Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 it is
an offence to keep an animal listed in the schedule to the Act
without a licence from the local authority. If such animals are
kept without a licence the local authority is empowered to seize
and either keep, destroy or otherwise dispose of unlicensed
animals.
The schedule covers a long list of animals
including wild boar, ostrich, monkeys and certain lizards and
snakes.
The Act is designed to safeguard the community
from wild animals which could be dangerous to the public. Part of
the licensing procedure involves an animal welfare assessment and
prior to the granting of any licence, an inspection of the animal
and the conditions in which it is kept is carried out by a vet.
The Act does not apply to animals kept in zoos,
circuses or pet shops. For application form see below:
For further information:
- Contact: Food, Health and
Safety Team, Mansion House, Penrith CA11 7YG
- Telephone: (01768) 212491
- Email:
env.health@eden.gov.uk
- Fax: (01768) 890732
