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Japanese monkey displays mating behaviour with deer
Researchers observed a male Japanese macaque trying to mate with a female sika deer.

Incident observed on Yakushima Island

A male Japanese monkey has been observed trying to mate with female sika deer.

The incident was filmed by researchers on Yakushima Island, Japan, and is described in the journal Primates.

The researchers say that while Japanese macaques are known to ride deer in a playful manner, this particular monkey displayed obvious sexual behaviour towards several female deer.

‘Although this phenomenon may be explained as copulation learning, this is highly unlikely,’ the authors write.

‘The most realistic hypothesis would be that of mate deprivation, which states that males with limited access to females are more likely to display this behaviour.

‘Whatever the cause for this event may be, the observation of highly unusual animal behaviour may be a key to understanding the evolution of heterospecific mating behaviour in the animal kingdom.’

This is not the first example of mating behaviour between different species. In 2014, Antarctic fur seals were caught trying to mate with king penguins.

The study, which made headlines around the world, found that some penguins were eaten and killed after the mating occurred.

Image (C) Alexandre Bonnefoy

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.