Taking stock at the zoo

The alpaca are among 650 species at the zoo

Animals from the alpaca to the zebra are being counted up and marked down during an unusual annual stock take.

Recent births and deaths among the 650 species housed at London Zoo in Regent's Park, central London, will be registered over the next few days.

New to the zoo last year were two penguins, twin Geoffrey's Marmosets and a golden-headed lion tamarin - a small south American monkey.

An aricari was also the first of the toucan-like birds to be born in captivity in the UK.

Spokesman Natalie Golden said: "It is not because we are worried a tiger is missing, the stock-taking is a traditional activity.

"All births and deaths are monitored throughout the year as part of an ongoing breeding programme.

"The zoo has to have a purpose, the animals are not just nice to look at, they are there to benefit the species."