Campaigners warn of thousands of dangerous wild animals kept as pets in Britain

Campaigners are warning that thousands of dangerous wild animals are being kept as pets in Britain, posing risks to both public safety and animal welfare. The charity Born Free has identified more than 2,200 such animals that are legally held under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, a law that dates back to the 1970s. But the charity says the true number is likely much higher because many species are not covered by the licensing system at all.

Among the animals rescued from private homes are mountain lions, servals, lynxes, lemurs, venomous snakes, alligators, and hybrid wild cats. Some were found in tiny cages with concrete floors and water covered in algae. One serval lost a leg after being kept in poor conditions. A lynx was kept in a back garden with no licence and no record of its origin. Lemurs were discovered in a shed with just one small window.

Born Free argues that the law has not kept pace with modern pet keeping trends, which are often fuelled by social media. Exotic animals are being bred and sold as fashionable or trendy pets, the charity says, with little regard for their welfare or the danger they pose. The government insists that owners of dangerous wild animals are subject to strict vetting processes before a licence is issued. But campaigners want a complete ban on keeping any wild animal in a domestic setting.

The issue was highlighted by a visit to a wildlife sanctuary in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, where rescued mountain lions are now cared for. The animals were originally kept legally in a back garden, but the charity says the conditions were unsuitable. The campaign is calling for a review of the legislation, which it describes as outdated and inadequate.