Zookeepers tally up number of animals at annual 'stock take' for Yorkshire's Flamingo Land

At the temporarily shut Flamingo Land Resort, in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, zookeepers have been carrying out their annual stocktake, counting all the animals for official records.

There have been new births, and new additions in recent months, the most notable being a baby zebra born towards the end of last year.

“We knew he was boy straight away,” said chief executive Gordon Gibb. “He doesn’t look like a calf – he’s massive.”

There are well over 1,000 animals at the zoo, from warthogs to a red panda, and it usually hosts experience days as well as specialist talks and events.

While this past year has proved a challenge for Flamingo Land in many ways, said Mr Gibb, it has also put a spotlight on the work of those who care for the animals as events move online.

Last week thousands of people joined a Zoom call to watch a virtual show, with the team keen to encourage events for young people doing home learning.

“They are amazing, and we know we are in good hands with our animal carers,” Mr Gibb added. “The keepers are becoming stars in their own right. We have always known they are.”

As the stocktake got under way, Jordan Woodhead counted animals he cares for in the reptile house, while zoo manager Ross Snip gave a lemur a snack.

There are caimans that have recently hatched, a new baby llama and ostriches on patrol. One major change is coming in the near future, said Mr Gibb.

“We will be minus one black rhino soon,” he said. “He will be released to the wilds of Tanzania, joining other captive-bred rhinos in the wild.”

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