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Passengers surprised after giant tortoise delays trains
The tortoise is expected to make a full recovery.
A giant African tortoise was found injured on the tracks in Suffolk.

Passengers travelling between Norwich and Cambridge by train yesterday had a tort-ally unbelievable experience when a large tortoise on the tracks caused all trains on the line to come to a halt.

The giant African tortoise was spotted on a track in the north east of Thetford at around 1midday, and had evidently been hit by a train, sporting a large gash through the middle of its shell. 

Several passengers took to social media to inform Greater Anglia of the tortoise, and once the trains were stopped, their surprise at the unusual reason behind the delay.

Diane Akers, a passenger en route to Norwich at the time, told Greater Anglia in a tweet: “@greateranglia There is a giant tortoise on the line past Eccles Road going away from Norwich it's still alive but injured.”

Another passenger, Anna Debenham, shared her experience in a Twitter thread: “We apologise for the 74 minute delay to this service. This was due a… tortoise on the tracks'

“Amazingly I did not mishear that. There is indeed a tortoise on the tracks that is causing chaos.

“The train announcer would like everyone to know that it is a Giant African Tortoise.”

The delayed trains were able to continue their journeys around an hour and a half later, with later services affected by the disruption.

With several people concerned about the tortoise, a spokesperson from Greater Anglia shared: “We have been informed by the [veterinary] specialist team that the tortoise is expected to make a full recovery.”

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New RCVS Academy courses to remove barriers in vet care

News Story 1
 The RCVS Academy has launched two courses to its new client support series, as it seeks to improve accessibility in veterinary settings.

The courses will help professionals to support assistance dog partnerships and clients with hearing loss.

The Hearing loss and Assistance dogs courses saw RCVS project lead Catherine Hemingway collaborate with the British Deaf Association and Assistance Dogs UK. Vets will gain practical guidance on supporting clients with additional needs.

Each course takes an hour to complete, and can be accessed by RCVS registrants for free. 

Click here for more...
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APHA launches free virtual work experience programme

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in collaboration with Springpod, has launched a free virtual work experience programme, giving young people across the UK the chance to explore careers dedicated to protecting animal and plant health.

The on-demand programme offers a unique insight into career opportunities within APHA, showcasing how students can contribute to tackling some of the UK's most critical biosecurity and environmental challenges.

Designed for students aged 13 and over, the course includes more than 10 hours of engaging content featuring real-life industry insights, scenario-based challenges, and practical guidance on applying for jobs. To register for the course, visit the APHA website.