London Zoo Stock Take

Thousands of animals at London Zoo are being counted as zookeepers begin their annual stock-take.

17:27 05 January 2016

Animals at London Zoo are being counted every year with the information collected being shared with zoos around the world. The goal is to efficiently manage worldwide breeding programmes particularly for endangered animals.

 

Last year, there were 17,480 animals and 756 species.

 

2015 saw the arrival of new animals including the world’s first zoo-bred Lake Oku clawed frogs.

 

A spokesperson for the zoo said: "The 14 tadpoles were a real cause for celebration as these totally aquatic frogs, native only to Lake Oku, in Western Cameroon, Africa, are some of the most genetically unusual creatures in the world, having developed extra chromosomes throughout their evolution."

 

Other additions were Edward, the two-toed sloth, Gernot, a male western-lowland gorilla, and 11 African hunting puppies. However, the zoo lost Partula snails, which were re-introduced to their native Tahiti in 2015 to save the species from extinction.

 

All animals are counted individually except tiny insects like ants, which are counted in colonies.