Some wild animals are dangerous and controlled by law to protect the public.
Licence to keep dangerous wild animals
You need a licence to keep some dangerous wild animals. These include:
- Wild cats
- Primates
- Wild dogs, such as wolves
- Certain pigs, such as wild boar
- Marsupials
You can find a list of wild animals that you need a licence for on the government's legislation website, under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 . You may also need a licence for some hybrid or cross-breed animals.
Applying for a new licence
To apply for a new licence, please contact us using the contact details on this page.
New licence fees
| Licence | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Dangerous wild animals | £554.83* |
*a veterinary inspection fee is also payable for new dangerous wild animal licences, please contact us for further details.
The application fee is payable at the time of application, and is non-refundable.
If you carry out more than one licensable activity, there is a fee of £50 for each additional activity. This assumes the licences are applied for and renewed at the same time for each activity, otherwise separate application and enforcement fees are payable for each activity.
Renewing your licence
While we will try to contact you before your licence is due to expire, you are responsible for making sure that you apply to renew. You will need to submit your completed application at least 10 weeks before your existing licence expires. Please contact us for an application form.
Renewal fees
| Licence | Renewal application fee |
|---|---|
| Dangerous wild animals | £466.39 |
*a veterinary inspection fee is also payable for new dangerous wild animal licences, please contact us for further details.
The application fee is payable at the time of application, and is non-refundable.
If you carry out more than one licensable activity, there is a fee of £50 for each additional activity. This assumes the licences are applied for and renewed at the same time for each activity, otherwise separate application and enforcement fees are payable for each activity.
Additional fees for these licences
- Application for re-rating - £159.53
- Transfer / variation - £15.10
- Additional copy of licence - £5.92
For more information, please contact us using the contact details below.
Current licences
View a list of current animal activity licences and their star rating.
Contact us