They are unlikely house companions but all manner of spiky, prickly and fearsome creatures are now officially loveable. Licences are no longer required to own a sloth, emu, racoon or squirrel monkey.

In a shake-up of the dangerous-animal laws 33 species are now considered sufficiently harmless to be kept as a pet. Children who were once content to play with a puppy or hamster may now yearn for a North American porcupine, a mangrove snake or even a Brazilian wolf spider.

Other exotic beasts that may be stocked by pet shops in future include woolly lemurs, tamarins, coatis and little coatimundis. The changes will save owners between £100 and £1,000 a year in licence fees charged by local authorities for any animal, bird or reptile listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

But some animal welfare campaigners fear that it will lead to animals suffering with owners unable to cope with demanding creatures. Others also fear that unscrupulous dealers will breed these animals and that it could encourage illicit trade in endangered wild animals.

Even though woolly lemurs, tamarins, night (or owl) monkeys, titis and squirrel monkeys are now deemed harmless, their conservation status is important and ownership is covered by the Convention of Inernational Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). Owners must be licensed to care for these animals.

The new lists of harmless and dangerous pets have been issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. New species requiring a licence include the dingo, the Middle Eastern thin-tailed scorpion and the Argentine blackheaded snake. Ministers ordered a review four years ago because there were complaints that some councils were using their powers to prevent people from owning a “dangerous” pet.

There was also concern as to whether pythons should be allowed as pets. Rock and reticulated pythons were also under review. Experts decided, however, to keep them off the list because they pose little danger to the general public. Most accidents with pythons involve owners or members of the same household.

All dangerous animals must be inspected by a vet on behalf of the local authority each year as a condition of the licence.

The original purpose of the law was to protect people from dangerous animals likely to run amok in public places.

MPs demanded stricter controls on wild animals after a woman wearing a leopard-skin coat was jumped on by a lion called Shane in a Worthing street.

The scare for Mrs Poppy Hull in March 1976 made front-page news in The Times. The lion was the pet of a local taxi driver.

Mark Johnston, spokesman for the British Small Animals Veterinary Association, said last night: “I think it would be worrying if we saw an increase in ownership of exotic pets. Most people don’t have the knowledge or expertise to look after them properly. These species are not companion animals.”

Marie Whatmough, a senior keeper at London Zoo, also had concerns.

“Sloths for example have a very grumpy nature. They have matted fur which is dry and coarse. You wouldn’t want to cuddle them,” she said.

It might also cost £2,500 to £4,000 to import a sloth – they are not on sale here – plus there would be the £2,000 cost for six months in quarantine. As for racoons, even lovers of exotic animals are angry that the species is now regarded as harmless. At a few weeks old they are fluffy and adorable but they become aggressive. Rory Matier, consultant to the Specialist Keepers Association, still has the scars after being mauled by a racoon two years ago.

He said: “My fear is that inexperienced keepers will place themselves at risk by introducing species into the home based on cuteness.”

The approved list

Those that don’t need a licence . . .
Woolly lemurs; tamarins, night (or owl), titis and squirrel monkeys; sloths (below); North American porcupine; capybara; crested porcupines; cat hybrids; wild cat (right); pallas; little spotted and geoffroy’s cats; kodkod; bay and sand cats; blackfooted cat; rusty-spotted cat; cacomistles; raccoons (above); Coatis, lingos; little coatimundi; binturong; kinkajou; hyraxes; guanaco; vicugna; emus (bottom); sand and mangrove snakes; Brazilian wolf spider

Those that need one now . . .
Argentine blackheaded snake; Peruvian racer; South American green racer; Amazon false viper; Middle Eastern thin-tailed scorpion; dingo

And some of those that did before and still do
Tasmanian devil; eastern and eastern grey kangaroos; wallaroo; red kangaroo; new-world monkeys – capuchin, howler, saki, uacari, spider and woolly; old-world monkeys – baboons, colobus, gelada, guenons, langurs, leaf monkeys, macaques, mandrill, mangabeys; the patas and proboscis monkeys; the talapoin; anthropoid apes – chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gorillas; gibbons and siamangs; leaping lemurs; large lemurs; giant armadillo, Giant anteater; wild dogs – wolves, jackals, the maned wolf, bush dog and dhole; wild cats – bobcat, caracal, cheetah, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, ocelot, puma, serval and tiger hyaenas; badgers (except Eurasian badger); otters; tayra; wolverine; fisher and ratel; bears; civets; walrus; eared seals; true or earless seal; common seal elephants; aardvark; wild asses; horses; zebras

Source: Defra

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