Over 400 exotic wild animals being kept as pets in Wiltshire and Hampshire
Experts think many more are being kept in the regions without a licence
A new survey by Born Free reveals that 4000 dangerous wild animals are being privately kept in Great Britain with 109 of them living in Wiltshire and 300 in Hampshire
The Animal Welfare Charity has reviewed the number of Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) Act Licences given by the local authorities in 2020, in England, Scotland and Wales, and the variety of species being kept privately.
Species in the Wiltshire area include:
- 60 Bison
- 17 Wild Boar
- 10 cats including Asian leopard cats, Ocelots and a Serval
- 7 Primates including Ring-tailed lemurs and Red-fronted brown lemurs
- 4 European Wolves
- 3 Bactrian Camels
- 2 Asian Short-clawed otters
- 6 venomous snakes including a King cobra, and a Wagler's pit viper
- Species in the Hampshire area include:
- 6 cats including European lynx and Servals
- 3 primates including a Capuchin and Ring-tailed lemurs
- 39 Crocodilians including Chinese alligators and West African dwarf crocodiles
- 41 venomous snakes including Monacled cobras and Western diamondback rattlesnakes
- 5 venomous lizards including Gila monsters and Beaded lizards
- 200 Wild Board
- 6 Przewalski's wild horse
Other animals on the DWA list that are being kept as pets or in private collections in the UK include zebras, camels, fossa (a kind of civet), hyaena, sun bears, wolves, and otters.
Born Free are now calling on the UK Government to immediately review the law and put a stop to some of the DWA creatures being kept as 'pets' in unsuitable captive conditions.
Dr Mark Jones, Veterinarian and Born Free's Head of Policy, said:
"Born Free has been collating and analysing DWA data for over 20 years. Since the millennium the wild animal welfare and conservation charity has seen a dramatic increase in the number of exotic pets in private ownership, including a 94% increase in the number of venomous snakes, 57% increase in wild cats, 198% increase in crocodilians and over a 2000% increase in scorpions.
"However, these figures are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg. They only record those animals being kept and registered with a DWA licence.
"Born Free believes that many additional dangerous wild animals are being kept without a licence."
ANYONE WITH A LICENCE CAN HAVE A WILD ANIMAL
Currently, under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, anyone in Britain can keep a dangerous wild animal as long as they get a licence from their Local Authority.
The licencing process requires the applicant to show that their animals are properly contained to prevent escape and protect the public, but this does little to ensure the welfare of the animals or the protection of the owner or anyone else visiting the property.
While changes have been made to the schedule, Born Free is highlighting the fact that the Act itself has not been reviewed substantially for more than 40 years.
This means, that species such as Komodo dragons, other large monitors, and large constrictor snakes are not included on the schedule, despite the fact that they could pose a serious risk to their owners, and to members of the public, should they escape.
There is long-standing concern about widespread non-compliance with the Act, especially with respect to venomous reptiles and invertebrates.
Dr Mark Jones continues:
"It is unbelievable that, in this day and age, so many dangerous animals, including big cats, large primates, crocodiles and venomous snakes, are in private ownership in the UK.
"Increasing demand for all kinds of wild animals as exotic pets puts owners and the wider public at risk of injury or disease. It also results in serious animal suffering, and the demand increases the pressure on many wild populations which are often already under threat."