Bristol Zoo stock-take starting

Keepers begin a count of animals at Bristol Zoo

A stock-take of animals is under way at Bristol Zoo, where keepers will count up more than 450 different species.

The task will help the zoo complete a headcount and chart conservation breeding programmes to safeguard the future of some animals.

The census is also carried out to stay in line with zoo regulations, which require records to be kept of every birth, death, arrival and departure.

As part of the count, thousands of tiny bugs must also be recorded.

Nigel Simpson, curator of birds, presided over the hatching of 11 African penguins.

The chicks, born in 2008, have boosted the zoo's penguin population to 71.

"Monitoring a growing penguin colony is important as we need to know who is who and, although the birds do have a unique spot pattern, they are not easily distinguished from one another.

"We get round this by fitting silicone bands on the penguins' flippers. Each band has a unique number so that we can easily identify and count our penguins."

Curator of invertebrates, Warren Spencer, has the hardest task in the zoo.

He oversees 67 different species from freshwater creatures to terrestrial and those from marine environments.

"We have thousands of invertebrates, some of which are impossible to count. The hardest to keep track of are the social insects such as our honeybees or leaf-cutting ants so we refer to them as one colony.

"Our new butterfly forest has also been a great success, with many species breeding very well - so the annual count has been a big job this year."

Zoos from London to Edinburgh all take part in the stock-take each January.