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Knut the Polar Bear
Unlike wild polar bears, Knut was born and bred in captivity. In fact, Knut was the first polar bear in thirty years to be born in the German zoo and survive past infancy. 
PETA is calling for Knut the Polar Bear to be castrated. 

Knut the polar bear became a world wide hit after his birth in 2006. Sadly, he was rejected and abandoned at birth by his mother and so it was left to the zookeepers to raise him. Bottle fed and taught to play football by workers at the zoo, Knut became increasingly popular with the public and was soon loved by millions.

However, now animal right campaigners are calling for Knut to be castrated. Knut has been sharing a compound with a three-year-old female polar bear from Munich Zoo and papers have speculated that the zoo may be hoping to mate the two animals. The German branch of PETA, however, have stated that because the bears share the same Grandfather mating the two would be incestuous. They assert that they should only be allowed to live together if Knut is castrated.

The German Zoo officials believe there is no need for castration and suggest they will not be breeding the pair. 

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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.