Charities critical of exotic pet laws

The UK’S “piecemeal” laws governing the keeping of exotic pets need a radical overhaul, campaigners say, following research revealing the wild animal trade is driving devastating biodiversity loss.

The Born Free Foundation and the RSPCA want a system where the public choose a pet from a list of permitted animals, rather than dangerous or threatened species being banned on a case-by-case basis.

They said the current approach is piecemeal and leaves lawmakers playing catch-up as new species are discovered and quickly exploited.

The report The Exotic Pet-demic: UK’S ticking timebomb exposed was published by the charities ahead of the second reading of the Government’s Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. It found around 1.8 million reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates were kept in UK homes.