London Zoo joins in World Selfie Day with shots "taken" by animals

APD NEWS

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The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats, released a gallery of "animal selfies" to mark the World Selfie Day on Sunday.

Images of wild elephants, giraffes, baboons and zebras were taken from ground-breaking ZSL camera traps that have taken snaps over the past four years.

Images are taken live when animals are close to the remote cameras.

It features giraffes craning their long necks to find the perfect angle, zebra herds gathering for group shots and a baboon mom showing off her newborn.

As a ZSL citizen science initiative, its Instant Wild app uploads images of animals from conservation sites around the world for users to identify, helping to protect critically endangered wildlife including black rhinos and pangolins.

"During lockdown we saw an incredible 200 percent surge in visitors to the app. We're so pleased we've been able to connect people with nature during these difficult times and are grateful for their contribution to conservation," said ZSL's Monitoring and Technology Manager Anthony Dancer.

The ZSL said a lack of funding, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, has put its world-leading expertise in science and conservation in serious jeopardy.

The international conservation charity's work is only possible because of funds raised through their two zoos, London and Whipsnade, both of which are now open again to the public but operating at a much reduced capacity to ensure social distancing.