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London Zoo conducts its annual weigh-in
The information helps keepers monitor the health of the zoo's animals.

Meerkat gets weighed at London Zoo annual weigh-in (c) London Zoo

London Zoo has begun its annual weigh-in as it measures and records the vital statistics of the 14,000 animals in its care.

The information gathered, which helps the zoo to monitor the health and wellbeing of the animals, is shared with other zoos around the world through the Zoological Information Management System.

Angela Ryan, London Zoo’s head of zoological operations, said: “We record the vital statistics of every animal at the Zoo – from the tallest giraffe to the tiniest tadpole.
 
“Having this data helps to ensure that every animal we care for is healthy, eating well, and growing at the rate they should - a key indicator of health and wellbeing.
 
“For example, a growing waistline can help us to detect and monitor pregnancies, which is vitally important as many of the species we care for are threatened in the wild and part of international conservation breeding programmes - London Zoo coordinates the global programme for Sumatran tigers, for example.
 
“By sharing information with other zoos and conservationists around the world, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we’re striving to protect.”

Cameras were on hand to capture the various methods the keepers employed to weigh and measure the different animals.

Keeper Jessica Ray weighs Humboldt penguins (c) London Zoo

Sumatran tiger cub Zac is measured (c) London Zoo

Weighing a green-winged macaw (c) London Zoo

Keeper Luke Moir measures a giant Tirachoidea stick insect (c) London Zoo

 
Keeper Agnes Kiss weighs a squirrel monkey (c) London Zoo


 

 

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VMG president joins House of Lords

News Story 1
 Miles Russell, president of the Veterinary Management Group (VMG), has been elected to the House of Lords as a crossbench hereditary peer.

He will join Lord Trees as a representative of the veterinary sector in the second chamber of the UK parliament.

Lord Russell said: "Those of us working in the animal health and veterinary sectors are only too aware of the importance of the work we do and the challenges we face.

"I will use my platform in the House of Lords to increase understanding of our sectors and to promote positive change." 

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News Shorts
Sixth case of bluetongue confirmed

A sixth case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 has been confirmed in the UK.

The case was detected in an animal on a premises linked to one of the farms within the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) currently in place near Canterbury, Kent.

In response, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has extended the TCZ. Investigations into the spread of the disease are ongoing.

The cases in Kent come at a time when a new strain of the virus has spread rapidly across farms in the Netherlands. Both the Government and the British Veterinary Association have urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and suspected cases must be reported immediately on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, possible cases should be reported to the local field services office.