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Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty Images
A zookeeper strokes a penguin on a scale during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo on Aug. 22.
Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA
A meerkat climbs a scale on which another animal is already been weighed during the zoo's annual weigh-in at ZSL London Zoo, Aug. 22.
Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty Images
A zookeeper measures Dirk the giant tortoise during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo on Aug. 22.
Oli Scarff / Getty Images
Giraffes are weighed and measured during the ZSL London Zoo 's annual weigh-in on Aug. 22.
Oli Scarff / Getty Images
Zookeeper Don McFarlane weighs and measures an African Millipede during the zoo's annual weigh-in on Aug. 22.
ZSL’s Zoological Director, David Field says: “We need to know the vital statistics of every animal at the Zoo – however big or small."
Zookeepers at the London Zoo are responsible for more than 16,000 animals, spending countless hours recording the weight and measurements of each and every animal, including penguins, meerkats, lions and owls. The measurements are collated in the Zoological Information Management System, from which zoologists can use the data to compare information on thousands of endangered species.
“This information helps us to monitor their health, their diets and their general well-being. By sharing it with other zoos and conservationists, we can use this knowledge to protect wild animals, and use it to assess their health, their behaviours and even their ages,” said Field.
Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA
Giraffes await to go out at the London Zoo, Aug. 22.
Leave a Comment:
It looks like the lady is trying to add some weight to the little penquin. And the prarie dogs, oh. So cute.
I'm so jealous right now.
Why can't I get paid to measure turtles?????
Seriously, best job ever!
Great pics.
Meercats are not prairie dogs.
Great pictures of our beautiful animal friends...big and small!
Don't know about you but those millipedes gave me some wicked heebee geebees!
I agree ewe!!!
The photo of the zookeeper and the baby penguin is absolutely adorable!
Surely it brings a smile to everybody's face (oh, except the people who think the penguin should be in the wild.)
Doesn't everyone want a penguin for their own now?
That or a meerkat! Great photos.
Thank you for the wonderful story! Put a big SMILE on my face!
i want to know how they weigh a giraffe. they don't show that. don't even mention how, but show giraffes. how do they weigh the lions and other big cats? too dangerous/risky to tranqulize for a weighing. they tell you NOTHING! good pix though. the penguin looks like it enjoys the attention. cool. PEACE!
According to The Telegraph: "The annual weigh-in takes several months and involves using ordinary kitchen scales for the penguin chicks and a giant flat scales on the floor for the gorillas."
Big cats after their tranquilized are put on a large hanging scale
@bababooey: Giraffes in zoos usually are weighed on special scales located on the floor of giraffe veterinary chutes (which are like really tall, narrow stalls that giraffes are trained to stand in so that veterinary work can be done safely and effectively). These chutes are generally required for accredited institutions that house giraffes. Other large animals, like big cats, can be weighed on large floor scales - ideally they are trained (via positive reinforcement like food rewards) to walk onto the scale by themselves. Really BIG animals like elephants? Newer elephant barns are being built with scales built into certain parts of the floor - if this isn't an option, a scale that is used to measure vehicles can be brought in to do the job! I've watched a lot of animals being weighed and sometimes it takes some time and patience, but it's always preferable for the animal to not have to be tranquilized and to be allowed to do things when it's ready.
I'd pay THEM to let me pet that baby penguin. So Adorable!!
giraffes are chill'in say'in yo Ralph what you do'in down there ? I live down here what you mean what am I do'in down here, what you do'in down there ?
The meerkats' cuteness is almost equal to the sweet penguin's.
How much does the girl weigh with the penguin?
And people wonder why I prefer the company of animals.
The penguin and meercat pics put smile on my face. People may question why this news appears on the front on NBC but I prefer this to bomb blasts, deaths and negative news that takes center stage all the time. There's lot of positives in this world as well.
Except for the millipedes, those pictures are the best. I will have them in mind for the rest of he day!
CUTEST ANIMALS, EVER!
Thx NBC on posting these wonderful pics. They did put smile on my tired face. I prefer these to deaths, bomb blasts and all kinds of other negative news that all news sites are replete with.
I soooo agreee...
I thought the same thing!
Damn I wish I would have gone to school for zoology looks more rewarding and fun than banking!