BBC
A wild animal rescue and a charity have criticised “outdated” legislation introduced 50 years ago that regulates how exotic animals are kept in the UK.
Lindsay McKenna, owner of Wildside Exotic Rescue in Herefordshire, said the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWA) compounded the issues caused by the “very cruel practice” of people keeping exotic animals.
She said: “Wild animals should be in the wild, they’re not for our entertainment.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said UK applicants hoping to keep an exotic animal were “carefully vetted” and licences set out “strict conditions”.
McKenna’s Ross-on-Wye rescue centre has been running for 17 years and now cares for more than 200 wild or dangerous animals that have been rescued from people’s homes.
Her rescued animals include zebras, raccoons, monkeys and big cats.
McKenna pointed to the issue of enclosure sizes as an example of what she felt was wrong with the DWA.
“The minimum recommended enclosure size for a mountain lion is 28sqm, smaller than an average lounge.
