The third Saddle Research Trust International Conference will take place on 8 December 2018 at the University of Nottingham, it has been confirmed.

Entitled "Horse, rider, saddlery interactions: Welfare & performance", the programme will focus on the latest research, from new techniques in equine pain recognition to rider posture and equine biomechanics.

For more details visit www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is supporting work in Mongolia to help improve understanding of the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul). The society is working with local communities to raise awareness and learn more about how people interact with the cats. The aim is to gather knowledge on the species and the threats it faces, to inform global conservation efforts.

Twycross Zoo has welcomed veterinary and conservation specialist Dr Matt Hartley as its new director of life sciences. Dr Hartley will oversee the zoo's animal, veterinary, research and conservation work. In his first few months, a key responsibility will be managing the opening of the state-of-the-art new chimpanzee habitat, which is set to open early in 2018.

Image (c) Twycross Zoo

Animal lovers across the UK are wearing whiskers for a day, to help raise money for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. 'Wear Your Whiskers', held on 27 October, is the charity's new fundraising initiative, which has seen people drawing on whiskers - and perhaps adding a nose or a pair of ears to complete their 'look'. Participants are asked to donate 2 to take part (or 1 if at school) to help Battersea care for unwanted dogs and cats. For a fundraising pack, visit battersea.org.uk/whiskers

Veterinary professionals are being urged to take part in the #vets4vultures online fundraising campaign. Vultures are persecuted throughout the world and numbers of some species have fallen by 99.9 per cent in recent years. Wildlife Vets International rescue and rehabilitate the birds of prey, as well as training local vets. However, the charity needs to raise 18,000 for its conservation plans to go ahead next year.

It has been selected for The Big Christmas Give Challenge, which goes live on 28 November. To help practices encourage clients to get involved, there is an online promotional pack containing resources for websites and social media platforms.

For more information emailinfo@wildlifevetsinternational

Italian fashion house Gucci has announced that it will no longer use animal fur in its designs. Gucci's president & CEO Marco Bizzarri made the announcement on Wednesday (October 11) at The London College of Fashion.

The move follows a long-standing relationship with The Humane Society of the United States and LAV - members of the international Fur Free alliance. Gucci's fur-free policy includes mink, coyote, raccoon dog, fox, rabbit, karakul and all other species bred or caught for fur.