Annual animal stock take underway at West Midland Safari Park

Every creature at the Bewdley-based attraction has to be counted at the beginning of the year – from the crash of white rhinos, down to the colony of tiny leaf cutter ants.

There will be some extra heads to count this year too, following a successful 2018 of animal births – including Granville, the baby southern white rhino, Gerald the Rothschild's giraffe and two Grévy’s zebra foals, Grace and Gamba.

Angela Potter, head of wildlife, said: "As part of our zoo licensing requirements, from January 1, we complete an audit and produce a report for our local authority, so keepers have been out and about counting all of our animals, from elephants down to ants.

"Our wildlife administrator, Rosie Wilkes, then carefully checks our animal record system to ensure the census adds up correctly

"Some animal groups, such as our white rhino herd of eight animals, are much easier to count than our colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

"Although the audit is undertaken once per year, the animal keepers keep track of the animals in their care on a daily basis."

Although the total number of animals is yet to be confirmed – there are more than 120 different species at West Midland Safari Park – keepers believe the figure is likely to be more than 800 animals.

West Midland Safari Park is currently open on weekends only for their Wild Winter Safari event until February 10. It will open daily from February 16.

For more information, call 01299 402114 or visit www.wmsp.co.uk.