Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 2nd January 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Counting the animals two-by-two
Image lions
London Zoo carries out its annual stocktake

Keepers at ZSL London Zoo are kicking off the new year with a mammoth task - counting every animal for the annual stocktake.

Each individual bird, fish, mammal, invertebrate, reptile and amphibian will be counted by the zoo's keepers today (January 2, 2014). Keepers will also carry out the slow task of counting hundreds of Partula snails, which were moved to the zoo recently ahead of their release into the wild, planned for next year.

Over the past year, the zoo has welcomed a number of new arrivals, including Kumbuka, a silverback western lowland gorilla who joined Gorilla Kingdom's three females as part of the European breeding programme for endangered species.

London zoo also recently celebrated the birth of three spiny headed tree lizards - the first to ever be born in a UK zoo.

The annual stocktake is a compulsory part of the zoo's license and the results are recorded in the International Species Information System (ISIS), which is used to manage international breeding programmes for endangered species.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.