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Baby elephant rescued from well
Touching video of baby elephant rescue goes viral

A video has gone viral of an eight-month-old elephant being rescued from a shallow well in Kenya.

The calf had fallen into a five foot deep hole in the dry grounds of a national park in Rift Valley Province, and was unable to climb out on its own. When conservationists at Amboseli Trust for Elephants heard of the incident, they sent two jeeps to assist.

The calf's anxious mother, Zombe, was kept away from the scene while the team worked to pull her baby out of the well. Herders were expected to arrive any minute to water their cattle and they would have forced Zombe to leave the stranded calf.

After a struggle, the team managed to secure a rope around the baby elephant and attached the other end to the jeep, hauling the calf out of the well to safety.

The touching video ends as the freed elephant and its mother run towards each other, and as they reunite, embrace with their trunks.

Click here to watch the video, which has received almost a million views.

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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
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.