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Birdworld keepers prepare for a day in the life of a parrot
parrot
Keepers will be spending the day in the Parrots in Flight aviary.
Keepers will get into character tomorrow, spending their day in the parrot aviary

Keepers at Birdworld in Surrey are preparing to step into the life of their resident parrots tomorrow, getting into character by abandoning their uniforms and donning parrots' plumage colours. 
 
Keepers Suzy Smithson and Lenka Panackova will be attempting to spend the day, from 9am until 6pm, in the Parrots in Flight aviary, interacting with the birds, and chatting to the public.
 
They will not be given anything to eat or drink all day, except for what the parrots would receive, and they will have no bathroom breaks.
 
Accustomed to seeing keepers in Birdworlds’ dark green uniform, these brightly coloured strangers will no doubt cause excitement among the birds. 
 
Suzy said: “The true challenge for us will be coping with the inquisitive birds…we will be inspected, pecked, hopped on and have our laces attacked throughout the day.”
 
The event aims to raise money and awareness of threatened species in the wild. Sponsorship will go towards the rescue of penguins in the wild, the reintroduction of the great bustard to Britain and local charities such as butterfly conservation and habitat protection.
 
To support Suzy and Lenka in this challenge, either by attending or by making a donation, or for more information about the event click here.
 

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.