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Conservationists hail arrival of Visayan warty piglet
The new arrival explores the outside world with mum Gwen at Chester Zoo.

Rare species is on the brink of extinction from habitat loss and hunting.

Conservationists at one of the UK’s most visited zoos are celebrating the birth of a rare species of pig, of which just 200 remain in the wild.
 
Mark Brayshaw, curator of mammals at Chester Zoo, said the arrival of a Visayan warty piglet ‘will help champion the plight of this fascinating, charismatic species’. 

The male piglet, who is yet to be named, was born to mum, Gwen (9) and dad, Tre (10), on 16 November, joining a family of five.

Mr Brayshaw commented: “It’s fantastic to see the birth of any animal, but when they’re critically endangered and fighting for survival in the wild, it makes it even more special. Baby piglets are incredibly energetic and playful, and so the whole group will certainly be kept very busy over the coming months.”

Native to the Visayan islands in the central Phillipines,
Visayan warty pigs are listed as critically endangered by the International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN). The decline of the forest-dwelling species is blamed on habitat loss and hunting. 

Currently, there is not much information available about these animals in the wild, and experts say that by working closely with them in the zoo, they can transfer their knowledge to support their wild cousins.

Stuart Young, a regional field programme manager for South-East Asian Islands at Chester Zoo, said the knowledge is shared with partners in the Philippines and has helped with the reintroduction of 19 Visayan warty pigs back into the wild. 

He added: “The pigs were reintroduced to Bayawan Nature Reserve in Negros in July 2020, where the animals had been extinct for more than 10 years. We’re absolutely delighted to reveal that the population is now thriving, and 10 piglets have been born since they were rehomed.

“Although pigs can sometimes be overlooked, and don’t gather the attention that other bigger mammals receive, they play a really important role in the ecosystem - which is why we must continue to prevent their extinction.” 


Image (C) Chester Zoo.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.