Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th January 2018
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

British bats ‘stable or recovering’
The report suggests that current legislation and conservation action is proving successful.
Report suggests conservation action is working

British bat populations are ‘stable or recovering’, according to new data published by the Bat Conservation Trust.

The State of the UK’s Bats 2017 report shows that of the 18 resident species, the majority are increasing in number or are stable. The Bat Conservation Trust said this suggests that current legislation and conservation action is proving successful.

However, it also warns that bat populations still face many pressures, including ongoing roost and habitat loss, increased urbanisation, artificial lighting and wind turbines.

Commenting on the report, Dr Kirsi Peck, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Biodiversity Support Officer, said: “The report published today indicates that the protection measures afforded to UK bats are working. The NBMP’s high-quality evidence on bat population trends is an important corner-stone to the advice we give to support decisions that affect the environment bats rely on.”

The State of the UK’s Bats 2017 report provides a summary of species population trends up to 2016 and looks at some of the results in more detail to highlight key findings and conservation issues. The data used in the report have been collected from more than 1000 people who count bats in a number of different surveys across the UK.

Besides providing insights on population trends, the data are used to better understand how bats use our landscape and to provide practical recommendations on how landscapes can be improved for bats.

Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) monitoring manager, said: “In the UK we are fortunate to have an amazing conservation volunteering culture and it is thanks to the dedication of our many volunteers that we are able to track how more than half of our native bat species are faring and make exciting new discoveries about these fascinating mammals.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.