134 exotic and potentially dangerous animals kept in private homes in Cornwall
According to figures released by welfare charity, Born Free, they include big cats, hippos and even bears!
134 exotic and potentially dangerous animals are being kept in private homes in Cornwall.
Welfare charity, Born Free, has released the figures through its interactive map.
The creatures being kept in the Duchy include big cats like Lynx and Pumas, hippos and even bears!
Born Free has issued a warning, saying wild animals can be dangerous and should not be kept as pets.
You can check the full list of exotic animals kept in private homes across Cornwall here.
Born Free's survey has revealed that nearly 4,000 dangerous wild animals are being privately kept in Great Britain, under licence.
The charity is calling on the UK government to immediately review the law and put a stop to some of the world’s most remarkable, but often deadly, creatures being kept as pets in unsuitable captive conditions.
Its research reviewed the number of Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) Act licences granted by local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, and the variety of species being privately kept. In total, it received responses from 364 of the 371 local authorities contacted.
The data highlighted that in 2020, a total of 210 DWA licences were granted for the keeping of 3,951 individual wild animals.
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, we have 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 2,000% 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".
Dr Mark Jones, Born Free
What are the rules about keeping exotic animals?
Currently, under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, anyone in Britain can keep a dangerous wild animal as long as they obtain a licence from their local authority.
The licencing process requires the applicant to demonstrate that their animals are properly contained to prevent escape and protect the public, but Born Free says this does little to ensure the welfare of the animals or the protection of the owner or anyone else visiting the property.
Born Free says that while changes have been made to the schedule, it wants to highlight the fact that the Act itself has not been reviewed substantially for more than 40 years.
Dr Jones added: “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".
Just last year, a hybrid savannah cat escaped in Hampstead, London, while a seven-foot-long boa constrictor appeared in someone’s back garden and then turned on its rescuer, biting his hand and wrapping itself around his wrist on the Isle of Sheppey.
There have been other stories where a woman was bitten in the eye by a python at a Mayfair club and almost blinded, while a man in Hampshire was killed by his eight foot African rock python.
Dr Jones added: “The UK likes to claim to be at the forefront of efforts to protect nature and improve the welfare of animals, yet our legislation governing the keeping of and trade in exotic pets is woefully outdated.
"While the government’s recent proposal to ban the keeping of and trade in primates as pets is a welcome first step, there are many other species that need to be protected from this form of exploitation.
"The Dangerous Wild Animals Act should be overhauled as a matter of urgency, to phase out the private keeping of, and trade in, those species that clearly don’t belong in people’s homes".
Dr Mark Jones, Born Free