0:00:02 > 0:00:04Listen! This programme features highly-trained professionals
0:00:04 > 0:00:07working with potentially dangerous and unpredictable animals.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10So do not, we repeat, do not try this at home.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Did you know that now, right now, there's people
0:00:29 > 0:00:32all around the country who are working their socks off to help
0:00:32 > 0:00:35wounded wildlife and poorly pets?
0:00:35 > 0:00:38We managed to get VIP passes for willing helpers,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41who are going to get stuck in
0:00:41 > 0:00:44at the busiest vets, wildlife sanctuaries and rescue centres.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52On today's show: Qasim and Haroon get stuck into hundreds
0:00:52 > 0:00:56of pongy poorly hedgehogs and release a deer into a secret wood.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01And I'll never get this again.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Intisar and Shannon play snakes and ladders in Wareham Forest,
0:01:04 > 0:01:09when they try to add up adders and un-box bats.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11There we are.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13And we're playing chicken with Henrietta the hen,
0:01:13 > 0:01:19as Jason does his very best to turn us into vet nurses.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It talked to us, it said it's happy.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25It's tough and dirty work.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- Get in. Come on. - But someone's got to do it.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35This is Tiggywinkles, and I'm told
0:01:35 > 0:01:39it's the biggest wildlife hospital in the world. Let's find out.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46Tiggywinkles treats over 10,000 animal casualties every single year.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Founder Les Stocker has spent most of his life helping wildlife,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and even lives at the hospital so he can be on hand around the clock.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Sounds like he could do with a little bit of help.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Meet Qasim and Haroon from Luton.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02These two cricket-crazy mates love animals,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06so long as they are big and scary and dangerous.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Sorry.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Lions are my favourite animals, lions and tigers. Because they kill.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19I like fierce animals like lions and tigers.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22They're not scared of nothing.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27There's no avoiding it, both think animals that live in our countryside
0:02:27 > 0:02:29are a bit, well, a bit ropey.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32It's just boring.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33Yes!
0:02:33 > 0:02:37So, can we convince these chaps that wildlife is a knockout?
0:02:37 > 0:02:41One of the busiest wildlife hospitals might just do the trick.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Here they come. Hello, Haroon.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46How you doing, Qasim? Welcome to Tiggywinkles.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- Now, you guys aren't mad keen on British wildlife.- We hate it.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- You hate it?- Yes.- Quite strong.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56- It's boring.- OK, meet, Les, he'll be looking after you for today.- Hi.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- Hello.- You have a challenge today, you have to prove to these guys
0:02:59 > 0:03:02that British wildlife rocks. Do you think you can do that?
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I reckon so. I think we should get cracking straight away.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07So I think you ought to put these on, first off.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16I'm not happy.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- We look like a couple of clowns. - Yeah!
0:03:19 > 0:03:22What's first? It is the tigers, the lions or the hippos?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26I think it's going to be the hedgehogs first. I must warn you,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29it absolutely stinks, and I mean stinks.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32This place specialises in patching up hurt hedgehogs.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35They even got their own private hospital ward. Today they have
0:03:35 > 0:03:38over 200 patients needing our help.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41And yes, it really pongs.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45That's a strong old smell. Francesca, you all right?
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Don't be scared.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50- What have you got planned for them? - We're in the hedgehog room today.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54So we are just going to see what injuries they've got, weigh them,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58- and give them food and water. - Are you enjoying the smell?- No.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02- Does it smell worse than your bedroom?- No.- Oh.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- Can you say anything else apart from that?- No.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Most of these hogs are in recovery after being orphaned or injured.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14That's why as well as medical attention, they need their breakfast
0:04:14 > 0:04:16to help them recover.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20What we feed them is dog food, cat food. It's a bit smelly.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25And then some vitamins, because they are poorly.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I'm just giving them that extra vitamin to help them along.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29- Keep them strong. - That's their food and water.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Do you want to make some up?
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- Yes.- Obviously hedgehogs don't usually eat dog food, quite possibly
0:04:36 > 0:04:38because they can't use tin openers.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Give it a bit of a squish.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43No, in the wild, they are far more likely to nibble on worms,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45beetles and even slugs and snails.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Sniffing food, the hedgehogs spring into life.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Well, they wake up, anyway.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54What do you think, chaps?
0:04:54 > 0:04:59I've learnt that hedgehogs like to sleep a lot.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04So, Britain's only spiny mammal has not completely won them over - yet!
0:05:05 > 0:05:07It is hog emergency later,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10as Haroon and Qasim rush Clark into the operating theatre.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Will they cope with a prickly situation?
0:05:13 > 0:05:19First we whoosh over to Wareham, and Dick in a forest of creepy critters.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21I'm at Wareham Forest in Dorset,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25where today we're hunting for the scarier side of Britain's beasties.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Luckily, I've got two strong girls to hide behind.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30This is Intisar and Shannon,
0:05:30 > 0:05:36who put themselves forward for a crash course on British wildlife.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Now, these two aren't that impressed by slithery snakes.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Especially Intisar.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48They are slimy, scaly and horrible to think of and they bite.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It's bats that Shannon's not batty about.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57It's just the high-pitched noise and you can feel them going past you.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- It's scary.- So it's going to take a very special place
0:06:00 > 0:06:02to get these girls falling in love with wildlife.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Let's see what we can do.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Wareham Forest in Dorset is spread across a huge 3,000 acres,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15and is positively packed with all sorts of wildlife.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Ranger Mark Warne is part of the team that protects them.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22And our girls have bagged themselves VIP passes to join him.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Hi, Mark.- How are you doing? - Intisar and Shannon.- Hi, guys.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Do you want to tell the ladies what kind of wildlife you have in here?
0:06:30 > 0:06:32We've all sorts - we've got deer,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36rabbits, butterflies, a whole variety of different species.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I was thinking about ones the girls will really like.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42You'll see all six British reptiles. We've got them all in this forest.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43- Do you like snakes?- No.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47We'll see snakes, and the other thing we'll look for today is bats,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50which live in boxes in the daytime.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- Look at the face drop there.- You'll love them by the end of today.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Let's go and find some snakes.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57'It may not be a jungle,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00'but this place is absolutely rammed full of reptiles.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04'First up, the girls need to help Mark complete a head count
0:07:04 > 0:07:06'of the snake and lizard species here.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08'Some are mega rare and he needs
0:07:08 > 0:07:12'to know how many he's looking after. Time to track them down.'
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Snakes use their brilliant camouflage to hide from danger.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21It's almost impossible to see them in long grass.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24If you step on one by mistake, it could bite.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26So it's big, protective boots for us all.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33- Ow!- Intisar's found something.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Ah!
0:07:36 > 0:07:41It's a bush. It's got me! Quick.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45The most dangerous thing we've seen all day!
0:07:45 > 0:07:50Next, we go for a more targeted approach and head for snake shelters
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Mark has placed around the forest floor.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Snakes are cold-blooded animals, and the tin sheets absorb warmth
0:07:55 > 0:07:58from the sun and help re-charge their batteries,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00so they're easier to find.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Is that one there?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05It's not a snake, but there is a tin, so we can have a look.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Lift it up carefully and see if there's one underneath, OK?
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Here we go.- There's no-one home!
0:08:11 > 0:08:14On to the next snake shelter, girls.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18No luck so far, but there's tons more tin to turn over.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23So will the girls get the chance to see a great British snake?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Qasim and Haroon are into their first hedgehog helping shift
0:08:26 > 0:08:29at the wildlife hospital.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33They've done breakfast, now time to deal with the more needy patients.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Hedgehogs have between 5,000 and 7,000 spines
0:08:37 > 0:08:39that help protect them from predators.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42First, the boys need to learn how to carefully handle them.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46If you pick them up, will they, will the spines hurt?
0:08:46 > 0:08:50It may do a little bit. I'll show you how to hold them so it won't hurt.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Do they have lots of parasites and fleas?
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Sometimes they do have fleas, but they will only live on hedgehogs.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59If they come off, they will die. Do you want to have a go, then?
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Pick one up and pop him on the scales.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Are you going to do that one?
0:09:09 > 0:09:12That's it. What they do, as soon as you scoop them, pick them up,
0:09:12 > 0:09:17- they should curl into a ball. Got him?- Yeah. It feels all right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It feels actually pretty nice when they vibrate and stuff.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26There you go.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27A little bit spiky?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- Yes.- I like this.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Not that, not as bad as I thought.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Wahey, hedgehogs.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40No, seriously, weigh hedgehogs.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44694 grams. That's a really good size for a hedgehog.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The boys are handling this job well.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Just pop him in.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- Why is it important to keep an eye on their weight?- We like to know.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56If they are losing the weight,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00we like to know why they're not eating, that could be a problem.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03This one had an injury to its leg.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08It's actually due for an operation today. You can see the poorly leg.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10What I thought you guys could do -
0:10:10 > 0:10:13you could take it down to the vet's for us, because you are so good
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- at handling the hedgehogs now. Are you going to take him?- Yes.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22- There we go. - OK, chaps, it's time to operate.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25There's live-saving surgery for this seriously ill patient later.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Will the boys still be able to handle it?- It's a great opportunity
0:10:29 > 0:10:33to see what hedgehogs are about. From now on, I like hedgehogs.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38Intisar and Shannon are on a reptile safari in Dorset.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43They're helping wildlife ranger Mark Warne search for all six
0:10:43 > 0:10:46of the reptiles that live in Britain.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50But so far they have not uncovered anything. Then...
0:10:50 > 0:10:53There's an adder.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54Can you see the adder?
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Oh, Britain's only venomous snake! Mark does not pick it up -
0:11:00 > 0:11:03"venomous" means its bite is dangerous.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Didn't give us a lot of time, but did you see how beautiful she was?
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- How did you feel about that? - I like...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Keep the voice down.- (OK.)
0:11:12 > 0:11:14- I like the patterns on it. - Your voice! It'll run away!
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- (I liked the patterns on it.- Yeah.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- (On its back.- Pretty?- Yes.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22(You're not scared now, even though it is venomous?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24(I don't want to go close to it.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- (But this distance is OK?- Yeah.)
0:11:27 > 0:11:31And we're off. There's still loads more snake shelters to check.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Another species.- It's a slow worm.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Remember, Mark is a trained warden and it's a very bad idea to try
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and pick up any sort of wild animal.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- It's a slow worm.- Does it bite? - No, it's not going to bite you.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Believe it or not it's a lizard - it's a lizard without legs.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55One of the things that tells us it is a lizard and not a snake -
0:11:55 > 0:11:59if you look at the eye, occasionally, it will blink. It has an eyelid.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Snakes haven't got eyelids.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05So, it's our only legless lizard.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Do you want to hold it? Nice and gently.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10- There you go.- Cool!
0:12:10 > 0:12:15Yes! So Shannon's holding a legless lizard. Now what about Intisar,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18who started off thinking reptiles were really repulsive?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Not scared of snakes now?
0:12:20 > 0:12:25A right start to the girls' reptile safari, this, adders and slow worms.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28And next Shannon and Intisar
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- close in on a pocket-sized night-time hunter.- Phobia cured!
0:12:35 > 0:12:39But first, we get stuck into a chicken leg at the vet's.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Mmm, chicken sandwich.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- What are you doing?- Just having me lunch.- Don't be so insensitive!
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- You know that chicken in there could be related to that?- Oh!
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- Sorry!- Henrietta broke her leg when she was accidentally hit
0:12:55 > 0:12:58by a flying piece of wood during a garden clearout.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03- Fingers crossed.- Let's whip it off. - The bandage that is, not the leg.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05This is the face of an excited chicken.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It can't wait to walk on its leg.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10There we are.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14What we do first of all is check it for stability.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18I bet Jason's relieved to have our expertise at hand!
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Jason, is that the X-ray of the leg?
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- I think you'll find that's a jaw of a dog.- Right. It's similar.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30- The treatment's coming on. At least you recognised it's an animal.- Yes.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34- And how is it? - It's lovely and stable.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Can the chicken cross the road?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Or the surgery floor, at least?!
0:13:41 > 0:13:42Just put it down.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45No, no, no.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Yes! It's walking.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53After a slow start, she's off.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55With the odd wobble, admittedly.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59It talked to us, it said it's happy.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02How do you feel about all of this?
0:14:02 > 0:14:06I'm in a foul mood. I want to go back to me mum and dad. Right!
0:14:06 > 0:14:08So we'll take it back to the owners.
0:14:08 > 0:14:14And waiting for their takeaway chicken is owner Holly and mum.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17There is a chicken in this box. No ordinary chicken, Holly,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19but this is your chicken.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Are you ready? And he's on two legs.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Holly, don't throw no more wood at me!
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Yeah? Off you go.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Two more satisfied Dick and Dom Go Wild customers.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Here's your chicken in a box.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Bye bye.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Bye bye, chicken. Isn't that nice?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42What a happy ending, that chicken now with a healthy, happy home to go to.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- How do you feel now?- Starving.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Intisar and Shannon have turned wildlife rangers in Wareham Forest.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01They have helped locate snakes, now it's time to tackle the ladders.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05Bat boxes can only mean one thing - yes, bats. The girls' next job
0:15:05 > 0:15:10is to help Mark complete a head count of the bats that live here.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Right, I'm going up the ladder to see if we can find any bats in here.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- So Shannon, are you happy to see them?- No.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18No? Why aren't you happy?
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- They've got fangs and they'll bite you.- They won't.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25You'll be all right. Wait and see.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31The girls have already handled reptiles like experts
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and now they're stood by for bats.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38OK, guys, there's nothing in these, so we'll look at the next one.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40All right?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42The bats use Mark's boxes as temporary homes.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47This is a protected area, so the bats can hang out here safely.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52A tiny little pipistrelle bat.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54We have got one here.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01I'm going to bring the bat down and record the details now. OK?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04There we are. Aren't they fantastic?
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- How do you feel about that, Shannon? - I'm not too scared any more.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11There are no big fangs, are there?
0:16:11 > 0:16:16- Really endearing little creatures. - The bats are fitted with rings,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20so Mark and our rangers can identify them and make sure they are healthy.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21What's the bat's species?
0:16:21 > 0:16:23It's a pipistrelle. So it's Britain's smallest bat.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28- They consume thousands and thousands of insects a night.- Can it bite you?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31It is trying to bite me, but it doesn't hurt that much.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Definitely not one for you lot to think about trying!
0:16:33 > 0:16:35The one thing you must remember
0:16:35 > 0:16:37though is that bats can carry the rabies virus.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40So we have to be careful and you have to be inoculated against that.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Which I am, as a licensed handler.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Why are the eyes so small?
0:16:46 > 0:16:51Well, they don't need their eyes as much as other creatures, because
0:16:51 > 0:16:56they predominantly come out at dusk and they are hunting at night.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59They can see, but they don't need it as much.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02They have "echo-location", which is a bit like radar,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06so it allows them to pick up objects and particularly prey,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09flying insects they are trying to catch,
0:17:09 > 0:17:11without the need of eyesight.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Shannon looks like she's well beyond being bothered by bats now.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18Solid team work, girls.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24And all that careful work with cool creepy critters will be rewarded.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Don't you worry about that.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28We're very, very lucky here.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33We have another two of the six British reptiles here.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Qasim and Haroon are helping out
0:17:36 > 0:17:41at one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Time to help nurse a prickly pal called Clark to full health.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Clark arrived here one month ago.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49He was found in a garden with a nasty leg injury.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Hey guys, this is Vicky, our vet.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Hi there, I am going to be doing the operation. What have you got today?
0:17:55 > 0:17:58She has trouble with her leg.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02A bad leg. That looks nasty.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I think that's the bone sticking out there from his ankle.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06We're not be able to save this leg,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09because his bone is sticking out and there's a horrible infection.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We'll have to do an operation to cut his leg off.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14We're going to amputate his leg. We get quite a lot like this.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Quite often they've had their foot caught in fencing, or netting,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21and they've come across a strimmer and it does this awful damage
0:18:21 > 0:18:24so we have to do an operation to cut their leg off.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- Can he die?- There is slight risk with any operation,
0:18:27 > 0:18:32but most come through fine and we'll do our best to get him through.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35The first thing we'll do is give the hedgehog an anaesthetic.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38So it goes off to sleep and doesn't feel the pain of the operation.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42We do this with this little mask here. Put it on his face,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45before we switch it on. You need to hold it over there.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47That's it.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52The gas used to knock out this little fella is pretty potent stuff.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55We don't want them falling asleep on the operating floor,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59so they watch Vicky through a window as she anaesthetizes Clark.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02When the gas has kicked in, Vicky can start operating.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05It is a procedure that requires
0:19:05 > 0:19:08concentration and a lot of skill.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's basically just a case of cutting through all the tissue,
0:19:11 > 0:19:16all the muscles. And then eventually crunching our way through the bone.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19These are the bone-crunchers, they will munch through the bone
0:19:19 > 0:19:21and then the leg will be off.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25So, he's doing OK. Heart rate is fine.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Breathing is nice and steady, so there's no worries at the moment.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31In no time at all, the operation is over.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35That's the last stitch. We're all done now.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39The gas is off, so we'll get the boys back in now, shall we? Boys!
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Hello.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48- How did it go?- It went really well.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Shall we take the drape off and have a look? Here we go.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- Hey. - So you can see, he's already awake.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58There's just a little line of stitches now to that mangled leg
0:19:58 > 0:20:01we had before. He'll be fine. You can see he's awake.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Will he become accustomed to having three legs, and get used to it?
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Yeah, they cope really well. He'll be fine.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10We'll watch it here until we're happy that it's going to cope.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- So it's better that it's off?- Much better. It would have killed him,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17eventually, if we had left it on. So he's much better without it.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- So you've done something good. - Something great.
0:20:20 > 0:20:26It's not even needing any help to learn to walk on three legs!
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- How did you find the boys, were they a good help?- They were brilliant.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Really good helpers. They weren't squeamish. They did a great job.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35And how did you boys find it?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39It's been a great opportunity to see what hedgehogs are really about.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- From now on, I like hedgehogs.- An amazing turnaround from you guys,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45walking in here a couple of hours ago, not having any interest at all.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Suddenly you seem genuinely interested in what you are doing.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- Shall we do some more? - Yeah, much more.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Great! Come on, boys. Let's do more.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56Let's do more indeed.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00The boys get an extra special bonus later when they return
0:21:00 > 0:21:03a muntjac deer to the wild.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Three, two, one...
0:21:06 > 0:21:11But first, a little animal help from us two.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15You've done so well recently that I decided to give you a treat.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Lovely! Am I having my nails done?
0:21:18 > 0:21:20No. He is.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25This is Turtletook - he is a pet ferret and needs his claws trimming.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Aren't they a bit bitey?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Oh no, no, no, no... Well, yes.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36- Ah!- They like to eat rabbits, chicks, and big fat sausage-like fingers.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38But I've got big fat sausage-like fingers.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Yes, exactly, which is why you shouldn't be cutting the claws,
0:21:41 > 0:21:47and Dave, the qualified veterinary surgeon, should be. You can help.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50There we are. That's one hand done.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- Ah! Is that razor sharp?- And that one.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- Is that it?- That's him.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Dusted! There you are, see?
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- Lovely. Thank you. - Thank you, well held!
0:22:02 > 0:22:06So that's sorted. Now, your turn.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Sausages.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17Wannabe wildlife rangers Shannon and Intisar are on a race against time
0:22:17 > 0:22:20in Wareham Forest. Their mission is to see how many British reptiles
0:22:20 > 0:22:23they can find in just one day.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Right, let's look under this one, shall we?
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Oh, look at this!
0:22:30 > 0:22:34Woah! That's three smooth snakes and a grass snake.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39We are really lucky. Another two of the six British reptiles here.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44You see the one with the yellow on it? That's a grass snake.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- You'll find those in your garden. - None of them bite,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- do they?- They sometimes nip, but it doesn't hurt.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Remember, the girls are working with an expert who has permission
0:22:55 > 0:22:56to handle these creatures.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Some snakes are dangerous, so best to steer clear all together.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- What is that smell? - That's the grass snake.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08They actually do a poo as a defence mechanism.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11And it absolutely stinks, doesn't it?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Cover yourself in poo to stop other animals eating you?
0:23:14 > 0:23:16I bet that works!
0:23:17 > 0:23:20The smooth snakes are the ones we'll record.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23You've got the notebook there. We'll take the details of these.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27We'll put the grass snake down, but we'll record the head patterns
0:23:27 > 0:23:28on the smooth snakes.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31If you look at the snake,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34can you see these black markings?
0:23:34 > 0:23:36They are different from the other two we were looking at.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40It is like a fingerprint, so you can tell individual snakes by that.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44It is up to Shannon to record this smooth snake's unique markings.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48This will help Britain's rarest reptile in the future
0:23:48 > 0:23:52and check this out for a finish as we wrap things up for a day,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54the girls encounter a really rare lizard.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57You see on top of the bank?
0:23:57 > 0:23:59It's a sand lizard.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03It's just coming out here. That was born within the last few weeks.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- Don't get that in Scunthorpe, do you?- No.- What an experience!
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Intisar and Shannon have discovered five British reptiles,
0:24:13 > 0:24:18including the rarest lizard and the rarest snake, all in the same day.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23Back in Buckinghamshire, Qasim and Haroon are won over by wildlife.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27I'm about to introduce the boys to one of my absolute favourites.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Hi, Jackie. You all right?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Who's this in here?
0:24:32 > 0:24:35This is Bourneville. I've just brought her in for a check-up.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Bourneville here is a fallow -
0:24:36 > 0:24:39one of six species of deer that can be found living wild in Britain.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44She was rescued after getting her foot caught in a wire fence.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Now she is being looked after by Jackie
0:24:46 > 0:24:48until she is ready for release.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49- Wow!- She's doing well?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52She's fine. She's doing great. She's really nice. She's beautiful.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54How old is she?
0:24:54 > 0:24:56About three weeks old now.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- Have you seen a deer this close before?- Never.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- Nice seeing a baby one. - I've never even seen a deer.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06But the close-up experience is going to get so much better.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Now you can see a baby deer up close, one being rubbish,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13ten being amazing, what would you give this?
0:25:13 > 0:25:14I'd give it ten.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I'd give it nine-and-a-half.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18You give nine and a half? I reckon we need to change
0:25:18 > 0:25:21this nine-and-a-half, we need to show you something better.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Bourneville is still months away from release,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27but at a mystery location, not far from here,
0:25:27 > 0:25:31there is another older deer that is ready to go back to the wild.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34OK, it's really exciting. We're five miles away from Tiggy's,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38and we're going to release a muntjac deer into the wild.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Haroon and Qasim are helping Sharon over here.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Let's have a look.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47This is a very exciting moment - back to the wild.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- How long have you had this muntjac for?- We had him since Christmas.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53He was an orphan, so he has been reared by one of our fosterers.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- He's got to go back to where's come from.- You actually found him here?
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Yes, muntjac have to go back by law to where they come from.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04OK. Right. And boys, this is a very rare opportunity for guys your age,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07or for anyone, for that matter, to do something like this.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10- Are you excited?- I am feeling great.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16I'll never get this moment again. It's the best moment of my life.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19We are releasing a deer, as you said, not many people
0:26:19 > 0:26:23get a chance to do something like this and we're lucky to do this.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26What we'll do is move him down here and we've got a clear runway.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- We'll open up the hatch and off he runs.- Will he know what to do?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32He'll be absolutely fine. He's been in our paddocks for a few months,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34so he's absolutely wild and fine.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37One final question I think we should ask - what's his name?
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- He hasn't got one, because he's going back to the wild.- Oh, man!
0:26:40 > 0:26:42OK, do you want to give him a name?
0:26:42 > 0:26:46- Dom.- Dom! OK, Dom the deer.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Dear old Dom! OK, let's do this. Come on then, boys.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52'Muntjac are the smallest breed of deer in the UK.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56'This chap was found without his mum, right here in these woods,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59'ten months ago. Time to return home.'
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- About here?- Just pop it down. - Good spot?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06- Perfect.- Three, two, one. Go!
0:27:10 > 0:27:14And in the blink of an eye, Dom the deer is set free.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Qasim and Haroon, our lads from Luton, started the day
0:27:18 > 0:27:23with little experience of wildlife, but it's a different story now.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25There you go, boys - you actually did it yourselves,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29you lifted the hatch and released a deer back to the wild. How was that?
0:27:29 > 0:27:31- Amazing!- It was great!- Fantastic!
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- I loved every moment of it. - Have you had a good day in total?
0:27:34 > 0:27:38- Has it been an interesting experience?- The day's been great.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43I've learnt so many new things from the beginning till the end.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44When you first turned up,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47you were like, "I don't care about British wildlife, not my thing."
0:27:47 > 0:27:51- Now, by the end of it...- If you get to see a lot, you start liking it.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Lovely to work with you, boys. Nice job, well done.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media
0:28:07 > 0:28:10E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk