Over 70 dangerous animals privately owned in Wiltshire
Venomous snakes, and leopards are also being kept in the county
A herd of American plains Bison are among the more than 70 animals considered dangerous that are being owned privately in Wiltshire.
Venomous snakes, leopards and lemurs are also among the number.
All the animals are being held under licences in accordance with the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which ensures that dangerous animals are kept in circumstances that do not create a risk to the public and also safeguard the welfare of the animals.
These licences do not include animals kept in a zoo, circus, pet shop.
There are currently five Dangerous Wild Animals licences held within the Wiltshire Council area.
The information has been revealed after a freedom of information request, which revealed the following list:
- Two common brown lemurs and one collared brown lemur being kept in North Wiltshire
- 47 American plains bison being kept in South Wiltshire
- Three Bactrian camels in South Wiltshire
- Three ocelots, five Asian leopards, one serval, four wolves and three ring-tailed lemurs being kept in West Wiltshire
- One king cobra, one Siamese Peninsular pit viper, one Pope’s pit viper, one Hagen’s pit viper in North Wiltshire
The council did not want to give any more detailed information.
The herd of bison roaming south Wiltshire can be explained by the Bush Farm Bison Centre near Mere.
The farm is also home to Elk and offers a camping space and a walking area as well as Bison and Elk steak.
Events are also held on the grounds including a traditional celebration of Native American culture called the Powwow which is a dance festival held annually.
The Bactrian camels, which are camels with two humps, can be explained by the three Lady Chichester owns at Little Durnford Manor near Salisbury.
Their names are Temujin, Lena and Ivan and they are brought out for public appearances to support charities.
All three were brought into Salisbury Cathedral in 2021 during the Christmas Eve service.
Wild Bactrian camels are found in the Gobi Desert of Northwest China and Mongolia and they are adapted to deal with the cold, high altitudes and drought.
The wolves, leopards and ocelots may be explained by The Little Zoo in Farleigh Wick which is actually registered as an animal rescue centre.
A spokesperson for The Little Zoo said she was not the personal owner and did not want to comment further.
The poisonous snakes have a less clear owner as the rescue centre for reptiles in Marlborough said it was not the owner.
King cobras are the longest of all venomous snakes, the biggest ever recorded was 18 ft 4 in, and they live for around 20 years.