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Over 140 whales die in mass beaching in Western Australia
Short-finned pilot whales inhabit tropical and subtropical waters and may be seen in the hundreds.

Vets and volunteers fight to keep surviving whales alive

More than 140 whales have died after a mass beaching in Western Australia.

The whales washed up at Hamelin Bay on Friday morning (23 February), around 300km south of Perth. Local people have been urged to steer clear of the area whilst vets and volunteers assist with the care and rescue of the surviving whales.

In its latest update, Australia’s Parks and Wildlife Service said that of the seven surviving pilot whales released back into the sea, three have re-stranded while the remaining four have not been sighted.
The three that returned to the beach have been euthanised.

Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Jeremy Chick said the department had conducted a comprehensive sea, air and ground search and had not found any additional or live whales.

“All the deceased whales have been removed at the main stranding site and the additional outlying sites. There are two deceased whales remaining in inaccessible terrain and a plan is being developed to remove them as soon as logistically possible.”

Short-finned pilot whales inhabit tropical and subtropical waters and may be seen in the hundreds. However, groups normally number less than 100.

The species normally stands en masse. In November 1984, nine pilot whales were found dead after beaching at Albany’s Ledge Point. Some 38 pilot whales were also stranded in April 1991 at Sandy Point, Victoria, but died within a few hours.

Parks and Wildlife Service staff said that its officers are now collecting DNA samples from the dead whales to try to ascertain how and why the whales became stranded.

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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."