London Zoo got together 19,000 animals for their annual check (pictured giraffes being measured)
They didn’t quite come in two by two, but these penguins still managed to line up neatly for their annual check.
And even the giraffes stuck their necks out to see if they measured up.
They were among more than 19,000 animals at London Zoo which were having their weight and height recorded yesterday.
The Humboldt penguins obligingly hopped on to a set of electronic scales as a keeper noted the information on her clipboard, and they appeared to take a great deal of interest in the procedure.
The giraffes stood next to measuring boards on a wall or attached to long poles, with some encouraged to raise their heads by having a piece of lettuce held out to them by keepers.
And the playful squirrel monkeys had to be weighed by being made to leap on to a bucket attached to a scale.
Other creatures, such as rhinos, tigers and okapis, had to be coaxed on to specially constructed larger scales.
Perhaps the easiest ones to weigh were the giant African land snails, which can reach nearly 8in long.
The Humboldt penguins obligingly hopped on to a set of electronic scales as a keeper noted the information on her clipboard
The animals’ statistics are shared with other zoos across the world to allow keepers to compare information about endangered species.
Zoological manager Mark Habben said: ‘We have to know the vital statistics of every animal at the zoo, however big or small.
‘It helps us to ensure that every animal we look after is healthy, eating well, and growing at the rate it should.
‘Weight is a particularly important indicator of health, and we can even detect pregnancies through a growing waistline.’
The penguins appeared to take a great deal of interest in the procedure as they peered at the clipboard
The playful squirrel monkeys had to be weighed by being made to leap on to a bucket attached to a scale
The giraffes stood next to measuring boards on a wall or attached to long poles, with some encouraged to raise their heads by having a piece of lettuce held out to them by keepers
One of the easiest ones to weigh were the giant African land snails, which can reach nearly 8in long
A meerkat stood very still on electronic scales for the weigh in to give zoo keepers vital statistics
A giant stick insect is measured during the annual weigh in which saw 800 different species