Twelve lions, 14 tigers and 50 leopards are being kept as pets in Britain, researchers have revealed.
A study into big cats shows that 154 assorted non-domestic felines are owned privately.
The figures have been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
There are also almost 500 assorted monkeys and 2,000 ostriches in private ownership as well as more than 250 poisonous snakes and 50 members of the crocodile family.
The research has also revealed that more than 300 American Bison are grazing in our countryside - as well as more than 6,000 wild boar.
The Big Cats in Britain (BCIB) research group said it approached 408 local authorities to discover how many of the wild animals were being kept by licensed private keepers.
The figures do not include zoo animals.
Under the Dangerous Wild Animal Act 1976, private owners of all animals that are legally deemed to be dangerous are required to annually buy a licence from their local authority.
The authority inspects the owner's premises, setting standards and confirming that the owner carries third party liability insurance for the animal.
Scientific adviser to the BCIB Chris Moiser said it was a "pleasant surprise" to see how many people went to such lengths to keep their animals properly and lawfully.
Mark Fraser, founder of the BCIB Research Group, said: "It is not the responsible legal owners that 'lose' their animals, but those that are kept illegally with ill regard and little thought to their welfare.
"More and more exotic animals are being seen in the British countryside today, making it an interesting place to be.
"In December of 2006 the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was introduced in Northern Ireland, and it will be interesting to see what effect this has."
They must have picked that up from the US. Many people here have "Exotics" as pets. Actually lions in England have been kept as pets since the days of Roman Rule.
i think as long as they look afta the animals properly then woo hoo and lions are faithful, they mite hurt you while playin, but they wont try eatin you or anytin
Jaa-Ro-Nee-Mo!!!
"they ask you when will the help of Allah (swt) come! Certainly Allah (Swt) help is always near"
i think as long as they look afta the animals properly then woo hoo and lions are faithful, they mite hurt you while playin, but they wont try eatin you or anytin
Of the large Cats lions are the most docile. Anyone who has ever traveled in South Africa will tell you how little the people there have any need to fear them. yes, it is wise to give them their space, but they are not aggressive and it is rare for one to attack a human.
The people herding cattle will often walk right up to them. However, they are aware of the behavior of lions and know if a lion is relaxed and resting and reasonably safe, or if it is agitated or in a hunting mood and dangerous.
Also the most extinct. I don't think a lion has been seen in Morocco or the Atlas mountain region for over 200 years. Although I did see some Cheetahs there.
There had been lions throughout Europe until the Roman conquests. If I recall the capturing of the European lions for sporting purposes brought about their extinction.
They must have picked that up from the US. Many people here have "Exotics" as pets. Actually lions in England have been kept as pets since the days of Roman Rule.
and we know what happens next. Their owners get tired of them or just don't have the money to maintain their care and those animals end up in "Exotic Animals Retreat" like Arbucke Wilderness Park or Tiger Safari .
I went to one in Branson, Missouri. The tour in the park is exhilirating and I was only a few feet away from a male lion, separated by a 15 feet or so wired fence. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've seen but I can't help from feeling sad at the same time.
I found out that many exotic cats are de-clawed hence they can't return to the wild. They are being fed, just like the other cats.
I wish people would stop taking them as pets and let them live in the wild where Allah has created for them.
Takumi Nakashima WattaquLlah(a) wa yu'allimukumuLlah(u)
(Be Mindful of Allah and He will teach you)
and we know what happens next. Their owners get tired of them or just don't have the money to maintain their care and those animals end up in "Exotic Animals Retreat" like Arbucke Wilderness Park or Tiger Safari .
I went to one in Branson, Missouri. The tour in the park is exhilirating and I was only a few feet away from a male lion, separated by a 15 feet or so wired fence. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've seen but I can't help from feeling sad at the same time.
I found out that many exotic cats are de-clawed hence they can't return to the wild. They are being fed, just like the other cats.
I wish people would stop taking them as pets and let them live in the wild where Allah has created for them.
Quite true. That is the sad reality of many of them. People do not think that a 10 pound lion cub is going to grow into a 400 pound meat eater that will eat the equivelant of a cow every 2 weeks.
We do have a big problem in Texas with people just turning them loose. There are now several flocks of Ostriches raming the desert in West Texas. I know of several areas were African lions have been seen. When I lived up in Oak Wood Texas there was a lion that roamed the Trinity River behind md for several years.
I have known people here having Elephants, Rhinos, Lions, tigers, Cheetahs and just about anything you can think of. Sadly most of them meet very sad fates. Wild animals belong wild and never should be pets.
I agree the wild life should not keep as pets. They have requirments which a normal family can't fulfill it. They need large spaces to run, tress and so on. Also, they have a long life and many times the people get bored by them.
i want a tiger as a pet Omdayz, wer do i get it from..
Just think the tiger needs a family too, needs to breed, to hunt, run ...how you will ensure him to have a normal wild life We can't be selfish . He has a life too.
A lion would be a great deterrent for burglars and if you have any enemies just take a walk to their house with your lion
Dogs used to be wild once, we probably wouldn't have dreamt of having one for a pet but look at them now A man's best friend.
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then woo hoo
and lions are faithful, they mite hurt you while playin, but they wont try eatin you or anytin
Omdayz, wer do i get it from..
We can't be selfish . He has a life too.
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