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Male snow leopard arrives at Highland Wildlife Park
"We are very excited to welcome Koshi into our care and for visitors to meet him too." Keith Gilchrist, Highland Wildlife Park.

RZSS celebrates move as part of International Breeding Programme

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has welcomed a male snow leopard at Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore, after the park sadly lost its previous male, Chan, in September.

The new arrival, Koshi, was born at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Ashford in 2019. Staff hope that he and the park’s current female, Animesh, will have cubs together in the future.

Keith Gilchrist, animal collection manager at Highland Wildlife Park said: “We are very excited to welcome Koshi into our care and for visitors to meet him too.

“For the first few weeks, he’ll be kept separated from Animesh as he settles in and then we will slowly begin introductions.”

Staff at the Big Cat Sanctuary said that Koshi held a special place in the sanctuary’s history, as he and his brother Khumbu were the first ever snow leopards born at the park.

Head keeper at The Big Cat Sanctuary Briony Smith said: “It’s been a real privilege to watch [Koshi] grow into a gentle, friendly and loving cat and as much as we will miss him, we know he is in safe hands. We will be proud to see him play an active part in the International Breeding Programme to help protect his species.”

Animesh’s cubs, Leannain and Stardust were also moved to the Northumberland Zoo this week as part of the International Breeding Programme.

Mr Gilchrist added: “With under 3,500 snow leopards remaining in the wild, it is important that cats like Koshi are given the opportunity to father cubs, ensuring genetic diversity and ultimately safeguarding the future of the species.”

Image (c) RZSS.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.