Chester Zoo head count reveals record number of animals

LONDON - The UK's Chester Zoo is home to the highest number of animals in its history, an annual head count of its residents revealed on Saturday.

Keepers have completed a monthlong task of counting all animals, with the final figure put at 21,314, representing 500 different species. They had to count every mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and insect.

The number is the highest recorded since the zoo opened in 1931 and is broken down to 1,268 mammals, 1,880 birds, 349 reptiles, 728 amphibians, 7,616 fish and 9,473 insects. The compulsory count is required as part of the zoo's operating license.