0:00:02 > 0:00:05This show features professionals working with unpredictable animals.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Quite right. So do not - repeat, do not - try any of this at home.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10No, no, no, no, no.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Did you know that now, right now, there's people all around the country working their socks off
0:00:31 > 0:00:34to help wounded wildlife and poorly pets?
0:00:34 > 0:00:38We've managed to get VIP passes for willing helpers
0:00:38 > 0:00:41who are going to get stuck in at the busiest vets', wildlife sanctuaries
0:00:41 > 0:00:43and rescue centres.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45We did it! We did it!
0:00:47 > 0:00:52'On today's show, Josie and Poppy fix a swan's leg...'
0:00:52 > 0:00:53Have some breakfast.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59'..and get some bats in a flap when they give them a wiggly treat.'
0:00:59 > 0:01:03'Harriet and Georgina meet rare British wildlife.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08'They help some wolves wolf down a feast. But clearing the table would put anyone off their dinner.'
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Disgusting.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13'And we meet hedgehogs who need a hose down.'
0:01:13 > 0:01:16I can't believe something so small smells so bad.
0:01:16 > 0:01:22'It's tough and dirty work... but someone's got to do it.'
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Today, I'm at Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue Centre.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34I know it looks just like a home. Well, it IS a home.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35It's home to wounded wildlife,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38whether it be a sick squirrel or a feverish fox,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41any animals that need TLC, this is the place to bring them.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45That's the animals sorted. Where can I find a top team of helpers?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Meet two girls having a song and dance about helping animals.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Josie and Poppy are two sisters living it up in London.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01'And although they'd love a pet, their mum just won't let them.'
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- Please, please! Please!- No way.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09It's totally not fair, because lots of my friends have got pets.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12I feel like I'm missing out on something.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15These girls aren't on the ball
0:02:15 > 0:02:17when it comes to wildlife in our country.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I don't know much about British wildlife,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23because round here, there isn't much,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and I'd like to learn, basically, what it is.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30I think we can do something about that.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35- Josie, Poppy, welcome to Harper Asprey. Are you all right?- Yeah.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38- Good. Are you animal lovers?- Yes, we love them.- You love them?
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- Yeah.- But you'd like your own animals.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Cats and dogs and horses and rabbits.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47This place isn't so much about cats and dogs,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51but it is about British wildlife that needs rescuing and helping out.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54- Shall we go in?- Yeah!- Good. All right.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59The people who run Harper Asprey have converted a normal house
0:02:59 > 0:03:02so they can look after all sorts of wounded wildlife.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06There's ducks in the bathtub. There's deer in the garden.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09They look after hundreds of injured animals every year.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14- Hazel, hi. How you doing? You all right?- Fine, thanks.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18This is Josie and Poppy. They're keen to help out. What's first?
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- First thing is to feed the bats and see if they can fly properly.- Bats!
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- THE GIRLS LAUGH - How do you feel about that?- Scared.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Why are bats scary?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30You see them in horror movies. They're evil.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34So it's just the IDEA of bats that you're scared about.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36You might like them by the end of the day.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- Is this something they can do, feed them?- Sure, yeah.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- Let's get you some clothes, and we'll go from there.- OK!
0:03:43 > 0:03:48'A quick change into some elegant protective clothing. Perfect!
0:03:48 > 0:03:52'Soon the girls will see there's nothing scary about bats.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56'And on the menu today are these tasty-looking mealworms,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59'but first they need, erm, well, their heads chopping off,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02'which will stop the worm and bat suffering.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Hazel, why is it important to cut the heads off the mealworms?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Sometimes, apparently, if you don't,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11the mealworm eats the inside of the bat,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15- which is not very pleasant. - Oh, man.- I know.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18So, who wants to chop some heads off some mealworms?
0:04:18 > 0:04:20I think Josie does!
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Ha-ha! Because you've been a horrible sister and put her forward,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I think YOU should have to do it now!
0:04:27 > 0:04:28- Is that fair?- Yeah.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31You've volunteered yourself to chop the heads off mealworms.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35'The baby bats need their breakfast, so it's an essential job.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39'But will the girls manage to get the gruesome grub to the bats?
0:04:39 > 0:04:43'First, let's see what Dick's team have ahead of them
0:04:43 > 0:04:45'at a British wildlife centre in Kent.'
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Today, I'm at Wild Wood.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53You might ask why it's called Wild Wood. Well, there's lots of wild animals and we're in a wood.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58Genius. They look after threatened British animals. Helping hands are never turned away.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05This place is packed to the treetops with all sorts of British animals,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08from those you'd expect to some you most certainly wouldn't.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Our eager helpers will have their work cut out here.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Meet Georgina and Harriet.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Thankfully, we've got two girls who are up for the challenge
0:05:18 > 0:05:20but aren't wild about wildlife.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24And while Georgina has a soft spot for animals...
0:05:24 > 0:05:29I like wild animals, but I'm kind of scared to get too close to them.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33..she's not alone in saying wildlife gives her the heebie-jeebies.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38I don't like rats because they have really long tails and sharp teeth.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42I'm scared of spiders. I don't like snakes either.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Wolves, I don't really like, because they just howl.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48That's quite a list, Harriet.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50At least you don't get wolves in Britain any more.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Apart from at places like Wild Wood in Kent.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Yes, it's fair to say these two are not fans of all things furry.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00In fact, they are much happier behind closed doors.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02'So what have we cooked up for them today?'
0:06:02 > 0:06:06- Ah, Georgina, Harriet, how are you doing?- Fine, thanks.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- Georgina, you're the expert on wildlife, I hear.- No, not really.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Oh, sorry. Wrong way round.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- Harriet, you're the expert on wildlife.- No.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Do you want to learn?- Yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- Are you here to learn about British wildlife?- Yeah.- Let's be having you.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Hi, Peter.- Hi, there.- This is Georgina and Harriet.- Hi, there!
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Everything you've got in here is British wildlife, right?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31That's right. Wild Wood's full of animals that live in our woodlands
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and animals that USED TO live in our woodlands.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38We are dedicated to restoring rare and extinct species
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- back into our countryside. - What are the girls doing first?
0:06:41 > 0:06:47Today, we are going to let you give the wolves their breakfast.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- Are wolves British wildlife?- We don't have wolves in this country.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55But they used to live here about 350 years ago.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57But they were made extinct.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Why were they made extinct?
0:06:59 > 0:07:03It's all because we invented guns and we shot them all, unfortunately.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Oh. What a lovely ending to a story...
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Ready, girls? Let's feed some wolves.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12'Whoa, and there they are, wolves.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16'It's hard to believe a creature like this once roamed free in Britain.'
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- Who are these two? - This is Nigel and Mishka.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23I've known these two since they were puppies.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Are they tame?
0:07:24 > 0:07:28These two are very tame to a certain extent.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31These were hand-raised wolves.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36So they like being cuddled. But they can also bite.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- Ah. Do you think they're hungry? - Very hungry.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42- They haven't eaten for three days. - Girls, they must starving.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45No need for the girls to worry,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48as the wolves will be in a separate cage the whole time.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52The first thing they need to do is pick up all the bits of manky meat,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55otherwise the wolves' cage could get pretty grim.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58A rotten job, you might say. And you'd be right.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02These are the bones and the skin of the animals
0:08:02 > 0:08:05that they've been eating over the last three days.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- It stinks.- It stinks. Can you smell it?- Yeah.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Wolves may seem scary, but they are, in fact,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15the same species as a pet dog.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19What's more, they are very timid and attacks on humans are very rare.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Not sure that's any comfort to Harriet,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25who's not howling mad about wolves.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Are they territorial?
0:08:28 > 0:08:32That's how wolves live. They live in little territories.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34A pack occupies a hunting territory.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40They fiercely defend it against any other wolves. They'll have fights to the death.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46'Whoa! They'd better get on with the task and get out of their territory!'
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Right, the job now is pick up all these old bones
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and that bit of old skin there.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53We need to put it in this bin here.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56So Georgina and Harriet have some bones to pick.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01First, it's on with some protection. Then we're on to clearing the table.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03But what was on the menu three days ago?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Urgh, slimy skin.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Rotten ribcage.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Wow, that was pretty smelly.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Urgh, I don't even want to know what that one is.
0:09:17 > 0:09:18Disgusting.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Well, they've cleaned up the carnage.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28But how will the girls do when they have to fix up a fresh meaty treat?
0:09:32 > 0:09:35'Back at the wildlife rescue centre in Surrey,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37'sisters Poppy and Josie are getting to grips
0:09:37 > 0:09:39'with their first wild encounter...'
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Grab a mealworm.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43'..feeding bats a gruesome, grubby treat.'
0:09:43 > 0:09:45And just chop the head off.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- It's still moving!- It still wiggles a bit, but not to worry!
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Nice...
0:09:49 > 0:09:54'This might look mean, but it stops bats and mealworms from being hurt.'
0:09:54 > 0:09:56If there are any mealworms watching this,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58we apologise for these scenes.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01'Now it's Josie's turn.'
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Stay still! - Would YOU stay still?
0:10:03 > 0:10:09- I think that's probably enough now. Hazel?- OK. I'll bring the bats over.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Come and have some breakfast.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15That's tiny!
0:10:15 > 0:10:20- Is it smaller than you thought? - Yes, I thought it'd be, like, big.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22What kind of bats are these, Hazel?
0:10:22 > 0:10:26These are pipistrelles, which is the smallest bat in this country.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Mm-hm. What's their lifespan?
0:10:27 > 0:10:30They actually live for an incredibly long time
0:10:30 > 0:10:34for such a small creature. Pipistrelles can go up to 11 years.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Some of the bigger ones, like the greater horseshoe bat,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39go up to almost 30 years.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- Girls, what's it like for you? - It's amazing.- Is it good?
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It's giving it a good munch there.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52It looks like he's gorged himself. Don't you think, Hazel?
0:10:52 > 0:10:53Yeah, he's had plenty.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56They're ready to burn off that food by having a good flap.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02- He's ready to go!- Let's do it. Pop the tools down. Let's move on.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04'After a nice feed,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07'these bats love to stretch their wings.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10'Bats can carry nasty diseases,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12'so if you ever see one injured and lying around,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16'don't touch it. Ask an adult to call an animal rescue centre.'
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Their navigation is incredible, not bumping into anything.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22How does he know where he's going?
0:11:22 > 0:11:27They use echolocation. It emits a really high-pitched squeak,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31which then bounces off the object and back to its hearing.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35'Bats have developed this superhero hearing
0:11:35 > 0:11:38'so they can listen out for things in the dark.'
0:11:38 > 0:11:41You can't hear the squeak, can you? You can't hear it at all.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- But bats can hear each other's? - Yeah.- Girls, what do you think?
0:11:46 > 0:11:48It's amazing.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Still scared of them?
0:11:50 > 0:11:52No. I don't think so.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56'Wow! That's two girls who didn't have a clue about wildlife
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'who are suddenly batty about bats.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03'But how will the girls manage when they help sort out a sickly swan?'
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Ooh, he's pooed.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07He pooed in the blanket.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Georgina and Harriet are about to give the wolves a tasty treat
0:12:13 > 0:12:15at the wildlife sanctuary in Kent.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Ready? Look at that! Fresh meat.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Ah, stunned silence from the chefs.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24No let-up on a job like this,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27cos somebody's ready for their breakfast.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30You've got to put the meat down. Just drop it there.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32That's it. And I'll put this one there.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Let's get out of the cage, and then we can let the wolves in. Come on.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41This lever here pulls the trap door open
0:12:41 > 0:12:43and allows the wolves to get their food.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So it's time to open the trap door.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49One, two, three and pull!
0:12:49 > 0:12:53As hard as you can. That's it. Look, here come the wolves.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56They're a bit scared.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59What will the wolves think of the girls' hard work?
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Which do you think they'll go for? Oh, look, it's a bit of shoulder.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08He's using his canines to rip the meat off the bone.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12What they really want is the marrow that's inside the bones,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15to get all the vitamins.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17That's like sweeties for the wolves, the best bit.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21That one there has just weed on that bit of meat.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23'What?!
0:13:23 > 0:13:27'Well, yes, he's weed all over the meat to say, "That bit is mine."
0:13:27 > 0:13:29'And yes, I don't think anyone else will take it.'
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Thanks, girls, you've done a great job.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34The wolves are enjoying their breakfast,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36so let's find the next thing to do.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43The girls have been welcomed at the wolves' enclosure,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47but how will they rate when they meet a very rare rodent?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- It's not scary at all.- No.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- Do you want to have a stroke?- No.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58'Now it's time to see if I can trick Dick into a stinking cage clean-up.'
0:14:00 > 0:14:02You have to pick an envelope, any envelope.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06They all contain important tasks to do within these four walls.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Four of them are utterly brilliant jobs,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13but one is a horrible, horrible job.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14You may pick.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Ooh, "lellow".
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Ah, I've got a horrible, horrendous hedgehog hose down.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Get in!
0:14:24 > 0:14:25Hm.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29'Not sure my old friend realises he's been duped
0:14:29 > 0:14:31'into the stinkiest job possible.'
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I can't believe something so small smells so bad.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35It's bringing tears to my eyes.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39There's me thinking you were getting over emotional.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41There you go, fella. A new blanket.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Do you know why these beasts are called hedgehogs?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Because they live in hedges?
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Partly right, but also because they snuffle around like pigs.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Another name for a pig is hog, so hedge and hog.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Also like pigs, they like to sniff out their grub,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03including such foods as caterpillars, slugs and mice.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09'Ew! That's a lot of smelly hedgehogs.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13'As long as he doesn't find out I completely stitched him up,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15'everything will be fine.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Katy, I've finished. It might've been horrible but I enjoyed it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24'What were the other challenges, Dom?'
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Oh dear...
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Horrible horrendous hedgehog...
0:15:29 > 0:15:31..horrible horrendous hedgehog... Horrible...
0:15:31 > 0:15:33They're all the same!
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Right!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Back at the Wild Animal Park, Georgina and Harriet
0:15:42 > 0:15:45are doing their bit for British wildlife.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Next up they're helping endangered mammals.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50The hundreds of cages here are home to water voles.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52These rare rodents are really suffering
0:15:52 > 0:15:55because they're losing their homes in the wild,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59but also they have lots of predators including mink, owls and cats.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Have you heard of a water vole before?
0:16:01 > 0:16:02No.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04They're sometimes called water rats or ratty.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09I've heard you don't like rats. What about rats don't you like?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11They carry disease and they bite.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15There's a few key differences. They've got little ears.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17They don't have big ears like rats,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20and their tail has lots of fur on, not like a rat's.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22'Not sure the girls are convinced, Peter.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25'They're doing a brilliant job, but still aren't fans of wildlife.'
0:16:25 > 0:16:28So, watery voles, girls.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Peter, a water vole may be a bit like a rat?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34It is. They used to be known as water rats a long time ago.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Georgina won't like the sound of that! She doesn't like rats.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Would you like to go in there, Georgina?- No.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Harriet, would you do it? - Yeah.- Come on, get in.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46What are we going to do with them?
0:16:46 > 0:16:49We need to get inside and find them.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51We take the straw out, find the little fellas,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54then weigh them with special scales.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Harriet, please step forward. Brave girl.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02First, Peter and Harriet clean out the dirty straw
0:17:02 > 0:17:04to find the water voles.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05There's one by me feet.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Found one. Another one.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Nice one, Harriet.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14So all they need to do now is catch one.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15Should be simple enough.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Smaller than you thought?
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Yeah.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30Phew, we got one!
0:17:32 > 0:17:33There is a water vole.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Why have they got orange teeth?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The orange is an extra layer of enamel.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40It's much harder than our teeth.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Their teeth are much sharper.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46That allows them to gnaw bits of wood, crack open seeds,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48and eat things like that.
0:17:48 > 0:17:49And they're fast.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Oh, they're very fast. Of course, they have to be fast.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56They get hunted by foxes and all kinds of things.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59They're constantly being taken by other animals.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01'Not only that, water voles have been eaten
0:18:01 > 0:18:05'by the introduced American mink, which means they're very rare.'
0:18:05 > 0:18:08See, it's not as scary as you thought. Do you want a stroke?
0:18:08 > 0:18:09No.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11He's weighed to see if he's a healthy size
0:18:11 > 0:18:15and checked for a microchip so he can be monitored in the wild.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17How big do they get?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Only a little bit bigger than that one.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Some of the males are a bit bigger. But they don't get much bigger.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28You're doing a fantastic job for the voles, Peter.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29- Harriet, did you enjoy that? - Yeah.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Georgina, you weren't as scared as we thought. You stayed close by.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34You're a tough girl.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37'So he's big enough and has a chip in place.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39'He's ready to be released.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41'Great job, girls.'
0:18:41 > 0:18:43'That's the water voles sorted,
0:18:43 > 0:18:48'but how will the girls do when meeting their very big cousins?'
0:18:48 > 0:18:50- It's quite cute.- He is.
0:18:50 > 0:18:51Quite feisty.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Back in Surrey,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Poppy and Josie are about to help a swan who may have broken a leg.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01The sanctuary's been looking after him
0:19:01 > 0:19:03but he's showing no sign of recovery.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So it's time to see local vet, Jill.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Hi, girls.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Hi. This is Sidney the cygnet.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12He's got a hurt leg.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- OK. - We were wondering if you could help.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15Let's have a look at him.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18'Sidney is around four months old,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20'which is why he's grey and looks shabby.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23'When he grows up he'll be a beautiful white swan.'
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- Have you ever been this close to a swan, girls?- No.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28I have, but it was chasing me.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Yes, they can be quite vicious when they're older.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33'So don't approach a swan if you see one.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37'Right now poor old Sidney is far too busy feeling sorry for himself
0:19:37 > 0:19:40'to be vicious to anybody. Jill the vet needs to find out why.'
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Oh, there's a big bump here.
0:19:42 > 0:19:43A really big swelling.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47It's quite firm.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Have a feel of that. It almost feels like bone.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Oh, my gosh. That's a lot bigger.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54He may have broken his leg,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56and now he's got a nasty swelling.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59So what we need to do is take an X-ray and go from there.
0:20:01 > 0:20:02Are you OK?
0:20:02 > 0:20:04'The girls are great vets' assistants.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06'All is going well until...'
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- Oh, he's pooed!- Don't worry.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12He pooed in the blanket.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'Nice. Now, because X-rays can be harmful,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18'Poppy and Josie need to leave the room. Off you go, girls.
0:20:20 > 0:20:21'The picture is taken
0:20:21 > 0:20:24'and goes off to be developed like printing out your photos.'
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Here's the X-ray.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28'So, what can we see?'
0:20:28 > 0:20:30You see Sidney sitting on the plate?
0:20:30 > 0:20:34This is his neck and head, and this is the leg in question, OK?
0:20:34 > 0:20:38This is his normal leg and this is the leg that's damaged.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42You can see straightaway that unfortunately
0:20:42 > 0:20:44he's broken the main bone in his leg.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48His body is doing a good job of trying to heal it.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50But he is going to be left with a limp
0:20:50 > 0:20:53because this leg is about four centimetres smaller than the other.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55What do we need to do next then?
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Really he just needs time and recuperation to heal.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02When he's fully functional he'll be released.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06'It's good news for Sidney!
0:21:06 > 0:21:10'And one of those beautiful moments that nothing can spoil...'
0:21:10 > 0:21:12ALL: Urgh!
0:21:12 > 0:21:14'Apart from Sidney pooing again.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19'With an almost clean bill of health and not such a clean blanket, Sidney
0:21:19 > 0:21:23'can head back to Harper Asprey to be looked after until he's well.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25'Good work, girls.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29'Join us later when Poppy and Josie get to release some dapper ducks
0:21:29 > 0:21:31'back into the big, wild world.'
0:21:31 > 0:21:32Back on there!
0:21:36 > 0:21:40'First off, it's time to meet a very cute customer.'
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Will you give me a hand with this deer taking it to its new home?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49How very dare you. You know I've got a bad back.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51You're always trying to pass the buck.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Very good, buck, male deer.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Do you want facts?
0:21:55 > 0:21:58There are six different breeds of deer in Great Britain.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02This Muntjac deer is the smallest,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and it's been brought over from China.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06Expensive?
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- Little deer.- I quit.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Georgina and Harriet, two girls who aren't too wild about wildlife,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21are about to meet a massive rodent.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Sophie the vet has come to give Peter and the girls a hand
0:22:25 > 0:22:29with very special new arrivals. The adult beavers have had babies.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31With any luck they'll be part of a programme
0:22:31 > 0:22:33to be released back into the wild.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38We've got two young beavers, about three months old.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42We're going to catch them up today, get a weight on them,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44see if we can give them a quick health check
0:22:44 > 0:22:48and get microchips into them so we can identify them later.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Did beavers used to live in this country?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Yeah, they were quite prolific.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56In the 16th century they died out. There haven't been any since.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00There's recently been reintroduction programmes, particularly in Scotland.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05We're trying to reintroduce them into the natural wildlife.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08It's an exciting time for beavers.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11'Peter goes in to bag the beaver babes, called kits.'
0:23:11 > 0:23:12Say hello.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'Beavers can chew their way through tree trunks.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18'So Peter has to be very careful not to be bitten.'
0:23:18 > 0:23:19Here we go.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23'These big rodents were hunted out of Britain hundreds of years ago
0:23:23 > 0:23:25'for their skins, to make hats.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28'So it's great that people are now working hard to reintroduce them.'
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Why do you release beavers into the countryside?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Because beavers burrow into river banks.
0:23:34 > 0:23:40They create a habitat where rare water voles can live,
0:23:40 > 0:23:45where butterflies and rare bird species, all those can live
0:23:45 > 0:23:49and make homes in the area where the beaver have excavated.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51It's vital to save our rarest wildlife
0:23:51 > 0:23:54to have beaver back in the countryside.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58'Wow! This helpful beaver is massive and it's just a baby.'
0:23:58 > 0:24:00- It's quite cute.- He is.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Really soft fur.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Quite feisty.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- He would be. Do you think you'd be feisty if I picked you up?- Yeah.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Peter and Sophie weigh them to make sure they're putting on weight.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17If they are, it means they are healthy. Good news all round.
0:24:17 > 0:24:195.2 is good at this stage.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Sophie gives the young beaver a chip that will help identify it
0:24:23 > 0:24:26when it eventually swims free in the wild.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28By running that scanner over the beaver,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32we're checking that the chip is in place and reading properly.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35That allows us at later dates to identify
0:24:35 > 0:24:37the animals if they require treatment
0:24:37 > 0:24:40or if we need to release them back into the wild.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42The beavers will soon be on their way home.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Who knows, you might well see them in the countryside near you.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48- You like the beavers, girls?- Yeah.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52This morning you didn't really want to look after British wildlife.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54You never took much interest in it.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- What do you think now? - It's been exciting.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Would you like a job looking after these ratty rodents?
0:25:00 > 0:25:05I don't like the ratty ones, but beavers are all right, yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07You've learned about British wildlife
0:25:07 > 0:25:10and you might get a job out of it too. Nice one. Do you like that?
0:25:10 > 0:25:12- Yeah.- Sure?
0:25:12 > 0:25:14- Yeah.- Positive?- Yeah.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Brilliant! We made it.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Poppy and Josie are back at the Surrey Wildlife Rescue Centre
0:25:21 > 0:25:24with Sidney the swan, who has a poorly leg.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27That looks great.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Sidney's back in your care now and looks happy to be here.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34He'll be with us for a couple of weeks on pain killers.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Once he's fit and healthy, he'll be released into the wild.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Releasing birds is something that you do a lot?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Yes, we have mallard ducks that need releasing today,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45if the girls want to help.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- They can help with that? - They may get wet.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- Do you fancy that? Do you want to herd some ducks?- Yeah!
0:25:51 > 0:25:52- Let's herd some ducks.- OK.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You have to be nice and calm.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58'They have come in for different reasons.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02'But they are all healthy and ready to leave here.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04'Oh, a bit too ready to leave.'
0:26:04 > 0:26:08No, back on there. Come on.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11OK, forget it. Just pick him up.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Dom's got one.- I've got one here.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- Don't be scared of them.- You have got to have lots of confidence.
0:26:21 > 0:26:22Just typical.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26We are trying to put the last one in and two of them have run out.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28I think that's remedied now.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31- Is that the last one?- Yeah.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Yay!
0:26:33 > 0:26:35We should have seven in there.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Well done.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Good work, well done. That's seven ducks successfully
0:26:44 > 0:26:49boxed and ready to go, which means there's only one thing left to do.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Let's get these ducks home.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55This is a big moment for the ducks, who spent a long time recuperating.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59So it's great that they're going to be out splashing around the pond
0:26:59 > 0:27:01where they belong once more.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Girls, very exciting moment for you. Are you happy to be doing this?
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- Yeah.- We have seven little ducks who are dying to get home.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10Here they all are.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14- Say bye-bye, ducks.- Bye-bye, ducks. - Shall we get them to the water?
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Yeah.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- Right, down here?- Yeah.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Lovely. So you ready, girls?
0:27:25 > 0:27:30- Yeah.- On the count of three. One, two, three... Go!
0:27:30 > 0:27:32There you go.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Well done, ducks!
0:27:38 > 0:27:42So you came here with no experience of animals in any way.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44At the end of one day you have fed bats,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46looked after a cygnet and released ducks.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49How has that been as a whole experience?
0:27:49 > 0:27:50- Fantastic. - It's been quite good, yeah.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- Really good?- Yeah.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:06 > 0:28:09E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk