Annual Animal Count Completed At Drusillas Park

Drusillas Park has completed its annual animal census, counting more than 800 mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and fish at the zoo near Alfriston.

The yearly stocktake is one of the biggest tasks for the team and is carried out to meet licensing requirements, helping ensure records are accurate and up to date.

The zoo welcomed 22 new arrivals in 2025, including 17 animals born onsite and a family of five Colombian black spider monkeys which transferred from Twycross Zoo.

Head Keeper Gemma Romanis said the count is an important part of zoo life.

“Looking after the animals every day means we always know how many of them there are, but the annual stock take is a chance for us to ensure our records are spot on,” she explained.

Among the most special arrivals was Boots, the first binturong — or bearcat — ever born at the park in its 100-year history, along with Elsie, a critically endangered Sulawesi crested macaque.

Zoo Manager Mark Kenward said some species are easier to count than others, saying:

“We can easily keep track of larger species like camels, lynx and flamingos.

"But then there are the trickier ones,

“Try counting a flock of lovebirds that never sit still and you’ll soon throw your hands up in defeat — and don’t even get me started on our invertebrates.

"Our black beauty stick insects are constantly laying eggs and before you know it we’ve got a population boom overnight.”

Every animal at the zoo has its own record card containing key information such as parentage.

Once completed, the census is submitted to a central database used by conservation bodies including the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help manage species protection.