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Giraffes enjoy Valentine’s Day enrichment
“Led by queen bee Ellish, the single ladies used their dextrous elongated tongues to tug the pretty petals off the heart-shaped wreath in a matter of moments."
Zoo keepers provide heart-shaped wreath of tasty flowers 

Giraffes at ZSL London Zoo are celebrating Valentine’s Day early with a special heart-shaped treat, provided by zoo keepers.

The trio of female giraffes - Ellish, Margaret and Mollie - tucked into a wreath made of juicy flowers, to mark the annual day of romance.

ZSL giraffe keeper Louise Jackobson said: “Like all girls, our giraffes love to receive a bunch of flowers, especially on Valentine’s Day – although their tasty blooms didn’t last very long!
 
“Led by queen bee Ellish, the single ladies used their dextrous elongated tongues to tug the pretty petals off the heart-shaped wreath in a matter of moments – just like when they tug vegetation and flowers off the very tops of trees to eat.”

The zoo offers lovebirds the chance to meet and feed the giraffes as part of a VIP experience package for two this Valentine’s Day. For more information see: zsl.org/meet-the-animals/zsl-london-zoo

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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.