Adam Goldsmith
Reporting from London Zoo

First, we're visiting the ring-tailed lemurs. This group of eight are native to southern and south-west Madagascar, and are lively this morning as they climb around their enclosure.

The animal's keepers have polished off a large set of scales, and are gathering the animals interested with the help of some snacks.

Weighing them might take a while, and we'll update you as soon as we get some figures. We're told that these critters usually weigh-in at around three kilograms.

Adam Goldsmith
Reporting from London Zoo

We're just getting set up here at London Zoo, where the Humboldt penguins are already expecting their breakfast.

We'll have a live stream running through the day right here with the penguins - you can watch live at the top of the page.

You can also follow our camera crew around the other residents as the weigh-in begins.

First up, our guides are planning on taking us to see the ring-tailed lemurs; that should happen around 09:00 BST - animal dependent, of course.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's weigh-in is taking place after the UK government set out new standards for zoos in May.

This marks the first change to zoo standards in over a decade and will come into effect from May 2027. The changes are:

• Birds of prey get large enclosures instead of being tethered
• Elephant enclosures must more similarly reflect their natural habitats
• Visitors to aquarium pools are banned from being allowed to touch fish

Zoos and aquariums now have two years to adapt to these changes.

The government’s animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman says that while the UK’s zoos are “world leaders” in setting the standard for how animals should be treated, these reforms now “lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums”.

Image source, Reuters

Aside from offering some great photo opportunities, weigh-in day is an essential opportunity for London Zoo to collect important data from its inhabitants.

Weighing animals regularly enables the zoo to monitor the development of its animal infants, for instance, and even helps to identify pregnancies.

It is also a good opportunity to cross-reference and check data that’s been recorded throughout the year.

Once all the data is collected, it’s added to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

This database is shared with other zookeepers at institutions around the world, and helps compare information on endangered or threatened species.

Adam Goldsmith
Reporting from London Zoo

Good morning from Regent's Park as London Zoo gears up for one of the biggest events in their calendar- the annual animal weigh-in.

From capybaras to camels, the zookeepers will attempt to weigh and measure over 10,000 animals to monitor their health and wellbeing, before sharing that vital data with conservation groups and sites around the world.

It’s a task that’s easier said than done though, when you’ve got a population of animals across over 300 species.

I’m expecting to see a fair share of innovative solutions as a result, and I’ve come with a carrot or two up my sleeve in the hope of tempting some of the zoo’s inhabitants onto the scales.

As I make my way around the zoo, you can come along too by tapping watch live at the top of the page.