Sea Life London has started this year with its annual ‘count and clean’ project, with a team of aquarists doing a stocktake of its 6,100 creatures and cleaning the tanks and displays.
Wearing wetsuits and armed with various counting tools and cleaning equipment, the aquarium’s experts counted more than 6,100 creatures and noted any new arrivals.
The cleaning part of the project included pumping the sand in the rays’ pool, wiping down the clownfish tank, and tidying the penguin habitat.
In addition, London’s Sea Life counted 133 piranhas and 41 pacu fish, the largest of which measures at 1.2 metres. It also counted approximately 271 clownfish.
“Our annual ‘count and clean’ is one of our favourite times of year at Sea Life London Aquarium,” said Catherine Pritchard, the aquarium’s general manager.
“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 spic and span ready for the year ahead.”
6,100 creatures at London aquarium
Counting its creatures allows Sea Life London to take part in international breeding programmes, including the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (EAZA) studbook programmes.
“While our aquarists have lots of fun during the count and clean, it’s also a task that we take very seriously as it’s a vital exercise that helps us maintain the health and well-being of our creatures both now and for future generations to come,” Pritchard added.
Sea Life London is located on the South Bank. Merlin Entertainments operates more than 40 Sea Life attractions across the world, caring for more than 180,000 creatures in themed habitats.
Images: Merlin Entertainments
