SHARJAH // Five lions, three pythons, and two crocodiles have been taken from homes in Sharjah this year by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority.
Hana Al Suwaidi, chairwoman of the EPAA, said owners of animals that were deemed to be a threat to public safety face a Dh100,000 fine in Sharjah.
She said this was waived if owners willingly give up the animals.
“Only three people handed over their animals willingly since the beginning of 2016,” she said.
The first phase of establishing the Predators Shelter and Care Centre, which will be spread over 27,000 square kilometres at the Sharjah Desert Park, has begun, said Ms Al Suwaidi.
The development followed a ruling by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to remove exotic and dangerous animals from residences and send them to a more suitable environment.
Ms Al Suwaidi said that the EPAA is pushing for a UAE federal law that would ban all predatory animals from being kept at homes. Those who keep such animals would face a Dh30,000 fine, or a one-month in prison, for each animal.
The penalties are meant to highlight and enforce the UAE’s laws to protect exotic animals and ban the illegal trade of critically endangered animals, as part of the country’s enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, reported the state news agency Wam.
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