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.  Licences are issued by Malvern Hills 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 every year as the legislation requires.

Where the council grants a licence, it 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 the Worcestershire Hub on 01684 962151

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 at the Animal Welfare Department, Malvern Hills District Council, The Council Offices, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AF

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 or, in Scotland, to their local Sheriff.

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.

E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Pet Care

MAMMALS

Marsupials

Family Dasyuridae:

The species Sarcophilus laniarius

The Tasmanian devil

Family Macropodidae:

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

The western and eastern grey kangaroos, the wallaroo and the red kangaroo

Primates

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: Cercopithecidae: All species

Old-world monkeys (including baboons, the drill, colobus monkeys, the gelada guenons, langurs, leaf monkeys, macaques, the mandrill, mangebeys, the patas and proboscis monkeys and the talapoin).

Family Hominidae:

All species except those of the genus Homo

Anthropoid apes: chimpanzees, bonobos, orang-utans, and gorillas.

Family  Hylobatidae: All Species

Gibbons and Siamangs

Family Indriidae:

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

Leaping lemurs (including the indri and sifakas). The woolly lemur 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

The giant armadillo

Family  Myrmecophagidae:

The species Myrmecophaga tridactyla

The giant anteater

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 © (ignoring for the purpose of determining exclusivity of descent, the parents and remoter ancestors of any hybrid within paragraph ©)

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

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 ©

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

Family Hyaenidae:

All except the species Proteles cristatus

Hyaenas.  The aardwolf is excepted

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

Badgers (except the Eurasian badger), otters (except the European otter), and the tayra, wolverine, fisher and ratel (otherwise known as the honey badger).

Family  Ursidae:

All species including the species Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Ailurus fulgens

All bears including the giant panda and the red panda

Family Viverridae:

All of the genus Civettictis

All of the genus Viverra

The species Cryptoprocta ferox

The African, large-spotted, Malay and Indian civets and the fossa

Pinnipedes

Family Odobenidae :All species

The walrus

Family  Otariidae: All species

Eared Seals

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

Elephants

Family Elephantidae: All species

Elephants

Aardvark

Family Orycteropodidae:

The species Orycteropus afer

The aardvark

Odd-toed ungulates

Family Equidae:

All species except Equus asinus and Equus caballus

Asses, horses and zebras

The donkey and domestic horse are excepted

Family Rhinocerotidae: all species

Rhinoceroses

Family Tapiridae: All species

Tapirs

Even-toed ungulates

Family Antilocapridae:

The species Antilocapra americana

The pronghorn

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

Camels

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 Giraffidae:  All species

The giraffe and the okapi

Family Hippopotamidae:  All species

The hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus

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

Family Tayassuidae:  All Species

New-World pigs (otherwise known as peccaries)

Hybrids

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

BIRDS

Cassowaries

Family Casuariidae;  All species

Cassowaries

Ostrich

Family Struthionidae; All Species

The ostrich

REPTILES

Crocodilians

Family Alligatoridae:  All Species

Alligators and caimans

Family Crocodylidae: All Species

Crocodiles and the false gharial

Family Gavialidae: All species

The gharial (otherwise known as the gavial)

Lizards and Snakes

Family Atractaspididae:

All species of the genus atractaspis

Burrowing asps, also known as mole or  burrowing vipers and stiletto snakes

Family Colubridae:

All species of the genera Malpolon and Thelotornis

The species Dispholidus typus, Rhabdophis subminiatus, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Elapomorphus leminscatus, Philodryas offersii

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 Elapidae: All species

Certain front-fanged venomous snakes including cobras, coral snakes, kraits, mambas, whipsnakes and all Australian poisonous snakes (including the death adders)

Family  Hydrophidae: All species

Sea snakes

Family Helodermatidae: All species

The gia monster and the (Mexican) beaded lizard

Family Viperidae: All Species

Certain front-fanged venomous snakes (including adders, the barba amarilla, the bushmaster, the fre-de-lance, moccasins, rattlesnakes and vipers)

INVERTEBRATES

Spiders

Family Ctenidae:

The genus Phoneutria

Wandering spiders

Family Hexathelidae:

The genus Atrax

The Sydney funnel-web spider and its close relatives

Family Sicariidae:

The genus Loxosceles

Brown recluse spiders (otherwise known as violin spiders)

Family Theridiidae:

The genus Latrodectus

The widow spiders and close relatives

Scorpions

Middle-Eastern thin tailed scorpion

Buthid scorpions

Family Hemioscorpiidae:

The species Hemiscorpius lepturus

Middle-Eastern thin tailed scorpion