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Zoo animals enjoy summer treats to stay cool
“The animals here at ZSL London Zoo are very much enjoying the warm weather, thanks to their imaginative keepers."

Meerkats dig into heart-shaped ice cubes filled with treats 

Keepers at London Zoo have been coming up with imaginative ways to keep the animals cool, as temperatures in the UK reach record and prolonged highs.

The zoo’s troupe of meerkats have enjoyed pawing at heart-shaped ice cubes filled with frozen peas and sweetcorn, while a family of critically endangered western lowland gorillas tucked into frozen cucumbers in their Gorilla Kingdom.

Meanwhile, pygmy hippo Nikki munched on slices of refreshing watermelon and the two bearded pigs had a cooling shower before wallowing in their favourite muddy pool.

Head of primates Dan Simmonds commented: “The animals here at ZSL London Zoo are very much enjoying the warm weather, thanks to their imaginative keepers.
 
“All over the Zoo, we’ve been giving out frozen cooling treats – this morning the gorillas have had iced cucumbers and the meerkats have enjoyed a bit of ‘peabobbing’ – with their favourite peas frozen into ice cubes for them to enjoy.
 
“Nikki the pygmy hippo went for a morning swim in her moat and munched on a breakfast of watermelon slices, and the otters had fun diving for frozen crayfish in their pond.
 
“Elsewhere the Sumatran tigers have been swimming in their pool and the Asiatic lions have been dipping their toes in their moat whenever they’ve wanted to take a break from basking in the glorious sunshine.”

Image © ZSL London Zoo

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.