Time to stand up and be counted

ZSL London Zoo Annual Stocktake

Monday 5 January 2015

PHOTOCALL NOTICE: It's time for the animals to stand up and be counted at ZSL London Zoo as keepers kick off the New Year with the mammoth task of the annual stocktake.

Responsible for the care of more than 750 different species, keepers face the formidable task of noting every mammal, bird, reptile, fish and invertebrate at the Zoo.

With 2014 proving to be a hugely successful year for the Zoo's international conservation breeding programmes, keepers have their work cut out totalling up the new additions.

The arrival of three cubs in February 2014 added vital numbers to the dwindling population of Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild; six critically-endangered Philippine crocodiles were the first of their kind to hatch in the UK in June and nine Humboldt penguin chicks were a cause for celebration at Penguin Beach.

With some animals proving harder to count than others, keepers resort to innovative methods such as photographing fish tanks, to make sure every individual is accounted for.

A requirement of ZSL London Zoo's license, the annual headcount takes keepers a week to complete and all of the information is added to the International Species Information System (ISIS), where it's used to manage the international breeding programmes for endangered animals.

Photographers, journalists and camera crews are invited to attend the annual stocktake at ZSL London Zoo.

Interviews will be available throughout the photocall with zookeepers and curators.

Any other requests will be accommodated after the photocall is completed.

Long lens may be required.

-ENDS-

Editors' Notes

Media Contact

For further information or to confirm attendance at the photocall, please contact Rebecca Blanchard.

E: Rebecca.blanchard@zsl.org

T: 0207 449 6236