NI to get better laws to regulate wild animals

The Northern Ireland Office is currently preparing new legislation to better regulate dangerous wild animals in Northern Ireland.

The news came in a reply to a parliamentary question from East Antrim MP Roy Beggs, on the extension of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 in Northern Ireland.

The question came as police and USPCA continued their search for two wild cats, thought to be at large in the north Antrim countryside.

NIO Minister Angela Smith said: “We are actively preparing proposals for legislation to regulate dangerous wild animals kept by private individuals in Northern Ireland. Legislation will aim to establish an appropriate regulatory regime in the interests of public safety.”

She also announced that a consultation process on the proposals would start soon.

Roy Beggs added: “Given the recent problems surrounding the release into the wild of exotic animals in Northern Ireland, it is clear that the regulations for people owning non domestic animals needs to be re examined, and if necessary tightened up.

"The fact that the 1976 Act was never extended to Northern Ireland has left a legislative loophole which some irresponsible people have exploited. Apart from the recent headlines about the ‘big cats’, there have also been difficulties with Wolves being badly treated in my constituency."

The UUP parliamentary whip said people who mistreated such animals or deliberately released exotic ‘pets’ into the wild needed to be made culpable under the law.

(MB)