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Edinburgh Zoo wins Panda awards
Image: Gill Penney
First ever Giant Panda Zoo Awards announced

The results of the first ever Giant Panda Zoo Awards were announced this week, with Edinburgh Zoo striking gold and double silver.

Panda fans and enthusiasts from all over the world have been voting across ten different panda categories for the unique Giant Panda Zoo Awards. Run by panda fan Jeroen Jacobs, the Giant Panda Zoo aims to spread the word about giant pandas in captivity, and to make a difference in panda conservation.

The awards saw Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), win a gold award for the 'Human Panda Personality'. Yang Guang (Sunshine) picked up a silver for 'Favourite Pandas Outside China', and the PR campaign for the first ever giant panda breeding season at Edinburgh Zoo also brought in a silver award.

Iain Valentine said: “For Edinburgh Zoo to have been nominated and shortlisted was alone a great privilege, but to have been voted for by panda fans across the world to win an award in all three categories is truly special.

“We’re delighted that our male, Yang Guang, is so popular with people in the UK and also internationally. With an outgoing character that actually seems to love an audience, the fact he has received this award after only being at Edinburgh Zoo for 12 months is very special.

“I was lucky enough to pick up the gold award for Human Panda Personality; a great privilege for me and the wider team that I’m part of at Edinburgh Zoo; it’s very encouraging to think that our profile and work with giant pandas is hopefully raising the awareness of global giant panda conservation.

“Not only a wonderful first for Edinburgh Zoo, the Giant Panda Zoo Awards are a fun and engaging concept from Jeroen whose website and newsletters act as a great platform to pull focus to and increase awareness of the important conservation work for these iconic animals.”

Click here for a full list of the winners.

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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."