Zookeepers check every animal in annual weigh-in

A recent weigh-in has been carried out at Zoological Society London (ZSL) London Zoo. Armed with scales and tape measures, the zookeepers must measure and record every animal at the zoo.

ZSL London Zoo currently has over 19,000 animals and each animal must have all its vital statistics recorded, such as weight, length and height, every year. The Zoo’s keepers spend hours each year ensuring that they have recorded every animal’s measurements so that they may keep a close eye on the animals’ health and wellbeing.

Every animal must have their measurements recorded, whether it be a fully grown adult tiger, a penguin or Galapagos tortoise. Even the snakes and insects must be checked.  

Checking all the animals allows the zookeepers to make sure they are healthy and to highlight any illnesses or problems.

Every measurement collected is then recorded into the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), where they can be shared with other zoos across the world.

Zoologists can then use this information to compare thousands of endangered species across the world. As ZSL London Zoo houses a number of rare and endangered species, these measurements are very important for more than just the zookeepers.