Exotic Dangerous and Wild Animals Licences

The Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 aims to ensure that where private individuals keep dangerous wild animals they do so in circumstances which create no risk to public and safeguard the welfare of the animals.

The Act does not apply to any dangerous wild animals kept in a zoo; pet shop or registered scientific establishment.  These premises are registered under their own specific legislation

Licences are required for any animal which appears on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 Schedule (see here).  Licences are issued by Wychavon District Council and will only be granted when the Council is satisfied that it would not be contrary to public interest on the grounds of safety or nuisance; that the applicant is a suitable person; and the animals’ accommodation is adequate and secure.  Licenses are issued for one year to be renewed on 1 January of each year.

At additional cost to the applicant, we arrange a veterinary inspection before issue of first licence, and every year on renewal - as the legislation requires.

Where we grant a licence, we will impose conditions which cover issues such as:

• A requirement that the animal be kept only by a person or persons named on the licence;
• Restrictions on the movement of the animal from the premises as specified on the licence; and
• A requirement that the licence holder has a current insurance policy which ensures both licence holders and others against any liability caused by the animal

Persons wishing to keep a dangerous wild animal on their premises must make an application for a licence from the Council if the animal is included in the schedule of dangerous wild animals shown below.  For further information please contact us on 01386 565016

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.

Telephone or e-mail us to ask for an application form, or download an application form.  Send the completed form with application fee and proof of insurance to us.

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' Court.

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to their licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' Court

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Pet Care

Family Dasyuridae:

The species Sarcophilus laniarius.

Family Macropodidae:

The species Macropus fuliginosus, Macropus giganteus, Macropus robustus and Macropus rufus

Family Cebidae:

All species except those of the genera Aotus, Callicebus and Saimiri.

New-world monkeys (including capuchin, howler, saki, uacari, spider and woolly monkeys).

Night monkeys (also known as owl monkeys), titi monkeys and squirrel monkeys are excepted.

Family Hominidae:

All species except those of the genus Homo.

Family Indriidae:

All species of the genera Propithecus and Indri (Avahi laniger is excepted).

Family Lemuridae:

All species except those of the genus Hapalemur.

Large lemurs.

Bamboo or gentle lemurs are excepted.

Family Dasypodidae:

The species Priodontes maximus.

Family Myrmecophagidae:

The species Myrmecophaga tridactyla.

Family Myrmecophagidae:

The species Myrmecophaga tridactyla.

Family Canidae:

All species except those of the genera Alopex, Cerdocyon, Dusicyon, Otocyon, Pseudolopex, Urocyon, Vulpes and Nyctereutes.

The species Canis familiaris, other than the subspecies Canis familiaris dingo, is also excepted

Wild dogs, wolves, jackals, the maned wolf, the bush dog and the dhole.

Foxes, raccoon dogs and the domestic dog (but not the dingo) are excepted.

Family Felidae:

All except—

(a)

the species Felis silvestris, Otocolobus manul, Leopardus tigrinus, Oncifelis geoffroyi, Oncifelis guigna, Catopuma badia, Felis margarita, Felis nigripes, Prionailurus rubiginosus and Felis silvestris catus;

(b)

a hybrid which is descended exclusively from any one or more species within paragraph (a);

(c)

a hybrid of which—

(i)

one parent is Felis silvestris catus, and

(ii)

the other parent is a first generation hybrid of Felis silvestris catus and any cat not within paragraph (a);

(d)

any cat which is descended exclusively from any one or more hybrids within paragraph (c) (ignoring, for the purpose of determining exclusivity of descent, the parents and remoter ancestors of any hybrid within paragraph (c));

(e)

any cat which is descended exclusively from Felis silvestris catus and any one or more hybrids within paragraph (c) (ignoring, for the purpose of determining exclusivity of descent, the parents and remoter ancestors of any hybrid within paragraph (c)).

All cats including the bobcat, caracal, cheetah, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, ocelot, puma, serval and tiger.

The following are excepted:

(a) the wild cat, the pallas cat, the little spotted cat, the Geoffroy’s cat, the kodkod, the bay cat, the sand cat, the black-footed cat, the rusty-spotted cat and the domestic cat;

(b) a hybrid cat which is descended exclusively from any one or more species within paragraph (a);

(c) a hybrid cat having as one parent a domestic cat and as the other parent a first generation hybrid of a domestic cat and any cat not within paragraph (a);

(d) any cat which is descended exclusively from any one or more hybrids within paragraph (c);

(e) any cat which is descended exclusively from a domestic cat and any one or more hybrids within paragraph (c).

Family Hyaenidae:

All except the species Proteles cristatus.

Family Mustelidae:

All species of the genera Amblonyx, Arctonyx, Aonyx, Enhydra, Lontra, Melogale, Mydaus, Pteronura and Taxidea.

The genus Lutra except the species Lutra lutra.

The species Eira barbara, Gulo gulo, Martes pennanti and Mellivora capensis.

Family Ursidae:

All species including the species Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Ailurus fulgens.

Family Viverridae:

All of the genus Civettictis.

All of the genus Viverra.

The species Cryptoprocta ferox.

Family Phocidae:

All species except Phoca vitulina and Halichoerus grypus.

True or earless seals.

The common seal (or harbour seal) and grey seal are excepted.

Family Orycteropodidae:

The species Orycteropus afer.

Family Equidae:

All species except Equus asinus and Equus caballus

Asses, horses and zebras.

The donkey and domestic horse are excepted.

Family Antilocapridae:

The species Antilocapra americana.

Family Bovidae:

All species except any domestic form of the genera Bos, Bubalus, Capra and Ovis.

Antelopes, bison, buffalo, gazelles, goats and sheep.

Domestic cattle, buffalo, goats and sheep are excepted.

Family Camelidae:

All species of the genus Camelus.

Family Cervidae:

All species of the genera Alces and Rangifer, except any domestic form of the species Rangifer tarandus.

The moose or elk and the caribou or reindeer.

The domestic reindeer is excepted.

Family Suidae:

All species except any domestic form of the species Sus scrofa.

Old-world pigs (including the wild boar and the wart hog).

The domestic pig is excepted.

Any hybrid of a kind of animal specified (other than by way of exception) in the foregoing provisions of this column where at least one parent is of a kind so specified, and any animal of which at least one parent is such a hybrid.

This does not include an excepted hybrid of the Family Felidae.

Any mammalian hybrids with at least one parent of a specified kind, and any animal of which at least one parent is such a hybrid.

This does not apply to excepted cat hybrids

Family Atractaspididae:

All species of the genus Atractaspis.

Family Colubridae.

All species of the genera Malpolon and Thelotornis.

The species Dispholidus typus, Rhabdophis subminiatus, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Elapomorphus lemniscatus, Philodryas olfersii,

Tachymenis peruviana and Xenodon severus

Certain rear-fanged venomous snakes, Montpellier snakes and African vine snakes (otherwise known as African twig or bird snakes).

The boomslang, the red-necked keelback, the yamakagashi (otherwise known as the Japanese tiger-snake), the Argentine black-headed snake, the South American green racer, the Peruvian racer and the Amazon false viper.

Family Ctenidae:

The genus Phoneutria.

Family Hexathelidae:

The genus Atrax.

Family Sicariidae:

The genus Loxosceles.

Family Theridiidae:

The genus Latrodectus.

Family Hemioscorpiidae:

The species Hemiscorpius lepturus.