MOST of us don't associate the words “fun” and “fascinating” with the job of stock checking.

Counting sounds boring, repetitive.

But Colchester Zoo bucks the trend, with zookeepers undertaking the mammoth annual task of counting all of its resident animals.

The 2023 “stock take” – a requirement of the Zoo license – means every creature, great and small, must be accounted for.

Each section of the zoo counts all the animals they care for and then submits the numbers to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as a central database. 

What might look like an easy task can become trickier when it comes to smaller animals. 

Gazette:

Some residents are submitted as a colony rather than individual numbers to make it easier and assure not to double-count any animal for example in a flock of birds or in a fish tank. 

The numbers are in from 2023’s count and reveal the total number of species at the zoo including 66 mammals, 16 birds, 24 reptiles, six amphibians, 40 fish and five invertebrates. 

These 157 species include critically endangered species registered by the International Union for the Conversation of Nature, such as Amur Leopards, Black and White Lemurs and Bornean Orangutans. 

Gazette: Newborn - Humboldt penguins

In a statement, Colchester Zoo said: “Within this number, we have also welcomed new species, recorded new births and said a sad goodbye to some old friends. 

“At the beginning of 2023, we started our historical year on a high with the birth of a female Southern White Rhino calf to mum Astrid. 

“The calf’s name, Dara, was announced by their Majesties the King and Queen on a visit to Colchester and she has since become a firm favourite with our visitors. 

“We were delighted to see the hatching of two penguin chicks at Easter who were later named by the public, Jalapeno and Tabasco.” 

Gazette: Baby - Cute hoglet with its parents

The zoo also welcomed special individuals over the year including Cheetah Anika from Vienna Zoo, Pileated Gibbon Qiwen from Zurich Zoo and the two Goeldi’s Monkeys Pedro and Pascal from Zoo Neuwied. 

Unfortunately, visitors and staff had to say goodbye to Sasha the Burmese Python, Afer, the oldest Aardvark at the zoo and in Europe, as well as Anouska the Amur Tiger and Freddy the Pygmy Hippo.