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Zoo animals explore advent calendars
The meerkats foraged for tasty crickets in their advent calendar.

Meerkats, lions and squirrel monkeys kick off Christmas.

Animals at ZSL London Zoo are celebrating the countdown to Christmas with some special advent calendars.

Keepers gave the lions, meerkats and squirrel monkeys a unique festive treat on Thursday (30 November) in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations to come. 

Arya and Bhanu, the Asiatic lions, followed a scent trail of cinnamon and nutmeg to a giant five-foot lion-sized advent calendar filled with meat for them to discover.

The Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkey troop living at the zoo were given an exciting challenge, as zookeepers hung up advent pouches filled with breakfast for the animals.

Meerkats Meko, Penelope, Dracula and Frank didn't miss out on the fun, with a colourful advent calender full of cricket snacks provided for the curious creatures.

Dan Simmonds, zoological operations manager at ZSL, said: “It’s the season of giving and our keepers enjoyed sharing the Christmas spirit with the animals at London Zoo.

“Marking the first day of advent, our lions loved sniffing out meaty treats in their five-foot advent calendar, while the meerkats and squirrel monkeys foraged for their breakfast behind colourful doors and in hanging numbered bags.

“There may not be a chocolate in sight, but like children across the country, the animals couldn’t resist opening just one door!”  

 

Images (C) ZSL London Zoo

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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.

 

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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.