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Japan bears move to new UK home
Hanako the bear looking forward to a new life at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Move follows concerns over living conditions

Four brown bears from Japan are being transported to the UK after concerns were raised about their living conditions.  

The bears - Riku, Kai, Amuro and Hanako - are being moved from their current home in Ainu Culture Museum, Hokkaido, to a new home at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster. The project is the result of a successful collaboration between The Japan Animal Welfare Society, Yorkshire Wildlife Park and the Ainu Museum.

“We’re so pleased to be reaching the final stages of this huge rehoming project, which will see four bears moving from Japan to a fantastic new home in Yorkshire,” said Wild Welfare’s projects director, Georgina Groves.

“The Museum recognised they can’t provide for their much-loved bears in the way that they should and that Yorkshire Wildlife Park could give them a much more suitable home. The positive teamwork from everyone involved in this project means these bears have a very happy future ahead of them.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is an award-winning 180-acre park that cares for more than 400 animals. Besides its global reputation for the conservation and welfare of endangered wildlife, it is renowned for its care in rehoming animals-in-need.

The bears will begin their 5,000-mile journey from Japan at the beginning of August and will travel with an experienced veterinary team. It was initially thought that the bears could be re-housed at an alternative facility in Japan, but no suitable option could be found.

“Yorkshire Wildlife Park has a great track record and we know they’ll provide the bears with a fantastic new home, where they can receive the rehabilitation, enrichment and lifelong care they need,” Georgina added.

Image (C) Wild Welfare

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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
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.