Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of Yacare Caiman in South America From Endangered to Threatened, and the Listing of Two Other Caiman Species as Threatened by Reason of Similarity of Appearance

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reclassifying the yacare caiman (Caiman yacare; also known as Caiman crocodilus yacare) from its present endangered status to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act because the current endangered listing does not correctly reflect the present status of this species. The Service also is listing the common caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) and the brown caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) as threatened by reason of similarity of appearance. Caiman yacare is native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Caiman crocodilus crocodilus and C. c. fuscus occur in Mexico and Central and South America. All three taxa are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which allows for international commercial trade in these species. Listing the two taxa as threatened by reason of similarity of appearance will assist in protecting the yacare caiman by facilitating wildlife inspections of shipments at the ports of entry and detection of illegal shipments. A special rule for these three caiman populations allows U.S. commerce in their skins, other parts, and products from individual countries of origin and countries of re-export if certain conditions are satisfied by those countries prior to exportation to the United States. These conditions largely pertain to the implementation of a CITES Universal Tagging System Resolution for crocodilian skins (adopted at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties) as well as provisions intended to support sustainable management of wild populations of the above three caiman species/subspecies. In the case where tagged caiman skins and other parts are exported to another country, usually for tanning and manufacturing purposes, and the processed skins and finished products are exported to the United States, the rule prohibits importation or re-exportation of such skins, parts, and products if we determine that either the country of origin or re-export is engaging in practices that are detrimental to the conservation of caiman populations. The purpose of this rule is threefold. First, the rule accurately reflects the conservation status of the yacare caiman. Second, we wish to promote the conservation of the yacare caiman by ensuring proper management of the commercially harvested caiman species in the range countries and, through implementation of trade controls (as described in the CITES Universal Tagging System Resolution), to reduce commingling of caiman specimens. Third, downlisting of C. yacare to threatened reconciles listings of the species in the Act and CITES.