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Orcas escape frozen-over waters
Shift in winds brings lifeline to whale pod

A pod of orcas that have been struggling to survive since becoming trapped under sea ice are safe again, after winds changed and produced openings in the water.

On Tuesday (January 8), it was reported that a dozen orcas - commonly known as killer whales - were struggling to breath in Canada's Hudson Bay, due to a lack of gaps in sea ice.

Fortunately, locals from the village of Inukjuak, where the orcas were stuck, have reported that winds have shifted overnight, pushing the ice away from the coast and opening up the water.

The bay froze over a few days ago, when the whales were thought to be hunting for seals in the bay. The unusually mild weather meant the whales were still around when the cold weather hit, and a hunter spotted them trying to find space between the ice to come up for air.

The following day locals called on the Canadian government to send icebreaker ships to help free the orcas and, otherwise, intended to launch their own rescue operation.

However, since the ice has shifted, the orcas have managed to leave the area.

Marine Researcher Lyne Morissette said this may not mean the whales have escaped danger, adding that they will have to travel more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) to reach the open waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.