big cat
Lion as a pet? That’s how the attitude is set
Normally you only see lions in the zoo – like here in Leipzig. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
In Berlin, the police are looking for a suspected escaped lioness. It is unclear where the animal came from. A private attitude would also be conceivable – in Brandenburg that is allowed.
In Brandenburg, 23 lions are registered. This was announced by the State Environment Agency on request. These are circuses, zoos and private housing. The private keeping of vertebrates of specially protected species – so too Big cats – must therefore be reported.
There is no dangerous animal ordinance in Brandenburg, which includes the keeping of big cats and, similar to dogs, pronounces rules and bans. According to the authorities, the veterinary offices usually only find out about the attitude of commercial animal husbandry. In Kleinmachnow and in Berlin, the police are looking for an escaped wild animal – presumably a lioness.
According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the private keeping of wild animals is regulated in animal protection and nature conservation law. The keeping of exotic animals is also partly regulated by regulations to protect public safety and order – that is a state matter.
In Berlin, for example, private keeping is forbidden, but not in Brandenburg. Anyone who trades in wild animals or breeds them requires permission from the relevant authorities.
The Animal Welfare Act stipulates that the animals should always be kept, cared for and housed according to their species. The ministry spokeswoman announced that this would be made more specific in a report by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. It states, for example: “Animals are to be kept in such a way that the biological and conservation needs of the respective species are taken into account.”