The RSPB is calling on the public to help provide new homes for swifts, as figures show the birds' numbers have fallen to less than half what they were 20 years ago.

Swifts arrive in the UK late April-May and can spend up to three months in the country. The RSPB attributes the birds' decline to modern buildings, which lack the nooks and crannies they need to build nests.

While some house builders have agreed to integrate swift homes into new buildings, the RSPB believes more can be done to help this incredible bird. 'Just, 1,000 additional new nest boxes could make a difference', the charity said.

A rare Malayan sun bear that was rescued from the illegal pet trade has been matched with a female bear, as part of a breeding programme at Edinburgh Zoo.

Rotana was found in a tiny cage in a Cambodian home, shortly before being rehomed with the zoo. He has been paired with Babu, a four-year-old female from the Czech Republic. They took their first steps outdoors together last week.

Alison MacLean, team leader for carnivores at the zoo, said: "It is wonderful to see Rotana and Babu getting on so well. Sun bear numbers are rapidly declining in the wild due to deforestation and poaching, so our new couple have an important role to play in the European conservation breeding programme."

People across the UK are being urged to nominate a standout animal champion for the 2019 RSPCA Honours Awards.

The awards recognise those who have worked tirelessly to improve animal welfare, campaigned on behalf of animals, or shown true bravery. Previous winners include comedian John Bishop, who was awarded Celebrity Animal Champion of the Year, and 11-year-old Lobby Cantwell, who raised more than 1,000 for the charity through mountain climbs and bike rides.

To submit a nomination or find out more about the awards visit the RSPCA website. Nominations will remain open until 4 pm on Friday, March 15.

In Tanzania, donkeys are critical to the communities who rely on the animal's strength to pull carts of bricks, stone and sand. However, constant rubbing of heavy weights on a donkey's back frequently causes deep, open wounds that often fail to heal.

So-called 'doughnut' bandages can be secured to the wooden yoke that sits along the donkey's back, providing padding and allowing the donkeys to work pain-free. Sadly, owners often lack the skills and finance to provide this protection.

Worldwide Veterinary Services have launched a campaign to provide donkeys in Tanzania with doughnut bandages in order to provide them with a pain-free life.

To find out how you can help, plese visit their website: http://wvs.org.uk/news/doughnuts-for-donkeys-wvs-launches-christmas-campaign

A report by RSPB Cymru and partnering ornithology organisations has revealed that a third of bird species in Wales are in significant decline.

90 per cent of Wales is farmed and there is now pressure to implement new land management policies that will aid in nature restoration.

Patrick Lindley, Maritime Ornithologist for Natural Resources Wales, commented: "The problems that confront UK birds, whether they are breeding or non-breeding, are pressure and threats that confront entire ecosystems.

"Birds are a great indicator to the health of our environment. The continued population declines of birds of farmed, woodland and upland habitats suggest there are large geographic themes that are having a detrimental impact."

A newly launched survey is hoping to shed light on employee engagement and satisfaction in equine practice. Researchers from Edinburgh University and Utrecht University in the Netherlands want to find out what makes staff feel proud to be a part of their team, at what point they get disillusioned and what constitutes a healthy work-life balance.

The survey will be seeking information on those practising in the UK, US and the Netherlands. To take part, visit: edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk