysis of a multi-institution population of animals covered by the plan; and(cc) promotes animal welfare by ensuring that the frequency of breeding is appropriate for the species; and
(ii) ensures that during public exhibition of a lion (Panthera leo), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), jaguar (Panthera onca), cougar (Puma concolor), or any hybrid thereof, the animal is at least 15 feet from members of the public unless there is a permanent barrier sufficient to prevent public contact;
(B) a State college, university, or agency, or a State-licensed veterinarian;
(C) a wildlife sanctuary that cares for prohibited wildlife species, and—(i) is a corporation that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of title 26 and described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of such title;
(ii) does not commercially trade in any prohibited wildlife species, including offspring, parts, and byproducts of such animals;
(iii) does not breed any prohibited wildlife species;
(iv) does not allow direct contact between the public and any prohibited wildlife species; and
(v) does not allow the transportation and display of any prohibited wildlife species off-site;
(D) has custody of any prohibited wildlife species solely for the purpose of expeditiously transporting the prohibited wildlife species to a person described in this paragraph with respect to the species; or
(E) an entity or individual that is in possession of any prohibited wildlife species that was born before December 20, 2022, and—(i) not later than 180 days after December 20, 2022, the entity or individual registers each individual animal of each prohibited wildlife species possessed by the entity or individual with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(ii) does not breed, acquire, or sell any prohibited wildlife species after December 20, 2022; and
(iii) does not allow direct contact between the public and prohibited wildlife species.