Adding Aruba Island Rattlesnakes and Multiplying Millipedes

As the New Year dawns, Whipsnade Wild Animal Park staff embark on one of the year's biggest tasks, the annual stocktake of over 220 species kept at Whipsnade. All the animals need to recorded, from invertebrates to mammals and reptiles to fish. Equipped with a clipboard and calculator follow the keepers as they get counting!

In the Discovery Centre, everything from the mongoose to the crocodiles has to be counted, with some animals proving harder than others to count. The keepers always breathe a sigh of relief that they are not counting feet, especially with the millipede and the spiders on the list, they do, however, have the challenge of the leaf cutter ant colony! But they will certainly be pleased to add 16 newly hatched Imperial scorpions to the collection, they should prove to be a handful!

Over at the black rhino house, Emma and Quinto should prove easier to count, and at the Children's Farm, Bump the camel, Oak the shire horse, Storm the pony, 2 cows, emu's and pygmy goats will also be awaiting their tick on the keeper's clipboard.

2002 was a great year Whipsnade with some very exciting births and new arrivals for example, Stitch and Sew the dwarf mongoose and a baby grevy zebra.

For further information please contact the ZSL press office 020 7449 6361