Marwell Zoo’s annual stocktake celebrates record births and conservation successes

Marwell Zoo has completed its annual stocktake, counting more than 500 animals across 145 species. Although keepers are fully aware of the number of animals they care for daily, the zoo’s licence legally requires an official count to take place every year. This meticulous process involves keepers logging every mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate, and fish in the zoo.

This year’s count highlights a series of remarkable births and new arrivals, including a rare okapi calf, a critically endangered cotton-top tamarin baby, and a colony of Humboldt penguins.

Marwell celebrated the birth of a rare okapi calf, born to five-year-old Niari. Often called the “forest giraffe” due to their distinctive markings, okapis are an elusive species native to the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This birth represents a third-generation breeding success at Marwell, highlighting the zoo’s expertise in breeding and caring for okapi.

The zoo’s cotton-top tamarin family also grew in 2024, with the arrival of a new baby named Fester. Critically endangered, cotton-top tamarins are among the world’s rarest primates, and this birth represents a significant milestone for the breeding programme. The troop has also been joined by a new species, the Chacoan mara, a rodent native to South America.

Four Przewalski’s horse foals joined the herd in 2024. Once extinct in the wild, these horses have made a remarkable comeback thanks to ongoing conservation efforts by Marwell and other conservation organisations globally.

In addition to the births, Marwell welcomed a number of new animals in 2024, including Warjun, a male snow leopard who arrived from the Czech Republic and Cherry, a female red panda introduced as a companion for Tashi, Marwell’s resident male red panda.

Penguin Cove saw the addition of 10 new Humboldt penguins in January, with these birds expected to form key breeding pairs as part of a European breeding programme dedicated to their conservation.

One of the zoo’s most extraordinary conservation achievements of the year was the release of over 6,000 Partula snails into the wild in French Polynesia. Among them, 1,640 were bred at Marwell Zoo, marking the zoo’s largest-ever contribution to a conservation reintroduction project.

Debbie Pearson, Animal Registrar, said: “Our annual stocktake is an essential part of zoo legislation, and we’re pleased to share this year’s results. With more than 500 animals across 145 species, it’s been a thrilling year with some exciting firsts for Marwell. The data we collect is shared through the ZIMS Species360 database, which plays a vital role in global conservation breeding programmes.”

While the stocktake is an official annual process, Marwell’s keepers meticulously track and monitor the zoo’s animal population year-round, ensuring records remain accurate and up to date. The final 2024 report recorded 145 species, including 19 invertebrate species, 13 fish, four amphibians, 21 reptiles, 30 birds, and 58 mammals.

Marwell Wildlife is a leading conservation charity and zoo based in Hampshire. Its mission is to work for nature and support conservation worldwide, ensuring a sustainable future for wildlife and their habitats. Learn more at marwell.org.uk.