Pasha Research Assistant Animals at Work

Hi, this is the show that brings you animals at work. Ha!

Around the world there are millions of animals that have jobs.

When we say we've got animals at work, we're not kidding!

This is the show that brings you the most extraordinary,

bizarre and unusual animals at work.

BRAYING

Coming up...

Pasha the lioness goes missing while working undercover in Kenya.

We meet a very funny looking model.

And blood donors, Caleb and Rudi save the life of this doggy damsel.

Hi, and welcome to the show.

You could say the next animal at work is doing a roaring trade.

Roooaaar!

GROWLS Yeah! It's lions.

Join Animals At Work in Africa as we see some lions

with a big job on their hands...paws.

You know what I mean!

First we're off to Nanyuki in Kenya.

Sitting on the equator in the depths of Africa is a wildlife park

called Ol Pejea.

The park is absolutely massive!

The conservation park is home to...

And, um, finally the coolest cats in the park...

It's a very difficult job to keep track of all these animals.

The park is huge and the animals don't stay still to be counted.

THEME TUNE TO "Indiana Jones" PLAYS

Meet the ecology researcher, Stephen.

He has the gigantic responsibility

of keeping up-to-date information about a pride of lions

who could be anywhere in the park on any given day.

If Stephen can't find the lions to count them

his records will have mistakes and these mistakes will cause problems

for the lions in the park.

Too many lions can mean not enough food to go around.

And too few lions could lead to them all disappearing.

Keeping an eye on this pride all on his own became impossible for Stephen

but as it's so important to keep a check on them

Stephen decided to hire an assistant who could help him.

# You know that I could use somebody... #

Stephen's assistant needed very specific qualifications.

He needed someone who could...

Stephen started looking for his new employee and found...

Pasha, the lioness.

STEPHEN:

Yes, that's right.

He's getting extra help from this lovely lioness.

As she can...

..in her pride of 14 lions.

Pasha is the dominant female in the pride.

And leads the hunt

so that's two more boxes ticked.

# She's so lovely She's so lovely

# She's so lovely She's so lovely... #

-Look at that magnificent coat!

-Ohh!

-Those big gorgeous eyes.

-Ohh!

And that authentically furry body.

Pasha is one fit feline!

With all these qualifications, Pasha is a lioness with the mostess.

STEPHEN:

Pasha is fitted with a special radio collar.

It may not be the most fashionable accessory

but this collar silently transmits signals to Stephen

and allows him to easily find and monitor the pride of lions.

THEME TO "Mission Impossible" PLAYS

Sporting her special collar, Pasha is sent on her mission.

Her assignment is to go undercover with other lions

so that when Stephen wants to find the pride

all he needs to do is find secret agent Pasha.

But just a few weeks into her new job Pasha goes so far undercover

she disappears!

This is disastrous!

With Pasha missing, Stephen won't be able to make sure the pride is OK.

Will Stephen find his super spy?

Find out later.

But now we're heading to New York in the USA.

Meet Blossom.

Don't worry, Blossom hasn't shrunk in the wash.

She's a Shar Pei.

Look at this face, only a face a mother could love!

She's got such character and that's why people love her.

Shar Pei is a way of saying "sandpaper" in China.

And these funny-looking dogs are called it

because their skin is so rough to the touch.

Blossom is unique in that she has maintained her puppy look

as an adult. She's kept her wrinkles which is not common in a Shar Pei.

Yes, having a coat like sandpaper isn't the only weird thing

about Blossom's skin.

Young Shar Pei's have lots and lots of it

which they literally grow into

so they get less and less wrinkly over time. But not so Blossom.

She has a puppy look but she has the mind of an adult.

And that's why Blossom is a model.

# You're beautiful... #

CAMERA CLICKS

Now just before you crease up with laughter, ha ha!

We have to tell you that Blossom is a very famous foxy lady.

And has appeared in adverts, newspapers, birthday cards

-and calendars.

-Ooh!

In fact, Blossom is in lots and lots of adverts

for any product that will get rid of wrinkles.

But there's a lot of competition in the doggy modelling world, and lately

Blossom just hasn't been getting the gigs.

We need to have her face out there. We need to promote her a bit more.

We have the next Lassie with wrinkles here,

if anybody's out there watching!

So there was only one thing for it, if the jobs aren't coming to Blossom

then Blossom will have to go to the jobs.

And where better to start than the capital of glitz and glamour,

New York City!

We're going to the Big Apple, right, Blos? Huh?

You know what they say - if you can make it here

you can make it anywhere.

New York City - where Blossom has an audition

for a very lucrative calendar modelling contract.

This way.

A place in a calendar is at stake.

There are two tough judges,

and even tougher competition.

Nicole, could you bring Grub over, please?

What we do for these calendars is not easy.

People think they can just bring their dog in

and snap the picture and that's it.

Good.

Yes, Blossom will have to get past this doggy model elite

if she wants to be a calendar girl.

Marilyn, bring in Blossom.

It's been quite a while since Blossom has had a job.

What will the judges think of her?

Can you show us what Blossom can do?

-But being beautiful isn't the only talent Blossom has.

-Stay.

-She has another trick up her sleeve.

-That's very cute.

This doggy is a dab paw at the foxtrot.

What we found was when we turned on music she really enjoyed music.

So we started doing obedience to music which is known as freestyle.

MUSIC PLAYS

So was our crumpled pooch winning over the judges?

The Shar Pei's were very much in style about six or eight years ago.

And you didn't see them for a long time.

So I think maybe it's time for a Shar Pei comeback

and I think Blossom has what it takes.

Blossom was wonderful. She was very, very talented.

She's very good.

Blossom's whole career hangs in the balance.

It's all down to the judges' decision.

Marilyn, I'd like very much for Blossom to be in the next calendar.

Oh, that's wonderful!

-We'd like her to be Miss April.

-Oh! Great!

Aah! Blossom, you're back in business!

We've been surfing the net to find out what animals get up to

on their days off.

And it looks like these pets have been working too hard.

# ..Still cooling, I'm still yawning

# Yeah, I'll wake up hair and make-up

# Waiting for you Don't be stalling

# This performance is important I don't think I can put my all in

# Camera crews don't get no love from me, just let me be

# Oh, my gosh... #

Anyone for a cat nap?

And it's back to Ol Pejea Wildlife Park in Kenya.

Three weeks ago Pasha the lioness got a job

as Stephen's undercover research assistant.

She was acting as a spy so that Stephen could

keep an eye on her pride.

But Pasha has gone missing.

But as the weeks flew by, all of Stephen's attempts to contact

his special agent have failed.

Stephen is worried that Pasha

may have separated from her pride.

This would make collecting information about Pasha's gang

a mission even more impossible than usual.

BEEPING

Stephen is desperately seeking Pasha. If he doesn't find her

before nightfall tonight, his critical research on the pride

will become dangerously out of date.

And since lions are most active at night,

every evening that goes by takes the pride further and further away

from where Stephen last found them.

Trying to locate a lion in this huge park

is like looking for a needle in a haystack

and the transmitter only works

within a range of five kilometres away from Pasha.

Finally, there's something in the distance. Could it be Pasha?

No. That's some other cool cats.

Three male cheetahs.

Cheetahs can't be collared like lions

so the only way of tracking them and collecting data

is to actually find them on the reserve.

There is no way to be a cheater when tracking cheetahs.

Ooh, there's something else.

No. That's an ostrich.

Looks nothing like a lion, Stephen.

And these guys are far too big to be lions!

Where is that pesky pride?

Even on top of his car

Stephen still isn't seeing eye to eye with these giraffes.

His neck's a little to be a lion, eh, Stephen?

All these other animals help Stephen with his research in their own way.

By knowing how many animals are in the park

he can make sure that all of them are happy

and there is plenty of food for all.

Oh, Stephen! Pasha couldn't go undercover with those rhinos.

She's not there, either.

BEEPING

Wait, wait, wait!

Who's that cat over there?

This big girl is Pasha's daughter, Poppy.

Female lions can weigh between 120 and 185 kilograms.

About as much as 2,500 chocolate bars!

With a cat as big as Poppy around,

Stephen is wisely staying in the car.

Stephen hopes this means Pasha and the pride are near.

But still no signal.

Stephen drives on.

That's no lion! That ugly mug is a warthog.

But he looks like he might be running away from something.

Maybe he's trying NOT to be a tasty treat for Pasha's pride.

The sun will soon set and Stephen still hasn't located Pasha

and the other lions from the pride.

It's like this crafty cat has just vanished!

BEEPING, SIGNAL SOUNDS Wait! What's that?

Just when he was about to head for home.

Stephen picks up a faint beep on the tracking device.

Oh, this is great news!

Pasha, the research assistant is no more than five kilometres away.

Stephen has found Pasha's spy signal

but will he be able to locate her before night falls?

You know, some jobs really do bleed you dry.

A little like this one. Hey, buddy. Don't you think?

DOG WHINES No, no. Don't take offence!

Because I am talking about a couple of doggy donors

who are true bloodhounds. That's right.

Join Animals At Work as we see some caring canines

for who, saving lives is all in a day's work.

And now to Coalville in England.

MUSIC: "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler

Meet some super skinny superheroes.

These canine crusaders save other doggy lives by giving blood.

# I need a hero...! #

Caleb's really lively and he's a happy dog.

He wants to be friends with everybody.

This one's Rudi. He's a gent.

He's very laid back and very chilled out.

He'd much prefer to do this than anything else.

This dynamic duo have donated lots of blood over the years,

including a pouch of blood to this pooch.

Meet Melody.

Six months ago she needed some rescuing.

She went to bed

not feeling very well.

So we said

we'll see how she is in the morning.

We knew straight away, or within 24 hours

that there was something seriously wrong with her.

It was very clear when she stood up and just collapsed.

I rang the vet and they said to bring her down.

I had to carry her to the car which is unheard of.

Usually as soon as you open the door she's the first one there.

I had to carry her into the vets to which she said there's something

definitely wrong with her.

It wasn't looking good for lifeless Melody.

At this point veterinary surgeons did not know what was wrong with her.

Tests on her blood later revealed that she was desperately ill.

The blood tests showed that she was very anaemic.

Life-threateningly so.

So it was decided that we had to perform a blood transfusion

which was the only way of providing her with more red blood cells

to work with.

So she was really ill.

I thought she was going to die.

Enter super mutts, Caleb and Rudi to the rescue!

These super healthy hounds give blood to local vets to save the lives

of doggies in distress.

Good!

That was great!

We take approximately 450mls.

It's the same amount as we would take from a person.

Greyhounds do make very good donors.

The type of their blood is generally one which is useful.

Five minutes later, Caleb's life-saving work is done.

Oh, I know!

THEY LAUGH

Oh, it's so very tiring being a hairy hero!

As he gets his strength back with some food

his brother Rudi is also doing his bit.

I expect he wishes he could come more often, eh?

-Exactly!

-Good boy.

I look forward to seeing you next time. Thank you very much.

Thanks to doggy donors like wonder team, Caleb and Rudi

today Melody is fit and well and back to her old self.

She'll never stay still. And I love her!

Heroic works, super mutts!

We've been surfing the net to find out what animals get up to

on their days off.

Check out this cheeky tortoise and the cat that couldn't get away.

# Cos you're hot then you're cold You're yes and then you're no

# You're in and you're out You're up then you're down

# You're wrong when it's right It's black and it's white

# We fight, we break up We kiss, we make up... #

Now to Dunster in England.

In the small town of Dunster in Somerset, England

there lives a refined canine teacher of excellent breeding

and genteel manners.

Meet Stan - a professional who teaches other pooches

to mind their Ps and Qs.

Stan, basically uses

his own natural skills that he was born with.

He teaches them how to understand other dogs,

how to read what other dogs are saying.

How being offensive achieves nothing.

For three-and-a-half years Stan and his partner Angela

have conducted canine courtesy classes

at Stanley's School of Canine Etiquette.

Stan is perfect for this teaching position

because who better to understand what's dogging a misbehaving mutt

than a fellow dog?

# ..When she stops nobody knows

# What a good excuse to be a bad influence on you... #

DOGS BARK

Today Stan is conducting a class for students

with anger management issues.

As the eager pupils pour in,

Stan shows them how to behave in a civilised manner.

DOGS BARK

# I've done everything as you say

# I've followed your rules without question... #

Coach Stan supervises his rowdy charges and checks out their manners.

He certainly has his work cut out for him today with this crowd.

She's OK.

But in every class there is always one stand out bad kid.

We brought Zeus cos he's got a problem with aggression

towards other dogs.

He's never been socialised properly when he was a pup.

Zeus is such a growing concern that for Stan's safety

this rude boy must wear a muzzle.

ZEUS BARKS

Zeus fails to greet his etiquette instructor like a proper gent.

Temper, temper, angry Zeus!

You won't make any new friends with an attitude like that!

Stan stays calm.

Cool and collected, while hooligan Zeus shouts and yells at him.

Whatever is Zeus making such a fuss about?

Good. He's good.

He's doing well. Well done, honey.

Finally, teacher Stan's calming influence brings this dog to heal.

OK? So really good news.

Really good news.

20 minutes later and Zeus did very well for his first class.

But he'll need a few more classes until he's a commendable canine.

But if you thought he was a mean mutt...

meet scary Shylo.

I wouldn't do that.

She first came to see Stan three weeks ago.

Shylo has seen Stan a few times now but today is the big day.

How will she react when she is unmuzzled and let free

with another dog for the first time?

-DISTANT BARKING

-She hasn't charged at him

-like before.

-No, not at all.

See the way his head's going down?

He turned his head away because she's not comfortable with him.

And now he's saying, "Come on, darling."

"Come and have a talk with me. I mean you no harm."

Always a polite pooch, Stan tries to teach this bold dog

some new tricks.

MUSIC: "Lean On Me"

Yes, Stan is very cool with this mischievous mutt.

Success!

Over the course of a couple of weeks Shylo has gone from crazy canine...

..to playful pooch.

Has she ever played with any other dogs like this before?

Not with a new dog. I think it's amazing!

Stan has made some remarkable progress with this class today.

This difficult dogs are finally on their way to being a little more

calm and friendly.

I've never met a dog with such compassion.

He doesn't start arguments, he settles them.

And he teaches other dogs on how to settle them.

Thanks, Stan, for being such a perfect gentleman.

And it's back to Ol Pejea Wildlife Park in Kenya.

Pasha the lion has been missing for weeks.

And her boss Stephen is very concerned that this could mean

there are problems for her pride.

BEEPING

With only a few hours left before nightfall

Stephen is desperate to make contact with Pasha and the other lions

before they disappear into the darkness.

SIGNAL SOUNDS

Stephen has finally picked up a signal from Pasha's collar

on his tracking device.

This means Pasha could be anywhere within five kilometres of Stephen

and the receiver.

After weeks of looking, finally a stronger signal.

Stephen must be getting closer to making contact with his secret agent.

What's that on the grass?!

At last, Stephen has found Pasha's pride!

Stephen needs to get closer for a better look.

But if he's not careful his engine noise will frighten the buffalos.

Uh-oh! It's a stampede.

If the thundering stampede disturbs the lions,

Stephen could lose the pride again.

All Stephen can do is watch and wait.

Thankfully the pride stay put but it's just because this lot

are a bunch of lazybones!

Well fed lions spend 19 hours a day sleeping

and this lot are looking pretty tired!

SNORING

Stephen carefully gets closer and searches for his assistant, Pasha.

There she is!

Stephen has found Pasha!

She is doing some excellent undercover work with the other lions.

Finally Stephen is able to get even closer and complete his observations.

He is able to record that this appears to be a healthy

and a happy pride.

Pasha's mission has been a success!

She's done the lion's share of the work

assisting Stephen with his investigations on the pride.

Pasha-tastic skills, super spy research lion!

Animals At Work - take one! And, action, John!

I'm with my friend Pepper and we're going to have some doggone fun,

ain't we, Pepper?

Listen to this, how come dogs are such bad dancers?

Cos they got two left feet!

-JOHN LAUGHS

-John, we haven't got time for this.

I've got another one.

What kind of dog keeps good time?

A watch dog!

Watch dog! Pepper, that's hysterical, isn't it?

I know you liked that one.

Hey! Where are you going?

Come back here!

I was just kidding. That was a joke! And a bad one!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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