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First gentoo penguin chicks born
Zoo celebrates birth of first two chicks

Edinburgh Zoo has announced the birth of two gentoo penguin chicks - the first chicks ever to be born in the new enclosure, Penguins Rock.

The chicks have not yet been named, and are the first ever to be delivered by the new mother, although the father has parented before.

According to an update from the zoo on the afternoon of May 14, a third chick was emerging from the egg and is expected to hatch fully by May 15. A further 44 eggs are still to hatch at the zoo.

In the wild, the gentoo penguin population is growing in the Antarctic Peninsula but has seen a rapid decline in some island territories.

This decline is thought to be due to pollution or disturbed fisheries. The species is protected under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and listed on the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as "near threatened".

Image: Gentoo penguin chick, Edinburgh Zoo

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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.