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Bats drop from the sky in heatwave
Image bat
Australian health officials urge caution

Thousands of bats are reportedly dropping from the sky in Queensland, Australia, thought to be a result of recent extreme temperatures.

Heat stress due to severe weather has been blamed for the recent spate of bat deaths. As a result, wildlife groups say there has been a rise in the number of bats and flying foxes in suburban areas, searching for food and water.

Officials from Queensland Health say there has been an increase of 250 per cent in the number of people reporting exposure to bat bites and scratches since the beginning of 2013.

Chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young says the majority of these exposures occur when people attempt to handle injured, trapped or sick bats.

Recent reports of bat deaths have prompted Dr Young to issue a warning to members of the public not to touch the animals, but to contact the RSPCA or local wildlife care group.

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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."