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Polar bear cub born at Highland Wildlife Park
Pictured: A still image taken from CCTV footage of the cub asleep on it's mother.

CCTV footage captured the new arrival sleeping.

A polar bear cub has been born at Highland Wildlife Park, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has announced.

Staff first heard high-pitched cub noises on Tuesday 14 December, and confirmed that mum Victoria had given birth. 

Vickie Larkin, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park, commented on the new arrival: “This is a tremendous occasion which is a testament to our team’s hard-work. 

“While we are excited about the new arrival, we are not celebrating quite yet as the first few weeks of a polar bear’s life is critical, with potential immune system complications and mum’s need for privacy during this time our top priority.”

The cub's parents, Arktos and Victoria, previously had a cub in 2017 called Hamish, who was the UK's first polar bear cub in 25 years. 

“We were hopeful Victoria and Arktos would produce another cub when they were reintroduced for the breeding season in February,” Vickie continued.

“She is a very attentive mother and we’re pleased to say they are both doing well so far. We will not know if the little one is a boy or girl until we are able to perform health checks in the spring and they will be named shortly after.

“Polar bears are born blind and do not open their eyes until they are a month old. At the moment, the youngster is about a foot long and weighs roughly the same as a guinea pig.” 

 

Image (C) RZSS

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
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Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.