IN PICTURES: ZSL Whipsnade's animals have annual weigh-in

Among those measured were bears Cinderella, Mana, Minnie, and Naya, who were tempted over to a measuring stick by a subtle smear of honey at the top. The largest of the four, Mana, takes top spot for heaviest at a colossal 203 kg.

The conservation zoo’s bears are currently in hyperphagia, a period of excessive eating, which sees them gaining fat in preparation for their hibernation later in the year.

Honey was used to tempt the bears towards the ruler. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Mana takes top spot for heaviest bear at a colossal 203 kg. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Two giraffe calves, born just three weeks apart in June and July, were also measured, coming in at just fraction of the height of dad Bashu, who stands at over 15.5 feet tall.

The endangered species were tempted over to a measuring stick placed in their paddock using their favourite food, a lush branch of willow.

Zookeepers Adam Davidson and Helen Rawson encouraged the zoo’s male bongo, Pembe, onto a giant weighboard using his favourite vegetables, recording his weight as 349kg.

Willow was used to tempt the giraffes in. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Bongo Pembe gets weighed at Whipsnade. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, recording Pembe’s weight will help inform vital research for vets, conservationists, and scientists around the globe who are striving to protect these animals in the wild.  

Aardvarks Dobby and Terry snuffled their way onto the scale in return for some breakfast, clocking in at 44.6kg and 53.5kg respectively.

Meanwhile, burrowing owl Ettie and red hornbills Marli and Guinea fluttered onto weighing branches to have their weights recorded by bird keeper Anna Brink.

Zookeeper Olly Bosher with Aardvark Dobby at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Flying bird keeper Anna Brink weighs Red Hornbill, Mali, at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Invertebrate keeper Lucy Herbert weighs a panther chameleon for Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Stefan Groenveld, head elephant keeper at Whipsnade Zoo, said: "We regularly weigh all of the animals at Whipsnade Zoo throughout the year to keep track of their health, but the annual weigh in is an opportunity to review our records, and also highlight the expert care the animals receive at our conservation zoos.
 
"It’s a huge scale operation, with zookeepers needing to use clever tactics to tempt the animals onto the scales, usually involving their favourite foods. The heaviest animal we have here is Ming Jun, our male Asian elephant, who weighs a massive 4,420 kg."

Invertebrate keeper Kay Baxter weighs a vampire crab for Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)

Flying bird keeper Anna Brink weighs Red Hornbill, Mali, at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Dominic Lipinski)