Penguins and gorillas, and a meerkat called Frank: Zookeepers at London Zoo start their annual weigh in of 14,000 animals

From squirrel monkeys and gorillas to penguins and meerkats, the daunting task of weighing the thousands of animals at London Zoo’s annual weigh-in has begun.

Every year, London Zoo keepers set out to record the height and weight of every animal they care for, and with over 14,000 animals at the zoo, that’s no quick feat.

Every mammal, bird, reptile, fish and invertebrate animal will enter the scale for health and wellness monitoring.

After the weigh-in is complete, the zoo updates the information they’ve recorded in a database that’s accessible to zoos around the world, allowing zookeepers to compare vital statistics about the many endangered species.

New photos show how different species at the London Zoo have gone about recording their stats.

Since each animal has unique personality traits, zookeepers must use a series of tricks to convince the animals to reach the scales.

A cheerful meerkat named Frank went to the weigh-in with a positive approach and was pictured sitting on the scales.

Among the animals counted at the London Zoo so far are the Humboldt penguins, who have attended the event in an orderly fashion.

The penguins lined up one at a time while a keeper wrote down their information.

At the London Zoo, the zookeeper recorded the penguin’s stats during their morning feed.

The peculiar creatures were photographed walking on the scales and standing patiently as their condition was documented.

At the weigh-in, the penguins also enjoyed a swim, and this particular breed of penguin can reach as much as 50 kilometers per hour underwater.

A Sumatran tiger took a different approach and examined the large yardstick with great curiosity during the annual check earlier today.

The Humboldt penguins were checked in during their morning feed and they all took turns on the scale

A Sumatran tiger curiously examined the large yardstick during the annual checkup earlier today

For the squirrel monkey, one of the smartest monkeys, a piece of food was enough to tempt it on the scales.

For the squirrel monkey, one of the smartest monkeys, a piece of food offered on the hand of a zookeeper was enough to tempt it on the scales.

All weights and measurements of the animals are recorded in a shared database, the Zoological Information Management System.

This helps zookeepers around the world compare key information about thousands of endangered species.

Carrying out weight checks and waist measurements not only helps staff monitor the welfare of the animals, it also enables them to identify pregnant animals.

Not only that, but it also provides important information for their care, as well as for their species, as many of them are endangered in the wild and part of conservation breeding programs.

Gernot, a western lowland gorilla, climbed onto a measuring stick during the annual weigh-in earlier today

Among the animals was also a Mexican Redknee Tarantula, which sat calmly on the scales during the weighing

While weighing, the penguins also enjoyed a swim, and this particular breed of penguin can reach up to 50 miles per hour underwater

London zooDaniel Simmonds’ deputy animal manager said: “We record the vital statistics of every animal in the zoo, from the largest giraffe to the smallest snail.”

“This helps ensure that every animal we care for is healthy, eating well and growing at the rate needed, as weight is an important indicator of health and well-being.”

“By sharing information with other zoos and conservationists around the world, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we are trying to protect.”

“By sharing information with other zoos and globally, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we are trying to protect.”

“By sharing information with other zoos and globally, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we are trying to protect.”