More than 100 dangerous wild animals are being kept legally as pets in Scotland, according to research by the wildlife charity Born Free. The list of animals includes crocodiles, venomous snakes, wildcats, and bisons, among dozens of other species housed across the nation due to lenient legislation.
In 2026, Born Free identified at least 135 animals that are either licensed or under application to be kept in private settings in Scotland. The country has the most licensed wildcat hybrids in Britain, with at least nine Savannah cats and four dangerous African servals located in Moray. Additionally, applications are pending in Angus for two American alligators and four venomous Gaboon vipers, alongside two Nile crocodiles and one rhino viper.
Other species being kept with a license in Scotland include wild boars, ostriches, and Mouflon sheep. The charity noted that many exotic or wild animals can be kept in homes or private settings without a license unless the specific species is protected, prohibited, or classified as dangerous. This means some animals may not be registered with local authorities.
Broadcaster and Born Free Patron Kirsty Gallacher stated that wild species suffer greatly in captivity and expressed concern that dangerous wild animals are still legally kept in private homes. "Big cats, crocodiles, venomous snakes and primates are not pets, they are wild creatures that suffer greatly in captivity," Gallacher said. "Keeping them in private hands puts both people and the animals at risk."
Born Free cited a social media-driven trend of owning small wild cats and their hybrids as a factor in the increase of wild animals kept as pets. The charity also indicated that the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA), introduced in 1976 to control the private keeping of animals posing a risk to the public, needs reform. According to Born Free, DWAA license rules do not guarantee appropriate living conditions and the law requires updating to better protect both people and wild animals.
Chris Lewis, Born Free’s captivity research and policy manager, urged the government to review and reform the laws governing the trade and keeping of wild animals as pets, emphasizing that these animals remain wild and dangerous despite being legally kept.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government acknowledged the concerns regarding exotic pets and stated that the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has been examining the issues. The government indicated it will continue to consider potential steps to address the matter.
Scotland's legislation differs from England, which implemented a strict licensing system for privately kept primates in April 2026, requiring animals to be kept under high welfare standards similar to zoos. Scotland has not adopted similar measures or a broader 'permitted pets' list.