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London Zoo welcomes two spiky bundles of joy
The porcupettes have spent their first week snuggling up to mum.

Porcupettes Hector and Hinata are bonding with their new family.

ZSL London Zoo has announced the arrival of two baby Cape porcupines – known as porcupettes.

Born in January to parents Hettie and Henning, the pair are said to be confidently exploring their new surroundings.

Cape porcupines are classed as a species of 'least concern' on the IUCN Red List, but they increasingly face the threats of habitat destruction and hunting. 

Following the birth, zookeepers named the male and female duo Hector and Hinata, keeping with the trend to name all porcupines in the family with a letter starting with H. They join siblings nine-month-old Hershey and five-month-old Henry.

Keeper Veronica Heldt, who first discovered the duo on the Zoo's porcupine-cam, said they “are developing really well” and “bonding well with their new family”. 

The twins weigh a healthy 660g and 750g and have spent their first week snuggling up to mum in their cosy indoor den. 

Veronica said: “Thankfully for mum Hettie, baby porcupines are born with short, soft quills that harden at about one week of age, so labour wasn’t as painful as people might imagine!”

Native to central and southern Africa, Cape porcupines are considered 'ecosystem engineers' thanks to their expertise in foraging and digging. They are the largest 
porcupine species and Africa’s second-largest rodent.

Image (C) ZSL London Zoo.

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New RCVS Academy courses to remove barriers in vet care

News Story 1
 The RCVS Academy has launched two courses to its new client support series, as it seeks to improve accessibility in veterinary settings.

The courses will help professionals to support assistance dog partnerships and clients with hearing loss.

The Hearing loss and Assistance dogs courses saw RCVS project lead Catherine Hemingway collaborate with the British Deaf Association and Assistance Dogs UK. Vets will gain practical guidance on supporting clients with additional needs.

Each course takes an hour to complete, and can be accessed by RCVS registrants for free. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
APHA launches free virtual work experience programme

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in collaboration with Springpod, has launched a free virtual work experience programme, giving young people across the UK the chance to explore careers dedicated to protecting animal and plant health.

The on-demand programme offers a unique insight into career opportunities within APHA, showcasing how students can contribute to tackling some of the UK's most critical biosecurity and environmental challenges.

Designed for students aged 13 and over, the course includes more than 10 hours of engaging content featuring real-life industry insights, scenario-based challenges, and practical guidance on applying for jobs. To register for the course, visit the APHA website.