The keepers of London Zoo have been busy weighing and measuring all their charges as part of the yearly weigh in.
Everything from the zoo’s massive silverback gorilla, pint sized snails and rare baby crocodiles are being weighed and measured as part of the annual weigh in.
As well as being one of the key indicators of the animals health the checks also have an exciting second purpose. They may reveal if some of the zoo’s endangered animals are pregnant.
Hours of each keepers year is spent noting down information on their charges. It is these weigh ins that require them to get the most creative though. The tortoises need to be tempted onto the scales and the birds need to be trained to stand on a specially designed perch.
Keepers will share the information by other zoos by placing into the Zoological information management system. This database is shared worldwide and allows comparisons between each zoos endangered species.
Check out a video on the weigh in’s below.
Photo credits: London Zoo
