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Birdworld keepers prepare for a day in the life of a parrot
parrot
Keepers will be spending the day in the Parrots in Flight aviary.
Keepers will get into character tomorrow, spending their day in the parrot aviary

Keepers at Birdworld in Surrey are preparing to step into the life of their resident parrots tomorrow, getting into character by abandoning their uniforms and donning parrots' plumage colours. 
 
Keepers Suzy Smithson and Lenka Panackova will be attempting to spend the day, from 9am until 6pm, in the Parrots in Flight aviary, interacting with the birds, and chatting to the public.
 
They will not be given anything to eat or drink all day, except for what the parrots would receive, and they will have no bathroom breaks.
 
Accustomed to seeing keepers in Birdworlds’ dark green uniform, these brightly coloured strangers will no doubt cause excitement among the birds. 
 
Suzy said: “The true challenge for us will be coping with the inquisitive birds…we will be inspected, pecked, hopped on and have our laces attacked throughout the day.”
 
The event aims to raise money and awareness of threatened species in the wild. Sponsorship will go towards the rescue of penguins in the wild, the reintroduction of the great bustard to Britain and local charities such as butterfly conservation and habitat protection.
 
To support Suzy and Lenka in this challenge, either by attending or by making a donation, or for more information about the event click here.
 

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.