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Endangered pygmy hippo calf born at Edinburgh Zoo
Staff at Edinburgh Zoo plan to name the tiny calf in the coming weeks.

Tiny calf weighed just 5.4kg at birth.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is celebrating the birth of an endangered pygmy hippo calf at Edinburgh Zoo.

The female calf was born on Saturday 17 April to parents Gloria and Otto, weighing just 5.4kg at birth. Zoo staff will be closely monitoring the family as they begin gradually allowing visitors to view the animals.

Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Our new arrival is doing really well and is growing stronger and more confident every day.

“As she is still so young, we are limiting opening hours and numbers in our indoor viewing area to give the calf and mum Gloria some time to get used to visitors. The first 30 days are critical for her development, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on them both at this sensitive time and plan to name her in the coming weeks.”

Pygmy hippo populations are declining rapidly in their native home of West Africa, most commonly as a result of habitat destruction caused by logging, farming and human settlement.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) supports the species through the European Endangered Species programme – a population management programme for animals of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). It has also published the first ever genomic study of pygmy hippos through work in the RZSS WildGenes laboratory.

Edinburgh Zoo welcomed back visitors from across the UK on 26 April, with a number of safety measures in place.

Image (c) RZSS.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.