0:00:00 > 0:00:03Welcome to Animals At Work, the show with everything.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05Well...mostly animals at work.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10All over the planet, millions of animals have jobs.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Wah!
0:00:11 > 0:00:16This show brings you the funniest, coolest and most bizarre...
0:00:16 > 0:00:19animals at work.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Don't go anywhere. It's going to be wi-i-i-ild.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Coming up...
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Mei Mei, the brave orphan otter, needs to learn to be a binman
0:00:28 > 0:00:30to be accepted by the otter clan.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33We meet a very unusual ranch manager.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35COW MOOS
0:00:37 > 0:00:41And the Fanimals work out which animals have a hidden talent.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43But now it's...
0:00:43 > 0:00:44show time!
0:01:01 > 0:01:05I got pineapple cubes. I know you really like them. Look.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Hi. I'm John Barrowman and welcome to the show.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Get ready to meet another extraordinary animal at work.
0:01:20 > 0:01:26Our first incredible animal at work is in Singapore, in South-East Asia.
0:01:32 > 0:01:38Meet Mei Mei, a brave otter who's faced up to a lot in her short life.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40At only a few weeks old,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Mei Mei suffered devastating tragedy when she lost her mum.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50# Everybody hurts
0:01:50 > 0:01:51# Sometimes... #
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Being orphaned is potentially deadly for a baby otter
0:01:55 > 0:01:58as normally they learn the ability to swim
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and other survival skills from their mums.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Come. Good girl. Come here.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Luckily, fate was on baby Mei Mei's side.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10One day she was discovered by otter expert Poh Shan,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and her entire life changed.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20Poh Shan became Mei Mei's foster mum, and raised her by hand.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I've seen every step of her life.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27I've seen her open up her eyes, teaching her how to swim,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29basically being a mother to her.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Under the loving guidance of Poh Shan, Mei Mei's come a long way.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Mei has a very great personality, and she's really, really adorable.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45People get a connection with her the first time they see her.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Adorable as she is, Mei Mei can be a little cheeky
0:02:48 > 0:02:50when it comes to treats.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51No!
0:02:51 > 0:02:53No!
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Mei Mei has grown up quickly and with her second birthday just gone,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02she's old enough to start a job with the other otters at her zoo,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04as...a binman.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09The Singapore Zoo binmen are a crack team of otters who teach
0:03:09 > 0:03:15people how to save the planet, with their very own recycling show.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17These clever otters perform nightly,
0:03:17 > 0:03:22sorting through rubbish, separating the paper, plastic and metal,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26then dropping them into the right recycling bin.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28The otters' hands, or forepaws,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31make them perfect for their jobs.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34They are known to have dexterous fingers.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36They're good with their hands.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Clearly, this is more than just a job - it's a very important message.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46The audience gets the message of recycling when the otters do it
0:03:46 > 0:03:49so that's why we have the otters
0:03:49 > 0:03:51as ambassadors of recycling.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56Like all otters, Mei Mei dreams of a career as a binman
0:03:56 > 0:04:00but in her case, becoming part of the team means a lot more.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03It's nothing less than her whole future.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Otters thrive in a pack, so it's vital that she joins
0:04:10 > 0:04:14the resident otter family to live a happy life.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Currently, Mei Mei is housed alone
0:04:20 > 0:04:24because she hasn't been trained as a recycling otter.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29To mix a young otter with the rest of the old otters
0:04:29 > 0:04:33is difficult because they fight if they don't like each other.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Poh Shan hopes that if Mei Mei can become successful at her job,
0:04:38 > 0:04:43the other otters will accept her and welcome her into their family.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47And today's Mei Mei's big chance.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51She has the opportunity to take part in this evening's show.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55If Mei Mei can do a good job and impress the other otters,
0:04:55 > 0:04:56her life will be changed.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00She'll get a full-time job and her own family -
0:05:00 > 0:05:02the stakes are really high.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06But Mei Mei has a lot of work to do.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Time is not on her side. The show is only a few hours away,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14and she has a lot to learn, starting with how to pick up a bottle.
0:05:14 > 0:05:20It's the biggest day of her life. Can she earn a job and a new family?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Use it, use it, use it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Later, Mei Mei struggles with her training.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31Can she learn the skills to win over the binmen otters?
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- And now those kids who love animals, it's the...- Fanimals! Yes!
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Let's meet the Fanimals, our animal detectives.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Today the Fanimals have to find out...
0:05:55 > 0:06:00ALL: What animal would make the best landscape gardener?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The candidates are three magnificent mammals -
0:06:03 > 0:06:05George the Giraffe,
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Suzy the Zebra,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and Henry the Bactrian camel.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13To be a gardener you need to have strength for heavy lifting,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16be surefooted so you don't trample your delicate plants
0:06:16 > 0:06:21and be heat-resistant so you can endure the hot weather outdoors.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Who do the Fanimals think might get the job?
0:06:26 > 0:06:31I think it could be giraffes because they have long necks.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35I think it could be a camel because they won't need breaks for a drink.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Whoa, zip! Don't answer just yet - Let's get the facts.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Landscape gardener candidate number one - George the Giraffe.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52George and his mates are the world's tallest land animals.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56They can reach up to 5.5m tall - that's two floors!
0:06:58 > 0:07:02And their neck alone is about two metres long.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08If giraffes wrap their neck around a tree they could pull it out.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11They're one of few mammals able to see colour -
0:07:11 > 0:07:13handy for garden design.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20A giraffe's tongue is so clever they can trim thorny plants,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24like the Acacia tree, their favourite spiky snack.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27But could those snacks distract a gardener?
0:07:27 > 0:07:28THEY LAUGH
0:07:28 > 0:07:33Landscape gardener candidate number two - Suzy the Zebra.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Suzy and other zebras are crazy for grazing.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45They graze all day, so they'd keep the grass nice and short.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49They are cool because they have beautiful stripes on them.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54Their stripes are also as unique as a fingerprint.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Could that help in the garden?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- I'm not sure.- It's ugly. - A zebra might make a good co-worker.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03They're known for social and communication skills.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07But one quality other gardeners may not appreciate -
0:08:07 > 0:08:11they've got a deadly kick. It can even harm a lion!
0:08:11 > 0:08:15AAARRRRRGHHHH!
0:08:15 > 0:08:17I want to cuddle it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19I don't.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24Landscape gardener candidate number three - Henry the Bactrian camel.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Camels are cool because they have bendy backs.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Henry's food bill wouldn't be much - camels can go for several months
0:08:33 > 0:08:38without food, thanks to their humps, which are actually mounds of fat.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42They can go for a week without water, but when they do hydrate,
0:08:42 > 0:08:48they can drink up to 145 litres of water in just ten minutes.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52That's quick drinking.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53It could be a camel
0:08:53 > 0:08:57because they won't need breaks to get a drink.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01They're not that tall so they can't get at big trees.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04There's one soft, padded part of the camel
0:09:04 > 0:09:07to make them a good gardener - it's their feet!
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Camels have feet, not hooves,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and feet don't damage grass.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14THEY LAUGH
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Our animal detectives have gathered the facts
0:09:17 > 0:09:20and it's time to make a decision.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Who would make the best landscape gardener?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30ALL: We think it's a giraffe!
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Let's see if they're right.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Yes, they are!
0:09:36 > 0:09:38ALL: Yay!
0:09:38 > 0:09:41The zebra's grazing would keep the grass neat
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and the camel's feet would protect turf,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48but George the Giraffe would make the best landscape gardener,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51thanks to his tongue, which could grasp
0:09:51 > 0:09:55and hold onto anything which needs pruning.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57His tongue's long and blue.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Giraffes also have thick, sticky saliva
0:10:00 > 0:10:02that coats thorns they swallow,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06which would come in handy when pruning rose bushes!
0:10:06 > 0:10:10So great work, Fanimals - but until you can hire a giraffe,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14you're going to have to take care of the garden yourselves! Ha ha!
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Now let's head back to Singapore in South-East Asia.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Earlier we met Mei Mei, the two-year-old otter
0:10:22 > 0:10:26who's faced-up to being an orphan.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Now, she's reached an important time in her life.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36She has an opportunity to work with the Singapore Zoo otter binmen -
0:10:36 > 0:10:42the stars of a daily show which teaches the value of recycling.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46For Mei Mei, this is more than just a job opportunity.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49If she earns herself a place on the binmen team,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Mei Mei wins acceptance
0:10:52 > 0:10:56and finally she'll have what she's always wanted - a family.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02# Nobody said it was easy... #
0:11:04 > 0:11:06But time isn't on her side.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Her debut show is in only a few hours,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11AND she has a lot to learn.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14It's time to get down to business.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18To become a binman otter, she must learn to obey commands
0:11:18 > 0:11:21but that's not a skill all otters have.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Mei Mei needs to prove she can learn to do as she's asked.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29This is the first step - we teach her to stay in one spot.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35If she picks this up, things are looking good. It will indicate
0:11:35 > 0:11:39that she'll take to the rest of her training.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41But keeping still is easier than it sounds
0:11:41 > 0:11:44for an otter who loves to be on the move.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48For an active animal like Mei Mei, it's quite difficult
0:11:48 > 0:11:50to get her to stay in one spot.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Poh Shan uses a special clicker
0:11:53 > 0:11:56and tasty treats to help train Mei Mei.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'Sounds like a good idea. Let's get to it.'
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Mei Mei's keen. She's on the box.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- This is a great start.- Stay.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14- But now the hard bit. Will she be able to stay still?- Stay.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Come on, Mei Mei.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Oh, no! She's off!
0:12:20 > 0:12:23The pressure's got to her!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Mei Mei, come.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30But there's no keeping this otter down,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33not when she's got so much riding on it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38- She's back and ready to have another go.- Stay.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40- Mei Mei's determined. - Good.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Stay.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46She's up on the box.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Oh, I can hardly stand it.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I can't watch.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- Good.- Oh, wow! She's cracked it! She's not going anywhere!
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Great work, Mei Mei!
0:12:59 > 0:13:03In the shortest of time, Mei Mei's proven
0:13:03 > 0:13:05she can follow commands.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- This is big, and Poh Shan knows it. - I'm proud of her.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I can't stop smiling.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17But now it's the final step in Mei Mei's training.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20She needs to learn the main part of the otter binman's job -
0:13:20 > 0:13:24how to recycle rubbish.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The otter binmen sort through bottles
0:13:27 > 0:13:29and drop them into the bin.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33This is going to be Mei Mei's biggest challenge yet.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Everything's riding on this. Come on, Mei Mei.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38- Take the bottle.- Here goes.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40She's over to the bottle.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Now she just needs to carry it to the bin.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47She tries and tries but she simply can't do it.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Oh, Mei Mei...
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Her tiny young paws could be too small.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57At this rate, there's no way she'll be ready for the show.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00She may not be able to make it in time.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Now there's about four hours to the show.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Time is running out.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This is simply terrible. It's awful.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10If Mei Mei can't become an otter binman,
0:14:10 > 0:14:15any dreams of a happy future with a new family are over.
0:14:17 > 0:14:23Later, will Mei Mei complete her training in time for the show
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and get a family?
0:14:32 > 0:14:36I'm setting up my own animal employment agency.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Yeah, I'm going to make a fortune!
0:14:48 > 0:14:52I've been running my own animal employment agency for a few months
0:14:52 > 0:14:57and things are, um...super.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59They're super. Really super.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02I know you asked for a secretary...
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I know the snake can't answer phone calls.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08OK, so she can't type but she's really very, very funny.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Have you asked her a joke?
0:15:10 > 0:15:14She's hiss-terical! Ha ha ha!
0:15:14 > 0:15:15PHONE HANGS UP
0:15:16 > 0:15:18(No sense of humour.)
0:15:18 > 0:15:24I mean, if I'm honest, I guess things aren't going exactly to plan.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28I know the bull wasn't the best assistant for the china shop,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30but it was short notice.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34I know the crocodile wasn't supposed to eat the toilet
0:15:34 > 0:15:36but I need that money.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40I really need the money. Please! Please!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Hello?
0:15:42 > 0:15:47I've decided I might close my animal employment agency
0:15:47 > 0:15:52for a few weeks. I think I just need a holiday, a bit of a break.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54PHONE RINGS
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Hello? I think you have the wrong number. Bye-ee!
0:16:03 > 0:16:07As I was saying, I'm going to go on holiday.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Now, we're off to El Dorado Hills in California.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Welcome to the Grace Foundation Ranch,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32a relaxing home for animals rescued from bad situations.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38But with 13 horses, six dogs,
0:16:38 > 0:16:43four goats, three sheep, plenty of chickens and some noisy roosters,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46the ranch owners need some special help.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Which is where this lady comes in.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Meet Milkshake, a two and a half year old, 1,200-pound ranch manager
0:16:55 > 0:17:00who certainly has her work cut out.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Milkshake has lots of jobs. She always has a pretty busy schedule.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09This ranch manager's duties see her constantly on patrol -
0:17:09 > 0:17:13making everything run smoothly, acting as tour guide...
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Don't stand too close cos she might poop on you.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18And that's not all.
0:17:18 > 0:17:24She takes care of the other animals. Because she's so kind and so quiet,
0:17:24 > 0:17:29they're drawn to her, and they feel she's going to be safe for them
0:17:29 > 0:17:31and she seems to know what she's doing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34The other animals want to follow her.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Milkshake understands what rescued animals need
0:17:37 > 0:17:42because for her first two years, she was in a bad situation herself.
0:17:42 > 0:17:48When we found Milkshake, she was in a tiny pen and she had no shelter.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53She looked so sad and she was so dirty, and she was scared.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Luckily, Milkshake was rescued and her life was changed.
0:17:57 > 0:18:03But her relationship with her human friends would have a side effect.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07We're her first contact with any other living being
0:18:07 > 0:18:10and it took her a while but soon she thought she was a human
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and wanted to be with us all the time.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17That's right - once Milkshake got a taste of human life,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21she was udderly determined not to be treated like a cow again.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30So, as ranch manager, Milkshake reckons she's got the right
0:18:30 > 0:18:34to go anywhere her friends can go, and I mean anywhere.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Her favourite place to follow me is to the bathroom
0:18:37 > 0:18:42and when I'm in there, wanting some private time away from her,
0:18:42 > 0:18:46she'll try and push the door open, and then she'll look under.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48"Are you still in there?"
0:18:48 > 0:18:50So everybody knows I'm in the bathroom!
0:18:50 > 0:18:54But there's a serious side to Milkshake's job.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Every day, her schedule squeezes in a VIP visit,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01and today is an especially busy one,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04as a huge school group arrives.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- OK, guys, how are you today? ALL:- Good!
0:19:08 > 0:19:14Milkshake introduces the other animals, including special horses.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Tanny is a two year old and she was born blind.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20She also loves to smell.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Next, Milkshake and the vet
0:19:22 > 0:19:26give a little lesson on how animals' bodies work.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Milkshake has a heart just like a human heart.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32I'll show you where to listen so that you can hear it.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Milkshake is all heart!
0:19:34 > 0:19:39Put that flat white part right up against her skin.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41No-one wants to get too close.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Do you want to smell her breath?
0:19:44 > 0:19:45- ALL:- No, thank you!
0:19:45 > 0:19:47How rude!
0:19:47 > 0:19:52Next, to the classroom. Have you ever had a cow in your classroom?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- Maybe that's why. - Milkshake, No!
0:19:55 > 0:19:58But despite a little bit of misbehaviour,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Milkshake's once again won more fans.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04She's the friendliest cow.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08- Everyone should be like Milkshake. - She's...really nice.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09She's unique.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15So, another job done and how better to end a hard day than with a feast?
0:20:15 > 0:20:20Good on you, Milkshake. You've created one happy ranch. Yee-ha!
0:20:23 > 0:20:26It's not just today that animals have had jobs.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31In fact, in the past, they've had even more amazing jobs than today.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35And here are those History's Heroes!
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Hello, I'm Professor John Bumbleman, animal historian.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43I've written many books and amassed a fortune.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44PHONE RINGS
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Excuse me. Hello, John Bumbleman.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50It's my banker. What?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I've got no money left?!
0:20:52 > 0:20:57Oh, dear. I'm broke! How embarrassing!
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Right. Let me tell you about some animals who,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04it would appear, have more money than me. Oh, dear!
0:21:04 > 0:21:05HE SOBS
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Our first high earner worked in Hollywood in 1939.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Terry, a black Cairn Terrier, shot to fame
0:21:12 > 0:21:16playing Dorothy's beloved pet in the film The Wizard Of Oz.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21Terry did pretty well from her work by earning roughly £75 a week.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Not so great for the human actors who played the Munchkins.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30They only earned £25 a week. Ouch!
0:21:30 > 0:21:34Our next wealthy worker didn't start life on the rich list.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39In 1918, a German Shepherd was rescued from a kennel in France
0:21:39 > 0:21:41by an American soldier.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The puppy was named Rin-Tin-Tin and whisked off
0:21:44 > 0:21:46to the soldier's home in America.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51Four years later, Rin-Tin-Tin auditioned for a role in a film.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53The audition went very, very well.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57He did the scene perfectly in only one take and got the job
0:21:57 > 0:21:59as a doggy actor.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Rin-Tin-Tin went on to star in 25 more movie films,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06earning thousands and thousands.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11He was so popular, he received 10,000 letters from fans each week,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Well done, Rin-Tin-Tin!
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I don't need a can opener to make you bark.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Don't break my butterfly picture!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Oh! If only I had their bank balance. Oh, well.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Here's a dog literally rolling in it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Our final filthy rich hero is a poodle.
0:22:31 > 0:22:38In 1931, Toby, a pampered pooch, had the cushy job of just being a pet.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41But when his owner died, Toby hit the jackpot.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44He inherited a whopping £15 million
0:22:44 > 0:22:47and today that legacy still keeps on giving.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Toby's relatives live in luxury,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54with a fortune now worth £30 million. I'll be your puppy dog!
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Well, that's it for today's History's Heroes.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Weren't they a lucky lot?
0:23:02 > 0:23:04No!
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Finally, back to Singapore in South-East Asia.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Two-year-old Mei Mei is an Asian small-clawed otter on a mad dash
0:23:16 > 0:23:19to complete her training for a job.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23She wants to be one of Singapore Zoo's otter binmen,
0:23:23 > 0:23:28putting on a performance teaching people the importance of recycling.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31And time isn't on Mei Mei's side.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36She's due to make her on-stage debut in front of a live audience tonight
0:23:36 > 0:23:40and needs to impress everyone, especially the other otters,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42to be offered the job.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46The stakes couldn't be higher, as with the job comes acceptance
0:23:46 > 0:23:50into the otter family, which means the world to orphan Mei Mei.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Mei Mei's thrown herself into training,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55but despite her enthusiasm,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58her paws are just too small
0:23:58 > 0:24:02to pick up the plastic bottles which she's meant to recycle.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07Luckily, her foster mother and best friend Poh Shan has an idea.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09She's come up with a training prop
0:24:09 > 0:24:11which might just save the day.
0:24:11 > 0:24:17This string is to guide her to carry the bottle, and up to the bin.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22This is Mei Mei's last chance. She has to get a bottle into the bin.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Mei Mei.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25Come! Take!
0:24:27 > 0:24:28Mei Mei, take.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- OK, so this is it. - Mei Mei, take.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36Po Shan uses the string to dangle the bottle over the bin.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40All Mei Mei needs to do is push it in. Come on, Mei Mei.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- You can do this! - Take. Take.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Oh, my word! She's done it! I don't believe it!
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Oh, great work, Mei Mei!
0:24:54 > 0:24:57That was so good, I think we should see it again.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Amazing job!
0:24:59 > 0:25:01This could be her day after all!
0:25:01 > 0:25:03So she's completed her training
0:25:03 > 0:25:05and has a place in tonight's show.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08If she can impress the other otters
0:25:08 > 0:25:12then the job and a place in their family is hers.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The evening arrives. It's almost time.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22An expectant crowd pours in, and everyone gets into position.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Good evening. Welcome to the presentation.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Poh Shan gives Mei Mei a peek at the crowd to prepare her
0:25:31 > 0:25:34for the biggest test of her life.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39Mei Mei watches some of the old-pro binmen otters do their thing.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Look at their skill at getting the cans into the bins.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45They make it look so easy.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49I can't imagine what's going through her little head,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51but there's no turning back.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54We've got Mei Mei. Hello, Mei Mei!
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Hi!
0:25:57 > 0:25:59There she is! There's our Mei Mei!
0:25:59 > 0:26:01She's showing no sign of nerves.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04She looks great out there! A great start.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07she's made it on the stage by herself.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Now Mei Mei needs to pick up a bottle
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and put it in the bin.
0:26:12 > 0:26:18But like earlier, it's impossible to get her hands around the bottle.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Luckily, Poh Shan is standing by to give some help.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23This is the big moment.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Can Mei Mei push the bottle in the bin?
0:26:32 > 0:26:37She's done it! Mei Mei's pulled it off! A-ha!
0:26:37 > 0:26:42She's shown no fear and has put in the performance of her life!
0:26:42 > 0:26:44And the crowd loves it!
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Amazing work, Mei Mei!
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Most importantly, the other otters saw Mei Mei's performance
0:26:50 > 0:26:51and are very impressed.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56There's no doubt that Mei Mei's now
0:26:56 > 0:27:00an official otter binman and no longer an orphan!
0:27:00 > 0:27:05She's just won a place in the best family an otter can have!
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Even though she has a new life,
0:27:07 > 0:27:14she'll always have her foster mum, who tonight couldn't be any prouder.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23She did it! Yay!
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Congratulations, Mei Mei!
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Tonight was the night your dream came true.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:46 > 0:27:49E-mail us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk