SOUTH WALES ECHO (Cardiff, UK) 22 May 10 Man allowed to keep snakes (Gareth Evans)

A snake lover has been given the green light to keep reptiles as pets.

Experienced snake keeper Simon Batten, from Tonyrefail, was granted a licence by Rhondda Cynon Taf council.

He is now safe to keep his diamondback rattlesnake, puff adder, nose-horned viper, copperhead and monocled cobra at home.

They will live in a separate structure behind Mr Batten’s terraced house on Mill Street, the committee was told.

Mr Batten, an animal-lover since the age of 14, described the long process of learning to care for his poisonous pets.

“It’s not something on a whim,” he said, producing letters of recommendation from two experts in the care for the creatures.

Mr Batten said he previously held a licence in south Somerset to care for dangerous wild animals under an act passed in 1976.

A council investigation revealed the applicant had not received any complaints while holding the same licence in England.

The committee voted in favour of granting the licence, with six members in favour and two abstaining.

Mr Batten’s current licence is set to expire on December 31, and the public was not consulted in the application process.
Man allowed to keep snakes

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