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Safari Park’s Baby Boom Arrivals
The North West may be facing its first hosepipe ban for more than a decade, but the prolonged dry spell is suiting one group of Merseyside residents down to the ground.

As most of the animals at Knowsley Safari Park are ‘programmed’ for the warm climate of the African savannah, they’re making the most of the current conditions which are in sharp contrast to the wet and chilly British summers of recent years.

The dry conditions are also proving a more familiar environment for many of the new arrivals at Knowsley, born in recent weeks as part of the park’s annual baby boom season.

This year’s breeding successes have included the Pere David’s Deer herd, who have produced 18 fawns, closely followed by the axis deer with 12 youngsters. The Pere David’s in particular have proved to be a real Knowsley success story. Critically endangered in the wild, they are breeding in such numbers in Prescot that the park has been able to ‘export’ groups to other attractions.

Elsewhere at the attraction there are a dozen new baby meerkats, ten bison calves, eight red lechwe antelope calves and numerous baby baboons. Sharp-eyes visitors will also spot eland and blackbuck antelope calves and ankole cattle and forest buffalo youngsters. It’s also been a vintage year for camels, with four calves having been born, and for rhea.

This large flightless bird lays its eggs in a simple scrape on the ground. In typical British wet weather, the nests often become waterlogged, with the result that the eggs are abandoned by the mother.  However, in this year’s dry conditions seven chicks have hatched successfully and survived.

According to Safari Park bosses, more babies are on the way. There are a number of expectant mums amongst Knowsley’s nilgai antelope and fallow deer herds which are just coming into their main breeding season. And three of the park’s female white rhinos are also pregnant again, thanks to bull Bud who has proved so fertile that he was recently sent to another attraction on a breeding loan.

General Manager, David Ross, commented: “This is a very exciting time of the year with the patter of tiny - and not so tiny - feet all over the park. Looking round our paddocks it’s clear from the appearance and behavior of our animals that the current dry and warm conditions really suit them.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.