Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's estimate of the number of exotic animals, once kept as pets, that are now living in the wild; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is an offence under section 52 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended to turn loose or allow any species of exotic animal to escape into the wild unless a licence has been granted for that purpose. My Department very rarely receives applications for such licences.

The release of any exotic animal into the wild is highly inadvisable as it may pose a threat to native species, and is also likely to cause suffering to the animal released. Any owner of an exotic pet animal who no longer wishes to keep their pet should arrange either for its transfer to another responsible owner, or for its humane destruction.