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Rare UK butterfly enjoys a welcome boost
high brown fritillary butterfly
Warm spring weather last year and efforts by conservationists boosted several butterfly species.

High brown fritillary butterfly numbers rise by 180 per cent

One of the UK's rarest butterflies has enjoyed its best season for 10 years, with numbers rising by more than 180 per cent.

The high brown fritillary butterfly once bred in most large woods in England and Wales, but habitat loss has pushed it close to extinction. It is now one of only two critically endangered butterflies in the UK.

Efforts to restore the butterfly's habitat, coupled with last year's warm spring weather, has brought a welcome boost to the species.

According to a survey by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), the striking orange and black butterfly saw a 180 per cent boost in numbers last year compared to 2013.

Dr Tom Brereton, head of monitoring at Butterfly Conservation, who led the survey, said: "It is fantastic news that numbers are at their highest level for more than a decade.

"A huge amount of work co-ordinated by Butterfly Conservation has been put into conserving this butterfly in recent years, especially though wildlife-friendly farming schemes, so the results will come as a welcome boost to all involved."

A number of other butterflies enjoyed a boost thanks to last year's warmer-than-average spring, including the marbled white, ringlet and brimstone - all of which had their best years since 1976.

August last year, however, was colder and wetter than average, meaning the butterfly season peaked slightly earlier in July. Some species fell in numbers as a result, for example the small white and large white.

Despite positive news for the high brown fritillary, Dr Brereton said there is still a long way to go to reverse the long-term decline of the species.

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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.