London Zoo keepers make annual animal head count

It's hard to keep track of penguins, meerkats and tortoises. And even harder with fish, bugs or birds. So why would anyone want to count them? Staff at London Zoo braved the cold on Tuesday to start the annual stock take of the more than 750 different species currently living in the zoo.The director of the Zoological Society of London, David Field, explained that every zoo has to do it as part of their zoo license. But it is also important for conversation reasons.Because it is important to know not only how many animals we've got but also who we got, Field told Reuters. And when we've got all this information together, we'll transfer it to global animal data base called ISIS (International Species Information System) which is used to manage breeding programmes for really endangered species across the world's zoos. The freezing temperatures were all over the news bulletins in the UK - but of no concern to the London zoo. Zoo director Field says that some animals like the penguins aren't too worried about it. But some of the other species tend to stay in their nice warm huts. And that makes it easier for the count.I think the main problem will be the poor keepers trying to hold the pen with their frost-bitten fingers, he laughed. Keepers will also brave the cold to take stock of a number of new inhabitants, including the first lion cubs born at the Zoo in a decade, a new Komodo dragon and a critically endangered mangabey baby. For the first time ever, some of the Zoo's biggest and slowest residents 'shell' be included. The brand new 'Giants of the Galapagos' exhibit opened in July last year and is home to three giant Galapagos tortoises, who will have to be included in the count. Galapagos tortoise Dirk joined the zoo last year and, despite his advanced years, has been mating energetically with his two female companions, Dolly and Dolores, ever since. But the annual stock-take will unfortunately show that the zoo is still one infant tortoise short. But a nibble is always good for the soul - and against the cold.