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In Pictures: Chalk another one up: London Zoo launches animal audit

The yearly stocktake takes keepers almost a week.
The yearly stocktake takes keepers almost a week. The yearly stocktake takes keepers almost a week.

Keepers at ZSL London Zoo had their clipboards, calculators and cameras at the ready for the annual stocktake of every mammal, bird, reptile, fish and invertebrate at the attraction.

With more than 500 species to account for, the audit takes almost a week to complete and the information is shared with zoos around the world to help manage worldwide conservation breeding programmes.

Zookeeper Martin Franklin counts Humboldt penguins
Zookeeper Martin Franklin counts Humboldt penguins Zookeeper Martin Franklin counts Humboldt penguins (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Zookeeper Mick Tiley counts Bactrian Camels Noemie (left) and Ghengis
Zookeeper Mick Tiley counts Bactrian Camels Noemie (left) and Ghengis Zookeeper Mick Tiley counts Bactrian camels Noemie and Ghengis (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Rowan Swainson counts Squirrel monkeys
Rowan Swainson counts Squirrel monkeys Rowan Swainson counts squirrel monkeys (Dominic Lipimski/PA)
Owlberta the Tawny Owl peers round a zookeeper’s clipboard
Owlberta the Tawny Owl peers round a zookeeper’s clipboard Owlberta the tawny owl peers around a zookeeper’s clipboard (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
ZSL London Zoo annual stocktake
ZSL London Zoo annual stocktake The penguins are often a moving target (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Veronica Heldt counts pygmy goats
Veronica Heldt counts pygmy goats Veronica Heldt counts pygmy goats (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
A zookeeper holds a Mexican Red Kneed Spi
A zookeeper holds a Mexican Red Kneed Spi A zookeeper holds a Mexican red-kneed spider (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
A zookeeper holds an African Giant Land Snail
A zookeeper holds an African Giant Land Snail A zookeeper holds an African giant land snail (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Asiatic Lion Bhanu walks past a blackboard during the stock-take
Asiatic Lion Bhanu walks past a blackboard during the stock-take Asiatic lion Bhanu walks past a blackboard during the stocktake (Dominic Lipinski/PA)