Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Reclassification of Saltwater Crocodile Population in Australia From Endangered to Threatened and Listing of Saltwater Crocodile Population in Papua New Guinea as Threatened by Reason of Similarity of Appearance; Special Rule for the Saltwater and Nile Crocodiles

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes reclassifying the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in Australia from endangered to threatened, and the Papua New Guinea population as threatened by reason of similarity of appearance under the provisions of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The saltwater crocodile has been listed as endangered throughout its range since 1979, except the Papua New Guinea population, which has never been listed. A special rule is also proposed that would allow for the importation of certain specimens of saltwater crocodiles from Australia and Papua New Guinea into the United States in the course of a commercial activity provided that such import is consistent with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and certain other provisions. This proposal also reproposes the special rule for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and will be consistent with the proposed special rule for the saltwater crocodile. When the Service previously proposed reclassifying the Nile crocodile from endangered to threatened status, the comments received on the proposed special rule that accompanied that proposed reclassification led the Service to repropose the special rule.