A decision will be made on the renewal of the license for the man dubbed the ‘British Tiger King’ to keep wild animals at his home in Strelley. Reece Oliver raises lions, pumas, lemurs, tapirs and otters at Home Farm near Main Street in the Nottinghamshire village.

Broxtowe Council is set to review Mr Oliver’s license to keep the animals in the Licensing and Appeals Committee on February 21st. Keepers of animals covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act require a license that is issued for two years.

Council documents indicate that a specialist veterinary adviser recommended the license be issued after a renewal application was received in May 2022. The site was first licensed in May 2018 for a puma.

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The request included the addition of two lion cubs and two otters, as well as additional keepers to help care for the animals. Mr. Oliver made national headlines in 2021 when he appeared on Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over for a documentary.

“Because there was a significant change in animal housing and retained species and the broader consideration of the public interest, this application will be considered by the Licensing and Appeals Committee,” the board documents state. Mr Oliver told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This is a fairly routine procedure. I am pleased that the specialist’s report to Broxtowe Council supports my license renewal.”

Councilors cannot consider the moral reasons for keeping such animals as part of the decision. Separately, Mr Oliver has laid out major plans for a multi-million pound animal sanctuary in Trowell to be called Broxtowe Retreat.

Guests will be able to view animal reservations and plans also include a spa and restaurant. But the move has been heavily criticized by activists who protested outside Broxtowe town council earlier this month.

Broxtowe Council will make a decision on the application at a future planning meeting.

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