Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Vets call on Namibia to abandon live elephant sales
Born Free believes the proposed sales will do nothing to manage elephant populations.

“These sentient, sensitive and highly social animals need protecting” - Dr Mark Jones. 

A coalition of 60 veterinary surgeons, wildlife organisations and scientists are calling on Namibian authorities to abandon plans to sell live elephants to unknown destinations within or outside the country.

Led by international wildlife charity, Born Free, the coalition has written to President Hage Geingob, calling on him to intervene and cancel the sales, and offering their expertise to help protect Namibia’s elephants. 

The move comes in response to a notice published in local media in December 2020, in which Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism advertised up to 170 live elephants for sale, including family groups and adult males.

According to Born Free, media reports suggest the Namibian authorities are claiming the sales are in response to overpopulation, drought, and increasing human-elephant conflict. 

Born Free’s head of policy Dr Mark Jones said: “These proposed sales will do nothing to manage populations or mitigate conflict between elephants and people. Indeed, the disruption to elephant family groups and wider elephant society could make conflict with people much more likely. 

“There is also no indication of where the animals will end up; some of them could find themselves exported to captive facilities which are completely unsuitable for wild elephants. We implore the Namibian authorities to abandon these sales and instead work with experts to find practical and humane solutions to the problems of drought and conflict, that will enable elephants and the people who live alongside them to peacefully coexist.” 

Thanks to poaching, habitat loss and retaliatory killings, elephant populations are in drastic decline across much of Africa. Namibia is fortunate to be home to around 23,000 elephants, some of which are uniquely adapted to desert life. 

While exports of live elephants are currently limited to in situ conservation programmes, conservationists fear that buyers could try to get around these rules by exporting elephants to zoos and other captive facilities for profit. 

Dr Jones continued: “These sentient, sensitive and highly social animals need protecting. Selling some of them off to private bidders will cause immense animal suffering, and disrupt their remaining family groups and herds.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.