BIAZA Members Are Counting Their Animals

By Amanda Alabaster

London, UK - Zoo keepers and aquarists around the country are starting the biggest job of the zoo calendar - counting each and every animal in their collection for the New Year stock take.

The hefty task is done every January as part of compliance with zoo legislation which requires zoos to keep precise records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure.

Of course, keepers are fully aware of how many animals they have in their care – especially large mammals such as lions, gorillas or rhinos - but this annual ‘stock take’ provides a valuable record. And some of the smaller creatures – like snails, frogs, fish – take some patience and plenty of double-checking!

The data is submitted to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the national professional body offering advice and guidance on all aspects of zoo management and animal welfare. The records are also available for scrutiny by local authorities who issue and renew the licences for zoos and aquariums.

Many zoos' inventories will also be submitted to an international database called the International Species Information System (Isis), which gathers information about animals held in zoological institutions around the world.

BIAZA’s Director, Dr Miranda Stevenson, said: “The annual stock take is a big job so January is a busy time of year for many zoos across the UK. It’s important that zoos ensure their figures are correct so they can best manage conservation. Some of the species in captivity, such as Socorro doves, are now totally extinct in the wild. Therefore when zoos submit data to these central databases, it means that we can run detailed and scientifically-based breeding programmes to safeguard these valuable and threatened species.”

Editor’s notes

Zoo legislation
Zoos and aquariums are governed by the Zoo Licensing Act (1981) and the Secretary of States Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (last updated 2004). Full details can be found on http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/zoo.htm

Animal inventory
The annual animal inventory, required by the above legislation, requires zoos and aquariums to submit a seven column record for every species in their collection showing the number of each species in the following seven categories:

1. animals In the collection at the start of the year eg. 01.01.08
2. animals arrived from outside during the year 01.01.08 – 31.12.08
3. animals born at the collection during the year 01.01.08 – 31.12.08
4. animals which died at less than 30 days during the year 01.01.08 – 31.12.08
5. animals which dies at more than 30 days during the year 01.01.08 – 31.12.08
6. animals which left the collection during the year 01.01.08 – 31.12.08
7. animals in the collection at the end of the year 31.12.08

British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)
BIAZA is a conservation education and scientific wildlife charity which acts as the principal professional zoo body representing the responsible zoo and aquarium community in the UK and Ireland. With over 90 members, its role is to develop and spread best practice within the UK and international zoo community, combining lobbying and campaigning with the development of policy in collaboration with the government and scientific organisations. Over the last 12 months, BIAZA members have supported more than 609 projects by providing financial support in excess of £7 million and by supplying skills, staff and equipment for conservation programmes worldwide.
www.biaza.org.uk charity number: 248553