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Big-headed turtles born at ZSL London Zoo
Pictured: One of the hatchlings.
The species is critically endangered and under threat due to the illegal wildlife trade. 

Three critically endangered big-headed turtles have hatched at ZSL London Zoo, after their parents were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

The four adult Platysternon megacephalum, or big-headed turtles, were brought to ZSL London Zoo in 2018, after smugglers had attempted to illegally import them into Canada labelled as toys.

Kimberly Carter, ZSL reptile keeper, commented on the new arrivals: “We had the expertise at ZSL London Zoo to give this solitary species the specialist care they individually needed, and we’re pleased that this dedicated work has paid off with these three hatchlings.

“Big-headed turtles may not be conventionally cute to most people - with their oversized heads and long, whip-like tails - but they represent a vitally important and unique branch of the evolutionary tree and have much to teach us about animal adaptions. 

“There is literally no other species like them on earth.”

The three hatchlings have been named Ha, Thuy and Tim, after colleagues from the Asian Turtle Program of the Indo Myanmar Conservation, Ha Hoang, Thuy Thu Nguyen and Tim McCormack. ZSL works collaboratively with the Asian Turtle Program, which helps to rehabilitate rescued big-headed turtles in Vietnam. 

Ha, Thuy and Tim will not be visible to the public for the time being as they grow, however, visitors can visit the four originally rescued big-headed turtles at the zoo's reptile house. 

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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."