More than 2,200 animals classified as dangerous, including big cats, venomous snakes, and crocodiles, are legally kept in homes and private facilities across Britain, according to research by the wildlife charity Born Free. The organization is calling for an update to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA) of 1976, which it states is outdated and failing to adequately protect public safety or ensure animal welfare.
The DWAA was enacted to regulate the private ownership of animals that could pose a risk to the public. Data obtained by Born Free from local authorities reveals that over 500 venomous snakes, nearly 300 primates, 79 crocodiles, alligators, and caimans, and 166 wild cats, such as lions, pumas, and tigers, are currently licensed for private keeping. The charity also noted that the number of venomous snakes held privately has increased from 403 in 2023 to 512, and the number of primates has risen from 256 to 293 in the same period.
Born Free highlighted a trend, potentially fueled by social media, of owning small wild cats and their hybrids. While later-generation hybrids may fall outside current licensing requirements, they can still possess significant wild traits. Scotland reportedly has the highest number of licensed wild cat hybrids in Britain. Carmarthenshire in Wales is home to the country's only elephant kept under such a license, and Greater London has a license for the saw-scaled viper, one of the world's deadliest snakes.
Chris Lewis, Born Free's captivity research and policy manager, stated that the DWAA was intended to make the private keeping of dangerous wild animals an exceptional circumstance. "Fifty years on we find ourselves in a situation where nearly ten times more venomous snakes are kept in British homes than British zoos," Lewis said, adding that servals are still being crossbred with domestic cats for fashionable hybrids and primates are being confined despite acknowledged unsuitability for pet ownership.
Dame Joanna Lumley, a founder patron of Born Free, expressed shock at the number of dangerous animals still legally held privately, calling it a "cruel and ghastly trade" and emphasizing that "wild animals should never ever be kept as pets." Born Free also suggested that a significant number of dangerous wild animals may be kept illegally.
The findings follow a recent incident where a common marmoset was discovered in a cage on a London bus. The monkey, found in a laundry bag, was reportedly in good health. Authorities suspect its abandonment might be linked to a recent legal change in April requiring all primates kept in England to be licensed.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) commented that individuals seeking to keep animals covered by the DWAA must undergo thorough vetting and adhere to strict licensing conditions. Some animals are held in educational facilities, sanctuaries, or conservation projects, but Born Free contends that many are kept in private homes, posing potential risks to public safety and animal welfare.