The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) has begun work on its first hen welfare and education centre. Located in north Devon, the 250 square metre building will comprise a state-of-the-art rehoming centre and fully equipped veterinary clinic.

Image Guy Harrop

Following recent news of a rise in knife crime on Britain's streets, the RSPCA is raising awareness of high levels of these crimes against animals.

Over the past three years, the charity said it has received around 420 calls about animals injured by knives - an average of three a week.

Assistant director to the inspectorate, Dermot Murphy, said: "The country has been horrified by the tragic toll that knife crime is having on young people in our towns and cities. Sadly, we are seeing far too many shocking incidents of blades also being used on animals. These figures are a shocking representation of our times."

Four Chinese giant salamanders have been taken in by ZSL London Zoo after Border Force prevented an attempt to smuggle them into the country. The animals are critically endangered, often referred to as living fossils, and have remained largely unchanged for millions of years.

One of the animals already on display is called Professor 'Lew', named after the Chinese for 'dragon keepers'. Zookeepers will eventually introduce one of the other salamanders in an attempt to boost their numbers.

ZSL's curator of amphibians, Ben Tapley, said: "Chinese giant salamanders may not be everyone's idea of beautiful - I've heard them described as giant brown blobs with eyes - but Professor Lew's crinkly purple tail and slimy smile have already made the newcomer a big hit with all our keepers, who have been finding any excuse to visit the Reptile House."

The RSPCA has launched a new campaign to help the seven million dogs who are estimated to be suffering from separation anxiety.

#DogKind is aiming to raise awareness of this often silent issue. Research suggests 85 per cent of dogs may be finding it difficult to cope alone, yet only half showed signs. Around three quarters of owners were unaware that their dogs were struggling.

The charity has provided guidance to help owners cope with separation anxiety.

Image RSPCA

The Scottish government is set to add beavers to the list of European Protected Species of Animals protected under Scottish law.

From 1 May 2019, shooting will only be allowed under licence managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. All licences will be issued in accordance with the law of European Protected Species.

"There are few species that have such a significant and, largely positive, influence on the health and function of our ecosystems," said environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham. "The importance of beavers to Scotland's biodiversity is huge."

Research by the University of Bristol and UC Davis, California, USA, has provided new evidence that zebras evolved striped coats to avoid biting flies.

Their study investigated the behaviours of tabanid horse flies around captive zebras and domestic horses in North Somerset. Researchers found that flies approached the zebras and horses at similar speeds, but on approach to the zebras, the flies failed to slow down, which is is essential for a successful landing.

"This reduced ability to land on the zebra's coat may be due to stripes disrupting the visual system of the horse flies during their final moments of approach," said Dr Martin How from the University of Bristol. "Stripes may dazzle flies in some way once they are close enough to see them with their low-resolution eyes."