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Easter treat for cheetah cubs
Image: Cheetah
Zoo's six cheetah cubs given 'easter eggs'

The cheetahs and meerkats at Whipsnade Zoo are in for a special treat today - early easter eggs!

The zoo's cheeky cheetah cubs will be having their very own easter egg hunt today, as painted "easter eggs" filled with meaty treats have been hidden in their enclosure.

This forms part of the sextuplets enrichment activities, aimed at stimulating their natural curiosity by making them work for the tasty food.

"As it's their first easter we wanted to do something special for the cheetah cubs," says Mark Holden, head of the Africa section.

"All six of them are really inquisitive by nature and love investigating new things; their specially made eggs will spark their curiosity and playful natures as they work out how to reach their food."

10 months old, the cubs are only the second litter of Northern cheetahs to be born in Whipsnade Zoo. The first, which were born to the same mother, named Dubai, were the first litter of Northern cheetahs to ever be born in the UK.

The zoo's meerkats will also be enjoying a special treat today, having been given colourful eggs to roll around their sandy terrain.

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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.