Animals lovers at London and Whipsnade Zoos team up to create record-breaking artwork
This May, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) made waves with a wild record attempt.
The UK-based science-led conservation charity has rallied visitors of all ages for a collaborative, one-of-a-kind art installation: a record-breaking painting by numbers.
The artwork, brimming with colours and creative illustrations of wild animals, invited everyone to take part and learn more about animal advocacy.
The record attempt took place during Half Term, between Saturday 23 May and the following Sunday 31 May.
With the aid of the sunny weather, the event attracted a mammoth crowd of 14,024 participants. It set an unprecedented record for the most contributions to a painting by numbers (multiple venues), exceeding the minimum requirement by almost 1,000 people.
Animal lovers, families and little artists could take part in the record attempt at ZSL’s two leading conservation zoos:
- London Zoo, located in the heart of London, at Regent’s Park
- Whipsnade Zoo, located near Dunstable, Bedfordshire
The record attempt also celebrated ZSL’s 200th anniversary, paying homage to the British charity's longstanding contributions to scientific research, as well as its relentless efforts to nurture and inspire the next generation of wildlife advocates.
This morning, Guinness World Records Adjudicator William Sinden visited London Zoo to officially announce the record (and, of course, to say hello to the stars of the artwork: the animals!).
“London and Whipsnade Zoo has created a really special record-breaking moment here, bringing thousands of visitors together to mark ZSL’s 200th anniversary in such a colourful and creative way,” Will said.
"Every one of the 14,024 contributors played a part in creating this extraordinary artwork, and it’s lovely to see a Guinness World Records title achieved through creativity, community and a shared love of wildlife."
He continued: “It’s a brilliant example of how a shared challenge can bring people of all ages together and give everyone the chance to be part of something truly memorable.”
Will handed the certificate to Glynn Hennessey, a primate keeper who has been working at London Zoo for nearly three decades, while surrounded by some very special guests.
An adorable audience of Humboldt penguins stole the show, overseeing that everything went paw-rfectly during the certificate presentation.
Painting supplies in hand, everyone unleashed their creativity on the painting-by-numbers panels.
While having fun with colours, the impromptu artists could also chat with the ZSL team overseeing the event, learning more about animals and the importance of ZSL's research and commitment to wildlife preservation.
Just as in the case of the painting, every contribution can make a difference in the collective endeavours needed to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Number after number, thousands of creative efforts came together into one big masterpiece.
At the end of the week-long record attempt, everyone's creativity brought to life a kaleidoscopic shared artwork packed with different animals and vibrant colours. It featured – among many others – bright parrots, reptiles, butterflies, and even a gorgeous gorilla.
The choice of featuring 200 animals in the artwork nodded to ZSL's history, as 2026 marks their 200th Anniversary.
In the official release shared by ZSL, Events Manager Victoria Sage commented: "We’re delighted to have broken the Guinness World Records title, making our 200th year even more memorable!"
To make the day even more memorable, all participants can claim their own special Certificate.
An official Record Participant Certificate offers a unique way to celebrate every record-breaking visitor who got involved, joining ZSL in this record-setting achievement. It's also the perfect token to commemorate your achievement, and tell everyone that you are Officially Amazing.
There's no better way to show off that you were part of something amazing!
Aiming for a record seemed like the perfect way to celebrate ZSL's bicentennial commitment to wildlife conservation.
Part of a year-long calendar of activities celebrating the charity's 200th Anniversary, the record attempt offered a fantastic opportunity for visitors of all ages to get involved and learn more about the animals, their unique habitats, and the challenges they face.
The event — which blended creativity, animal facts, and a fun opportunity to learn more about nature — perfectly resonated with ZSL's mission of connecting people to wildlife.
It also shone a light on the charity's history and continuous commitment to conservation and animal advocacy.
However, ZSL is far from new to record breaking.
Founded in April 1826 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, today the London-based organization stands out as the world's oldest zoological society.
Ever since, it has continued to pioneer groundbreaking scientific milestones.
Among the notable firsts and achievements assembled by the science-led conservation charity through the years, we cannot forget the first public aquarium.
Commissioned in February 1853, the groundbreaking space opened its doors in May 1853 and became famous with the name "Fish House".
In 1938, London Zoo also became the very first zoo in the world to contain a children's zoo.
As the record title for most contributions to a painting-by-numbers adds a new, wildly colourful milestone to their collection of records, the future surely looks bright for ZSL.
We can’t wait to see what records they might break in the future.
