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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 20th November 2023
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First pups of the season born at biggest seal colony
“Over the coming months, Blakeney Point will be carpeted in grey seals” – Duncan Halpin.
Around 4,500 are expected to be born this winter.

The first grey seal pups of this winter’s pupping season have been born at Blakeney National Nature Reserve in Norfolk.

The National Trust reserve is home to the largest colony in England, following a large increase in numbers in the last 20 years. In 1999, just five pups were born at the site. Now, around 4,500 pups are born there every year.

The number of seals has become too large to simply count on the ground., so aerial photographs will be used to help estimate the size of the colony. Support in counting the colony will be provided by marine biologists at the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews.

During pupping season, which lasts until mid-January, the seals will be monitored by National Trust rangers and volunteers, who will maintain a regular presence on the shingle spit to prevent disturbances. They will also use a continuous live feed from a remote camera to monitor the seals and their pups.

Visitors with dogs will not be permitted to walk the full length of Blakeney Point until pupping season is over.

Duncan Halpin, National Trust’s ranger, said: “The grey seal colony is in the early stages of becoming established for this year and we are looking forward to following the progress of the colony, and its new pups, this winter.

“Over the coming months, Blakeney Point will be carpeted in grey seals, as something in the region of 4,500 cow seals come ashore to have their pups.

“It’s a breathtaking sight and is testimony to the potential of our marine life to thrive when the right conditions, and protection from disturbance, are in place.”

Image © Shutterstock

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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."