Zoo staff begin major headcount

There are 600 species in London Zoo In pictures: Zoo census

Every one of London Zoo's 600 different species is being counted as part of the attraction's annual stock take.

From giraffes to stick insects, zoo keepers will leave no stone unturned in their task.

The headcount will reveal the full extent of the zoo's growth during 2006, right down to the very last Madagascan Teal duckling.

An enclosure for gorillas and an area for the endangered golden lion tamarin monkeys will open later this year.

Six baby otters, five baby penguins and a pack of African wild hunting dogs have been added to the zoo's collection.

In its last count in 2005 the zoo had 5,674 animals, 7,000 invertebrates and an additional 583 invertebrate colonies.

The annual counting is necessary for it to retain its license.