Form 3-200-11 Registration Form - Big Cat Public Safety Act (Pub. L. 1

FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

REGISTRATION FORM
BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT
(Pub. L. 117-243, December 20, 2022, 136 Stat 2336)

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
This is a registration form. This registration form is provided under the authority of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e), pursuant
to the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA), Pub. L. 117-243, December 20, 2022, 136 Stat 2336 (amending the
Captive Wildlife Safety Act, and Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3374, 3376, and 7 U.S.C. §
1997).
To qualify to continue to possess live specimens of prohibited wildlife species (also referred to as “big cats”)
under 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E), you must register all live specimens of prohibited wildlife species in your
possession with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service no later than June 18, 2023. "Prohibited wildlife
species” is defined as “any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species.”
[16 U.S.C. § 3371(h)]. This includes any of the following species, or hybrids of any of these species: lion (Panthera leo),
tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa),
jaguar (Panthera onca), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), cougar (Puma concolor). [50 CFR 14.252].
The BCPSA makes it 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 live prohibited wildlife species. [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(1)]. The BCPSA also makes it unlawful for any person
to attempt to commit any of these acts with prohibited wildlife species. [16 U.S.C. § 3372(a)(4)]. Violators of the BCPSA
are subject to civil and criminal penalties, [16 U.S.C. § 3373], and big cats bred, possessed, imported, exported,
transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased contrary to the provisions of the BCPSA shall be subject to forfeiture
to the United States, [16 U.S.C. § 3374].
The BCPSA also authorizes a limited exception from the prohibition on possession for a person or entity to register live
specimens of prohibited wildlife species if certain requirements are met and continue to be met. [16 U.S.C. §
3372(e)(2)(E)]. The exception is intended to allow current owners of big cats at the time of enactment of the BCPSA to
keep their big cats, but they must register with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, are not allowed to breed,
acquire, or sell big cats, and cannot allow direct contact between the public and their big cats. [H. Rept. No. 117-428, p.
17 (July 22, 2022)]. By registering their big cats by no later than the statutory deadline (June 18, 2023), the person or
entity (registrant) may continue to possess registered big cats that were born before the date of enactment, December 20,
2022, and legally in their possession on or before the date of enactment, as long as the registrant meets and continues to
meet all requirements of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E).
To meet the requirements for an exception from the prohibition on possession under 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E), you
(registrant) must:
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Register each individual big cat in your possession with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by no later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the BCPSA, December 20, 2022 (i.e., no later than June 18, 2023) [16 U.S.C.
§ 3372(e)(2)(E)(i)];

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Not breed 1, acquire, or sell any big cat after the date of the enactment of the BCPSA, December 20, 2022. [16
U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(ii); NOTE: The requirement that the registrant not breed, acquire, or sell any prohibited
wildlife species after December 20, 2022, applies regardless of whether the activity is intrastate, interstate, or
international]; and

1 “Breed” means “to facilitate propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or to fail to prevent
propagation or reproduction.” [16 U.S.C. § 3371(a)].

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

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Not allow direct contact 2 between the public and any big cat(s) after the date of the enactment of the BCPSA,
December 20, 2022. [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(iii)].

To meet the requirements under 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E), the big cat in the registrant’s possession must:
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Have been born before the date of enactment of the BCPSA, December 20, 2022, except as described below for
a big cat born on or after December 20, 2022, from breeding that occurred before December 20, 2022 [16 U.S.C.
§ 3372(e)(2)(E];

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Not have been acquired by the registrant after the date of enactment, December 20, 2022 (i.e., legally in the
registrant’s possession on or before December 20, 2022, and have remained continually in the registrant’s
possession) [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(ii)]; and

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Have been registered by the owner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by no later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the BCPSA, December 20, 2022 (i.e., no later than June 18, 2023) [16 U.S.C. §
3372(e)(2)(E)(i)].

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that there may have been big cats bred before the effective date of the
BCPSA, that were subsequently born on or after the effective date of the BCPSA. The text of the BCPSA only allows big
cats born before the effective date of the BCPSA to be registered under 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E). If a big cat is not
registered, then it may not be possessed by its owner under the limited exception of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E); and, if
each big cat owned by a registrant is not registered by the statutory deadline (i.e., no later than June 18, 2023), then the
registrant does not qualify to possess any of their big cats under 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E). However, the BCPSA does
not specifically address big cats born on or after the effective date of the BCPSA from breeding that occurred before the
effective date of the BCPSA. As noted above, the exception is intended to allow current owners of big cats to keep big
cats that were legally in their possession at the time of enactment of the BCPSA, if they register their big cats and comply
with the BCPSA, including by not breeding any big cats on or after the effective date of the BCPSA. [H. Rept. No. 117428, p. 17 (July 22, 2022)]. The BCPSA was not intended to retroactively prohibit breeding that occurred before the
enactment of the BCPSA. Under the requirements of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(ii)-(iii), after December 20, 2022 the
registrant is prohibited from breeding, acquiring, or selling big cats, and from allowing direct contact between the public
and big cats. However, the BCPSA requires that to keep and possess the parent under the limited exception of 16 U.S.C.
§ 3372(e)(2)(E), the owner must register not only the parent, but each big cat legally in the owner’s possession, 16 U.S.C.
§ 3372(e)(2)(E)(i), which includes the cub legally bred before but born to the parent after the enactment of the
BCPSA. Recognizing these intentions, and to avoid a reading of the BCPSA that would lead to an impossibility for some
current owners of big cats both to comply with the law and possess big cats that are born on or after the effective date of
the BCPSA from breeding that occurred before the effective date of the BCPSA, such big cats will be considered eligible
for registration. In addition to meeting all the other requirements above, such big cats may be registered, if the registrant
includes documentation demonstrating that the breeding of the big cat occurred before December 20, 2022 (the effective
date of the BCPSA). The gestation period for all big cats is substantially less than the 180-day registration period provided
in the BCPSA, meaning that any owners of big cats that are affected still must meet the statutory deadline to register
(June 18, 2023). Accordingly, except as provided by the BCPSA [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(A)-(D)], possession of any big
cat born on or after December 20, 2022, is possessed in violation of the BCPSA, unless: documentation is provided to
prove the big cat was born on or after December 20, 2022, from breeding that occurred before December 20, 2022, and
all other registration requirements of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E) are met as described above.
NOTE: Big cats bred or possessed in violation of the BCPSA and to include any big cat that is not registered on or before
June 18, 2023, shall be subject to forfeiture for violation of the BCPSA prohibition on possession, unless another limited
exception applies. [16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(e)(2)(A) - (D), 3374(a)]. These other exceptions apply only to qualifying entities
exhibiting big cats 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; State colleges, State universities, State agencies, or Statelicensed veterinarians; qualifying wildlife sanctuaries; or qualifying transporters only when in custody of any big cat solely
for the purpose of expeditiously transporting the big cat to a person who qualifies for an exception under the BCPSA.
“Direct contact” means “any situation in which any individual other than an authorized keeper or caregiver may
potentially touch or otherwise come into physical contact with any live specimen of the prohibited wildlife species.” [50
CFR 14.252].
2

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
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It is your responsibility to follow all local, state, and federal laws and regulations for possession of and other activities with
prohibited wildlife species, and registration under the BCPSA does not constitute authorization to engage in any activity
prohibited by such laws and regulations. NOTE: For example, most big cats are listed as either endangered or
threatened under the Endangered Species Act and take of such species and their offspring is prohibited, with limited
exceptions for take authorized by statute, regulation, or permit. [16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.; 50 CFR part 17].
The principal owner or responsible party must complete this form. If the prohibited wildlife species is owned by a
corporation, business, trust, or other entity, the names, titles, and mailing address of each officer of the entity must be
provided, as well as the address where the wildlife is located if different from the registrant’s physical or mailing
addresses. These names and addresses may be provided as a separate attachment to the registration form.
How can I register my big cats?
You must complete this registration form for all of the big cats in your possession and submit it to the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service no later than June 18, 2023, to register your big cat(s). Under the BCPSA, we are unable to accept
registrations received after June 18, 2023. If more than one entity owns or has responsibility for the big cat(s), you must
provide a list of the names, addresses, and contact information for all owners of the big cat(s).
To register, you must mail in your complete registration form to: Division of Management Authority, Branch of Permits
MS:IA, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia, 22041-3803. You must complete and attach a separate Section B for
each individual big cat. Mailed registrations must be postmarked by June 18, 2023; registrations postmarked after that
date will not be accepted. We are unable to provide electronic registration services within the statutory deadline.

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

REGISTRATION FORM
BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT
(Pub. L. 117-243, December 20, 2022, 136 Stat 2336)

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

SECTION A:
All information is required.
First Name

Middle Name (if applicable)

Email Address

Telephone Number

Last Name
Date of Birth

Street Address (physical location)

City/County/State

Mailing Address (if different than physical address)

City/State/Zip Code

If the prohibited wildlife species is owned by a corporation, business, trust or other entity, you must complete the
following:
Name of business, corporation, or trust

Tax ID Number

Principal Officer First and Last Name

Title

Email Address

I

Telephone Number

Alternate Phone Number

Street Address (physical location)

City/County/State

Mailing Address (if different than physical address)

City/State/Zip Code

Additional Officer First and Last Name (If applicable)

Title

Additional Officer First and Last Name (If applicable)

Title

Additional Officer First and Last Name (If applicable)

Title

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

All registrants must complete the certification statement.
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
•

I hereby certify that I am seeking to register this live big cat in my possession to continue to possess this registered
big cat in accordance with 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E).

•

I hereby certify that all big cats for which I seek registration were born before December 20, 2022, (the date of
enactment of the BCPSA) OR were born on or after December 20, 2022, from breeding that occurred before
December 20, 2022 and were not acquired after the date of enactment, December 20, 2022 (i.e., were legally in my
possession on or before December 20, 2022, and have remained continually in my possession). [16 U.S.C. §
3372(e)(2)(E)(i)].

•

I hereby certify that I have not bred, acquired, or sold, and will not breed, acquire, or sell any big cat after December
20, 2022 (date of enactment of BCPSA). [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(ii)].

•

I hereby certify that I have not allowed and will not allow direct contact between any big cats and the public after
December 20, 2022. [16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E)(iii)].

•

I hereby certify that I understand it is my responsibility to follow all local, state, and federal laws and regulations for
possession of and other activities with big cats, and that registration under the BCPSA does not constitute
authorization to engage in any activity prohibited by such laws and regulations.

•

I hereby certify that the information submitted on this registration form is complete and accurate to the best of my
knowledge and belief. I understand that any false statement herein may subject me to the criminal penalties of 18
U.S.C. 1001.

Signature and date: _______________________________________________________________

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

SECTION B

Part I

For each big cat registered, Section B must be completed separately. If you have more than one big cat,
complete and attach a copy of Section B for each big cat. (If you need more space for an entry, you may
attach the information below on separate paper or as a spreadsheet). Provide the following information for
each big cat you possess (for hybrids, use Part II):
•

•
•
•
•
•

Information must be updated within 10 calendar days when there is any change in
1) location where the big cat is housed,
2) protocols taken to prevent breeding,
3) protocols taken to prevent direct contact between the public and big cat,
4) ownership, or
5) unique identifier. (See Part III)
Death of a registered big cat must be reported within 10 calendar days of when a registered big cat dies.
(See Part III)
Unique identifier MUST be either a tattoo or a microchip.
Provide photographs of front and profile of each big cat. If unique identifiers include visible marks or color
differences, ensure those identifiers are captured in the photograph.
Provide documentation of acquisition and date of acquisition (e.g., receipt or invoice, records of transfer,
breeding records, notarized statement).
Include a copy of all local, state or, federal licenses held in relation to this big cat, where applicable.

Common name of the prohibited wildlife species

Genus

Name given to individual big cat, if applicable

Species

Birth date

Date of acquisition

Sex

Description (e.g., eye color, scars, ear tags)

Subspecies

Unique identifier of the individual big cat (i.e., microchip or tattoo)

Physical location of the big cat (if different from above) (street, city, state, zip code)

Protocols taken to prevent breeding

Protocols taken to prevent direct contact between public and big cats

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
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Part II
For each hybrid big cat registered, Section B must be completed separately. If you have more than one big
cat, complete and attach a copy of Section B for each big cat. (If you need more space for an entry, you
may attach the information below on separate paper or as a spreadsheet). Provide the following
information for each hybrid big cat you possess (for any non-hybrid species, use Part I):
•

•
•
•
•
•

Information must be updated within 10 calendar days when there is any change in
1) location where the big cat is housed,
2) protocols taken to prevent breeding,
3) protocols taken to prevent direct contact between the public and big cat,
4) ownership, or
5) unique identifier. (see Part III)
Death of a registered big cat must be reported within 10 calendar days of when a registered big cat dies.
(see Part III)
Unique identifier MUST be either a tattoo or a microchip.
Provide photographs of front and profile of each big cat. If unique identifiers include visible marks, color
differences, ensure those identifies are captured in the photograph.
Provide documentation of acquisition and date of acquisition (e.g., receipt or invoice, records of transfer,
breeding records, notarized statement).
Include a copy of all local, state or, federal licenses held in relation to this big cat, where applicable.

Hybrid name of the prohibited wildlife species

Name given to individual big cat, if applicable

Genus

Species

Subspecies

Genus

Species

Subspecies

Birth date

Date of acquisition

Unique identifier of the individual big cat (i.e., microchip or tattoo)

Sex

Description (e.g., eye color, scars, ear tags)

Physical location of the big cat (if different from above) (street, city, state, zip code)

Protocols taken to prevent breeding

Protocols taken to prevent direct contact between public and big cats

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

Part III

Amendment to my registration:
This amendment refers to the following big cat
Name or Hybrid name of the prohibited wildlife
species

Name given to individual big cat, if applicable

Genus

Species

Subspecies

Genus

Species

Subspecies

Birth date

Date of acquisition

Unique identifier of the individual big cat (i.e., microchip or tattoo)

My individual big cat has a new location
Street Address (physical location)

State/Province

City

Zip or Postal Code

Country

I have changed the protocols to prevent breeding as previously described in my registration
New protocols used to prevent breeding:

I have changed the protocols to prevent direct contact between the public and the prohibited wildlife as previously
described in my registration
New protocols to prevent direct contact between the public and big cats

My big cat has a new unique identifier (list here): ______________________________________

[continue to next page]

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

My big cat has a new owner [new owner must meet exceptions outlined in 16 U.S.C § 3372(e)(2)(A)-(C)]:
First Name

Middle Name (if applicable)

Email Address

Telephone Number

Street Address (physical location)

City

Mailing Address (if different than physical address)

City

State/Province

Zip or Postal Code

Last Name

Driver’s License #

Country

My big cat has died (list microchip or tattoo number): ___________________________________
Date of death: ________________________________
o

Manner of disposal of remains (provide documentation from veterinarian or other authority describing cause of
death and how the remains were disposed): __________________________________________________

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FWS Form 3-200-11 (Rev. 04-2023)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control No. 1018-0192
Expires 10/31/2023

NOTICES
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Authority: 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e); 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3374, 3376, and 7 U.S.C. § 1997.
Purpose: This information is collected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for you to register your prohibited
wildlife species to continue to possess your prohibited wildlife species (also referred to as “big cats”) in accordance with
16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E).
Routine Uses: This information may be shared in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy
Act of 1974, or the routine uses listed in System of Records Notice (SORN) INTERIOR/FWS-21, Permits Records
available at //www.doi.gov/privacy/fws-notices.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary; however, failure to provide all requested information will prevent
you from registering your prohibited wildlife species with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to allow you to
continue to possess your prohibited wildlife species (also referred to as “big cats”) in accordance with 16 U.S.C. §
3372(e)(2)(E).
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT
We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) to enable registrants
to continue to possess live specimens of prohibited wildlife species (also referred to as “big cats”) in accordance with 16
U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E), and to respond to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of
1974. The information that you provide is required to obtain or retain a benefit; however, failure to provide all required
information is sufficient cause to deny you from registering in accordance with 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E). False,
fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations made in the registration form may be grounds for denying you
from registering in accordance with 16 U.S.C. § 3372(e)(2)(E) and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18
U.S.C. 1001). According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person
is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB
has approved this information collection and assigned control number 1018-0182.
ESTIMATED BURDEN STATEMENT
We estimate the public reporting burden for this information to average 1 hour per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information. Send only comments relating to our time estimate, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, or any other aspects of this collection of information to the Service Information Clearance Officer,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, or via email to
Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please do not send your completed form to this address.
Questions regarding permits from Management Authority should be sent to managementauthority@fws.gov.

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