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Staffordshire theme park tallies up all creatures great and small in annual zoo stock take

Staffordshire's Drayton Manor Park has kick-started the new year with an annual head count of its animals.

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Staff at Drayton Manor Park have been taking stock of the animals

Home to the much-loved ‘Mystic Meerkats’, the park’s 15-acre conservation zoo currently houses over 500 animals from across the globe, including a wide variety of endangered and rare species.

As part of an audit submitted to the local authority each year, the park’s zookeepers have been busy totting up all creatures great and small, from primates and reptiles to the tiniest of bugs.

This year’s head count includes six adorable Emperor Tamarins, a South American species of primate which have become a firm-favourite among guests for their striking white ‘moustache’ and playful personality.

The zoo count also featured the park’s five resident Meerkats, which rose to fame after demonstrating their ‘psychic’ abilities, predicting England’s football triumphs throughout the 2018 World Cup and the Euros last year.

Staff at Drayton Manor Park have been taking stock of the animals

Zookeepers also left no stone unturned in the Reptile House, counting each and every one of the 170 reptiles and amphibians, as well as 89 bugs – no matter how small.

Among the fascinating creatures in the house were 83 lightning-fast reed frogs and five critically endangered radiated tortoises from Madagascar who came to their new zoo home last year.

Whilst the larger animals are easier to keep track of, the team also had to account for the tiniest residents – including hundreds of individual eggs laid by the zoo’s Madagascan blue stick insects.

In the park’s exotic aviary, Jewels of Oz – planted with Australian plants to make the birds feel at home – keepers counted two critically endangered swift parakeets, three star finches and sixteen gouldian finches, widely known for their breath-taking multi-coloured feathers.

Staff have been counting the animals

Also counted amongst the flock of feathered friends, were six heck finches, three owl faced finches, two parrot finches and one cherry finch – all from various parts of Australia.

The zoo’s commitment to conservation is vital for many endangered species from across the globe, particularly in isolated regions such as Madagascar, where 90 per cent of the primary forest has been destroyed through deforestation.

Chris Mitchell, head of zoo operations at Drayton Manor Park, said: “Our dedicated team of animal specialists have been hard at work counting each and every one of our precious inhabitants – and some definitely took longer than others!

“Our annual stock take is a great chance for our keepers to see if our animal records exactly match our physical count of animals.

“The majority of our animals increasingly rely on zoos and other conservation organisations for their ongoing survival through coordinated breeding programmes and support for projects that protect them in their home ranges.

“We pay careful attention to the needs of our animals, whilst ensuring we offer our guests the best visitor experience, by creating better viewing and seating areas and opportunities to learn about the animals.

“We are committed to continually improving our guest zoo experience and hope to introduce even more exciting animal habitats in the future.”

The zoo will be open to visitors during the park’s opening hours, and guests can find more information at draytonmanor.co.uk

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