THE number of reports of illegally imported pets in Devon has steadily declined since 2020, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shown.

In 2020, Devon County Council undertook 18 investigations into animals thought to have been imported illegally, compared with just one in 2025, the FOI request shows.

It is illegal to keep certain animals as a pet in England without a licence.

This is usually animals that are considered wild, dangerous or exotic.

Animals that need a licence to keep as a pet include: wild cats; primates; wild dogs; certain pigs and marsupials.

The type of licence you will need depends on what kind of animal you want and what you are going to do with it.