Which Species Require CITES Documentation for Taxidermy?

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) controls international trade in species that are threatened or at risk of becoming threatened. For taxidermists, CITES matters primarily when a finished mount involved a species harvested outside the United States or when the species itself is listed regardless of where it was taken.

CITES Appendix I species cannot be commercially traded. They can only be imported as personal trophies under very specific conditions. CITES Appendix II species require permits but can be traded commercially with the right documentation.

TL;DR

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) restricts international trade of listed species.
CITES Appendix I includes the most endangered species; Appendix II includes species requiring trade controls.
Black bear is listed under CITES Appendix II, affecting interstate transport and export documentation.
African lion, leopard, and many African species are CITES Appendix I or II.
Domestic taxidermy on legally harvested animals does not require CITES permits; interstate transport and export may.

African Trophy Species

African safari trophies are where most taxidermists first encounter CITES requirements. The list of commonly hunted African species that require CITES documentation includes:

Appendix I (personal trophy import only, most restrictive):

African elephant
Lion (Southern African lion populations were moved to Appendix II, but import restrictions under US ESA remain strict)
Cheetah
Black rhinoceros (hunting currently closed)
White rhinoceros (Southern Africa populations, limited)

Appendix II (permits required, commercial trade allowed with documentation):

African leopard
Hippopotamus
Hartmann's mountain zebra
Crocodilians (certain species)
Many African bird species

Even for Appendix II species, the US Fish and Wildlife Service may impose additional import restrictions under the Endangered Species Act that are more restrictive than CITES alone.

When a customer brings in an African trophy for mounting, ask for their CITES permit documentation at intake. If they don't have it, the finished mount cannot legally be returned to them. Document that you requested the permit and what the customer provided.

Big Cats

Large felids are heavily regulated under CITES. This includes:

African lion
Leopard (all subspecies)
Tiger (Appendix I, essentially no legal commercial activity)
Jaguar (Appendix I)
Snow leopard (Appendix I)
Cheetah (Appendix I)

Mountain lion (cougar/puma) is a North American species and is not CITES-listed, though state and federal regulations still apply to their possession and transport.

North American Species with CITES Listing

Most North American game species are not CITES-listed. However, some species do fall under CITES regardless of where they were harvested:

American black bear: Appendix II. Bear parts (including finished mounts) that are exported internationally require CITES documentation.

American alligator: Appendix II. Farmed and wild populations are separately regulated. Wild alligator products require CITES permits for export.

Bald eagle and golden eagle: While not primarily governed by CITES for domestic possession, eagles are Appendix II and face strict restrictions under US law separate from CITES.

Certain reptiles and amphibians: Various tortoise, turtle, and lizard species native to or present in North America have CITES listings.

For domestic taxidermy involving North American species, CITES is usually not the primary concern. Federal and state wildlife law governs domestic possession. CITES becomes relevant when finished mounts are being exported.

What Is the Difference Between CITES Appendix I and Appendix II?

Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction. Commercial trade is prohibited. Personal, non-commercial importation as a hunting trophy is possible with specific permits from both the exporting and importing country's CITES management authority, and additional US permits if required.

Appendix II: Species not yet threatened with extinction but requiring controlled trade to prevent exploitation. Commercial trade is allowed with proper CITES permits. The paperwork burden is significant but the pathway to legal import exists.

For taxidermists receiving international trophy shipments, Appendix II species arrive with CITES permits that must be verified and retained. Appendix I species arrive with a more complex permit set involving both export and import country authorization.

Documenting CITES Species at Intake

When you receive a CITES-regulated specimen for mounting:

Photograph all permit documentation at intake
Record the CITES permit number in your intake record
Retain copies of all documentation for the life of the record (most shops retain permanently for CITES-regulated species)
Note the species and CITES appendix level in the job record

Returning a finished mount that contains CITES-regulated species without proper documentation is a federal violation. The taxidermist is responsible for verifying documentation. Not just accepting a customer's assertion that the paperwork is in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What African species need CITES permits for US import taxidermy?

Most African trophy species require CITES documentation for US import. Appendix I species, including elephant, cheetah, and certain big cats, require non-commercial trophy import permits from both the source country and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Appendix II species, including leopard, hippo, and many others, require CITES export permits from the source country and may require US import permits under the Endangered Species Act. African lion imports are subject to specific US ESA permit requirements regardless of CITES appendix. When a customer delivers an African trophy for mounting, verify and retain all permit documentation.

Do any North American species require CITES documentation?

American black bear is CITES Appendix II, primarily relevant for export of finished mounts internationally rather than domestic possession and mounting. American alligator is also Appendix II and requires CITES documentation for international export of products. Most common North American game species, whitetail deer, elk, turkey, ducks, are not CITES-listed, and compliance requirements for domestic mounting are governed by state and federal wildlife law rather than CITES.

What is the difference between CITES Appendix I and Appendix II for taxidermists?

Appendix I species are threatened with extinction. Commercial trade is prohibited, and only personal trophy importation is possible with specific permits from both countries. Appendix II species can be commercially traded with CITES permits. In practice, the difference for taxidermists is the permit pathway: Appendix II species arrive with a more straightforward permit set from the source country; Appendix I trophies require a more involved documentation trail including import permits from US Fish and Wildlife. For both, document the permits at intake and retain them permanently.

Do CITES regulations affect deer and elk taxidermy in the US?

Generally no for domestic work. Deer and elk are not CITES-listed species. The regulations affect primarily African and exotic species, black bear in an interstate or export context, and other listed species. If you do not work with African game, exotics, or black bear shipments across state lines, CITES regulations are unlikely to affect your routine operations.

What CITES documentation do I need for a mounted African lion?

Lion is listed under CITES Appendix II. Legal import of a lion trophy requires CITES export permits from the country of origin and CITES import permits from US Fish & Wildlife Service. If you are mounting a trophy that was legally imported with proper permits, retain copies of all CITES documentation with the job record. If the customer cannot provide import documentation, do not accept the job.

Where do I find out if a specific species is CITES-listed?

The CITES Species Database at cites.org is the definitive reference. The US Fish & Wildlife Service also maintains resources for US-based taxidermists on CITES permit requirements. The National Taxidermists Association publishes guidance for members on handling CITES-listed species.

Try These Free Tools

Put these insights into practice with our free calculators and planners:

Sources

CITES Secretariat
US Fish & Wildlife Service, CITES Permits Division
National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
US Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement

Get Started with MountChief

CITES compliance can be complex for shops that work with exotic and African species. MountChief's compliance flags can be set for CITES-listed species so every job requiring special documentation is identified at intake. Try MountChief to keep your compliance documentation organized across all the species you work with.