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Poisonous snakes, tigers and monkeys are among 70 known exotic animals cared for by private owners in Northern Ireland.
The owners of the animals, which have been classed as exotic, have had to apply for a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licence.
They include a king cobra and two west African Gaboon vipers.
Pet shops selling species defined as dangerous under the Dangerous Wild Animals Order must ensure the buyer has a DWA licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency before sale.
DUP MLA Alex Easton said that while it is important to protect endangered animals, those that keep such pets as a status symbol were wrong to do so.