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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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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
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.