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Hawaiian Blue-Tailed Skink declared extinct
Image - reptilespictures.net
Last confirmed sighting in 1960s

The Blue-tailed Skink (Emoia impar) has been declared extinct in Hawaii after repeated attempts to locate specimens during field surveys from 1988 to 2002 failed. The last confirmed sighting was on the Na'Pali coast of the island of Kauai during the 1960s. The species is not wholly extinct, however, as there are still specimens in captivity and on other islands.

Research into the Blue-tailed Skink by Robert Parker of the US Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center and Ivan Ineich of the French Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle was published by Fauna and Flora International in the international conservation journal Oryx earlier this month. In it, Parker and Ineich speculated that predation by an invasive species of ant may be responsible for the extinction.

Commenting, U.S Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt said "No other landscape in these United States has been more impacted by extinction events and species invasions in historic times than the Hawaiian Islands, with as yet unknown long-term cascading consequences to the ecosystem. Today, we close the book on one more animal that is unlikely to ever be re-established in this fragile island home."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."