Alligators, crocodiles, venomous snakes, and bison among dangerous animals kept legally in private Scottish homes on license.
Dumfries and Galloway has the most dangerous animals. Other areas include Perth and Kinross, Angus, East Ayrshire, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire. Fife is also on that list.
The Cairngorms National Park recently had dumped animals. People left feral pigs and four lynx there. These acts violate the law.
One owner in Angus has 18 exotic pets. They live near Forfar and Brechin, in Noranside. Their animals include alligators, crocodiles, and many different kinds of snakes.
This person owns four African dwarf crocodiles and two dwarf caimans. Two American alligators also live there, along with two West African Nile crocodiles. A Gila monster also lives with them.
They also have two Gaboon vipers and butterfly vipers. Two eyelash vipers and one eastern diamondback rattlesnake also live on their property.
Forty-six feral pigs live in two areas. Six live in Newmilns, East Ayrshire, within an electric fence. Inspectors check them weekly.
Forty feral pigs live in Castle Douglas. A high, stout wire fence encloses them with electricity. Dumfries and Galloway also has six camels living on private land.
Perth and Kinross has four European bison and four Mongolian horses. They also keep thirty mouflon sheep, wild sheep from specific regions.
Council leaders kept the exact locations and enclosure details secret. This secrecy protects the animal owners’ privacy.
Ten ostriches live on a property in Banff, Aberdeenshire. They live in open wooden sheds with straw and constant access to pasture.
The council inspected and added some information. Deer fencing now surrounds ostrich paddocks to prevent escapes. The sheds are suitable sizes.
Aberdeen City Council has one venomous reptile living in a secure, custom-made vivarium. They would not share further details about the reptile.
Fife Council has a Savannah cat, a mix of wildcat and domestic cat. The cat lives in Thornton village, and its enclosure has a security system.
Four lynx were dumped in the Cairngorms earlier. These domesticated animals were near Kingussie, south of Aviemore town.
One male lynx died after being dumped. The RZSS took three females in and relocated them to Edinburgh Zoo. No lynx are privately registered there.
Feral pigs were dumped near Kingussie Monday, close to where the lynx were dumped. Workers captured and culled the pigs.
The SGA called the release selfish, saying it jeopardized animal welfare. This act also risked livestock and people.