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Wales to develop licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits
Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.
Consultation also shows support for ban on circus animals 

The Welsh Government is set to develop a licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits, following a consultation.

Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.

A consultation earlier this year found the majority of respondents favoured a licensing scheme over registration. The government will now develop the scheme in partnership with stakeholders and enforcement agencies.

Announcing the decision, cabinet secretary Lesley Griffiths, said: “There is concern the welfare needs of some animals kept by MAEs, including circuses, cannot be met in a travelling environment. MAEs are diverse and there is no standard licensing regime or requirement for routine inspection.”

Government officials are now beginning work on developing the scheme, which Griffiths said “will not be done in isolation”.

She added: “We will need to engage with stakeholders and enforcement agencies in its development, particularly on how we define MAEs, as well as working collaboratively with our counterparts in the other devolved administrations to ensure there are no cross border issues.”

The consultation also asked for views on banning the use of wild animals in circuses. Of the almost 1,000 responses to the consultation, the majority answered only this question and there was strong support for a ban. The licensing scheme will include animals in circuses, but officials will consider this as a separate work stream.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA announces 12th Edition of the Small Animal Formulary

The BSAVA has published an updated edition of its Small Animal Formulary, which includes new drug monographs and emergency drug doses for rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles.

One of BSAVA's most trusted and widely used clinical resources, this 12th edition of the manual also includes seven new client information leaflets and information on drugs used for the management of urinary incontinence.

Part A of the Formulary, Canine and Feline, sees Fergus Allerton return as Editor-in-Chief, while Part B: Exotic Pets was edited by Joanna Hedley. For more information, visit the BSAVA website.