Fish and Wildlife Service banned imports and interstate commerce activities that includes the following species: Python molurus (which includes Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus and Indian python Python molurus molurus), Northern African python (Python sebae), Southern African python (Python natalensis), and Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) The official notice was published in 77 Fed. Reg. 3,330. The notice labels, under Lacey Act, these species as “injurous,” and therefore gives basis to exclude them from interstate commerce. The notice leaves the door open for exceptions, by permit, and on case by case basis. But, the notice goes on to state that “[t]he rule does not address under what circumstances a person may qualify for exception to the importation or interstate transportation prohibitions under the zoological purposes provisions,” leaving circus performers in the dark. One thing that is clear, is that a traveling circus performer will need to apply for the permit to take applicable snakes out of state. If that is not done, and if caught, the performer may get criminal charges filed against him. The example statement in the notice provides a good example of what can happen: A person would violate the injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act (18…
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