London Zoo is currently engaged in its annual weigh-in day, a crucial process for monitoring the health of its diverse animal residents. From Humboldt penguins and camels to lion cubs and invertebrates, every creature will be carefully coaxed onto scales with strategically placed food to ensure accurate measurements.
The collected data is entered into the Zoological Information Management System, a global database that allows zoos worldwide to compare information on endangered species.
Angela Ryan, head of zoological operations at London Zoo, explained that this weigh-in, which started on Monday and may take up to a week, is essential for collecting data to aid in the conservation of wildlife. Despite the zoo’s impressive roster of over 14,000 animals, Ms. Ryan noted that keepers will focus on measuring and recording the weight of approximately 400 animals during this period.
