Thousands of animals from stick insects to white rhinos are being tallied up for the annual stocktake at Marwell Zoo.

Keepers at the Hampshire conservation charity are required by law each year to complete an audit of the 2,500 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates in their care.

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Species such as Caribbean giant cockroaches and stick insects are counted in groups, but all others are recorded individually.

Hampshire Chronicle: A keeper feeds Giraffes as they are counted during the annual stocktake at Marwell zoo in Winchester. Picture date: Tuesday January 25, 2022. PA Photo. Required as part of the zoo's licence, the annual stocktake includes every animal, with all other

Among the latest arrivals to be included in the count is four-year-old white rhino Zahra, which was born as part of an endangered species breeding programme and has joined the zoo's "crash" of rhinos, Kiri, Sula, Pembe and Jabari.

A zoo spokeswoman said: "It is hoped one day she may mother calves to secure the future of the species.

"Southern white rhinos were previously hunted to near extinction, leaving only approximately 20-50 individuals at the end of the 19th century."

Other recent additions include a third endangered banteng calf born on Saturday, joining two youngsters born in December.

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Banteng, which are a new species for Marwell, are found throughout south east Asia including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hampshire Chronicle: A keeper inspects a giant spiny stick insect, as they are counted during the annual stocktake at Marwell zoo in Winchester. Picture date: Tuesday January 25, 2022. PA Photo. Required as part of the zoo's licence, the annual stocktake includes every

Other arrivals since the last stocktake include parma wallabies, the smallest species of the Macropus family, coppery titi monkeys, a male Linne's two-toed sloth, a Humboldt penguin chick, a bearded emperor tamarin, a male tapir and red river hogs.

Debbie Pearson, animal registrar, said: "Every year we complete the audit in accordance with zoo legislation to ensure the numbers we have on record tally with the animals we have on the ground before sending the final figures to our local authority.

"This year we have more than 2,500 different animals across 141 different species.

"It's been an exciting year with some welcome additions to the breeding programmes and some firsts for Marwell."

The zoo spokeswoman added: "Although the audit is undertaken once a year, keepers continually count the zoo's animals, the record of which is published at the end of January.

Hampshire Chronicle: A keeper watches a Humbolt Penguin as they are counted during the annual stocktake at Marwell zoo in Winchester. Picture date: Tuesday January 25, 2022. PA Photo. Required as part of the zoo's licence, the annual stocktake includes every animal, with

"The annual inventory is shared around the world via a database designed to ensure the best possible management of worldwide conservation-breeding programmes."

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Kimberley Barber