A six-week-old Californian Condor chick has been given its very first veterinary check up at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The chick, named Saticoy, was given a vaccination for the West Nile Virus and microchipped before a blood sample was taken for analysis to determine its gender. Interest in the chick's health is high because the critically endangered Californian Condor (adult pictured) numbers only 386 specimens and twenty thousand people watched the chick's birth online via Condor Cam on March 10th. Image - Gary Kramer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig is shortly due to receive a new tiger and a new polar bear. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) secured a young male tiger named Amur and a polar bear named Arktos from overseas zoos, and RZSS staff have high hopes that Amur will breed with a female tiger already at the Park. Arktos the polar bear is intended to provide company for the HWP's Walker (pictured), who is currently the only polar bear in a public zoo in the UK. Image - Andrew Milligan/PA

The Royal Agricultural Societies have made Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, an Associate of the RAS in recognition of her work in the fields of animal health, productivity and welfare in the farming sector. Dr Glossop, who has served as Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales since 2005, is highly regarded as a lecturer at both UK and overseas universities, veterinary schools and agricultural colleges. Image - fwi.co.uk

Edinburgh Zoo's famous penguin parade has been temporarily suspended for the next three months to permit maintenance work to the penguin enclosure. Many of the 160 birds will be transferred to other zoos in England, Denmark and Belfast while the work is in progress, and the Zoo plans to start a breeding program when the birds return to the refurbished quarters. Commenting, Bird Team Leader Colin Oulton said "Our penguins are all going to zoos with dedicated facilities and it goes without saying that they will be extremely well cared for." Image - Nigel Chadwick.

German shoppers can now buy packs of sausages decorated with pictures of the pigs that they were made from. The initiative, created by farmer Dennis Buchman (pictured), is designed to restore the link between consumption and knowledge of where the food comes from. Those who visit the website 'Meine Kleine Farm' will also be able to vote on which pig they wish to see slaughtered and turned into sausages. Herr Buchman also said that he would invite people to visit the pigs prior to slaughter. Image - meinekleinefarm.org

The Equine Veterinary Journal will shortly be publishing the collected papers of the late Professor Barrie Edwards CBE FRCVS. An internationally respected expert on colic and abdominal surgery who made an immense contribution to equine veterinary medicine, Professor Edward's death was keenly felt by the entire profession. Professor David Freeman stated in March's EVJ Journal that "Although much has been written and spoken about Barrie Edwards' impact on colic surgery in the horse, in truth, the greatest benefactors of his work are those that can only praise his efforts by silently enjoying the benefits of them. As veterinarians, we should regard that as the ultimate praise".