A decision is set to be made on renewing the licence for the man dubbed as the 'British Tiger King' to keep wild animals at his home in Strelley. Reece Oliver keeps lions, pumas, lemurs, tapirs and otters in Home Farm off Main Street in the Nottinghamshire village.
Broxtowe Borough Council is set to review the licence for Mr Oliver to keep the animals at the Licensing and Appeals Committee on February 21. Keepers of animals listed within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act require a licence which is issued for two years.
Council documents state that a specialist veterinary advisor has recommended the licence is issued after an application for renewal was received in May 2022. The site was first licensed in May 2018 for a puma.
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The application included the addition of two lion cubs and two otters, as well as additional keepers to assist with caring for the animals. Mr Oliver hit national headlines in 2021 when he was featured on the programme Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over for a documentary.
"Due to there being a significant change of animal accommodation and species held and the wider public interest consideration, this application will be considered by the Licensing and Appeals Committee,” council documents stated. Mr Oliver told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This is a pretty routine procedure. I'm pleased that the specialist's report to Broxtowe Borough Council supports my licence renewal."
Councillors cannot consider the moral grounds for keeping such animals as part of the decision. Separately, Mr Oliver has submitted major plans for a multi-million pound animal sanctuary in Trowell which would be called the Broxtowe Retreat.
Guests would be able to look into the reserves of the animals and the plans also include a spa and restaurant. But the move has been heavily criticised by campaigners who protested outside Broxtowe Borough Council earlier this month.
Broxtowe Borough Council will make a decision on the application at a future planning meeting.
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