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Edinburgh Zoo welcomes inquisitive otter pair
Barry and Luna are enjoying exploring their new home.
Barry and Luna are settling in well to their new enclosure. 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has welcomed the arrival of two Asian small-clawed otters to Edinburgh Zoo.

Keepers at the wildlife conservation charity say the otters, named Barry and Luna, are becoming more confident every day and enjoy exploring their new enclosure.

Senior carnivore keeper Andrew Laing, said: “Barry and Luna are settling well into their new home and are already very bonded.  

“They were quite shy when they first arrived last month and still like to spend a lot of their morning in their underground holts but in the afternoon, they come out for a dip in their pool and a nosy at what our visitors are up to.

“Luna is the more confident of the two and you can tell her apart from Barry as she has a pink nose and he has a black nose.”

One of the world's smallest otters, the Asian small-clawed otter is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They are extremely dextrous and use their forepaws to feel for crustaceans and molluscs in mud, rock and vegetation.

The species is found in the wild throughout south-east Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia. In recent years, however, deforestation, agriculture and the overexploitation on prey have seen their populations plummet.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.