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topicnews · September 7, 2024

The weirdest pets you’re not allowed to keep in the UK

The weirdest pets you’re not allowed to keep in the UK

As of February 1, 2024, owning an American Bully XL dog without a special permit is illegal.

The reason for this is the number of fatal attacks that have been linked to the dog in the past year.

But what other animals are you not allowed to own in the UK? Well, the list makes for an extremely interesting read.

It takes a tremendous effort to even imagine some of these animals as “pets.” However, if you’ve ever had a desire to “pspsp” your own polar bear, think again.

The strangest animals banned in the UK

The full list of animals prohibited under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 can be found here.

tiger

According to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976, it is illegal to own a tiger without a proper permit.

Tasmanian devil

Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, you need a license to own a Tasmanian devil.

Kangaroos

A permit is also required to own animals from the Macropodidae family, which includes Western and Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wallaroos and Red Kangaroos.

Monkeys

Possession of the following monkeys without a permit is illegal:

  • New World monkeys (including capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, saki monkeys, uacari monkeys, spider monkeys and woolly monkeys).
  • Excluded are night monkeys (also called night monkeys), titi monkeys and squirrel monkeys.
  • Old World monkeys (including baboons, drills, colobus monkeys, geladas, vervet monkeys, langurs, leaf monkeys, macaques, mandrills, mangabeys, squirrel monkeys, proboscis monkeys and pygmy owls).

Monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans

According to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, the possession of animals from the Hominidae family without a permit is illegal.

These include great apes, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas.

The possession of gibbons and siamangs is also illegal.

Lemurs

You are not allowed to own the following lemur species without the appropriate permit:

  • Jumping lemurs (including indri and sifakas)
  • Large lemurs – bamboo or gentle lemurs are excluded

Wild dogs, wolves and similar

Possession of animals of the genus Canidae without a permit is illegal in the following cases, among others:

  • Wild dogs, wolves, jackals, maned wolves, forest dogs and red dogs.
  • Foxes, raccoon dogs and domestic dogs (but not dingoes) are allowed.

Big cats

While owning a domestic cat is completely legal, a permit is required for the larger relatives of the Felidae family, including the bobcat, caracal, cheetah, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, ocelot, puma, serval and tiger.

Accepted are:

  • the wildcat, the Pallas’s cat, the small spotted cat, the eyelash cat, the kodkod, the golden cat, the sand cat, the black-footed cat, the rusty cat and the domestic cat;
  • a hybrid cat which is descended exclusively from one or more of the species referred to in paragraph (a);
  • a hybrid cat, one of the parents of which is a domestic cat and the other parent of which is a first generation hybrid of a domestic cat and another cat not falling within paragraph (a);
  • any cat descended exclusively from one or more hybrids referred to in paragraph (c);
  • any cat descended exclusively from a domestic cat and one or more hybrids as defined in paragraph (c).

Hyenas

It is illegal to own hyenas without a permit, with the exception of the aardwolf.

Badgers

The possession of the following badgers and other animals from the marten family is illegal without a permit:

  • Badgers (except the Eurasian badger)
  • Otters (except the European otter)
  • Tayra Badger
  • wolverine
  • Fisher Badger and Honey Badger (also known as Honey Badger)

Bears

Owning a bear without a permit is illegal. This also applies to the giant panda and the red panda.

giraffe

Owning a giraffe without a permit is illegal.

Alligators and crocodiles

In addition, owning alligators or crocodiles without a permit is illegal.

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Snakes

Possession of certain snakes without a permit is illegal.

Certain spider species

Possession of the following spiders without a permit is illegal:

  • Wandering spiders
  • The Sydney funnel-web spider and its close relatives
  • Brown recluse spiders (also known as violin spiders)
  • The widow spiders and close relatives

Birds

Owning an Egyptian goose without a license is illegal.

It is illegal to own an ostrich.

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