London Zoo Animal's Weigh-In To Stay Healthy

London Zoo Animal’s Weigh-In To Stay Healthy

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 26, 2021 11:59 pm

The Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkey troop were all keen to get weighed at ZSL London Zoo

Photo Credit: ZSL London Zoo

The animals at ZSL London Zoo have had their annual weigh-in. Penguins, squirrel monkeys and Galápagos giant tortoises have all stepped on the scales to have their vital statistics recorded.

The Galápagos giant tortoise family made up of Dolly, Polly and Priscilla all had their shells measured before they make the move to their new home in the Giants of the Galápagos habitat which will be unveiled on Saturday October 9th.

Elsewhere in the zoo the corals in the new Tiny Giants habitat were measured for the first time.

Carl the Humboldt penguin weighed in at 5.6kg (12.3lbs) when he stepped on the scales for keeper, Jessica Courtney Jones

Photo Credit: ZSL London Zoo

More than 20,000 animals call ZSL London Zoo in the United Kingdom home and all needed to be weighed. Keepers spent hours precisely recording their heights and weights, data which will be used to measure their health and wellbeing.

While this is collected regularly throughout the year this annual event is used to ensure that all the information is up to date and accurate before it is added to the Zoological Information System (ZIMS).

ZIMS is a global database shared with zoos around the world allowing them to compare their data for thousands of endangered species.

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ZSL London Zoo’s Animal Manager Angela Ryan says: “We have to know the vital statistics of every animal at the Zoo – from the tallest giraffe to the tiniest ant.”

“It helps to ensure that every animal we look after is healthy, eating well, and growing at the rate they should – weight is a particularly important indicator of health and wellbeing.”

“By sharing information with other zoos and conservationists worldwide, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we’re striving to protect,” finished Anglea.

Owlberta the tawny owl is weighed by Hattie Sire at ZSL London Zoo. She weighed in at 509kg.

Photo Credit: ZSL London Zoo

The information is not only important for health and wellbeing but can indicate an important moment in the future as Angela explained, “A growing waistline can also help us to detect and monitor pregnancies, which is so important as many of the species at ZSL London Zoo are threatened and part of international breeding programmes, including today’s Asiatic lions and big-headed turtles.”

Keepers use a range of ingenious tactics to ensure their charges step on the scales with the penguins simply walking across it as they line up for their morning feed while the squirrel monkey’s are coaxed on their through fun training activities.