Dangerous Wild Animals Act: How does the act work?
The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (“the Act”) came about following the fashion in the 1970s for keeping exotic animals, such as lions and tigers. Its primary purpose is to seek to protect the public from risks arising from the keeping of dangerous wild animals and is intended to protect the public at large, by regulating the keeping of such animals. There are also some ancillary welfare provisions contained in it. The Act applies in England, Wales and Scotland, but has been devolved in relation to Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own legislation to regulate the private keeping of dangerous wild animals. Defra has policy responsibility for the Act, and will make amendments to the Act (or the Schedule) when required, but it is local authorities who are responsible for actually administering and enforcing the Act. Anyone wishing to keep an animal listed in the Schedule to the Act must obtain a licence from his or her local authority. A licence will only be granted when the authority i
