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Edinburgh Zoo wins Panda awards
Image: Gill Penney
First ever Giant Panda Zoo Awards announced

The results of the first ever Giant Panda Zoo Awards were announced this week, with Edinburgh Zoo striking gold and double silver.

Panda fans and enthusiasts from all over the world have been voting across ten different panda categories for the unique Giant Panda Zoo Awards. Run by panda fan Jeroen Jacobs, the Giant Panda Zoo aims to spread the word about giant pandas in captivity, and to make a difference in panda conservation.

The awards saw Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), win a gold award for the 'Human Panda Personality'. Yang Guang (Sunshine) picked up a silver for 'Favourite Pandas Outside China', and the PR campaign for the first ever giant panda breeding season at Edinburgh Zoo also brought in a silver award.

Iain Valentine said: “For Edinburgh Zoo to have been nominated and shortlisted was alone a great privilege, but to have been voted for by panda fans across the world to win an award in all three categories is truly special.

“We’re delighted that our male, Yang Guang, is so popular with people in the UK and also internationally. With an outgoing character that actually seems to love an audience, the fact he has received this award after only being at Edinburgh Zoo for 12 months is very special.

“I was lucky enough to pick up the gold award for Human Panda Personality; a great privilege for me and the wider team that I’m part of at Edinburgh Zoo; it’s very encouraging to think that our profile and work with giant pandas is hopefully raising the awareness of global giant panda conservation.

“Not only a wonderful first for Edinburgh Zoo, the Giant Panda Zoo Awards are a fun and engaging concept from Jeroen whose website and newsletters act as a great platform to pull focus to and increase awareness of the important conservation work for these iconic animals.”

Click here for a full list of the winners.

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.