The Dangerous Wild Animal Act

​The Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) Act 1976


Legal Responsibilities & Dangerous Wild Animals

By Courtney Sweet

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify the main purpose of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

• List at least three types of animals that require a DWA licence.

• Describe the basic requirements a person must meet to get a licence (e.g., age, insurance, housing).

• Explain who is exempt from this specific Act (e.g., zoos).

Categorize

Options (10)

Lion

Cobra

Wolf

Crocodile

Marmoset monkey

Dog

Cat

Horse

Bearded Dragon

Sugar Glider

Starter task- Put the animals in the correct catagory

Need a licence to own

Do NOT need a license to own

What is the DWA Act 1976?

The Act was created to stop people from keeping "fashionable" dangerous pets (like cheetahs in the 70s) without any oversight.

• Public Safety: To make sure the animal doesn't escape and hurt anyone.

• Animal Welfare: To make sure the animal is housed and fed correctly.

Who Needs a Licence?

Any private individual who wants to keep an animal listed on the DWA Schedule.

Note: This Act does not apply to Zoos, Circuses, or Pet Shops, as they have their own separate, stricter laws.

Common Animals on the List:

• Primates: Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Lemurs (most monkeys).

• Wild Cats: Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Cheetahs.

• Wild Dogs: Wolves, Jackals.

• Reptiles: Crocodiles, Alligators, Venomous Snakes (Vipers, Cobras).

• Other: Ostriches, Scorpions, certain Spiders.

How Do You Get a Licence?

To get a licence from the local council, the owner must:

1. Be 18+ years old.

2. Have Insurance: They must have "Public Liability Insurance" to pay for any damage the animal causes.

3. Pass an Inspection: A specialist vet and a council officer will visit to check the cage/enclosure is secure and the animal is happy.

4. Pay a Fee: Licences are expensive and usually last for 2 years.

Why was the Act created? (The "Wild" 1970s)

The Problem: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it became a "fashion trend" for wealthy people to keep exotic pets.

• No Regulation: At the time, you could literally walk into a high-end department store (like Harrods in London) and buy a lion cub, a tiger, or a panther.

• Public Danger: People were walking cheetahs on leashes in public parks. There were no laws to stop a neighbor from keeping a crocodile in their bathtub or a cobra in a regular glass tank.

• The Breaking Point: The government realized that the "average citizen" owning a big cat or a venomous snake was a massive risk to public safety. They needed a way to control who could own these animals and how they were kept.

The "Big Cat" Mystery (Unintended Consequences)

What happened next? When the law was passed in 1976, owners were given a choice: get a license (which was expensive and required strict inspections) or give up the animal.

• The "Release" Theory: Many people didn't want to pay for the license or have their pets taken away. It is widely believed that some owners drove to remote areas (like Bodmin Moor or the Scottish Highlands) and released their exotic cats into the wild.

• UK Urban Legends: This is why we still have stories today about "The Beast of Bodmin" or "The Surrey Puma."

• The Law Today: Because of what happened in 1976, the UK now has much stricter rules (The Wildlife and Countryside Act) that make it a serious crime to release any non-native animal into the wild.

Multiple Choice

What year was the Dangerous Wild Animals Act created?

• 2001
• 1976
• 1992
• 1985

Multiple Choice

True or False: A Zoo needs a DWA licence to keep a Tiger.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

How old must you be to apply for a DWA licence?

• 16
• 21
• 25
• 18

Multiple Choice

Name one bird that requires a DWA licence.

• Lovebird
• Ostrich

• African Grey Parrot
• Cockatoo

Multiple Choice

How long does a DWA licence last before it needs renewing?

• 3 years
• 1 year
• 5 years
• 2 years

Multiple Choice

Where could you famously buy a lion cub in London before 1976?

• Selfridges
• Harrods
• Harvey Nichols
• Liberty

Multiple Choice

Why did some people release their animals into the woods when the Act started?

• To avoid penalties from new regulations.
• To find better food sources.
• To protect them from poachers.
• To escape from their owners.

How do you get a licence to keep exotic pets? | ITV News

Single mother’s extraordinary survival story after violent chimpanzee attack | 60 Minutes Australia

End Task: "The Council Inspector"

A local resident wants to keep a Grey Wolf in their back garden. Task: In small groups, students act as "Council Inspectors." They must write a checklist of 5 things they would need to see before saying "Yes" to the licence.

• Is the fence high enough? (Security)

• Is there a vet nearby who knows about wolves? (Health)

• Does the owner have enough money for meat and insurance? (Welfare/Liability)

• Will it annoy the neighbors? (Public Nuisance)