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UK’s only polar bear cub is male, zoo confirms
Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month.

Public will soon be able to help choose a name for him 

The first polar bear to be born in the UK for 25 years is a boy, staff at Highland Wildlife Park have confirmed.

Born in December, the four-month-old cub stepped outside for the first time since his birth last month and has already taken his first swim. He was identified as male during his first routine health check yesterday (16 April).

Una Richardson, head keeper for carnivores, said he is “becoming more confident every day and he is doing very well”.

The public will soon be asked to help choose a name for the cub.

“It was very exciting to find out we have a little boy,” Una added. “Next we need to give him a name and our keepers are coming up with a suitable list which we will soon ask the public to choose from on social media.

“This will help us engage with as wide an audience as possible to raise awareness of the threats polar bears are facing in the wild and the need to protect this magnificent species.”

The zoo is reminding the public that the cub is still very young and is opening a lot of time in his cubbing den.

Image © Siân Addison/Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

 

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'