For the first time in five years, a barn owl has set up home in the purpose-built tower at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The Barn Owl Tower was built in February 2010, but until now its only resident has been a field wood mouse.

As the Barn Owl Trust reports 2014 has been a fantastic year for barn owls, Heligan staff are hoping for another breeding pair in 2015. This year, just one chick hatched on the estate. Barn owl fans can view the tower's newest resident through Heligan's wildlife webcam, which has had nearly 140,000 views this year.

A disaster team has been deployed in Cabo Verde after a volcanic eruption has left animals and people desolate. Lava flows have destroyed two villages on the island in the central Atlantic Ocean. It is the first eruption for 20 years and has displaced 1,500 people, leaving their livestock in dire need.

The economy in Cabo Verde is largely based on agriculture but very little veterinary care is available. World Animal Protection's disaster team is aiming to help around 20,000 animals over the next two months by providing food and veterinary treatment.

Bat Conservation Trust volunteers from across the UK have spent over 42,000 evenings monitoring bat populations as part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme. The results of their study, published in Biological Conservation, reveal that ten species of bats show stable or increasing trends.

Dr Kate Barlow, lead author of the study, said: "We are delighted to be able to show that their [the volunteers] hard work and dedication allows us to produce a convincing and generally positive picture for the populations of some of our more widespread bat species. This is however only the start of recovery for some of these species and there is still a long way to go."

Image (C) Barracuda1983

ZSL London Zoo are celebrating their newest arrival - a Chinese giant salamander. Named Professor Wu, the salamander is the face of the Zoo's new conservation project, established to help prevent these unique giants from becoming extent in the wild.

The Zoo's reptile and amphibian team leader, Ben Tapley, said: "Chinese giant salamanders may not be everyone's idea of 'beautiful', but we think Professor Wu is more than capable of winning over our visitors."

Animal charity FOUR PAWS has launched a unique web tool that allows consumers to find out how leading outdoor clothing and equipment brands are performing in terms of animal welfare. Down is a valuable product in the outdoor clothing industry, with hundreds of tonnes being processed every year from millions of ducks and geese. However, it is very difficult for consumers to be confident that the products they buy have not come from animals that have been repeatedly live plucked.

Nina Jamal, farm animal expert at the charity, said: "Our long-term goal is that brands no longer use any down from birds that have endured these procedures. This is the only way these cruel practices can be removed from the whole production chain. This new tool aims to keep companies focused on continually improving their standards of animal welfare. Consumers will get a good idea of which brands have begun to really work towards ethical down production."

English bulldog registrations across the US have increased by 323 per cent in a decade. However alongside their rising popularity, increasing numbers of the breed are being given up to rescue shelters, according to a recent report in the New York Post. Last year, nearly 300 were given up to rescue centres in the city. The high number of abandonments is believed to be due in part to the health problems and training difficulties associated with the breed.

Certified American Kennel Club breeders are unable to meet the demand for bulldog puppies, meaning people are opting for other breeders, often puppy farmers who breed their dogs indiscriminately for profit. This is leading to rising numbers of health problems and many owners are unwilling or unable to pay for treatment.