Snakes alive! Beware of perilous pets out there
COBRAS, rattlesnakes and emus are just some of the exotic animals being kept on private properties in Sefton and West Lancashire.
An investigation by the Press Association has found that thousands of animals are being kept legally across the UK.
Both Sefton and West Lancashire councils have handed out licences to keep unusual animals.
In Sefton, licences have been issued for one black mamba, six cobras, one viper, one puff adder and four rattlesnakes.
The black mamba is regarded as the most dangerous and feared snake in Africa, while a cobra bite can also prove lethal.
Dangerous wild animals (DWA) licences are granted by councils to allow people to keep undomesticated animals as pets, providing they have the requisite safety measures at their home and pay a small fee.
In West Lancashire, the council has given permission for eight ostriches and 12 emus to live in the area.
Across the UK, licences for lions, wolves and alligators have also been allowed. Animal welfare experts condemned the findings, saying it was “deeply concerned” at the numbers and that animal welfare was being put at risk.
The RSPCA said it was concerned that licences too often focused on protecting the public from harm, rather than on the wellbeing of the animals themselves.
A spokeswoman said: “We are deeply concerned about the number of exotic animals, including dangerous wild animals, now being kept as pets.
“People may buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep and the animals are sometimes neglected when the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.
“This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs.
“Licences for exotic animals classed as Dangerous Wild Animals – such as cobras, ostriches and caiman crocodiles – are granted by local authorities and the details are also held locally. There is no centrally-held list to determine how many are kept across the country.
“The emphasis of this legislation is on making sure the owner takes reasonable steps to prevent the animal from being a threat to the public, rather than the welfare of the animals concerned. Exotic animals have specialist needs and this includes the ones listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act list.”