London Zoo begins annual animal count as ZSL turns 200

Keepers at London Zoo have started the annual stocktake as the Zoological Society of London marks its 200th year, counting more than 8,000 animals and logging each creature for licensing and conservation records.

Keepers at London Zoo have begun the annual stocktake, tallying every mammal, bird, reptile and invertebrate at the Regent's Park site as ZSL marks its 200th year as a charity. The zoo is home to more than 8,000 animals, from leafcutter ants to Asiatic lions. The census is a licensing requirement and the results are used to inform international conservation breeding programmes. ZSL was founded in 1826 and describes itself as a science-led conservation charity working to protect species and restore ecosystems. Key facts: - The stocktake typically lasts around a week and staff record each animal on site and in shared databases. - The zoo reported 75 Humboldt penguins, with the colony increasing after 16 chicks hatched in 2025. - Eight Socorro dove chicks hatched in 2025; the species is classified as extinct in the wild, with around 180 individuals cared for across fewer than 50 institutions globally. - The population of Darwin's frogs at the zoo grew by eight in 2025; the species is listed as Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered and is affected by chytrid fungus. - London Zoo is caring for Asiatic lions, a species with a small wild population, and this year included two adult lions and two cubs on site. - Recent arrivals included a pair of capybaras, and keepers continued counting despite cold weather during the stocktake. Summary: The annual count provides an updated, licensed record of every animal at London Zoo and feeds information into international conservation and breeding records. Results are entered into shared databases and the stocktake process is expected to conclude within its usual timeframe.