London and Chester Zoo’s Annual Animal Stock Take

Kumbuka, a male silverback gorilla sits next to the keeper’s chalk board in his enclosure at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. Home to more than 850 different species, zoo keepers welcomed in the New Year armed with clipboards as they made a note of every single animal. The compulsory annual count is required as part of ZSL London Zoo’s zoo license, and every creature, from the tiny leaf cutter ants to the huge silverback gorilla is duly noted and accounted for. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

Lucy Edwards lead keeper of Chester Zoo staff, counts the meerkats during an annual stocktake at Chester Zoo, Chester, on January 2, 2013. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Andrea Swatman lead keeper of Chester Zoo aquarium staff, counts turtles during an annual stocktake at Chester Zoo, on January 2, 2013. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

A penguin pecks a keeper’s clipboard during a stock take at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

A keeper records the number of penguins during ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on January 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

A keeper records a Jungle Nymph stick insect during ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on January 2, 2014 in London, England. The zoo’s annual stocktake requires keepers to check on the numbers of every one of the 800 different animals species held, including every invertebrate, bird, fish, mammal, reptile, and amphibian. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

A penguin looks at a keeper’s clipboard during a stocktake at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

A Penguins during ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on January 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

A keeper holds Elton, a spectacled owl, during ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on January 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

A Meercat inspects an abacus as a keeper counts them during a stocktake at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

Lucy Edwards lead keeper of Chester Zoo staff, counts the sloth during an annual stocktake at Chester Zoo, Chester, on January 2, 2013. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

A Meerkat inspects a clipboard as a keeper counts them during a stocktake at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

Lucy Edwards lead keeper of Chester Zoo staff, counts the red pandas during an annual stocktake at Chester Zoo, Chester, on January 2, 2013. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

A keeper records the number of meerkats during ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on January 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)