Should Exotic Animals Be Banned?
Should Exotic Animals Be Banned: According to a new Born Free survey, approximately 4,000 dangerous wild animals are maintained privately and under licence in the UK.
We are urging the UK government to reconsider the law urgently and end the keeping of some of the world’s most amazing but often lethal creatures as pets in inhumane conditions.
We studied the number of Dangerous Wild Animals Act
(DWA) licences issued by local authorities as part of our studies in England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as a variety of species, are kept privately.
364 of the 371 municipal administrations we contacted responded. According to the data, 210 DWA permits were awarded in 2020 for the keeping of 3,951 individual wild animals, which included:
320 feral cats (including 61 big cats – 11 lions, eight tigers, 11 leopards, 18 pumas, ten cheetahs, two ligers, and one jaguar)
There are 274 primates (including over 150 lemurs)
There are 158 crocodiles.
There are 508 deadly snakes (including 57 diamondback rattlesnakes)
There are 332 scorpions.
106 venomous lizards
There are two elephants.
Zebras, camels, fossas (a type of civet cat), hyenas, sun bears, wolves, and otters are among the other animals on the DWA list that are kept as pets or in private collections in the United Kingdom.
“Born Free has been collecting and evaluating DWA data for over 20 years,” stated Dr Mark Jones a veterinarian and the Head of Policy at Born Free.
Since the millennium’s turn, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of exotic pets in private hands, including a 94 per cent increase in venomous snakes, a 57 per cent increase in feral cats, a 198 per cent increase in crocodiles, and a more than 2,000 per cent increase in scorpions.
However, these figures are most certainly merely the tip of the iceberg. They only capture animals that are legally kept and registered with the DWA. Born Free is based on the assumption that many more dangerous wild animals are kept without a licence.
Anyone in the UK can currently retain a hazardous wild animal under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976, provided they receive a licence from their local authorities.
The applicant must demonstrate that their animals are appropriately gated to prevent escape and protect the public as part of the licencing process. However, this does little to enhance the well-being of the animals or safeguard the owner or other visitors.
While the list has been updated, the statute has not been significantly amended in over 40 years.
Komodo dragons and other large monitor lizard species are included in this category. and huge constrictor snakes have not been added to the list, even though if they escaped, they may constitute a significant threat to their owners and the public.
Furthermore, there has long been concern that widespread violation of the law exists, particularly regarding dangerous reptiles and invertebrates.
“It is remarkable that so many deadly species, including big cats, giant primates, crocodiles, and venomous snakes, remain in private hands in the UK today,” Dr Jones remarked.
Owners and the general public risk harm or sickness as they desire all species of wildlife as exotic pets grow. It also causes considerable animal suffering, and increased demand further strains many wildlife populations, which are already threatened.
A savannah hybrid cat escaped in Hampstead, London, just last year, while a six-foot boa constrictor appeared in a yard on the Isle of Sheppey and then turned on its saviour, It bit his hand and wrapped around his wrist.
Other horrific stories included a woman being bitten in the eye by a python at a Mayfair club and nearly blinded and a guy in Hampshire being killed by his eight-foot African rock python. These incidents have only been documented on a tiny number of occasions.
RSPCA records show its exceptionally trained exotic animal officers rescued over 4,000 animals in 2018. Because of the nature of the animals, most owners do not disclose escapes or assaults for fear of having the animal removed or their licence cancelled.
“The UK likes to pretend to be at the forefront of attempts to protect wildlife and enhance animal welfare,” Jones continued, “but our legislation on the keeping and trade of exotic pets is hopelessly out of date.”
While the government’s recent plan to prohibit the keeping and trafficking of primates as pets is a positive starting step, many other species must be safeguarded from this exploitation.
The Dangerous Wild Animals Act should be changed immediately to prohibit the private holding and trading of these species, which do not belong in people’s homes.
Born Free and the RSPCA have joined forces to launch a petition asking the government to review and revise the laws governing private ownership of hazardous wild animals as part of their campaign on the subject.
Exotic pets like reptiles and other exotic creatures have the same demands as those found in the wild. As a result, adequate maintenance for them can be complex.
Please do your homework before getting an exotic pet because their requirements can be more complex than those of your standard pet.
Consider these considerations before purchasing an unusual pet.
In some circumstances, exotic animals should not be kept as pets.
We oppose the brutal trade in wild-caught animals. As a result, please make sure that your exotic pet has not been stolen from its natural habitat. We also reject keeping unusual species as pets, such as primates, because they have extraordinarily complex demands that cannot be addressed in a domestic environment.
What to think about before purchasing an exotic pet
If you are considering getting an exotic pet, you should research the animal’s requirements and determine whether it is a feasible pet. Consider the following before purchasing a reptile.
Environment Many exotic pets require a carefully supervised habitat. For example, they require particular heating and lighting to avoid being ill.
Their environment must be conducive to natural behaviours such as digging, climbing, and sunbathing. Some reptiles can grow to be huge, so you may need to reconsider the size of your habitat or buy a new one if they do.
Average Life Expectancy Reptiles can live much longer than you think, so be sure you have enough space for them.
Diet They will most likely require exceptional food, which might be costly depending on how much they consume.
Companionship Determine whether the animal should be maintained alone or with others.
Social animals should not be left alone because it harms their health and well-being.
Lifestyle Is the animal’s conduct appropriate for your lifestyle? They could be active at night or throughout the day.
Care from a specialist Is there a veterinarian that specialises in this species nearby who can treat the animal if it becomes ill?
Paperwork Some exotic pets require a permit or legal documentation, which you should check before purchasing.
Born Free and the RSPCA have joined forces to launch a petition asking the government to review and revise the laws governing private ownership of hazardous wild animals as part of their campaign on the subject.
As part of its campaign on this issue Born Free, in collaboration with the RSPCA, has launched a petition calling on the Government to review and reform laws on the private keeping of Dangerous Wild Animals.
