London Zoo Annual Stock Take Highlights Conservation Successes

London Zoo staff have embarked on their annual stock take, meticulously counting more than 10,000 animals across the zoo. This year’s tally revealed a delightful increase in their Humboldt penguin population, with 11 new arrivals boosting the total compared to last year. Armed with clipboards and calculators, zookeepers ventured into every enclosure this week to comply with the licensing requirement of documenting every mammal, bird, reptile, and invertebrate.

While daily checks are routine, the January stock take is a more formal process, providing an official record for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the charity overseeing the zoo. Thankfully, no surprise escapes were reported—the lions remained safely in their enclosure, and the gorilla troop’s numbers held steady, save for some joyful additions.

Among the year’s successes, 53 tiny and endangered Darwin’s frogs joined the zoo’s ranks, alongside three lion cubs and the less glamorous yet crucial arrival of adult UK-native medicinal leeches. The growing colony of 65 Humboldt penguins, including five new arrivals earmarked for the European breeding programme, stands as a testament to the zoo’s conservation efforts. These breeding pairs will play a vital role in protecting this vulnerable species.

ZSL highlighted another milestone—the birth of two critically endangered Western lowland gorillas, Juno and Venus. Born to mothers Mjukuu and Effie, the young gorillas have brought hope for global population numbers. During the stock take, keepers carefully documented the duo as they clung to their mothers’ backs, a heartwarming sight for all involved.

Counting some species proved less challenging than others. The three reticulated giraffes were easy to spot, but tallying the 690 golden orb weaver spiders required patience and precision. Similarly, the zoo’s thriving hive of honeybees presented a unique challenge—zookeepers sensibly counted the hive as one entity rather than attempting to track the busy movement of individual bees.

The week-long stock take not only fulfils a legal requirement but also offers a moment to reflect on the successes of the past year.

For more updates on conservation efforts and insights into London Zoo’s remarkable animal kingdom, visit EyeOnLondon.

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