Over 300 dangerous wild animals kept as pets in Hampshire

International wildlife charity Born Free reviewed the number of Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) Act licences granted by local authorities in 2020 across England, Scotland and Wales, and the variety of species being privately kept.

Local authorities in Hampshire revealed that 300 dangerous wild animals are residing in the area.

These include:

• 3 primates including a Capuchin and Ring-tailed lemurs
• 6 cats including European lynx and Servals
• 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 boar
• 6 Przewalski's wild horse

Other species on the DWA list that are being kept as pets or in private collections in the UK include zebras, camels, fossa, hyaena, sun bears and wolves.

Born Free are now 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.

Dr Mark Jones, Veterinarian and Born Free’s Head of Policy, states: “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.”

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 so as 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, the Act itself has not been reviewed substantially for more than 40 years.

This means, for example, 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.

This was the case back in 2017 when Dan Brandon, 31, was killed by his 8ft African rock python in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

It is thought due to the nature of the animals, most owners fail to report escapes or attacks for fear of the animal being removed or their licence revoked. 

Mark added: “ The Dangerous Wild Animals Act should be overhauled as a matter of urgency, in order to phase-out the private keeping of and trade in those species that clearly don’t belong in people’s homes.”

To find out what dangerous animals are living in other counties across the UK you can use Born Free’s interactive map on their website.