A rescuer of dangerous wild animals fears he could be swamped with reptiles, snakes, crocodiles and alligators as the cost of licences to keep the creatures have rocketed.
Iain Newby, who runs the Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility (DWARF) from his home in Great Wakering, took into care a four-and-a-half foot long crocodile.
The Caymen crocodile, delivered to the facility by RSPCA officers, can grow to be 6ft.
Mr Newby said: "It is almost fully grown so it could be 15-years-old. It was probably looked after for some time.
"The owner may well have looked after it very well but the public liability insurance to keep dangerous wild animals has gone through the roof. They are ten times the cost."
Mr Newby, who has a job selling air filtration units, has been running the centre in his back garden for the past four years as a part-time hobby.
Anyone wanting to contact Dwarf should call Mr Newby on 07729 852932.
Published Friday, April 25, 2003
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