Aquarium creatures counted in annual clean

Staff count the centre's creatures each year

Clipboards and measuring tapes have taken centre stage at Sea Life London Aquarium in order to count more than 6,000 of its creatures.

Staff conducted their annual creature "count and clean" to mark the new year.

Tasks included pumping the sand in the rays pool, wiping down the clownfish tank and brushing up Penguin Point.

General manager Catherine Pritchard said: "Our annual count and clean is one of our favourite times of year."

Penguin Point was cleaned up in the process

The Stingray tank got a freshen up

The count allows the aquarium to take park in international breeding programmes

She added: "It's a fun way for the team to collect all the information we need to assess the overall health of our creatures, as well as making sure their homes are spick and span ready for the year ahead.

"It's also a task that we take very seriously as it's a vital exercise that helps us maintain the health and wellbeing of our creatures both now and for future generations to come."

The clean-up and count also allows aquarists to see if there are any new arrivals.

And the count element of the annual event means the London Aquarium can partake in international breeding programmes alongside Sea Life centres globally.

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