Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ban the keeping of wild and dangerous animals as pets.
Closed
122 signatures
What the petition asks
The law needs to be reformed to ban wild animals from being kept as pets and so prevent their potential suffering behind closed doors. Wild animals have complex needs and require specific conditions that are unlikely to be replicated in captivity, resulting in unnecessary suffering.
Lions and elephants are among animals being kept legally as pets. Under the Dangerous and Wild Animals Act anyone can keep such animals as long as they obtain a licence from their council.
Consequently, permission was recently given in Nottingham for 2 lions and a puma to be kept in an enclosure on private property that is 380m2. Wild lions and pumas occupy territories hundreds of square kilometres and so this seems woefully inadequate and should not be allowed to happen in the UK.
Consequently, permission was recently given in Nottingham for 2 lions and a puma to be kept in an enclosure on private property that is 380m2. Wild lions and pumas occupy territories hundreds of square kilometres and so this seems woefully inadequate and should not be allowed to happen in the UK.
Timeline
| 11 Aug 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 11 Feb 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
122
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
11 Aug 2020
Closed
11 Feb 2021
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.