Over 170 wild animals in south-east England

There are two dwarf crocodiles licenced in Reigate and Banstead

A charity has warned of the “real risk” of keeping wild animals as pets, as its data shows there were 173 licences across Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

According to Born Free, in 2023 there were 2,700 wild animal licences in Great Britain.

The charity said: “Wild animals being kept in domestic settings also presents a very real risk to public safety.”

A Defra spokesman said people seeking to keep animals under relevant laws are “carefully vetted”.

The spokesman added they must also “apply for a licence which sets out strict conditions under which the animals must be kept.”

Among the wild animals licenced were two tigers in Dover, one zebra in Maidstone, a caiman in Arun, three ostriches in Horsham and two dwarf crocodiles in Reigate and Banstead.

Dr Mark Jones, Born Free’s head of policy, said: “It is unbelievable that, in this day and age, so many dangerous animals, including big cats, large primates, crocodiles and venomous snakes, continue to be legally kept in people’s homes in the UK.”

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