Owning a pet lion, trading a venomous reptile, or using a trained animal to threaten someone could soon carry severe prison terms in Bahrain, under a sweeping new law regulating dangerous animals approved by the Shura Council yesterday.
The legislation aims to close a long-standing legal gap by strictly regulating the possession, breeding and trading of dangerous animals, while introducing tough penalties for misuse.
The draft law, already unanimously passed by Parliament, was reviewed by the council’s public utilities and environment affairs committee, which described it as a vital step to protect both society and animal welfare.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak said during the session that the law introduces, for the first time, a comprehensive legal structure to deal with a growing concern.
“We have witnessed increasing cases of dangerous animals being kept outside any regulatory framework, posing real threats to lives, property and other animals,” he said. “This law establishes clear rules, firm penalties and defined responsibilities to ensure both public safety and proper animal care.”
To avoid confusion over what constitutes a ‘dangerous animal’, the law assigns the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry to issue an official list, subject to Cabinet approval.
Under the draft, individuals will be completely prohibited from owning such animals. Possession and trading will be restricted to licensed entities such as zoos, wildlife parks, circuses and research institutions, all of which must meet strict safety and care standards.
Facilities will be required to register animals in an official record, provide veterinary care and vaccinations, maintain secure enclosures, ensure proper feeding, and keep animals under constant supervision to prevent escapes.
Prior approval will be mandatory before transporting animals within Bahrain or allowing transit.
Public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan stressed that the law is not simply punitive.
“This law is not only about punishment. It is about organising responsibility,” he said. “It ensures dangerous animals are kept only by qualified, licensed facilities under strict oversight, while protecting society from serious risks posed by them.”
The legislation contains 16 articles detailing licensing rules, reporting obligations, safety standards and criminal penalties.
- Anyone who uses a dangerous animal to attack another person and causes permanent disability could face three to seven years in prison.
- If the victim dies, the punishment escalates to life imprisonment.
- Lesser assaults, intimidation or spreading fear using such animals could still result in jail terms and fines ranging from BD1,000 to BD10,000.
- Additional penalties apply to anyone who keeps, breeds, trades, displays or transports dangerous animals without a licence.
- A key addition introduced by MPs and endorsed by the government expands definitions to include stray, roaming and abandoned dangerous animals. Anyone who encounters such an animal will be legally obliged to report it, enabling authorities to capture and secure it.
Dr Hassan said the definitions make the law more practical and enforceable on the ground, preventing ambiguity when dangerous animals are found outside controlled environments.
Authorities will have the power to seize illegally kept animals and recover the cost of their shelter and care from the violator. Courts may also order confiscation.
Existing holders of dangerous animals will be given six months to regularise their situation once the law takes effect.
Committee members noted that while a 2023 ministerial decision banned the import of certain predatory animals, it did not address possession, breeding, trading or penalties – gaps this legislation now comprehensively fills.
The law has been referred to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification following its unanimous approval.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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