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£4.6m funding to tackle illegal wildlife trade
Fauna & Flora International will aim to reduce demand for
marine turtle products in Nicaragua. (Stock photo)

UK government pledges support for 14 projects 

Fourteen new projects to tackle the illegal wildlife trade are set to go ahead, after the UK government pledged £4.6 million in funding.

The chosen schemes include reducing demand for marine turtle products in Nicaragua, which is being carried out by Fauna & Flora International; and a ZSL project to disrupt the illegal trade in grey parrots in Cameroon.

A project by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust will aim to crack wildlife smuggling in Madagascar, while WCS will work to strengthen anti-poaching techniques and counter wildlife trafficking in Uganda.

The government also supplied £40,000 to create new online education packs for children around the world, to teach the next generation about the risks of fuelling the illegal wildlife trade. The resources are available from WWF-UK and Tail2Tail.

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey commented: “The illegal wildlife trade is an international tragedy. This serious organised criminal networks do more than just damage wildlife - corruption and illegal activities undermine sustainable development and the rule of law, bringing misery to local communities.

“The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund is backing projects that will tackle the criminals at source and in countries that are destinations for items made from illegally traded plants and animals.”

Defra has invested a total of £23 million in the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, with support from the Department for International Development (DFID). Extra UK aid worth £6 million was pledged by DFID last year.

Each of the 14 selected projects will receive a share of the £4.6 million and further rounds for funding applications will be opened shortly.

Harriett Baldwin, minister of state for international development, said: “UK aid will be giving life to projects whose aim is to protect these species and secure the futures for people living alongside wildlife.

"This is a win for those communities and a win for animal lovers across the world. None of us want to see these majestic animals dying out.”

 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.