News

10 adorable photos from London Zoo's annual weigh-in show curious monkeys, penguins, and meerkats stepping on the scale

Talia Lakritz
2023-08-25T18:04:24Z
Read in app
A meerkat examines a clipboard at the London Zoo
A meerkat is weighed at London Zoo's annual weigh-in in 2023. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
  • London Zoo weighs and measures every single one of its animals each year.
  • Zookeepers use the data to monitor animals' health and well-being.
  • Penguins, meerkats, monkeys, tigers, and tarantulas had their turns on the scale.
Advertisement

Every year, animals at London Zoo step on the scale for their annual weigh-in — and, with 14,000 animals to measure, it's a task that takes zookeepers several days.

They use the information to monitor the animals' health and well-being, entering their findings into a database shared with zoos worldwide to compare and track data about endangered species, according to the zoo's official website.

Here are 10 adorable photos from this year's weigh-in from August 24.

Advertisement

At the London Zoo's annual weigh-in on August 24, Humboldt penguins lined up at the scale.

Penguins are weighed at the London Zoo
Humboldt penguins line up to be weighed during London Zoo's annual weigh-in on August 24, 2023. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Some penguins had to be picked up and placed in the right spot by a zookeeper.

A zookeeper weighs penguins at the London Zoo
Penguins are weighed at London Zoo. Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Advertisement

A Sumatran tiger tried to climb the large ruler in its enclosure.

A tiger is measured at the London Zoo
A Sumatran tiger during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo in 2023. James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images

Frank the meerkat had his turn on the scale.

A meerkat is weighed at the London Zoo
Frank the Meerkat is weighed during London Zoo's annual weigh-in. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Advertisement

He appeared interested in checking the zookeeper's work.

A meerkat examines a clipboard at the London Zoo
Frank the Meerkat is weighed during London Zoo's annual weigh-in Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

An Asian small-clawed otter yawned while being measured.

An otter yawns while being weighed at the London Zoo
An Asian small-clawed otter yawns during London Zoo's annual weigh-in. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Advertisement

A Western Lowland gorilla examined the ruler from a tree perch.

A gorilla climbs on a ruler at the London Zoo
A Western Lowland gorilla sits next to a ruler during the annual weigh-in. Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

A zookeeper rewarded a squirrel monkey with treats for participating in the weigh-in.

A monkey is weighed at the London Zoo
A zookeeper weighs a squirrel monkey during the annual weigh-in. Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Advertisement

Every animal at the zoo, no matter how small, gets a turn. A Mexican redknee tarantula was weighed in a glass bowl placed on a scale.

A tarantula is weighed at the London Zoo
A zookeeper weighs Mexican redknee tarantula during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo. Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

A stick insect blended right in with the zookeeper's wooden ruler.

A stick insect is measured at the London Zoo
A member of staff measures a stick insect during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo. James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images

Read next

Animals
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.