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Penguin 'prank' leads to charges
Image: Luke Marsden
Three charged after theft from Australian theme park

Three men have been charged with theft, trespass and unlawfully keeping a protected animal by police in Queensland, Australia after they stole a fairy penguin from the Gold Coast Sea World following a night out. It is understood that the three men, who multiple sources have claimed were intoxicated, partially undressed and swam with the park's dolphins before gaining entry to the penguin enclosure and taking the seven-year-old male named Dirk (pictured) back to their hotel room.

The trio were allegedly caught after boasting about the incident on Facebook. One of the three, who gave his name as Rhys Jones, has said "Still a bit fuzzy about the whole thing but on behalf of the three of us we are very sorry and it was just a prank which went way too far”, adding that "We are all three of us sorry to Sea World for the time lost in them searching for Dirk and we're glad he's all right."

Dirk was eventually returned to Sea World after being found in a nearby estuary, with a passer-by raising the alarm after seeing the penguin being chased from the water by what was speculated to be a shark and then being chased back in by a dog. Fortunately, Sea World was able to recover him and he is apparently exhausted but unharmed. The three men are due to appear in court on Wednesday 2nd May.

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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."