The annual stocktake took place this week to tally up every creature at London Zoo.

The Regent's Park attraction is home to more than 300 different species - from endangered Galapagos giant tortoises and Asiatic lions, to critically endangered Sumatran tigers - all of which have to be logged as part of the Zoo’s annual license requirement.

Information gleaned from the count is shared with zoos around the world via a database called Species360, and is used to help manage worldwide conservation breeding programmes for endangered animals.

Ham & High: Jessica Fryer counts the Humboldt penguins at London ZooJessica Fryer counts the Humboldt penguins at London Zoo (Image: ZSL/D Lipinski)

During the count, boisterous Sumatran tiger cubs Crispin and Zac turned the ‘register’ in their enclosure into a toy, dragging it away to gnaw on.

The colony of 74 Humboldt penguins patiently lined up to be counted by zookeeper Jessica Fryer, and Chapman’s zebras, Kabibi, Kianga and Spot were ticked off by zookeeper Becca Keefe.

Meanwhile Kim Carter tallied up giant tortoises Priscilla, Polly and Dolly, and Sam Aberdeen made sure the zoo’s population of endangered Seychelles giant millipedes were all accounted for.

Ham & High: A Sumatran tiger cub takes an interest in the annual stock take sign at London ZooA Sumatran tiger cub takes an interest in the annual stock take sign at London Zoo (Image: ZSL/D Lipinski)

Births at the Zoo in 2023 included Marilyn the two-toed sloth having a young female in the Rainforest Life habitat, while 17 chicks hatched in the tropical birdhouse in August, including six Socorro dove chicks, which represent a huge boost to the numbers of a species that is extinct in the wild.

As well as running London Zoo, ZSL is a conservation charity working to protect and restore wildlife around the world. Providing a home to species which are extinct in the wild, including tropical tree snails and rare doves, it also contributes to the conservation of hundreds of threatened species through veterinary research and breeding programmes.

Plans for 2024 include opening a brand new reptile and amphibian attraction. The Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians will immerse visitors in the mysterious world of frogs, toads, newts including 13 critically endangered mountain chicken frogs, and one critically endangered Philippine crocodile.