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Zoo marks 100th anniversary of extinct bird
painting of a wood pigeon
A large surge in deforestation and hunting saw passenger pigeons quickly driven towards extinction.
ZSL London commemorates 100 years since the death of the last passenger pigeon

ZSL London Zoo will today observe 100 years since the death of the world's last passenger pigeon.

The pigeon, named Martha, passed away in Cincinnati Zoo in 1914 and her species became extinct.  At 12pm today, the exact hour at which she died, bird keepers will stop time on the zoo's iconic clock tower, outside of its Victorian bird house.  

The passenger pigeon was in abundence throughout the 19th Century. Flocks of more than 100 million birds would regularly flood the sky. However, in just a few decades, a large surge in deforestation and hunting saw them quickly driven towards extinction, with Martha being the last survivor.

Ultimately caused by humans, the passenger pigeon's demise is one of the fastest and most dramatic extinctions ever seen.

Ken Norris, director of science at London Zoo, said: "The 100th anniversary of Martha's death is not only a chance to remember her species, but to draw attention to the plight of countless other species who continue to face extinction because of our actions.

"At ZSL we are working on dozens of conservation and research projects around the world to help prevent future extinctions, but as the example of the passenger pigeon demonstrated, we need to act as quickly as we can before there are many more Marthas."

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com