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Cites meeting increases pangolin protection
pangolin
Distinctive as the only scaled mammal, the nocturnal pangolin is hunted for its protective scales, which are predominantly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Total trade ban in all eight species agreed

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) has addressed the plight of the eight species of pangolin at the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP) in South Africa.  

An overwhelming support, without a vote, for increased protection from most range state countries will see the species moved from appendix II to appendix I: banning trade of all four African and four Asian species.

Since the beginning of the year, authorities seized 18,000 tonnes of pangolin scales, mostly from African pangolins, in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. With three to four pangolins required for one kilogram of scales, the decision to up-list at the COP was only contested by Indonesia in reference to Sunda and Chinese varieties. It was overturned by consensus.

In a statement to the BBC, Ginette Hemley from WWF said: “This is a huge win and rare piece of good news for some of the world’s most trafficked and endangered animals.”

Distinctive as the only scaled mammal, the nocturnal pangolin is hunted for its protective scales, which are predominantly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The combination of the threat from Asian markets and the trade of bush meat in parts of Africa and China have left the pangolin on the brink of extinction as the world’s most illegally trafficked mammal. Levels of illegal trade are estimated to account for approximately 20 per cent of all illegal trade in species.

Image © David Brossard/ Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0
 

 

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.