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Zoo animals explore advent calendars
The meerkats foraged for tasty crickets in their advent calendar.

Meerkats, lions and squirrel monkeys kick off Christmas.

Animals at ZSL London Zoo are celebrating the countdown to Christmas with some special advent calendars.

Keepers gave the lions, meerkats and squirrel monkeys a unique festive treat on Thursday (30 November) in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations to come. 

Arya and Bhanu, the Asiatic lions, followed a scent trail of cinnamon and nutmeg to a giant five-foot lion-sized advent calendar filled with meat for them to discover.

The Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkey troop living at the zoo were given an exciting challenge, as zookeepers hung up advent pouches filled with breakfast for the animals.

Meerkats Meko, Penelope, Dracula and Frank didn't miss out on the fun, with a colourful advent calender full of cricket snacks provided for the curious creatures.

Dan Simmonds, zoological operations manager at ZSL, said: “It’s the season of giving and our keepers enjoyed sharing the Christmas spirit with the animals at London Zoo.

“Marking the first day of advent, our lions loved sniffing out meaty treats in their five-foot advent calendar, while the meerkats and squirrel monkeys foraged for their breakfast behind colourful doors and in hanging numbered bags.

“There may not be a chocolate in sight, but like children across the country, the animals couldn’t resist opening just one door!”  

 

Images (C) ZSL London Zoo

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

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News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.