A three foot monitor lizard and a boa constrictor were among 120 exotic creatures found in Bristol last year.
While walking along Bishport Avenue, in Withywood, a shocked member of the public spotted the large lizard sunning itself on the pavement.
The man managed to get a cat basket and put the creature into it, before calling the RSPCA.
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In another case, a boa constrictor was found dumped inside a vivarium in St Anne’s.
Stephanie Jayson, the RSPCA's senior scientific officer in exotics and qualified exotics vet, said: “Although their numbers are small compared to more common pets, we have real concerns about the welfare of reptiles and other exotic animals kept as pets in this country.
“Reptiles and other exotic pets are completely reliant on their owners to meet their welfare needs including requiring the correct levels of heat, light and humidity, plus an appropriate diet. Some species can grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold.
"It is heartbreaking to see animals like this found injured or suffering as they are stray or abandoned outside in inappropriate temperatures. Some of the animals we see, like monkeys and raccoon dogs, have no place in the home and we would urge people not to take them on as pets.
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"Others are still a long-term commitment and need specialist care and equipment so we urge anyone considering taking them on to fully research their needs using expert sources, only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs and consider rescuing rather than buying.”
Across England and Wales in 2018, the number of calls the RSPCA received to its 24-hour cruelty hotline increased by 13 per cent from 2017 to 1,175,193 calls.
The charity received around 15,790* calls about exotic animals, more than 40 a day, or more than one every hour.
Specially trained exotics officers rescued over 4,000 exotic animals in 2018, including more than 500 snakes, more than 300 turtles, 145 bearded dragons, five raccoon dogs and even four marmosets and one wallaby.
Some of the incidents involving exotic animals that the RSPCA dealt with include:
- A royal python found dead in Wool Pitch, Cwmbran, Wales with bruising around its mouth in January 2018.
Inspectors suspect he was beaten before being abandoned.
- In February 2018, two stray raccoon dogs were found within a mile of each other in the same Cumbrian village of Burneside, believed to be pets from the same home.
The RSPCA does not believe these animals should be kept as pets as it is not possible to meet their needs in a domesticated environment.
- Also in January 2018, a very sick 10ft boa constrictor was found in a vivarium in the back seat of an abandoned car in Bristol.
He was very weak, in a poor condition and with serious respiratory problems - sadly he had to be put to sleep.
- In June last year, a bearded dragon was found abandoned next to bins in a Nike shoe box in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Owing to an old tail injury, he was named Stumpy and was put up for rehoming.
- In December 2018, a dead marmoset monkey was found in a street in Edmonton, London.
For information about caring for exotic animals click here. .
