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£4.6m funding to tackle illegal wildlife trade
Fauna & Flora International will aim to reduce demand for
marine turtle products in Nicaragua. (Stock photo)

UK government pledges support for 14 projects 

Fourteen new projects to tackle the illegal wildlife trade are set to go ahead, after the UK government pledged £4.6 million in funding.

The chosen schemes include reducing demand for marine turtle products in Nicaragua, which is being carried out by Fauna & Flora International; and a ZSL project to disrupt the illegal trade in grey parrots in Cameroon.

A project by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust will aim to crack wildlife smuggling in Madagascar, while WCS will work to strengthen anti-poaching techniques and counter wildlife trafficking in Uganda.

The government also supplied £40,000 to create new online education packs for children around the world, to teach the next generation about the risks of fuelling the illegal wildlife trade. The resources are available from WWF-UK and Tail2Tail.

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey commented: “The illegal wildlife trade is an international tragedy. This serious organised criminal networks do more than just damage wildlife - corruption and illegal activities undermine sustainable development and the rule of law, bringing misery to local communities.

“The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund is backing projects that will tackle the criminals at source and in countries that are destinations for items made from illegally traded plants and animals.”

Defra has invested a total of £23 million in the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, with support from the Department for International Development (DFID). Extra UK aid worth £6 million was pledged by DFID last year.

Each of the 14 selected projects will receive a share of the £4.6 million and further rounds for funding applications will be opened shortly.

Harriett Baldwin, minister of state for international development, said: “UK aid will be giving life to projects whose aim is to protect these species and secure the futures for people living alongside wildlife.

"This is a win for those communities and a win for animal lovers across the world. None of us want to see these majestic animals dying out.”

 

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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.