‘Imagine any exotic animal, and someone owns one in the UK’

In his two-part documentary, Ross Kemp travels the UK meeting the owners of wild animals, including lions, bears and even a penguin. Ross says, “I’ve seen extraordinary things – I think this is my 113th documentary – but I didn’t have a clue that this happened on our shores.

It’s disturbing how easy it is to keep a wild cat.

“Imagine any exotic animal, and someone will own one in the UK. The ownership of wild cats has gone up by 57 per cent in the last 20 years, venomous snakes by 94 per cent, and crocodiles by 198 per cent. They’re potentially dangerous and lethal animals. It’s jaw-dropping.”

The owners Ross meets don’t go into specifics about exactly how they acquired their wild animals though, with one saying vaguely, “You can get them, you just need to know people out there.”

REJECTED

And when asked whether they’d allow their pets to go to sanctuaries – with more space to interact with other animals – the idea was rejected.

Ross says, “The owners

I met weren’t spiteful, they weren’t cruel. They’d dedicated everything they had. These animals are clearly loved by the majority of people that

I met – but they never want to part with them, which brings into question where is the best place for them.”

Animal charities say that keeping wild animals in the home is wrong. Dr Mark Jones, veterinarian and head of policy at animal welfare charity Born

Free, tells Closer, “We must remember that these are wild animals that haven’t been domesticated over thousands of years like our domestic dogs and cats. They are evolved to live in the wild, often forming complex social groups and interactions with other species.

“In many cases we don’t have a good understanding of their physical, psychological and social needs. The trading and keeping of them undoubtedly compromises their welfare and causes untold stress.

BETTER SOLUTION

“Specialist rescue centres can provide better care for wild animals than private owners, and can often keep them in more appropriate social groupings.

So, for those animals in private hands, relocation to a rescue centre can provide a better solution for their lifetime care.

“It is unbelievable that, in this day and age, so many dangerous animals are in private ownership in the UK.”

While Ross was keen to stay impartial, saying, “my job is to present you with the facts”, he does admit he is surprised by how easy it is to get permission to own a wild animal.

In the UK, the local council grants Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licences to owners, as long as they can prove that the welfare, accommodation and nutritional needs of the animal can be met – and that it can’t escape. But Ross points out that the expertise of those who grant the licences can vary.

He says, “There should be a nationwide DWA team that inspects all applications to make sure animals don’t suffer, and to make sure owners who are applying for a licence have the wherewithal to look after them.

“Ultimately, it’s about the animals. There’s major concern for their well-being, their longterm health and their future.”