In pictures: Exotic animal rescue
- Published
Photographer Carl Court has photographed exotic animals, such as this bearded dragon, brought into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) reptile rescue centre in Brighton.
In 2014, the charity rescued more than 127,000 wild, exotic, farm and domestic animals from dangerous and distressing situations in England and Wales. Of those, 1,853 were reptiles, an increase of 7% from 2013.
Animals such as snakes, terrapins, lizards, scorpions, frogs and sugar gliders are classed as non-domestics or exotics and the Society offers guidance on how to look after them.
“The RSPCA works around the clock to rescue thousands of animals every year from a wide range of distressing situations and 2014 was no exception,” said Dermot Murphy, assistant director of the inspectorate.
Mr Murphy added: "It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.”
RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby presents a boa constrictor to the camera.