County Durham, land of the English bison...
WHILE rumours of big cats prowling around the North East remain unconfirmed, our region is home to some impressive animals – and not ones you’d expect to find in this part of the world.
Of course, owning a wild animal isn’t as easy as owning a dog or a cat – and anyone wishing to do so has to apply for a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 from their local council.
The Government’s website states that the public will need a licence to keep some animals such as wild cats, primates, wolves, wild boar and marsupials.
According to specialist wild animal insurer Exotic Direct, there are “thousands” of such animals kept in the UK, ranging from venomous snakes to alligators.
The dangerous wild animal licence does not apply to animals kept in a zoo, circus, licensed pet shop or place of scientific research.
A Freedom of Information request submitted to Durham County Council revealed that three licences for keeping wild animals have been issued to residents in the county – and some of the animals may surprise you.
One licence was granted for bison. While the Freedom of Information request did not include the area the animals live in, there has long been a herd of bison on Farnless Farm in Ferryhill.
The enormous grazing animals can grow up to more than 11ft long.
They were hunted almost to extinction in the 19th and 20th Centuries, but have made a recovery.
Today, bison is marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional red meat, and is used in mince, burgers and sausages.
Elsewhere, a licence was granted for Bengal cats – large domesticated cats with a ‘wild’ appearance, ownership of which was previously regulated by the Government, although the restrictions were removed in 2007.
Up until 2018, Maclaw Bengals was a well-known breeder of the cats in County Durham, but the couple behind the cats – Jacqueline and Allan Hodgson – have since retired.
But perhaps the most unusual animal kept in County Durham is a zebra, which lives at a private address somewhere in the county.