Keepers at Colchester Zoo are hailing the arrival of a pair of critically endangered Amur leopard cubs.

The cubs were born to first-time parents Esra and Crispin on the 9 September. This is the first time the Zoo has bred Amur leopard cubs on-site.

Amur leopards originate from the Russian Far East and north-east China. In the wild they are threatened by climate change, habitat loss, deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade.

The cubs are said to be "looking well" and are expected to emerge from their den in a few weeks.

A litter of Asiatic lion cubs has been born at Edinburgh Zoo. At just three weeks old, the cubs are off display and being nursed by their mother, Roberta.

Five cubs were initially born but sadly two did not survive. Staff say the surviving three cubs are doing well but the next few months are crucial.

The cubs will be weighed and sexed at their first health check in the coming weeks, after which they will also be named.

Asiatic lions are endangered, with estimates suggesting there are only 350 left in the wild. Threats include poaching, habitat destruction, conflict with humans and declining prey.

Images RZSS

Squirrel monkeys, penguins and meerkats are just some of the animals that stepped on the scales on Thursday (22 August) for the start of ZSL London Zoo's annual weigh-in.

The annual event gives keepers a chance to check the animals in their care are healthy, eating well and growing at the correct weight. Keepers say that a growing waistline can also help them to detect pregnancies, which is vital as many of the species at the zoo are endangered.

The data is then added to a database shared with zoos and conservationists across the globe. This helps keepers to compare information and provide better care for the species they are fighting to protect.

Equine event rider Mary King has teamed up with Blue Cross to help children and young people learn more about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Mary stars in a new educational video highlighting the growing problems associated with the horse welfare crisis. Volunteer education speakers, supported by videos featuring Mary, will spread the word about the five welfare needs, and the need to breed responsibly.

Blue Cross education officer Gemma Taylor said: "In terms of horses, the biggest issue is the sheer number of them needing our help.

"Too many horses and not enough homes mean that UK charities are being swamped with abandoned, unwanted and neglected horses and ponies. We are thrilled to have teamed up with Mary King to help encourage people to understand and engage with the problem to help prevent it from escalating."

With the temperature expected to hit 35C in parts of the UK this week, the RSPB is asking people to give birds a helping hand by leaving out a fresh supply of water.

The conservation charity said that hot weather could be causing natural water sources to dry up, meaning garden birds such as blue tits, robins, and blackbirds could be left without anything to drink.

RSPB wildlife advisor Charlotte Ambrose said: "Turning your outside space into a home for nature by doing simple things like topping up your birdbath, creating a make-shift pond from a washing-up bowl or putting down a saucer filled with water could offer a vital lifeline to some of our much-loved garden birds that are already fighting against declines."

The first winners of the RCVS Knowledge Veterinary Evidence Student Awards have been revealed.

Molly Vasanthakumar scooped first prize for her knowledge summary comparing the ecological impact of woven versus disposable drapes. She found that there is not enough evidence that disposable synthetics reduce the risk of surgical site.

Second prize went to Honoria Brown of the University of Cambridge, for her paper: 'Can hoof wall temperature and digital pulse pressure be used as sensitive non-invasive diagnostic indicators of acute laminitis onset?'

Edinburgh's Jacqueline Oi Ping Tong won third prize for critically appraising the evidence for whether a daily probiotic improved clinical outcomes in dogs with idiopathic diarrhoea. The papers have all achieved publication in RCVS Knowledge's peer-reviewed journal, Veterinary Evidence.