At the end of 2025, whilst many of us were enjoying the festivities and getting ready to celebrate the New Year, the Animal Care Team at Colchester Zoological Society had a very different type of celebration. They took part in an important mission – Count Possible! The objective was clear, confirm the annual animal count!
At the end of each year, the team at CZS must count each and every resident as a requirement for our Zoo Licence. In December, each animal section completes a register for all of the species they care for and then these figures are submitted to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) and a central database. From mammals to birds, reptiles, fish and even insects – all must be counted!
This mission may seem simple however, with over 1,000 individuals including some very small creatures, the task can be a little tricky. In these instances, some species are submitted as colonies rather than individuals. This ensures that the team do not count the same fish twice in an aquarium or lose track of their tallies within a flock of flying birds.
Mission COUNT-possible completed!
The numbers are now in for the Zoo’s 2025 count and the total number of species at CZS is made up of the following:
| Number of Species | Individuals | Colonies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammals | 64 | 288 | |
| Birds | 17 | 195 | |
| Reptiles | 26 | 75 | |
| Amphibians | 3 | 38 | |
| Fish | 37 | 419 | 7 |
| Invertebrates | 4 | 13 | 2 |
| Total | 151 | 1028 | 9 |
Critically Endangered Species: 10
Endangered Species: 23
Throughout 2025, we welcomed a number of new arrivals including Midnight the Linne’s two-toed sloth, Napoleon the chimpanzee, Indie the aardvark, Mikolas the pygmy hippo and Iris the red panda just to name a few! We also introduced some exciting new species including the cone-headed iguana.
Unfortunately, the team also had to say a sad goodbye to some old friends that have been a huge part of the CZS family. In April 2025, we shared the devasting news of Patagonian sea lion, Atlanta, who was a unique character with big, beautiful eyes and the longest whiskers of all sea lions. In June 2025, we also said farewell to male white rhino, Tayo, as he began his journey to his new home at Safari Madrid in Spain.
2025 was a memorable year for all here at CZS, with the transition to a conservation charity taking place on 1st February 2025.
Animal transfers are a key part of conservation programmes and with breeding recommendations, we can continue to protect endangered species across the globe.
Each and every visit made to CZS also helps vital conservation projects worldwide as well as contributing to the continuous development of the Zoo. Whether you purchase an Admission Ticket, Annual Membership, an Animal Adoption, an Experience, or simply donate through the website, you will be supporting our mission to care for wildlife and wild places.
We look forward to welcoming you in 2026 for more wild adventures!
