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Royal opening for lion enclosure
HM the Queen at Land of the Lions
The exhibition seeks to recreate Sasan Gir in Gujurat, India, which is the last remaining stronghold of Asiatic lions.

Queen and Duke open Asiatic lion exhibit

The ‘Land of the Lions’ at ZSL London Zoo was officially opened on Thursday by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The £5.2m Asiatic lion exhibit, complete with a 360° Temple Clearing, is the zoo’s biggest project to date.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness came 'whisker-close' to lionesses Indi, Rubi and Heidi in the Temple Clearing centrepiece, 40 years since opening the previous lion enclosure.   

Covering 2,500 sqm and with a grand stone archway entrance, the exhibition seeks to recreate Sasan Gir in Gujurat, India, which is the last remaining stronghold of Asiatic lions. The 360° Temple Clearing will separate visitors from closely roaming lions with fine wires.

Director General Ralph Armond said “We were delighted to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to ZSL London Zoo this morning to open our new Land of the Lions exhibit.”

The project will provide an ideal home for Asiatic lions and be an important contributor to the European breeding programme for the endangered species.  
In support of ZSL’s international conservation efforts and funded by ZSL’s Asiatic lions fundraising campaign, Land of the Lions features artefacts shipped from India including rickshaws, bicycles and a life size truck to best recapture the essence of the lions’ original habitat.

The exhibition is open to the public on Friday 25 March.

Image © ZSL London Zoo
 

 

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here. 

Click here for more...
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Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.