Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo have wrapped up their annual animal stocktake, braving sub-zero temperatures to count every single resident, from towering gorillas to minuscule ants. The mammoth task, a mandatory licensing requirement, took place on Tuesday 6th January 2026, as the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) marks its landmark 200th year as a charity.
A Chilly Day for a Crucial Census
With snow falling on the capital and temperatures plunging to -4°C, dedicated staff began their count at 7am, clipboards and calculators in hand. The process, which was completed within the day, involves tallying every mammal, bird, reptile, and invertebrate across the zoo's collection of more than 8,000 animals.
Dan Simmonds, head keeper at the zoo, emphasised the day's dual importance. "We've been counting animals at London Zoo for 200 years. It's a really important day [and] it's also a great day for visitors to be able to watch as well," he said. The final figures are registered on an international database shared with conservation zoos worldwide, informing crucial breeding programmes.
Conservation Success Stories Highlighted
This year's count revealed several significant wins for endangered species. Zookeepers recorded 75 Humboldt penguins, including 16 chicks hatched in 2025. This is a boost for the vulnerable species, native to Chile and Peru, whose wild numbers are in decline.
In a major milestone, eight Socorro dove chicks hatched in 2025 were added to the tally, marking a key step in bringing this bird back from the brink of extinction. Furthermore, the population of critically endangered Darwin's frogs increased by eight last year. These frogs are an EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) species, and their successful breeding is part of an international project to save them from a devastating chytrid fungus.
From Lions to Leafcutters: A Zoo-Wide Effort
The stocktake is a meticulous operation covering creatures of all sizes. Keepers were pictured counting a diverse array of animals, including:
- Asiatic lions, of which there are only several hundred left in the wild.
- Capybaras, the zoo's newest exhibit, who enjoyed their heated shelter while keepers worked in the cold.
- Seychelles millipedes and corals.
- The iconic giant silverback gorillas.
- Tiny leafcutter ants, representing the vast world of invertebrates.
Despite the freezing conditions, the annual ritual proceeded smoothly, underscoring the daily dedication required to manage one of the world's most famous zoos and contribute to global wildlife preservation.
