- Legislation Explained

The very first step to self quarantine is to identify the species in which you wish to import, and then to check for availability.

You must be aware to the pre-protocol procedures, such as appointing a DEFRA approved carrier, and also appointing your own vet for the weekly inspections, as well as the arrival inspection of the species to your premises.

2a. Explain and detail which species you are looking to import, what your proposals are for enclosures.

3. In most cases they will supply details to an SVS Vet [State Vetinary Service Vetinarian].

4. The SVS vet will give you advice on what is required, the vet may also at this point request for you to send in proposed plans of enclosures.

4a. When sending plans in of the enclosures, remember to supply as much information and details as you can. Ensure that you cover all aspects such as space dedicated to your quarantine area, safety porch, double wiring, perimetre security, enclosure size, roof, heating if required for the species, same applicable to lighting, sterile area for changing clothing, food preparations, vermin control and so on. The Vet will in fact during the phone call give you ideas as to what the plans should detail.

The Rabies [Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals] Order 1974 [As Ammended]

"STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORISED QUARANTINE PREMISES AT ZOOS ACLIMATISATION AND WILDLIFE AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS"

5. The SVS Vet will visit your premises and talk you through the protocol to see if you and your plans will meet with the criteria laid down by DEFRA.

5a. The reader must fully understand and comprehend the importance of this meeting and relevant phone discussions with the vet. If the vet feels that you will not undertake the correct committment to the project in hand, he will not recommend your proposal for import and self quarantine.

6. The SVS vet will during your initial meeting, discuss with you the procedures behind self quarantine and import.

6a. The SVS vets' objective during this first meeting is to ensure that the species in quarantine, can not escape, and can not come into contact with other animals.

6b. The point being to this, that it is considered a public health risk should the animals in your quarantine come into contact with animals and people external to your facility.

6c. This first meeting with your SVS vet will be the confirmation as to whether she/he believes that you will achieve success or not.

7. Once you have been passed by the SVS vet, she/he will send a report to DEFRA outlining and recommending your premises for the quarantining of the animals.

7a. The final say is left with DEFRA, if your proposals for a quarantine facility have been successfully met, then there should be no further problems.

8. DEFRA will then issue you with an 'Authorisation of Quarantine Premises at a zoo establishment Licence' for the animals that you are intending to import.

"RM1: Application for a licence to import live animals for detention in quarantine.

10. Should you encounter any problems with the filling out of RM1, ring Chelmsford ; Rabies Operations direct, and they will assist.

10a. Upon the receipt of the completed application form RM1, you will be sent an import licence for the species that you are looking to import.

DWA or the Dangerous Wild Animals act if you prefer was first introduced in 1976 and revised in 1984 in a hope to legislate the keeping of dangerous animals by the private keepers as pets with the main focus being on big cats (hence the stories of beast of Bodmin moor and sightings of large black predatory cats, that were turned loose by their keepers in the late 70’s rather than buying what was seen as a expensive government money spinner).

The licence aims to ensure that where private individuals keep dangerous wild animals they do so in circumstances which did not create any risk to the public and safeguard the welfare of animals.

Licences are required for any animal which appear on the schedule to the act. These are issued by relevant department, normally the environmental health department of local councils, and will only be granted when the authority is satisfied that it would not be contrary to public interest, on the grounds of safety or nuisance, (you are unlikely to be able to keep Tigers if you live next to a school for instance); that the applicant is a suitable person; and the animal’s accommodation is adequate and secure.

If any of the species that you are thinking of keeping is listed above you must obtain a valid DWA licence prior to obtaining the animal.

This is done, by first applying to the local authority / council, for the application to keep dangerous wild animals. This form will ask some brief details in relation to you, the address where you propose to keep your animals at, and the species and intended numbers.

The local authority will arrange to attend and view the enclosure with a vet. And ask you some questions regarding the animal and your knowledge of keeping (such as diet, heating requirements if necessary, who your vet is, how will you clean and dispose of waste, again depending on species) this type of animal they will also require a copy of your public liability insurance that should be in place and you must have the policy details.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071001c.htm

Changes to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 - revision to Schedule of Controlled Species

Following an independent review of the Act and subsequent consultation exercises, the statutory list of dangerous wild animals has been revised. The list is now limited to those species which experts agree present a genuine risk to the public.

The revised Schedule (SI 2007/2465) comes into force today and the following species, which have been added to the Schedule, will now require licensing:

Argentine black-headed snake (Elapomorphus lemniscatus),
Peruvian racer (Tachymenis peruviana),
South American green racer (Philodryas olfersii),
Amazon false viper (Xenodon severus),
Middle Eastern thin-tailed scorpion (Hemiscorpius lepturus) and
Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo)

The following species, which are no longer considered to present a threat, have been removed from the Schedule and will no longer require licences:

Woolly lemurs (Avahi laniger)
Tamarins (species of the genera Leontopithecus and Saguinus)
Night (or Owl) monkeys (species of the genus Aotus)
Titis monkeys (species of the genus Callicebus)
Squirrel monkeys (species of the genus Saimiri)
Sloths (Bradypodidae)
North American porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum)
Capybara (Hydrochaeridae)
Crested porcupines (species of the genus Hystrix)
Cat hybrids (whose ancestry is predominantlyFelis silvestris catus – the domestic cat)
Wild cat (Felis silvestris)
Pallas cat (Otocolobus manul)
Little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus)
Geoffroy’s cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi)
Kodkod (Oncifelis guigna)
Bay cat (Catopuma badia)
Sand cat (Felis margarita)
Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)
Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
Cacomistles (species of the genus Bassariscus)
Raccoons (species of the genus Procyon)
Coatis (species of the genus Nasua)
Olingos (species of the genus Bassaricyon)
Little coatimundi (Nasuella olivacea)
Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
Hyraxes (Procaviidae)
Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)
Vicugna (Vicugna vicugna)
Emus (Dromaiidae)
Sand snakes (species of the genus Psammophis)
Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila)
Brazilian wolf spider (Lycosa raptoria)

With the new schedule found here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-cou...animallist.pdf

Dependant on species enclosures and size differs completely. But most mammals have certain similarities where heating and lights are used, make sure your animal can not get to any cabling, make sure that heaters are covered and the animal can not burn itself , and because these both use electricity. Use only properly fitted sockets (fused) and it’s a good idea to install a fire extinguisher.

If you are using a shed or aviary type enclosure, like you would for most primates these need a sterile area to allow you some where safe to stand with in the enclosure this will also stop the animal from escaping.Construction

The above type of enclosures must be quality built and if wood is used only screws should be used not nails, heat area’s should be insulated and ventilated.

Where meshed outside runs are to be used again quality construction and double meshing used (heavy correct grade mesh is to be used and fixed with u nails, note: chicken wire is not suitable for any DWA animal) with a cavity installed to prevent the animal reaching out or peoples fingers reaching in.

As with everything regarding any animal, a good under pinning knowledge of the species and habitat is required so reading and research is essential.

Correct application to the DWA licence

Here at The Specialist Keepers' Association our aim is to try and make you as an animal keeper a professional keeper of the species you choose to keep. This is the out line of how to correctly approach keeping Dangerous Wild Animals. The transition from a pet owner to a professional keeper is one not to be taken lightly. Becoming a professional keeper of any animal comes with a great deal of responsibility not just to the animal in question but to your family and your neighbours and the general public. The animals listed on the DWA are on there because they are unpredictable and in some case simply Dangerous.

The dangerous wild animals act is regulated by DEFRA but enforced by local area councils. The application to keep DWA species is made to your local council offices and a form would normally be sent out asking you to out line your intentions and the animal you intend keeping. Once this has taken place the council and a vet will visit your home and an inspection will take place in relation to your enclosure and you will be asked questions about the species you intend keeping.

Firstly you must research the animal you’re intending to keep. When carrying out your research you must find out as much as you can about the animals natural habitat in the wild and research to see what you as keeper would need to do to relate this to keeping in captivity.
An example of this would be, if the animal you’re intending to keep is a spider monkey, they live high up in canopy of the rain forest, so to keep in captivity you would need high branches / trees and a lot of space inside and out.
Another example would be, if you intended keeping a tiger, in the their natural habitat tigers spend time swimming and basking in water so you would need some type of pool for this animal in a captive enclosure.
Building a suitable enclosure for the animal you intend keeping is paramount. The DWA is mainly about public safety but does have some interests in relation to the animal’s welfare.

All enclosure should be of solid construction and its recommended that advice should be sort from other private keepers www.piedipersark.com, as these enclosure are not cheep and getting it wrong could be very costly, remember they are Dangerous Wild Animals so get it rite first time.

All enclosures must be adequately sized nut bolt and screw construction not nailed; walls should be lined / bored and insulated as must the roof in the case of heated enclosures. Normal type shed conversions are not recommended as they generally are not strong enough.

External area must be solid again and nut bolt screw fixing used. In relation to gauge of mesh this is species specific, yet chicken wire is NOT suitable for any DWA animal, large cats for example require chain link fencing and posts concreted in to the ground. Primates such as tamarins require 14 – 16 gauge mesh with no bigger than 1" x ½" holes.

Where mesh is used on outdoor enclosure this must be double meshed with a cavity so as not to allow your animals claws paws teeth through and to stop fingers being put back through. This will also prevent any type of predatory attack from cats dogs foxes or even birds of prey, that will attack smaller type mammals e.g. Tamarin monkeys.

All enclosure must have a sterile area. This is an area you stand in safely and your animal can not get access to. The sterile area serves two purposes. On entry to your enclosure having a sterile area this mean you can open the door with out the worry of the animal / s escaping past you.

Where enclosures have an in and out door area all access doors / flaps / bob holes must be lockable. E.g. if you have a large predator cat you must be able to keep your animal captured inside / outside of your enclosure while you can access the indoor / outdoor part of the enclosure safely for feeding, cleaning or general husbandry work with out fear of attack
(REMEMBER THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS AND UNPREDICTABLE).
A lot of DWA species come from tropical climates and the need to heat enclosures is very common. To provide heat you must provide electricity to your enclosure. A qualified electrician should do this, as extension leads running from the house are not acceptable. Main power feed must come into a fused point in the sterile area where your animal can not access the cabling.

Providing heat for mammals is best done by thermostat controlled oil filled radiators. This type of heat must be encased in a form of radiator cover so your animal can not access and burn its self. With any power cable in sturdy trunking back to the power point.

Remember with electricity comes many hazards so a fire extinguisher should be present.
When sighting your enclosure consideration should be given to the type of ground it is to sit on. For example your internal enclosure should be on a concrete base free from damp that could weaken the integrity of your enclosure. The out door part of your enclosure should be sat on concrete block but if the species you intend keeping is an animal that digs consideration must be made for this. And a foundation wall must be sunk in to the ground to stop any escape.
Good quality locks should be used not to just protect your animals from theft but to stop vandals or would be intruders allowing your animals escape. Internal locks must also be child proof especially when you intend keeping primates.
Upon inspection the council vet will want to test your knowledge and questions surrounding diet, stimulation, heat, and your intention for keeping will be asked. Some council vets may not know very much about the chosen animal so you having quality researched knowledge is a good foundation.
Before you will be granted DWA you will also require public liability insurance. This can be obtained from companies such as www.exoticdirect.co.uk and such like.
Remember your intending keeping dangerous wild animals do not leave your self-open to a disaster! Get it right first time, if in doubt ask.

DO IT RIGHT! BE A RESPONSIBLE KEEPER!

Darren Morris

BSc (hons) zoology/primatology.