A lion, a tiger, venomous snakes, and three wolves are among the legally-owned 'dangerous' animals kept privately in the Midlands, according to new data from wildlife charity Born Free. The charity has mapped over 2,000 wild animals legally held under licence across Britain, warning that these creatures pose a major risk to public safety and suffer in captivity.
Midlands' Dangerous Animals Listed
In Cannock, a lion and a tiger are kept under licence. Dudley hosts four venomous snakes: a green bush viper, a cape coral cobra, a saw-scaled viper, and a sunda white-lipped pit viper. Shropshire has 100 boars, three wolves, three zebras, and a camel. South Staffordshire has an application under consideration for two Gila monsters, venomous lizards. Staffordshire Moorlands has two Bactrian camels. Stoke-on-Trent lists two cobras, a rattlesnake, a copperhead, and a dwarf caiman. Stratford-upon-Avon holds 26 camels, and Worcester has two Río Fuerte beaded lizards.
Call for Review of Dangerous Wild Animals Act
Born Free is demanding a comprehensive review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which governs the private keeping of animals considered a risk to the public. The charity also wants an inquiry into the legal framework for trading and keeping wild animals. Chris Lewis, Born Free's captivity research and policy manager, said: 'The Act was intended to make the keeping of wild animals categorised as 'dangerous' a wholly exceptional circumstance. Yet 50 years on nearly ten times more venomous snakes are kept in British homes than British zoos, servals continue to be unnecessarily and cruelly crossbred with domestic cats to produce 'fashionable' hybrids and primates continue to be confined despite the government acknowledging they are unsuited to being kept as pets. These animals are still wild, still dangerous yet still legal to keep. The government must urgently review and reform the laws governing the trade in and keeping of wild animals as pets.'
Public Safety and Animal Welfare Concerns
Broadcaster and Born Free patron Kirsty Gallacher added: 'It is staggering and deeply troubling that in 2026, dangerous wild animals are still being legally kept behind closed doors in Britain. Big cats, crocodiles, venomous snakes and primates are not pets, they are wild creatures that suffer greatly in captivity. Keeping them in private hands puts both people and the animals at risk. This should not be normal, and it should not still be legal. Fifty years on, these animals are still wild, still dangerous, and still being failed by the law. The government must urgently review this outdated legislation and ultimately bring an end to the private keeping of wild animals as pets.'
The data reveals that across Britain, there are up to ten times more poisonous snakes kept privately than in UK zoos. Born Free argues that dangerous wild animals are not pets and that the current legislation is insufficient to protect the public and the animals themselves.
