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Japanese aquarium hosts 'face-showing festival' for eels
Garden eels disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by.

The eels have started to forget about humans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Japanese aquarium is hosting a 'face-showing festival' for its spotted garden eels, which have grown shy of humans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toyko's Sumida Aquarium was forced to close because of the crisis, but the lack of visitors appear to be having a profound effect on its underwater residents.

It says that a lack of human interaction has made it difficult for staff at the aquarium to check the health of the eels, which dive back down into the sand whenever someone walks past their tank.

It is also worried that once the aquarium reopens, the sudden flood of visitors could stress the eels out.

The aquarium tweeted: "They don't see humans, except keepers, and they have started forgetting about humans. Garden eels, in particular, disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by. Here is an urgent request - could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?"

The 'face-showing festival' is taking place 3-5 May and people are being asked to dial into one of five tablets that have been placed in front of the tank using the information available on the Aquarium's website.

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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."