: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) manages imports and interstate commerce under the Endangered Species Act and CITES. The USDA enforces the Animal Welfare Act, requiring anyone who exhibits, sells, or breeds elephants to hold a specific license.
: Most states, including California , Georgia , and New York , have comprehensive bans on private exotic animal ownership.
Buying an elephant requires navigating overlapping federal and state rules.