KEEPERS at Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay have finalised their annual stock take, which involves counting each and every animal in their care as part of a nationwide task.
All zoos carry out the task in January as part of compliance with legislation which requires zoos and aquariums to keep precise records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure.
Stephen Perry, Head Keeper at Welsh Mountain Zoo, said: “This is a huge task but a necessary one that we all gear up to in January.
"We have around 1500 animals, including fish and inverts, 100 species at the Zoo, in over 60 enclosures.
“Recording all of the animals, some of whom can be a little quiet and prefer to hide away, can be somewhat of a challenge.”
The data is submitted to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the national professional body offering advice and guidance on all aspects of zoo management and animal welfare.
The records are also available for scrutiny by local authorities who issue and renew the licenses for zoos and aquariums.
Many zoos' inventories will also be submitted to an international database called Species360, which gathers information about animals held in zoological institutions around the world.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo opened in 1963 and was recognised as the National Zoo of Wales in 2008.
In the trusteeship of the National Zoological Society of Wales, it is making an increasingly important contribution to the conservation work of zoos nationally and world-wide.
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