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London Zoo welcomes two spiky bundles of joy
The porcupettes have spent their first week snuggling up to mum.

Porcupettes Hector and Hinata are bonding with their new family.

ZSL London Zoo has announced the arrival of two baby Cape porcupines – known as porcupettes.

Born in January to parents Hettie and Henning, the pair are said to be confidently exploring their new surroundings.

Cape porcupines are classed as a species of 'least concern' on the IUCN Red List, but they increasingly face the threats of habitat destruction and hunting. 

Following the birth, zookeepers named the male and female duo Hector and Hinata, keeping with the trend to name all porcupines in the family with a letter starting with H. They join siblings nine-month-old Hershey and five-month-old Henry.

Keeper Veronica Heldt, who first discovered the duo on the Zoo's porcupine-cam, said they “are developing really well” and “bonding well with their new family”. 

The twins weigh a healthy 660g and 750g and have spent their first week snuggling up to mum in their cosy indoor den. 

Veronica said: “Thankfully for mum Hettie, baby porcupines are born with short, soft quills that harden at about one week of age, so labour wasn’t as painful as people might imagine!”

Native to central and southern Africa, Cape porcupines are considered 'ecosystem engineers' thanks to their expertise in foraging and digging. They are the largest 
porcupine species and Africa’s second-largest rodent.

Image (C) ZSL London Zoo.

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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...
News Shorts
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.