Did you know that some animals require a licence in order to keep them? Many exotic pets can be kept without a licence, as long as they are a pet and not involved with the observation from the wider general public. However, some animals may fall under the category of “dangerous wild animal” and these will require a separate licence. 

Let’s look at the difference between animals needing a Dangerous Wild Animal licence (DWA) and when a Zoo licence may be required, as well as which animals fall within these categories. 

What is a Dangerous Wild Animals licence? 

Some species of animals are classified as dangerous, as they can have the potential to cause significant damage or harm to humans, thus requiring the owner to obtain a licence to own them. The legislation aims to reduce the risk associated with keeping these animals.  

Animals that fall under this category include: 

  • Primates: monkeys, lemurs and apes 
  • Large cats: Cheetahs, lions, leopards, tigers, lynx, servals and ocelots 
  • Marsupials: Wallaroos, wallabies and kangaroos 
  • Wild dogs: Wolves, jackals, dingoes and maned wolves 
  • Certain types of venomous spiders and scorpions  
  • Birds: Ostriches and emus 
  • Reptiles: Caimans, crocodiles, alligators and venomous snakes 

Whilst you may think it is unlikely that anyone local to you would keep one of these animals, you would be surprised. In fact, you can see what animals are within your local county here. 

The purpose of a DWA licence involves the keeper applying through their local council in which a thorough assessment of their facilities is carried out, along with an overview of the animals specific needs and a detailed examination of the owners previous experience. 

In some cases, the licensing process may indicate that the owners need specific safety protocols to prevent the escape of animals in order to ensure public safety. After all, I wouldn’t fancy running into a lion in the street, would you? 

Owners who have been granted a licence will need to undergo regular inspections to ensure that safety standards and animal welfare is being met to the highest level. 

You may be thinking, “Surely these animals are always kept in a zoo?!” – Well, you would be surprised! Many private collectors and passionate keepers enjoy keeping a vast array of exotic animals, all which would require a Dangerous Wild Animal licence and not a Zoo Licence. 

So, when is it that a Zoo Licence is required? 

What is a Zoo Licence? 

A zoo licence differs from a DWA licence if the public are involved in the viewing of animals, although they both regulate the keeping of non-domestic animals. 

The zoo licence falls in line with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and applies to establishments (such as zoos, believe it or not) where wild animals are exhibited for public observation. A collection of animals can be legally referred to as a zoo if the public can view the animals for at least 7 or more days during a 12 month period. 

 A zoo licence is required for: 

  • Public displays of animals 
  • Establishments that work within conservation, animal education and research 

Regular inspections are required as a term of the licence from both the local authority and zoo inspectors and must meet the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practices. 

Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the licence does not necessarily correlate to specific species. It applies when the animals housed there are showcased to the public. These can often include: 

  • Birds: Parrots, flamingoes and birds of prey 
  • Fish: Fresh and saltwater species 
  • Invertebrates: Insects and arachnids 
  • Reptiles: Snakes, lizards, tortoises and crocodilians  
  • Amphibians: Frogs and salamanders 

Even common “household exotics” such as bearded dragons, corn snakes, hedgehogs and birds require a zoo licence if they’re on public display. 

Purpose of licensing  

The two different acts help to govern the licences. To put it simply, if the animals are being showcased to the public, the establishment requires a Zoo Licence. For a private collection that is not open to the public, a DWA licence is required. 

A zoo licence exists in accordance with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, ensuring that wild animals exhibited for public display contributes towards: 

  • Education and public awareness 
  • Safe public interaction 
  • Exceptional animal welfare standards 
  • Conservation  

Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, the DWA licence: 

  • Protects the general public from dangerous species 
  • Confirms that the keeper is competent  
  • Ensures that wild animals are securely housed 

Who needs licensing? 

Whilst already covered, let’s break this down into two clear separations. 

Scenario one: An individual or organisation exhibits a collection of wild animals for the public to attend. The establishment is open for 7 days or more during a 12 month period. 

A zoo licence is required in this instance. This includes zoos, wildlife centres and small mobile collections (even those visiting keepers who travel for children’s parties!) 

Scenario two: An individual keeps animals that are a private collection. The animals are not exhibited to the public, but are listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. 

A DWA licence is required for the individual. This applies to exotic animal breeders or private keepers whose animals are found under the Dangerous Animals Act. 

Animal Numbers 

Contrary to what you may believe, animal numbers don’t really apply to licensing for both zoo or DWA licences.  

Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, there is no minimum or maximum number of animals required for the licence. Instead, the focus is on whether the animals are interacting with the public. This means that a large zoo with hundreds of animals compared to a small collection of reptiles used for public encounters would both require a Zoo Licence.  

Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, the main focus is if the species kept by an individual are listed as dangerous. This means that having just one dangerous animal and having 20 dangerous animals would both require a DWA licence. 

However, local authorities may take a closer look at larger collections, ensuring that animal welfare is still at the forefront of the collection. 

Inspection and Regulation 

The structure of regulation and inspections differ the most for the two different licences. 

Zoo Licence:  

Establishments that require or already hold a licence have both formal and ongoing inspections. The purpose is to assess whether the collection is ticking the boxes for legalities under welfare, conservation, education and most of all safety. 

Inspections are carried out by both local authority officers and appointed zoo inspectors from the Secretary of State. The purpose is to assess: 

  • Animal welfare standards 
  • Quality of husbandry: diet, housing, enrichment and social groups 
  • Enclosure design and practicalities  
  • Contribution to conservation practices, such as breeding 
  • Public safety 
  • Record keeping and staff training 

Zoo licensing is a comprehensive task and is continuously monitored and assessed. 

DWA Licence:  

This inspection is more about assessing the risk that the housed animals could potentially have. The main difference isn’t to assess conservation, but to ensure that the animals cannot interact or pose a threat to the public. The purpose is to assess: 

  • Security of enclosures 
  • Suitability of animal accommodation  
  • Insurance documentation  
  • Risk of escape 

The DWA licensing process is carried out by the local authority and focuses mainly on animal containment and safety. 

Common Mistakes Owners Can Make 

Most common misunderstandings are seen with DWA licensing and these tend to centre around risk and legal responsibility. The most common mistakes include: 

  • Owners not aware that their animal falls under the dangerous animals list 
  • Applying for a DWA licence after they have acquired the animal 
  • Underestimating the type of enclosure required for the animal (usually the size and practicality!) 
  • Inadequate insurance cover 

When it comes to zoo licensing, establishments are normally pretty clued up on what is required, especially the larger organisations. It is usually the smaller collections which are available for public viewings or private events where mistakes happen. These include: 

  • The 7 day rule: The 7 days are spread across 12 months and not a continuous 7 day period in order to fall under a zoo licensing category. 
  • Some businesses may think that they do not have enough animals to qualify as a zoo. As we now know, there is no minimum or maximum number required if the collection has public access. 
  • Lack of conservation and education: A zoo licence has a heavy emphasis on being able to demonstrate conservation or educational value. 

Final thoughts 

Understanding the difference between a zoo licence and a DWA all comes down to public safety. 

A zoo licence is built surrounding the public exhibition. If wild animals are being viewed by the public, even on a small scale, a high level of animal welfare, education and a contribution towards conservation are required. 

A DWA is more focussed purely on control and safety, ensuring that animals cannot interact with the public and is solely for a private collection. The licence aims to contain dangerous wild animal collections, manage the risks associated and protect the public.