The keeping of certain species of wild animals is controlled by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, no person may keep any dangerous wild animals without obtaining a licence.
This licensing procedure does not apply to animals kept in a zoological garden, circus, pet shops, places registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 for the purpose of performing experiments.
A person is held to be the keeper of an animal if they have it in their possession and assumption of possession continues even if the animal escapes or is being transferred. This removes the need for carriers or veterinary surgeons to be licensed.
Any application made to the Council for a licence must be made (unless in exceptional circumstances) by the person who proposes to own and possess the animal and must, specify the species and number of animals to be kept; specify the premises where the animals will normally be kept; be made by a person 18 years of age or over and not disqualified from holding a licence under the Act, and be accompanied by a fee of £588.00.