All creatures great and small count as zoo makes annual stocktake
WITH zoos up and down the country forced to close during lockdown, the upkeep of the animals has never been more important, including the annual headcount of their residents.
Staff at Twycross Zoo have been hard at work totting up the numbers, finding out the final count for their huge family, which numbers some of the rarest animals on the planet.
The count reveals that the zoo has started 2021 with 575 residents. Despite all the obstacles faced last year, Twycross had several highlights to celebrate, including welcoming male Eastern black rhino Sudan, as part of a European breeding programme, and 22 babies, including Kirk’s dik-diks, a Diana monkey and a dusky leaf monkey.
The Twycross team also worked alongside primate conservation charity Ape Action Africa (AAA) to successfully carry out Cameroon’s first ever gorilla return.
Neil Dorman, curator of Twycross Zoo, said: “While we look back on 2020 as being the most challenging year in our history, it’s also important to reflect on all the positives and everything we did achieve for conservation.
“Our 2021 stocktake is evidence of the tremendous work put in by all our staff. In a year during which we had to close for almost three months, we managed to welcome new animals and also celebrate over 20 new zoo births, which is a great achievement for conservation and for these species, many of which are endangered.”
There are many ways to support the Midlands conservation charity, including donating, booking a future visit, becoming a member, adopting an animal or making a purchase in the online shop.
Find out more at the zoo’s website, www.twycrosszoo.org.