Summary

AP-APTN-1830: UK Zoo Thursday, 3 January 2013 STORY:UK Zoo- Zookeepers begin annual count of the animals in London Zoo LENGTH: 03:38 FIRST RUN: 1530 RESTRICTIONS: AP Clients Only TYPE: English/Nat SOURCE: AP TELEVISION STORY NUMBER: 873614 DATELINE: London - 3 Jan 2013 LENGTH: 03:38 SHOTLIST: 1. Zookeeper counting meerkats in their enclosure 2. Close of meerkat on zookeeper's clipboard 3. Meerkats digging for grubs at zookeeper's feet 4. Various of meerkats in enclosure 5. Asian short clawed otters waiting to be fed 6. Wide of otters collecting food 7. Close of otter eating 8. Wide of otters 9. Zookeeper throwing fish for penguins 10. Mid of Humboldt penguins 11. Close of Rockhopper penguin, the only one at London Zoo 12. Wide of penguins collecting fish 13. Wide of zoological director David Field looking at penguins 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Field, Zoological Director: "It's really important that we do this stock take every year to make sure that we check and reconcile all the data and records that we take day-in day-out throughout the year. We need to know, not just how many animals we've got of each different species, but also who we've got because once we've got all that information, we can send it to the international animal database called ISIS and that forms the very foundation of all of our endangered species breeding programmes." 15. Zookeepers holding owls 16. Close of Eurasian eagle owl 17. Close of barn owl 18. Close of spectacled owl 19. Wide of zookeepers holding owls 20. Various of zookeeper with diamond python, one of two at London Zoo 21. Various of zookeeper holding red kneed spider 22. Various of zookeeper with leaf insect crawling on his face 23. Zookeeper counting black-capped Bolivian squirrel monkeys 24. Various of monkeys 25. Wide exterior of London Zoo STORLINE It was tally time at London Zoo on Thursday as zoo managers began an annual cataloguing of its residents. From owls to otters, penguins to pythons, it's no easy task when there are more than 17,500 creatures to count, and the final results could take weeks to compile. The census is required as part of the zoo's licence terms, and the data is used for zoo management and international breeding programmes for endangered animals. Most animals in the zoo have microchips in their bodies, making counting a little less daunting. Fish and animals with camouflage properties - like leaf insects - are trickier, and the tiniest ones like ants are counted in colonies, not as individuals. "It's really important that we do this stock take every year to make sure that we check and reconcile all the data and records that we take day-in day-out throughout the year," said zoological director David Field. "Once we've got all that information, we can send it to the international animal database called ISIS (International Species Information System) and that forms the very foundation of all of our endangered species breeding programmes." New additions to the zoo being counted for the first time included baby Ziggy, an endangered white-naped mangabey monkey, and Maxilla, a black and white colobus monkey. The zoo also welcomed two endangered Sumatran tigers that keepers hope will bring some cubs in 2013. The tigers were matched by an international breeding programme to ensure a genetically-diverse population of animals, and will be meeting visitors in a newly-expanded enclosure in the spring. There are now fewer than 400 of the big cats, native to Indonesia, according to the World Wildlife Fund. London Zoo has around 750 different species of animal. The zoo stock take is taking place in 400 licensed zoos around the UK. Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: infoaparchive.com (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. APTN AP-WF-01-03-13 1914GMT