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Volunteers sought to identify sharks in Wales
The Welsh coast is home to the basking shark, one of the largest in the world.
Citizen scientists to examine underwater footage.

Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities (SIARC) is recruiting citizen scientists to identify underwater animals around the Welsh coast from the comfort of their own home, BBC News reports.

Using footage captured on underwater cameras, volunteers will identify and log sharks, skates and rays. Captured throughout summer 2022, the footage requires logging in order for scientists to gain a clearer picture of the species diversity.

Critically endangered and protected species were filmed in a conservation area off the Llyn Peninsula, and the footage is now available on the Instant Wild website for anyone to access.

Joanna Barker from the Zoological Society of London explained to BBC News: “We'll have a scientist reviewing all the footage, but the citizen scientists will be the validator.

“We'll be able to compare both the scientist and citizen scientist scores and data and it'll just really improve the scientific data that we get out of this project.”

Matt Thompson, a volunteer for the project, added: “I'd really like to see an angel shark - that's what the project's all about, they're very rare. 

“I'll be very surprised if we do actually see any and I'd be really excited to see a basking shark.

“But there's plenty of other things to keep you interested. Any shark, skate or ray that you see on these cameras is going to be really interesting."

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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."