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Giant panda wins international vote
Tian Tian at Edinburgh Zoo has been vote as favourite giant panda outside of China in the Giant Panda Zoo awards
Tian Tian at Edinburgh Zoo has been vote as favourite giant panda outside of China in the Giant Panda Zoo awards

Favourite panda award for Edinburgh's Tian Tian

A giant panda living at Edinburgh Zoo has won an international award. Tian Tian, also known as Sweetie, has won gold in the the Giant Panda Zoo Awards.

The awards saw panda enthusiasts from around the world vote for their favourite panda outside of China. Nearly a fifth of the votes went to Tian Tian.


It is only the second year in which the awards have  been held. The winners were name at a ceremony at Zoo Atlanta.

Tian Tian has already enjoyed the limelight. She was named in the 2011 BBC’s Women of the Year list alongside names like Pippa Middleton and Adele.

Edinburgh Zoo's male giant panda, Yang Guang, also known as Sunshine, won silver in last year's favourite panda outside of China category.

Alison Maclean, team Lleader for giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to accept the award on behalf of Tian Tian for Favourite Panda Outside of China. Of course, she is now on equal par with Yang Guang as he got silver last year for Favourite Panda Outside of China.

"We think it’s absolutely amazing that everybody feels the same way about our female panda as we do; it’s just great and thank you to everyone for voting for us.”

Image courtesy of Edinburgh 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
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."