On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK
Keeping exotic pets has become a popular habit in the UK in recent decades. Yet, information on the current scale of the trade and the diversity of animals involved is lacking. Here, we review the licensed sale of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as exotic pets in the UK, identifying current...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2373 |
| _version_ | 1797545137745690624 |
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| author | Angie Elwin Jennah Green Neil D’Cruze |
| author_facet | Angie Elwin Jennah Green Neil D’Cruze |
| author_sort | Angie Elwin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Keeping exotic pets has become a popular habit in the UK in recent decades. Yet, information on the current scale of the trade and the diversity of animals involved is lacking. Here, we review the licensed sale of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as exotic pets in the UK, identifying current geographical hotspots of trader activity, data gaps, and compliance issues related to this trade. In terms of trade volume, records showed large numbers of individual wild animals, across a wide range of species groups, are being legally sold in the UK. Maximum numbers of exotic pets permitted for sale included 54,634 amphibians, 64,810 reptiles, 23,507 birds, and 6479 mammals. Moreover, nearly 2000 pet traders located in 283 different local authority areas had permission to sell exotic pets. The scope and scale of the trade draws additional attention to the substantial animal welfare challenges associated with it, and our review serves to highlight several shortcomings associated with the licensed exotic pet trade in the UK. Pet shop licences often lacked detailed information about the specific type and number of animals permitted for sale, which raises compliance concerns and hinders efforts to carry out adequate inspection and monitoring. Ninety-five pet traders in England had been given a one star rating, indicating ‘minor failings’ in animal welfare, and some local authorities in England were still operating under the old Pet Animals Act (1951). We recommend that resources should be prioritised and focused towards local authorities in England that are not operating under the new Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (2018), and that local authorities should improve data reporting on all licenses issued to aid inspection and monitoring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:10:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dca0a50bdeda45cb9f89b4640ce79e6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:10:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-dca0a50bdeda45cb9f89b4640ce79e6c2023-11-21T00:16:09ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-12-011012237310.3390/ani10122373On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UKAngie Elwin0Jennah Green1Neil D’Cruze2World Animal Protection, 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UKWorld Animal Protection, 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UKWorld Animal Protection, 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UKKeeping exotic pets has become a popular habit in the UK in recent decades. Yet, information on the current scale of the trade and the diversity of animals involved is lacking. Here, we review the licensed sale of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as exotic pets in the UK, identifying current geographical hotspots of trader activity, data gaps, and compliance issues related to this trade. In terms of trade volume, records showed large numbers of individual wild animals, across a wide range of species groups, are being legally sold in the UK. Maximum numbers of exotic pets permitted for sale included 54,634 amphibians, 64,810 reptiles, 23,507 birds, and 6479 mammals. Moreover, nearly 2000 pet traders located in 283 different local authority areas had permission to sell exotic pets. The scope and scale of the trade draws additional attention to the substantial animal welfare challenges associated with it, and our review serves to highlight several shortcomings associated with the licensed exotic pet trade in the UK. Pet shop licences often lacked detailed information about the specific type and number of animals permitted for sale, which raises compliance concerns and hinders efforts to carry out adequate inspection and monitoring. Ninety-five pet traders in England had been given a one star rating, indicating ‘minor failings’ in animal welfare, and some local authorities in England were still operating under the old Pet Animals Act (1951). We recommend that resources should be prioritised and focused towards local authorities in England that are not operating under the new Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (2018), and that local authorities should improve data reporting on all licenses issued to aid inspection and monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2373animal welfareornamental animalwildlife tradepublic heathpet licensing |
| spellingShingle | Angie Elwin Jennah Green Neil D’Cruze On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK Animals animal welfare ornamental animal wildlife trade public heath pet licensing |
| title | On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK |
| title_full | On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK |
| title_fullStr | On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK |
| title_short | On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK |
| title_sort | on the record an analysis of exotic pet licences in the uk |
| topic | animal welfare ornamental animal wildlife trade public heath pet licensing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2373 |
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