A map by Born Free has revealed 55 ‘dangerous’ wild animals are being privately kept in homes across the county.
Residents must obtain a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) 1976 licence from the local authority in order to keep an exotic pet.
The person must show the animal is properly contained to prevent it from escaping and to protect the public.
But according to international animal charity Born Free, the DWA Act has not been reviewed for more than 40 years excluding exotic animals such as Komodo dragons and large constrictor snakes which could pose a serious risk to their owners, and to members of the public, should they escape.
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West Berkshire has granted cover for 12 ‘dangerous’ wild animals of which there are three arctic wolves, four north western wolves, and several dangerous snakes including the copperhead viper, cottonmouth viper, western diamondback rattlesnake and monocled cobra.
In Wokingham, 13 Arabian Oryx are being kept.
Animals being kept in Windsor and Maidenhead include 10 ring-tailed lemurs, seven crab eating macaques, one baboon, two Margarita Island Capuchins, a Grivet Monkey and seven macaque hybrids.
In Great Britain, there are approximately 187 private addresses across over 100 local authorities holding licences under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. These licences legally permit the private keeping of over 2,700 dangerous animals.
These include 150 to 160 legally registered crocodilians (including crocodiles, alligators, and caimans), 10 to 15 tigers and 11 big cats legally registered as leopards (including Amur leopards).
Click the link here https://www.bornfree.org.uk/dwamap to see the interactive map.