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Zookeepers working to keep animals cool during heatwave
The zoo's Sumatran tigers have been cooling down in their pool.

Animals given frozen food and hose pipe showers at London Zoo.

As temperatures rise in the UK this week, keepers at London Zoo have been making sure that the animals in their care are kept cool.

Many of the animals are provided with pools which they can swim in to cool down on hot days. They also have access to sheltered spots in their outdoor enclosures so that they can choose to spend time in the shade when they need to.

Staff at the zoo have been giving animals ice lollies and other frozen food tailored to their nutritional needs, as well as using hose pipe showers to help animals feel comfortable during the late summer heatwave.

The zoo’s Sumatran tiger cubs Zac and Crispin have been among the animals making the most of the water in their enclosures to stay cool. The pair have been seen splashing and swimming around in their pool.

The species, which has webbed paws to help it swim, is the rarest subspecies of tiger in the world, with an estimated 300 left in the wild.

Kate Sanders, a keeper at the zoo, said: “Many of the animals have private pools like Zac and Crispin, and enjoy taking an invigorating dip when the weather heats up. Our colony of 72 Humboldt penguins have over 13,000 sq. ft of crystal-clear water in the UK’s largest penguin pool while pygmy hippos, Thug and Amara, can swap their hippo hot tub for their fresh-water moat on warm days like today.

“When we saw this week’s weather forecast, we also wasted no time making healthy ice lollies as late summer treats for the animals - all zoo nutritionist-approved. Our troop of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas go wild for frozen sugar-free fruit tea, the squirrel monkeys love to excavate nuts and veggies from blocks of ice, while the Humboldt penguins are particularly keen on frozen sprats.”

 

Image (C) ZSL

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

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From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.