How many reptiles?
How many reptiles are kept in the UK? The short answer is, nobody knows for sure. However, a few different organisations have estimated the number.
The Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA) came up with its figure using the number of crickets, mealworms and locusts sold into the UK pet trade. Of course, most snakes and tortoises don’t eat insects, but by estimating the number of bugs used to feed a typical pet species, comparing the ratios of snakes, tortoises, frogs and lizards sold in the trade, and extrapolating these figures out to the whole trade and hobby, REPTA estimated around 7-8 million reptiles were kept in the UK.
The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association used a telephone survey to create its estimate. By contacting a randomly selected group of people and asking about the pets they kept, in 2021 the PFMA estimated there were around 1.2 million reptiles in the UK.
However, this estimate used the same method to calculate the number of reptile pets as it does to calculate the number of dogs, thus the significantly lower number. This is because most dog-owners own just one dog with the vast majority of the rest owning just two. This creates an average figure of just over one dog per dog-keeping household.
As we know, many reptile enthusiasts keep more than just one or two reptiles in their collection and that number can run into double and sometimes triple figures.
Thankfully, a new study has come up with another way of counting. Monty Jackson, a student at Hadlow College, surveyed reptile keepers to establish an estimate of the number of reptiles in any given reptile-keeping household. Having established this number, Monty used the PFMA’s survey statistics, but applied the ‘herps-per-household’ figure to extrapolate an estimate.
The result? Monty’s research estimates over 8.7 million reptiles being kept in the UK. Great work, Monty.
How bans happen
A situation unfolding in North Carolina, USA, is a textbook example of the challenges facing reptile keepers and businesses all over the world, including here in the UK.
The problem began with the escape of a spitting cobra from the collection of an irresponsible keeper, with the story making local and national news. From there the situation developed quickly. Politicians and legislators proposed a knee-jerk ban on the keeping of ‘wild or exotic’ animals, giving keepers just 90 days to euthanise their pets or move them out of the state.
Thankfully, the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) mobilised support. Following a series of consultations the wording of the proposed legislation has been changed from banning ‘wild or exotic’ animals to read ‘wild and dangerous’ animals – a small but significant change.
Most pet reptile species could not be considered wild AND dangerous, thereby removing them from the list of species to be banned. However, the proposed legislation remains vaguely worded and many are still concerned.
Plus, the legislation could still be amended to become a blanket ban on reptile keeping if the voices of responsible keepers go unheard.
