African wild cat found living in ‘inadequate conditions’ in Halifax

Photo Credit - Huddersfield Examiner

An exotic African wild cat has been seized from a house near Halifax.

Officers from Calderdale Council found the serval, a feline that can grow up to 2ft tall and weigh up to 40lbs, living in inadequate conditions at a house in Southowram.

William Harris, from Brighouse, applied to the council in May 2018 for a dangerous wild animal licence to keep the animal, but purchased the cat before the licence was granted.

Mr Harris was prosecuted and pleaded guilty to purchasing, transporting and keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

The cat – now known as Venus – has been moved to a large enclosure at a zoo.

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