Are there laws against keeping crocodilians?
Yes there are, and there can be several to consider. Firstly, all crocodilian species are listed under either Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna). Species listed under Appendix I are severely restricted in international trade because they are usually (but not always) endangered or critically threatened in the wild – CITES is a trade agreement, not a firm declaration of a species’ conservation status. However, only captive bred specimens of Appendix I animals (which are therefore considered in the same context as Appendix II animals) may be available in some cases. Appendix II animals, which encompass most crocodilian species including caimans, can be traded between countries with the possession of the appropriate export and import permits. Once within a county, CITES no longer applies for trade within that country. CITES import and export permits are no longer necessary for trade between the member sta
