Reptiles and Amphibians
It is a crime to:
- sell any native reptile or amphibian (alive or dead) or to advertise it for sale, except where authorised by a licence;
- kill or injure great crested newts and natterjack toads or any native reptile;
- keep an adder unless licensed by the local authority;
- import items made from marine turtles.
All native species are protected. The great crested newt, natterjack
toad, sand lizard and marine turtles are fully protected against
killing, injuring, possession and sale. The common lizard, slow-worm,
grass snake and adder are protected against killing, injuring and sale.
You may take them from the wild and keep them in captivity but under the
Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 you must be licensed by the Local
Authority to keep adders in captivity. The four widespread species of
amphibian (smooth and palmate newts, common frog and common toad) are
protected only against sale and so may be kept in captivity. In
captivity all species are covered by the Protection of Animals
(Scotland) Act 1912 which prohibits cruelty and ill-treatment.
Introduced species, such as the alpine newt, may be captured and kept
but not released to the wild.
Marine turtles are fully protected in British waters. Sales of products made from marine turtles are prohibited by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) and such products may not be brought into the country. The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code provides guidance to those wishing to observe turtles and other marine wildlife.