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Critically endangered snails reintroduced to wild
partulas
“It is extremely exciting to be able to send some of our Partula snails, which we have been breeding for years, to be reintroduced directly back into their native habitat."

RZSS awarded conservation prize for work with the Partula snail
 
This month, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has sent five separate species of the Partula snail to be released into their native habitat of French Polynesia.

After near extinction due to the predation of the rosy wolf snail, species of the Partula snail, held in captivity, have grown in number as a result of the conservation efforts of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and its partners.
 
The RZSS rescued the Partula snail from extinction and has been involved with the conservation of the species, since 1984. In 2010, the RZSS Edinburgh Zoo was given the last captive individual of the Partula taeniata simulans subspecies, which they have bred back up to safe numbers of several hundred. The zoo was awarded the ‘Biaza Award for Significant Contribution of Conservation Breeding’ in 2012 for saving the Partula species.
 
Gareth Bennett, senior presenter at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It is extremely exciting to be able to send some of our Partula snails, which we have been breeding for years, to be reintroduced directly back into their native habitat.
 
“This is a wonderful conservation success story and further demonstrates the critical role zoos can play in species conservation. We hope that the Partula reintroduction will provide a model framework for other species reintroduction programmes worldwide.”
 
The RZSS Edinburgh Zoo has planned further reintroductions of more species, later this year and next. The critically endangered Partula affinis will return to its native Tahiti, whilst Partula mooreana, Partula suturalis vexillum, Partula tohiveana and Partula taeniata simulans (which are all extinct in the wild) will be returning to the island of Mooreana.

Image © RZSS

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.