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Black hornbills produce healthy chick
Chick is only the second to have been born in Europe this year

Birdworld has this week announced the birth of a healthy black hornbill chick, which has become one of only two black hornbills to have been bred in Europe this year.

Black hornbills, which originate from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, are classified as "near threatened" on the IUCN status list.

The large, black-and-white birds have a long, heavy bill, strong wings and short legs. Largely tree-dwellers, they have unusual nesting habits, making their nests in the sides of trees.

When the female is ready to nest, she will seal herself into the hole using mud, a process known as "muddying in", leaving a narrow slit to poke her bill through. The male will then deliver the food, which may consist of fruit, grasshoppers or small reptiles.

After three months, the female will emerge, re-sealing the entrance for the chick, which is fed for a further month inside the nest.

This nesting behaviour was observed in the black Hornbill female at Birdworld, who "muddied in" in during the early summer, and disappeared from sight on June 30.

The keepers at Birdworld were delighted when she emerged this week, accompanied by a healthy chick.
 
Image courtesy of Birdworld

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."