One, zoo... three! Increase in species found at annual Norfolk and Suffolk zoo stocktake
Two zoo's in Norfolk and Suffolk have been counting their animals during lockdown.
Zoo keepers at Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive in Suffolk have been spending their lockdown three counting the animals at their parks as part of the annual stocktake.
The count takes place every year as part of licensing requirements, but also the keep an eye on conservation breeding programmes.
Around 114 species were recorded this time, that's almost 2,000 individual animals.
It included 150 cockroaches, 35 greater flamingos, and 17 red breasted geese.
It comes after a number of births and hatchings at the zoos over the last year, including 31 black cheeked lovebirds, four pallas cats, and two reticulated giraffe calves.
Gary Batters, Joint Managing Director at the Zoological Society of East Anglia which runs both the zoos, said: "Although all animal the animal species at the zoos are regularly counted and checked, this is not usually done all at once, so it's a busy time for the zoo's keepers to make sure they get it right.
"Some animals understandably are easier to count than others, such as the lions at Africa Alive, and others make it very tricky, such as Banham Zoo's Swainsons lorikeets who are very active, energetic and extremely loud!"
Covid and local outbreaks of Avian Influenza have caused a few problems this time, with usual strategies for counting having to be adapted.
Keepers used things like 'scatter feedings' to count the animals while they were enjoying their lunch.
The ZSEA says keepers have managed to keep the count accurate while adhering to social distancing and minimising contact.