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London Zoo animals hop on scales for annual weigh-in
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All animal statistics, including those of Kiwi the Capybara, will be shared with keepers across the globe Animals at London Zoo are being checked and measured as part of its annual weigh-in day to monitor their health and wellbeing. Zookeepers will need to coax every bird, reptile, fish and mammal - from the largest rodents in the world to the greenest katydids - to the weighing scale. Each measurement is added to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a global database shared with animal carers and conservationists that compares important information on thousands of endangered species. Many of the zoo's animals are trained to perch on a scale while zookeepers note down their measurements, but others will need to be tempted with a strategic snack. Katydids are famous for their leafy green camouflage and loud mating calls Although the zoo houses more than 14,000 animals, the keepers will only have time to measure and log the weight of about 400 creatures. Daniel Simmonds, London Zoo's animal operations manager, said: "Regular weigh-ins help zookeepers track the health of our animals, including invertebrates like the magnolia land snails, the capybaras and Humboldt penguins, and genuinely help us manage the care of these animals, who play a vital role in our global conservation efforts." Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable in the wild due to threats such as climate change, overfishing and habitat disturbance. Among the animals weighed this year were capybara siblings Kiwi and Gizmo. Kiwi weighed in at 45kg (7st), while her brother Gizmo tipped the scales at 50.5kg (8st). While Giant Magnolia Land Snail No 2 weighed a modest 102.5g (3.6oz). Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkeys are native to Bolivia, Brazil and Peru The regular weigh-ins help zookeepers track the health of the zoo's creatures, including Vietnamese magnolia snails Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external Watch: London Zoo's capybaras and tortoises on weigh-in day London Zoo animals take to scales for annual weigh-in Weighing 19,000 animals at London Zoo London Zoo
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