The private ownership of wild animals has been outlawed in the United Arab Emirates, where keeping exotic creatures as pets is a status symbol for some, according to local media reports. The new law bans the dealing in and ownership of all types of wild, domesticated and dangerous animals. Anyone who takes a leopard, cheetah or any other kind of exotic animal out in public will face a jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to 136,000 US dollars.