Counting the Animals Two by Two- Annual Stock Take at the Welsh Mountain Zoo

Counting the Animals Two by Two- Annual Stock Take at the Welsh Mountain Zoo

Zoo keepers at the Welsh Mountain Zoo and all around Britain and Ireland are starting the biggest job of the zoo calendar - counting each and every animal in their collection for the New Year stock take.

The hefty task is done every January as part of compliance with zoo legislation which requires zoos and aquariums to keep precise records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure.

Of course, keepers are fully aware of how many animals they have in their care, especially large mammals such as tigers, chimpanzees and sealions - but this annual ‘stock take’ provides a valuable record. And some of the smaller creatures like snails and frogs take some patience and plenty of double-checking!

The data is submitted to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the national professional body offering advice and guidance on all aspects of zoo management and animal welfare. The records are also available for scrutiny by local authorities who issue and renew the licenses for zoos and aquariums.

Many zoos' inventories will also be submitted to an international database called the International Species Information System (Isis), which gathers information about animals held in zoological institutions around the world.

BIAZA’s Director, Dr Miranda Stevenson, said: “The annual stock take is a big job so January is a busy time of year for many zoos across the UK. It’s important that zoo’s ensure their figures are correct so they can best manage conservation. Some of the species in captivity, such as Socorro doves, are now totally extinct in the wild. Therefore when zoos submit data to these central databases, it means that we can run detailed and scientifically-based breeding programmes to safeguard these valuable and threatened species.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY- Zoo keepers undertaking the census are available for photographs from Wednesday 7th January. Please contact Caroline Garvey on 01492 532938 (ext 8125) to arrange a suitable time.