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Lombok earthquakes leave thousands of animals stranded
FOUR PAWS is working with local vets on Gili Trawangan island, to provide treatment to around 100 community cats.

Disaster relief team providing food and vet care 

A team of disaster relief experts from the charity FOUR PAWS has arrived in the Gili Islands, to help thousands of animals in the wake of devastating earthquakes.

The team has been on site helping to provide food and veterinary care to animals on the islands since the second aftershock on Sunday (19 August). Around 400 people have been killed and 350,000 displaced as a result of the crisis.

On Gili Air island, there are currently more than 100 horses running loose, posing a danger to themselves and people still living there. FOUR PAWS is currently trying to provide veterinary care and secure the scared, dehydrated and injured animals.

As motorised vehicles are not allowed on the island, the community is entirely dependent on horses for transportation.

FOUR PAWS is also working with local vets on Gili Trawangan island, to provide treatment to around 100 community cats.

The charity has organised the provision of more than three tonnes of horse food and five tonnes of cat and dog food, which will help to support the animals and their owners for the next two to three weeks.

Jackson Zee, FOUR PAWS director of disaster relief, explains: “My team was on the island during the second 6.9 aftershock and it was fearful to feel the ground shaking and see buildings collapsing.

“Still, we can only imagine how the people here feel with no homes to return to. By providing help for their animals we want to give them some time to take care of their families and slowly rebuild their lives.”

To donate to the relief effort, visit: Click here

 

Image © FOUR PAWS/Ardiles Rante 
 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.