London Zoo is conducting its annual census of every mammal, bird, reptile and invertebrate
London Zoo has embarked on its annual animal census, a comprehensive count of over 10,000 creatures ranging from alpacas to zebras, including birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and more. This yearly inventory, mandated by the zoo’s licensing requirements, plays a crucial role in global efforts to manage breeding programs for endangered species.
The data collected is shared with zoos worldwide, enabling a detailed understanding of genetic lineages to ensure responsible breeding. “We can track the genetic pathways of every individual, from their grandparents to whether they are overrepresented or underrepresented in the population,” explained Glynn Hennessy, the zoo’s lead primate keeper.
The past year has been particularly eventful for the zoo. Highlights include the births of two baby gorillas, Juno and Venus, and three Asiatic lion cubs named Mali, Syanii, and Shanti. Fans of aquatic birds were delighted by the arrival of 11 penguin chicks, while amphibian enthusiasts can marvel at 53 newly arrived Darwin’s frogs from Chile, part of a conservation effort to protect the species from a deadly fungus.
While counting larger mammals is straightforward, tallying the zoo’s vast array of invertebrates poses a unique challenge. The task is made slightly easier with collective counts, such as a thriving honeybee hive, which is tallied as a single entity.
The census underscores the zoo’s commitment to conservation and collaboration, ensuring its diverse inhabitants contribute to global biodiversity efforts.