The wild animals being kept as pets in Staffordshire – what's near you
Lions, a tiger and a crocodile are among the dangerous wild animals which are being kept as pets in Staffordshire, new figures show.
Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation found that exotic and deadly animals are lurking within the county through freedom of information requests sent to councils in the area.
In the UK, many exotic animals are governed by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
This law establishes what is known as a 'negative list' of all the animals that people are prohibited from keeping.
However, under this law members of the public are able to apply for a licence to keep almost any dangerous animal from the list, provided they have the means to keep it and prevent it from escaping.
The figures revealed there are three mammals – a tiger and two lions – covered by dangerous wild animal licences in Cannock Chase.
