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Colchester Zoo announces birth of white rhino calf
'Emily is a great mum and we're looking forward to watching them bond together as the calf grows.' - Colchester Zoo Animal Care Team

Birth of healthy female captured on CCTV

Colchester Zoo has announced that Emily, one of its white rhinos, has given birth to a healthy female calf. This is Emily’s third calf and is also the fifth to be born at Colchester Zoo as a part of its breeding programme for white rhinos.

The calf was born on Saturday 4 January after a pregnancy lasting 16 months and eight days. The mother was kept under constant CCTV surveillance during her pregnancy so that zoo staff could be on hand as soon as she went into labour.

The birth went smoothly for both mother and calf. The calf took a while to find its feet but was up and walking within a few hours and is feeding well. According to the animal care team’s statement, Emily is ‘an experienced mum and so is taking it all in her stride.’

Mother and calf will now be housed in the indoor area of the rhino house with occasional access to the outdoor hardstands on warmer days. The as yet unnamed calf will gradually be introduced to the rest of the herd as well as the other animals housed in the Kingdom of the Wild enclosure.

White rhinos are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to poaching and the ivory trade, and so this birth marks a positive advancement for white rhino conservation efforts.

In the early 1900s only around 20 southern white rhinos remained in the world, but sustained protection and breeding programmes like this one have led to a boost in the population. There are now more than 11,000 white rhinos in the wild and nearly 800 in zoos.

Image (c) Colchester Zoo

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.