REVEALED: The dangerous animals being kept in the Portsmouth area

More than 40 licences have been given out to people allowing them to keep animals covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 in the last three years.

The data, revealed through a Freedom of Information request, shows that more than a dozen dangerous animals are kept in the city.

Animals kept in Portsmouth include two Indian Cobras, a Pit Viper, a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and a Suphan Cobra.

There have been 27 licenses given out in Havant since 2013, including a West African Dwarf Crocodile, three bearded lizards and two Pygmy Rattlesnakes.

Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council both said no licenses under the Act had been give out in the last three years.

Under the Act, the animal should be kept only by the person and at the premises specified on the licence.

All reasonable precautions should be taken to protect public safety and ensure that ‘no nuisance is caused to the public.’

The animal should also be kept in accommodation which ensures it will not be able to escape and there must be precautions to stop the spread of infectious diseases.

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Here is the full list:

Portsmouth

2 x Indian Cobras

2 x Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

1 x Pit Viper

1 x Indochinese Spitting Cobra

2 x Cape Coral Snakes

1 x African Puff Adder

1 x Black Necked Spitting Cobra

1 x Uracoan Rattlesnake

1 x White Lipped Viper

1 x Suphan Cobra

1 x Long nosed Viper

Havant

1 x West African Dwarf Crocodile

7 x Venomous Reptiles

3 x Bearded Lizards

2 x Suphan Cobras

3 x Uracoam Rattlesnakes

7 x Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

2 x Pygmy Rattlesnakes

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Do you own any animals covered by the 1976 Act? We would love to hear about your experiences. If you would like to get in touch you can email [email protected] or call 02392 622114.