Staff at Newquay Zoo take on their biggest job of the year - counting all the animals

It really is a case of 'All Creatures Great and Small'.

Staff at Newquay Zoo have been taking on their biggest job of the zoo calendar – counting every animal in their collection.

There are quite a few new animals to include for 2019, like Lien, an endangered Owston’s civet, Belle, a critically endangered Philippine spotted deer, seven new youngsters in the penguin pool, and Nofy a cute and mischievous crowned lemur.

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Zoo experts keep detailed records of animal births, deaths, arrivals and departures through the year. In addition, the annual headcount is completed each January as a requirement of zoo licensing.

Newquay Zoo's head keeper says the stock check can be quite difficult at times.

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The Cornish zoo uses a computer system called ZIMS – the Zoological Information Management System - which brings together collection information, studbook data and veterinary records.

It can then be used by organisations such as the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help manage conservation projects and breeding programmes.

Keepers say they hope to be as busy as ever with animal births in 2020 - with new arrivals to look forward to in next year's count.