Tails are twitching, wings are flapping and keepers are counting.
Drusillas Park in East Sussex, is busy with its annual animal stocktake, recording more than 800 mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and fish.
The event is part of a nationwide zoo census to meet licensing requirements.
While stocktaking is simple for larger animals, smaller and more active residents pose a greater challenge.
Mark Kenward, zoo manager, said: "Counting some of our animals is straightforward - we can easily keep track of larger species like camels, lynx and flamingos.
"But then there are the trickier ones. Try counting a flock of lovebirds that never sit still, and you’ll soon throw your hands up in defeat.
"And don’t even get me started on our invertebrates in the education department. Take our black beauty stick insects: they’re constantly laying eggs, and before you know it, we’ve got a full-blown population boom overnight."
The stocktake also supports conservation.
Records are submitted to a central database and shared with organisations such as the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).
Gemma Romanis, head keeper, is leading the count this year.
Read more:
- Inside city's unique animal rescue centre home to hundreds of creatures
- Christmas jumper fun takes over the zoo as animals join playful seasonal shoot
- Mystery as 'ghostlike' animal washes up on beach, leaving experts baffled
She said: "Looking after the animals every day means we always know how many of them there are, but the annual stocktake is a chance for us to ensure our records are spot on.
"There’s an awful lot to do and it can be very time consuming, but I really enjoy doing it."
The past year has seen 22 new arrivals at Drusillas, including 17 births.
Among the newborns is Boots, the park’s first-ever binturong, born in August to parents Niffler and Dora.
Other arrivals include a trio of pygmy marmosets, a colobus monkey named Enzo and dwarf mongoose twins Iceman and Cougar.
Scarlet Ibis chicks, seven in total, also hatched during the year.
The park also welcomed a group of five Colombian black spider monkeys from Twycross Zoo in October.
The group includes dad Mo, mum Jamundi, their children Ernie and Dilly, and Mo’s new mate Moa.
They now live in a purpose-built habitat designed to replicate their native rainforest environment.
Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am.
Share