Call for wild animal act after killer spiders find

An animal refuge in Meath has called for the introduction of a dangerous wild animal act in Ireland after 100 killer spiders were found abandoned in a house.

The lethal black widow and funnel-web spiders, as well as scorpions and tarantulas, were discovered abandoned in a house in Co Carlow by the National Exotic Animal Sanctuary (NEAS) in recent weeks.

According to NEAS manager Kevin Cunningham: “We received a call from Carlow about a gentleman who had vacated a house and left over 100 spiders behind. The man had bought the spiders over the internet and had them delivered to him, and this is a growing problem that we are seeing here.”

NEAS says new laws are needed to stop the influx of dangerous and exotic animals being bought over the internet for pets.

In recent times, the centre also had to rescue a North American racoon after it was found in the passenger seat of a car in Co Tipperary. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a lot more of racoons being kept as pets and the Government has now classed them as an invasive species because they are escaping into the wild and surviving,” he said.

“In Britain and in Northern Ireland, they have the Wild Animal Act, which requires the owners to have a licence if their animal is capable of inflicting any harm to a person or other animal.”

NEAS was founded in 2008 by Mr Cunningham and Yvonne Smalley who have a combined 40 years’ experience with exotic animals. The sanctuary is run voluntarily.

www.neas.ie