UK Pets include Big Cats and Monkeys

Lions, Tigers and Leopards being kept as Pets in Britain

There are twelve lions, fourteen tigers and fifty leopards that are being kept in Britain by licensed private owners. These are figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. There are also 154 assorted non-domestic cats that are privately owned as well as almost 500 monkeys. There are also 200 ostriches, 250 poisonous snakes and 50 members of the crocodile family!

The research group, the Big Cats in Britain (BCIB) said it asked 408 local authorities to discover how many wild animals were being kept by licensed private owners. The figures stated above do not include zoo animals or illegally kept animals.

It is widely believed that sightings of big cats roaming the countyside of Britain are a result of exotic pets such as jaguars or lions having escaped from their keepers and breeding with feral cats. Such instances highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership and how one should not consider keeping any type of pet animal unless fully prepared to be accountable for its actions as well as its welfare.

Under the Dangerous Wild Animal Act of 1976 any private owner of any animal that is deemed to be legally dangerous are required to buy an annual license from their local authority. The authority inspects the owner's premises, and confirms that the pet owner has third party liability insurance for the animal.

The founder of BCIB said that owners who kept animals "illegally with ill regard and little thought to their welfare," not the people who follow the laws are the problem.