Nearly everyone seems to have missed the point, that this is a list of animals which are considered as dangerous to the Public.
It does not mean that all animals not on the list can be kept as pets or companion animals. Most animals can bite, and it is only the liklyhood and severity, which is dealt with in this Act.
The animal that kills the most people by far, is the Mosquito, which is actually not on the list!!

Seb Miller, Bristol,

Coatis, squirrel monkeys and sloths belong in the tropical habitats of Central America, where they are free to roam their large territories (or in the case of sloths, their very high trees). There is no way that an owner could provide them with the right kind of habitat, let alone enough space to have a range anywhere close to what they have in the wild. Biologists don't even know enough about these exotic animal species yet to correctly predict their needs, how can an owner assume responsibility for these? Not to mention that pet stores and breeders will most likely take these animals directly from the wild, tearing them from their families and natural habitats to put them in small enclosures and throw them in the back of a crowded and dirty plane for the flight over here. It is inconceivable that these wild animals be kept as pets, or PRISONERS, for the sake of human frivolousness.

Jennie Burns, London, UK

Must agree with the other comments about some of the species on this list. Porcupines and raccoons do not make good household pets!

I'm a bit concerned about the 'Brazilian wolf spider' too. The vast majority of these spiders are harmless, although some look impressive, but there's a closely related genus of spider, the Phoneutria, or "Brazilian wandering spider" which look like wolf spiders but are highly toxic and aggressive. No doubt a reputable dealer would be very unlikely to get them mixed up, but accidents, or incompetence, do happen.

JRM, London,

Why is everyone so anoyed b this, firstly why was the woman wearing a leopoard skin coat,there should be complaints about that. Also if people are having to pay less to keep sme of their exotic animals it gives them more money to improve the animals houing and dietry needs. I highly doubt tha this culd cause a bad thing for the animals as the chances of someone paiing hundreds or even thousands of pounds to obtain the animals and then just neglect them!, an yes i'm sure there are loads of peole out there who would now like to keep on o these animals, including me (i'd love a three toed sloth), but they will not able to purchse them.

Ryan, Guildford, england

This really is a BAD idea.

I speak as an owner of an 'exotic' pet (A skunk) and in the knowledge that the vast majority of the animals on this list do not and will not make good 'pets'.

Unless you have specialist knowledge I would strongly advise people to stick to more traditional pets whose needs and behaviour are better understood and which are readily bred in captivity. Owning 'exotic' animals may sound interesting and appealing but it all too often ends up being a nightmare for the owner and the animal. Look at the recent case of the skunk found outside a Blackpool nightclub; almost certainly an abandoned pet, accquired without due thought and then abandoned.

DEFRA should have more sense.

Colin, Bristol, UK

A charter for animal abuse - either deliberate, or just from sheer ignorance on the part of the "owner". Most of the animals on this list are wild - they should remain so and be left alone by human animals.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Why does the dingo now need one? I know a number of people with them and they are lovely animals, as long as they are properly trained - just like any other dog. Having once been semi-domesticated by aborigines they make much better pets than most of the animals that no longer need a licence, and are much less endangered.

Will Dove, Darwin, Australia / NT

Olly, to assume that anyone with the money to have a wild animal as a pet would also be knowledgable about its needs and care is madly optimistic. What the devil is a Worthing cab driver doing with a pet lion? Many people with wild animals want to own one because it's "cool" and often lose interest when it's no longer cute or a novelty and it becomes obvious that the animal doesn't belong in their house. The animals suffer and die. Making it easier to own them is a bad idea.

Tina Rhea, Greenbelt Maryland, US

I live in the US (Virginia) and we actualy have a racoon that was orphaned at about 2 weeks old. He was raised with a litlter of kittens and is now about 7 years old. Although he is quite affectionate with my husband, he is extremely strong and has very sharp teeth and is entirely unsuited as a pet. At around 5-7 years of age, they can become very agressive and, as they are very curious and destructive, could not be allowed free reign in the house and do poorly in cages. Ours lives outside in a large treed enclosure because he could not be released into the wild and we love him, but there are good reasons why they are not allowed as pets here in the States where they are an indigenous species. I would urge anyone thinking they might like to have one as a pet, to rethink that urge.

Terri Baines, Gloucester, Virginia USA

has the world gone mad. Having grown up in a country where they actually have wild animals (Canada) I can assure you animals such as a Racoon and especially a porcupine cannot be domesticated. I had a dog killed by a porcupine, they are dangerous! This is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard!

Wesley, Hornchurch, Essex, England

So why was the lady wearing a leopard skin coat? No one seems to have addressed that issue....

Linda, Cohoes NY ,

This is great, but I enquire about whether the 'Cuviers Dwarf Caiman' is on (or will be) in the list for exotic pets wihout a license list? - Thanks

Daniel maggs, newport, south wales

Surely anyone willing to pay thousands of pounds importing and quarantining an animal such as a sloth will be more knowledgable as to the habitats and characteristics of the animals in question .

Olly, oxford,

If I read this correctly, this is a good day for us Bengal breed cat owners (hybrid cats). Last year I bought my pet Bengal cat back after a two year work assignment in India and I required the UK CITES import certificate for her. Before I could get this, I had to get the Indian CITES Export Visa, which they had never heard of. For one of processes, I had to take my cat to the local Bangalore zoo to have her microchip scanned. The Zoo Deputy thought that I had turned up with a Royal Bengal Tiger in my car and promptly had the car surrounded with guards. He just wouldn't believe that all I had was a pet cat that required him to write one of many letters to get round this idiotic CITES loophole. Eventually and after going to the highest of Commerce Ministers in Delhi, I got the coveted CITES Visa and became the first private individual in India to get this. However, I endured six months of Indian administrative hell.

Alison Kyle, Southampton, UK

Yetti I fancy a Yetti as a pet,, perhaps they drink beer, so they can go to the pub!!

I am told they are good for walking with up Ben Nevis or Snowdon on a sunday afternoon

Were is Yetti on the list

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire