A HAMPSHIRE zoo has begun the mammoth task of counting every creature living in its wildlife park.

Marwell Zoo in Thompson's Lane, Winchester, found an endangered red panda and okapi calf were among the new residents as part of the zoo's annual animal stocktake.

The wildlife park welcomed a Grevy’s zebra, plains zebra and a male red panda, Peter, who keepers hope will mate with the zoo’s female red panda, Mei Mei.

Each year, staff at Marwell Zoo tally up over 140 species from its tigers and zebras to its very latest arrivals - a trio of long-nosed potoroos.

However, while most find counting the species relatively easy, imaginative tactics are used by others to ensure every resident at the zoo is accounted for.

The zoo’s 15 Humboldt penguins gather round to be counted, with the promise of a fishy treat as a reward, while the birds team weigh the penguins as part of their regular health checks.

The herps team, which look after reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, cheat and calculate schools of fish and an army of frogs as one group each.

In 2019, Marwell celebrated new species being added to their collection, including a new type of endangered mongoose with the arrival of a female bokiboky, called Bullet, six Rio Cauca caecilians and three small marsupials.

The zoo also welcomed a number of rare and endangered species born last year, such as an okapi, roan antelope and mountain bongo.

Marwell Zoo’s animal collection manager, Ross Brown, said: “The information is shared with other zoos around the world via a database. It’s used to help manage the worldwide conservation breeding programmes for animals.

“We’ve had some fantastic breeding success last year, and we’ve been granted recommendations by the European Endangered Species Programme and Studbook holders to breed some really exciting species moving forward, so bring on 2020.”

A part of Marwell Zoo’s licence, the conservation charity has to keep detailed records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure.

For more information visit www.marwell.org.uk.