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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 10th July 2023
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Academics create app to improve elephant welfare
“Caring for elephants is an immense privilege but also a challenge” – Dr Lisa Yon.
The app is already being used by several zoos and wildlife parks.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have designed an app to improve the welfare of elephants living under human care in zoos, wildlife parks, and other facilities.

The Elephant Welfare App collects data to allow keepers and others caring for elephants to monitor their welfare and identify any changes over time. Each time new data is uploaded, the app sends the user a detailed report containing graphs and tables.

The data is stored at the University of Nottingham, who hope it will become one of the largest repositories of data on zoo elephant behaviour in the world, allowing experts at the university to provide evidence-based advice to improve elephant welfare.

The app already has users around the globe including in the USA, Indonesia, and South Africa, as well as being used by 17 facilities in the UK and Ireland.

Dr Lisa Yon, who led the development team, said: “Both African and Asian elephants are now endangered in the wild and are at great risk of extinction. Zoo elephants may represent an important population for conservation of these species, and it is therefore important to ensure their wellbeing, but also contribute to their improved chances of survival so that they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

“Caring for elephants is an immense privilege but also a challenge. It is therefore essential that we identify what are the most essential, and feasible factors that can encourage the expression of natural behaviours and positive welfare.”

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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."