Whipsnade Zoo animals lured on to scales for annual weigh-in

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Zoo staff weigh a camel on some scalesImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

A Bactrian camel named Oakley weighed 728kg (1,604.9lb)

More than 11,000 animals have been lured on to weighing scales at a zoo to monitor their health and wellbeing.

Whipsnade Zoo, external weighed butterflies, lemurs and bears on Monday, as the site carried out its annual weigh-in.

European brown bears Minnie and Mana were encouraged using a dash of honey and the lemurs were tempted by their favourite food of sweetcorn.

"We have to come up with creative tactics to entice them," said Tim Savage, team leader of birds.

The eight-foot bears weighed 148kg and 174kg (328.4lb and 383.6lb) respectively.

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

The annual stocktake includes every animal, with all other British zoos required to do the same

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

An endangered blue-throated macaw named Stilton weighed 782g (1.72lb) on specially designed perch scales

Their weight and vital statistics were recorded on the shared Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) database, to help zookeepers worldwide compare information about threatened species.

Mr Savage said the information helped improve "the husbandry and welfare standards of all the animals we look after".

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