ZIMS at Work: ZSL London Zoo shares annual weigh-in via ZIMS

August 30, 2020
Mary Ellen Amodeo
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When Species360 member Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo conducted its annual weigh-in earlier this month, the team also highlighted how the data is recorded and shared using the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

The world’s oldest scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo has a long history of curating a wealth of data about its animals, their care, welfare, medical, and breeding. And ZSL was among the institutions that launched Species360 more than 40 years ago, with the vision of capturing, securing, and sharing vital insight from animal data. In the beginning, institutions like ZSL painstakingly transferred decades — centuries even! – of data into digital records that now comprise the ZIMS database.

Caption: “The annual weigh-in is an opportunity for keepers at ZSL London Zoo to make sure the information they’ve recorded is up-to-date and accurate, as each measurement is then added to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a database shared with zoos all over the world that helps zookeepers to compare important information on thousands of endangered species.” (Photo courtesy of ZSL)

Today, husbandry teams, curators, and veterinarians around the world use ZIMS to curate and share vital information with the global wildlife community, helping to improve animal welfare worldwide and inform species conservation and research.

“By sharing information with other zoos and conservationists worldwide, we can all use this knowledge to better care for the species we’re striving to protect,” said ZSL’s assistant curator of mammals, Teague Stubbington, in this ZSL feature, “A weighty matter.”

Thank you for all you do! Be sure to read the full ZSL article here.