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Zoo Animals Fund now open for applications
Funding can be used to cover animal welfare related costs, as well as staffing and maintenance.

Zoos and aquariums affected by the pandemic to recieve £100m funding

The £100 million Zoo Animals Fund, announced on 27 June, is now open for applications. This fund will provide financial support for zoos and aquariums that have experienced a drop in income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Starting today, licensed zoos and aquariums will be able to apply for government grants of up to £730,000 to help them provide care for their animals and carry out essential maintenance. The grants can be used to cover costs for veterinary care, medicines, and animal feed, as well as costs for staff providing animal care directly.

According to a statement from the government: “Grants will be awarded on the basis of need where zoos face a shortfall despite doing everything they can to reduce their costs and raise income.” Funding will also be awarded to zoos that need to downsize or close, to support rehoming costs.

Animal welfare minister Lord Goldsmith said: “It has been great to see zoos and aquariums welcoming people back again over the past six weeks, but I know what a challenging period this remains and hope the opening of the fund provides some much-needed relief.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the zoo community over the coming months and remain absolutely committed to ensuring that zoos and aquariums have the support they need to provide the best possible care for their animals.”

Chief secretary to the treasury Steve Barclay said: “We remain committed to giving [zoos and aquariums] the continuing support they need to look after their animals over this winter, which is why this fund, open for applications from today, will help zoos maintain their world-leading animal welfare standards.”

Applications for the Zoo Animals Fund will be accepted until 16 November 2020 and the fund itself will run until the end of March 2021.

Information on how to apply can be found here.

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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."