Summary of the Endangered Species Act, Dangerous Creature Act and the Countryside Act

There are several laws in the UK that concern reptiles and amphibians.

The most important are the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, 1976, and the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act 1976.

This legislation, which follows on from the Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975, provides some degree of protection for wild reptiles and amphibians.

The Act of 1981 has been amended several times, and it is possible that species may be removed or added to it in the future.

The act makes it a criminal offence to trade in any native species of amphibian or reptile without appropriate licensing.

Captive bred animals are exempt, but the legal definition of 'captive bred' is stricter than that applied by many hobbyists.

'Captive bred' refers to animals which result from a mating between parents which are themselves captive bred or captive reared.

Therefore, if either of the individual's parents are wild caught, the offspring is regarded as 'captive reared', rather than 'captive bred'.

'Trade' includes any type of barter or exchange, whether or not cash is involved.

This applies to foreign specimens of native species, as well as those originating in the UK.

In addition, all native reptile species are protected from deliberate killing or injuring.

Further protection is offered to the rarest species.

Any form of deliberate disturbance to these species is a criminal offence, as is possession of these species at any life stage.

Licences may be granted for the handling of these animals, for scientific or conservation purposes.

The Act also makes it an offence to deliberately release any non-native species into the wild.

This includes releasing any of the non-native species already established in the wild in the UK.

A number of species are listed in a schedule to the act as being established in the wild.

Release of these species is an offence in the same way as release of any other alien species.

The Government department responsible for wildlife law is the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The licence will apply to a specific number of animals, and offspring of any breeding will also have to be licensed.

This controls the movement of endangered species, live or dead, part or whole organism, across international borders.

Anyone wishing to observe amphibians and reptiles in the wild must be aware that it is illegal to intentionally disturb or capture the four rarest species for any reason.

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©2001 Andrew Walker