0:00:02 > 0:00:04This show features trained professionals
0:00:04 > 0:00:06working with dangerous and unpredictable animals.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09So do not, we repeat, do not try this at home.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Did you know that now, right now,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31there's people all around the country who are working their socks off
0:00:31 > 0:00:34to help wounded wildlife and poorly pets?
0:00:34 > 0:00:38And we've managed to get VIP passes for some willing helpers
0:00:38 > 0:00:40who are going to get stuck in at the busiest vets,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42wildlife sanctuaries and rescue centres.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44You're free!
0:00:46 > 0:00:48On today's show...
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Brayden and Carina get lynx-leaping,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54stalk storks and handle wriggling reptiles.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58- Did you ever think you would be doing this?- No.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Harriet and Luke turn into daring donkey doters
0:01:02 > 0:01:03at the Devon sanctuary.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I am going to smell of apple and carrot now.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09You're going to smell of donkeys too, later!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12And I challenge Dom to a kitten count as we help out
0:01:12 > 0:01:14a little litter at the vets.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Give us a kiss. Oh, wrong end.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It's tough and dirty work...
0:01:18 > 0:01:19He's booting me!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21..but someone's got to do it!
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Today I am in Devon,
0:01:28 > 0:01:32the place to come for clotted cream, rice pudding and donkeys.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Yes, that's right, donkeys.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Because I am at the largest donkey sanctuary...in the world!
0:01:39 > 0:01:42So what I need is two helpers that are bonkers about donkeys,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45but what I've actually got is these two.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'Meet best mates Harriet and Luke.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52'Luke has lots of experience with animals.'
0:01:52 > 0:01:55I had eight animals, the fish unfortunately died.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58The rabbit and the hamster kind of died as well.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01'Oh, dear. Luke does still have this cutesy-wootsie
0:02:01 > 0:02:02'little King Charles spaniel,
0:02:02 > 0:02:07'though he'd rather play video games than pay her any attention.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13'As for Harriet, she loves dogs and cats and hates creepy crawlies.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18'Correction - Harriet loves critters and all other animals,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20'well, sort of bug her.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25'Luckily for her, Dad has a right old creepy-crawlie collection,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28'and when he's around, she's all over them.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33'But today is all about the donkeys, and everybody loves donkeys, right?'
0:02:33 > 0:02:37They just stand there and they stink and they give you an evil stare.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46If you don't give them an evil stare back they stand there giving you
0:02:46 > 0:02:49the evil stare, and you get freaked and you have to go away.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53'So, two best buddies who don't do donkeys...at the moment.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55'Let's see what we can do.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Argh!
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- Hi, Dawn, how are you? - Morning! I'm good, thanks.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04This is Harriet and Luke, my donkey-loving friends.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09- Morning.- Luke doesn't like animals, doesn't like clearing the mess up.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12And Harriet, bit of a problem - she gets freaked out by donkeys.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15You'll find they're humble and endearing creatures
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and you will be wooed by the end of the day.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20'The donkey sanctuary in Sidmouth has been caring for sick,
0:03:20 > 0:03:25'injured and abandoned animals for over 40 years now.
0:03:25 > 0:03:26'And hopefully giving Harriet
0:03:26 > 0:03:30'and Luke exclusive access to their residents will show our pair
0:03:30 > 0:03:34'that these four-legged fellows are anything but horrible.'
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Right, then, guys, so we have to make breakfast for a couple of
0:03:39 > 0:03:42our donkeys that are on extra feeds. So, if that's all right,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44I'd like you to give me a hand.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48'OK. How to prepare a donkey's breakfast.'
0:03:48 > 0:03:50OK, ready?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54'Take a handful of nice ripe carrots and grate them finely.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56'Add a couple of apples.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59'And mix together thoroughly with the help of your best friend.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02'Then pour your mushy mess into a large container
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'and add a helping of delicious and nutritious fibre nuts.'
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Eurgh, I am going to smell of apple and carrot now.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12You'll smell of donkeys too, later!
0:04:12 > 0:04:14'There you have it, my friends -
0:04:14 > 0:04:17'one smelly mix of fruit, veg and brown bits.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- 'Perfect for a donkey dinner.'- Urgh!
0:04:23 > 0:04:27'That's the prep bit done, but will Harriet and Luke be able to handle
0:04:27 > 0:04:29'hungry donkey duo Laurel and Hardy later?
0:04:29 > 0:04:33'But first, Dom is in Kent trying to help British animals that don't
0:04:33 > 0:04:35'live in Britain any more.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37'Well, you'll see what I mean.'
0:04:37 > 0:04:42This is the Wildwood Trust and it's set in 40 acres of wood.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46And it cares for over 50 species of wild animals
0:04:46 > 0:04:48which you must expect with a name like that.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Every animal sheltered here is or was found in Britain,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55and is most likely endangered, which means it needs our help
0:04:55 > 0:04:57to help them survive.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01So, we've brought along two willing volunteers that we "trust" will help.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02Fingers crossed.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06'Meet Carina and Brayden.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10'Now, do we have a pair of animal fans here? Let's take a look.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14'Mm, not a pet in sight. Why is that, then?'
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Because it takes too much responsibility.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19And it's not cheap.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23'Right. Anything furry or feathered in Brayden's house?'
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I had three fish
0:05:25 > 0:05:29and my dad poisoned them with washing-up liquid.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32We had a little accident where basically we washed
0:05:32 > 0:05:34the tank with washing-up liquid,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37put the fish back in, and a couple of days later they died.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41'Ah, poor fish. Look, it's not easy looking after pets, you know.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44'What do you think of British animals?'
0:05:44 > 0:05:51Pigs stink, cows stink and horses stink.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53'Right, yes. The Great British countryside, then?'
0:05:53 > 0:05:57It depends if it's, like, too
0:05:57 > 0:05:58smelly and that.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01If it is, I just want to go back home.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05'Charming. We need to find somewhere superb to impress these two.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08'So, on your bike to Wildwood.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- Brayden, Carina. How are you? All right?- Yeah.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- Good. Pleased to be here in the countryside?- Yeah.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Brayden, apparently everything you know about wildlife
0:06:18 > 0:06:20can be written on the back of a stamp.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24There's a stamp. You can write everything down there later.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28And Carina, apparently under no circumstances
0:06:28 > 0:06:30do you ever want to clean up any mess.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Right? No poo.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I quite agree. I had my fingers manicured
0:06:35 > 0:06:37and I don't want to get poo under my fingernails.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- Enough babble. Shall we move?- Yes.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44'This place is all about looking after precious species
0:06:44 > 0:06:46'of Great British animals.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50'Some of them still living in the wild now, others sadly died out here
0:06:50 > 0:06:53'hundreds and even thousands of years ago.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56'Like these Eurasian lynx.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59'They haven't lived in Britain for over 1,500 years
0:06:59 > 0:07:01'after they were hunted for fur and
0:07:01 > 0:07:04'the forest they lived in was destroyed by people.'
0:07:04 > 0:07:05HISSES
0:07:05 > 0:07:08'Lynx are about the size of a big dog
0:07:08 > 0:07:11'and love hunting rodents, wild boar and deer in the wild.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15'These two sisters arrived here as young cubs and are part of a breeding
0:07:15 > 0:07:20'programme that might one day help lynx run free in Britain once more.'
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Peter, what are they going to do?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24We have a great job. You're going to help us feed them,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28but feed them in the way that helps them exercise and use all the skills
0:07:28 > 0:07:30they've developed as a top predator.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- Cool.- That means you're going to run through the woods
0:07:34 > 0:07:36and we're going to set them after you.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38That's what they would do in the wild.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40'Yes, only joking, of course.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44'This is one of the few places where you can see lynx on the prowl
0:07:44 > 0:07:46'in a British woodland setting.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49'And today we need to enter their hang-out
0:07:49 > 0:07:52'and help out these predators. Sounds a tad, um, scary.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57'It's not really, though. We've moved the lynx out of the wooded area
0:07:57 > 0:08:00'and into the night enclosures for safety,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02'and Carina and Brayden are up for this one.'
0:08:02 > 0:08:05I'm roaring to go!
0:08:05 > 0:08:10'Time to enter the lynx domain, and before we start - protective gear.'
0:08:10 > 0:08:12I would like you to put
0:08:12 > 0:08:14rubber gloves on. There we go.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17'These big cats love working hard for their grub,
0:08:17 > 0:08:21'and Peter's developed an interesting way of getting them to do just that,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23'using a chicken on a rope.'
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Can you hold just there where I'm holding like that?
0:08:26 > 0:08:31That's it. Now, we need our gibbet.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Right. Now, if you can hold it just there. There we go.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Now, I need you to go over there
0:08:37 > 0:08:41and pull this up so it's nice and high. Ready?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Lift the chicken away. Up we go.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Whee!
0:08:45 > 0:08:49'But will the wildcats fall for our pair's hiked up chicken later?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54'Harriet and Luke have been preparing a snack for a couple of
0:08:54 > 0:08:58'four-legged friends in Sidmouth, and now it's feeding time.'
0:08:58 > 0:09:03So this is Laurel and Hardy, my two favourite donkeys, and they're
0:09:03 > 0:09:07very hungry this morning, so let's get in and give them their breakfast.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10They're going to put their heads straight in your buckets,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12so try and pop them down. That's it.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Put your bucket there. Well done.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17There we go.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21'Laurel and Hardy were rescued by the sanctuary staff a year ago
0:09:21 > 0:09:24'after a call from a concerned member of the public.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27'They were in a right state with their hair matted and full of lice.'
0:09:27 > 0:09:32If you can look up there, those are the pictures of them in July
0:09:32 > 0:09:37last year when they first arrived, and they were really skinny donkeys.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41They'd been shut in a stable for six months and they hadn't been
0:09:41 > 0:09:46given enough food every day, so all their ribs were showing.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50They were covered in itchy lice that was making them rub themselves raw,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and their feet were painfully long.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56They hadn't been trimmed for at least six months.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It's horrible the state they were kept in.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03I don't get how anybody could do that to animals. This is just...
0:10:03 > 0:10:07I don't know, it's monstrous, I guess.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11I just think it's...like, evil.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I mean, who would do that?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15'No worries now. Those days are long gone,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18'and Laurel and Hardy are loving life here.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22'And the donkey double-act seem to be warming up
0:10:22 > 0:10:23'donkey doubters Luke and Harriet.'
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Do you know how old they are?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Laurel is 13 and Hardy's 8,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31so they're both kind of teenage donkeys.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35But donkeys can live into their 40s and 50s, given the right care.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39That's where the saying "donkey's years" comes from.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41'But will the pals be able to take the next step
0:10:41 > 0:10:43'in overcoming their donkey dilemma?'
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- Do you want to try and have a little stroke?- No.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49No? You do.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Try and just approach Hardy.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Laurel's still a little bit nervous.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- Not right in front of him.- 'This is a breakthrough moment for Luke,
0:10:57 > 0:11:01'and spurred on by his bravery, Harriet steps up to the mark, too.'
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Quite warm, isn't he?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13What do you think, stroking your first donkey?
0:11:13 > 0:11:15He's very, very soft.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18They're really lovely creatures.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21When they get back to their full weight,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23will they go to a new home or stay here?
0:11:23 > 0:11:27They'll be in our care for the rest of their lives. They're now safe.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34'Luke and Harriet are turning into a right pair of donkey devotees.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40'And it's cutting-edge medical work next
0:11:40 > 0:11:45'as our duo dispense an emergency...jam sarnie.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:47That will start relieving the pain out of his foot
0:11:47 > 0:11:49and we'll change the bandage.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54'Brayden and Carina are deep in the woods
0:11:54 > 0:11:57'laying out lunch for lynx.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59'They've left out chicken treats for the two cats in their
0:11:59 > 0:12:02'woodland stomping ground, and it's time
0:12:02 > 0:12:04'to see if the lynx can track down their grub.'
0:12:06 > 0:12:07They just eat animals?
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Yes. They are carnivores.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14They're predators, so they only eat meat.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Do they have a good sense of smell?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18They have a brilliant sense of smell.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22And did you see how big their eyes were? Their eyes are like
0:12:22 > 0:12:24the difference between high-definition telly
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and normal telly.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30They can see in HD, while we can just see in normal telly.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35'And it doesn't take long for one of the high-def hunters
0:12:35 > 0:12:36'to find our chicken on a stick.'
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- Are they clever? - They're not that clever.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42They're instinctive.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Cats don't have big brains, they're not as clever as dogs.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50But they're instinctive, so everything is more of an instinct.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52They don't think too much, they just act.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54'The pals have hoisted the chicken high
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'so the resident lynx can work for their grub.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02'They're always up for the challenge of a hunt.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Do they normally just sniff around?
0:13:06 > 0:13:11They do. What they like to do about 18 hours a day is just
0:13:11 > 0:13:14sit around waiting, because that's what they do in the wild.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17They sit up in a tree waiting for a little deer to run by.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21They might only eat every four days or something.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25'But it looks like we may have set the bar a little high for the cats.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'They can't quite reach their chicken dinner.'
0:13:28 > 0:13:32The lynx was trying to get the chicken, but they couldn't reach it.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34'They did later, though,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'and they enjoyed their chicken dinner, eventually.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42'And it's creepy critters dining in the reptile enclosure later
0:13:42 > 0:13:46'as our pals dish out tasty treats to scaly, green, wild things.'
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Ow! Look at that.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Well done!
0:13:51 > 0:13:54'First, though, it's time for me and Dick to sort out kittens
0:13:54 > 0:13:56'with vet Jason. Well, sort of.'
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Calm down.- No, no, I don't care what animals we have next
0:14:02 > 0:14:04so long as they're not kittens.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05Ah, kittens.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09'These two-week-old kittens need sorting into boys and girls,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12'so no unwanted new babies appear in the future.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15'We're doing the sorting bit.'
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- Shall I show you how?- Yes.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- It's the distance from his bottom to his bits.- Ah!
0:14:20 > 0:14:22In a male it's a lot further away.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26'So now we know how to tell them apart, let the contest begin.'
0:14:26 > 0:14:27Do you like flowers?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Yes? OK. Girl. Girl.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Good boy.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36'This task is actually harder than it looks. Male and female kittens
0:14:36 > 0:14:40'look very similar at this age, and we are not experts.'
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Right in the face.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45It's got to be a boy. Let's do boy.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50On a Saturday, do you like watching the footie with a pie and peas
0:14:50 > 0:14:52or gardening with lacy doilies?
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'If you're unsure if your kitten's a boy or girl, don't try to
0:14:55 > 0:14:59'work it out yourself. Take it to a vet, and they'll do it for you.'
0:14:59 > 0:15:00What did you say?
0:15:00 > 0:15:01KITTEN SQUEALS
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Oh, OK. Lovely. Give us a kiss.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Oh, wrong end.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06SQUEALS
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- Boy or girl?- Girl.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Now time for the results.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16I can tell you somebody's got it partly wrong
0:15:16 > 0:15:18and somebody's got it all right.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- Oh!- What?!
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Let's have a look at that.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Look, Dick wins. He got them all right.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28He's literally smarter than a vet.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32'Well, he's better at kitten sorting than me, at least.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41'Brayden and Carina are cranking up their wildlife experiences in Kent.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44'Now, a creepy-looking task involving animals you might be surprised
0:15:44 > 0:15:47'to know live right here in Britain.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50'These are European green lizards.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52'They don't live naturally in Britain,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54'but a colony lives in the South of England
0:15:54 > 0:15:57'after some were released, and a few hang out on Jersey
0:15:57 > 0:15:58'where it's warm enough for them.'
0:15:58 > 0:16:03- It feels really weird.- Hard.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Sort of rough and smooth at different points.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09'Check this out.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13'These lizards can drop their tails right off when scared.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16'They leave the twitching tail behind to confuse predators
0:16:16 > 0:16:19'and the lizard then does a runner and grows a new one back later.'
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- What can they do to help now? - We're going to feed them now.
0:16:24 > 0:16:25Got some crickets.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- Live?- Live crickets, yeah.- OK.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30We have one
0:16:30 > 0:16:32on the end of these tongs.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'Let's hope we can get this wild thing interested in nosh.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41'Ten minutes later, and our green lizard is plainly not in the mood
0:16:41 > 0:16:42'for a bit of cricket.'
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Is there anything else you can tempt them with?
0:16:45 > 0:16:47We could try waxworms.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50'These green lizards can grow up to 40cm long and eat insects,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54'smaller lizards and even mice in the wild.'
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Wow, look at that. Down the hatch.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04'The reward for feeding up the green lizards, a chance to get
0:17:04 > 0:17:09'up-close and personal with Britain's largest reptile, a grass snake.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'Susan the snake was found on a building site a year ago.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14'Her hunting ground was about to be demolished,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17'so she was rehomed here and is nice and safe.'
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Are you telling me that you can find these in the UK?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Yeah, they're very common. Very common?!
0:17:24 > 0:17:28'Susan's only a tiddler. Grass snakes can grow to nearly two metres.'
0:17:28 > 0:17:32I tell you what, to start off with let me hold the head and you can just
0:17:32 > 0:17:35hold that part of the tail. That's it, good lad.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Did you ever think you would be doing this?
0:17:39 > 0:17:41No.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45'These snakes are not venomous, which means their bite isn't
0:17:45 > 0:17:48'highly dangerous, but they do look a little bit like adders
0:17:48 > 0:17:50'which also live here and ARE dangerous,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53'so don't ever pick up a snake if you see one in the wild.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59'Top effort! These two didn't even like snakes at the start of today!
0:18:02 > 0:18:04'How will they get on when they have to have to keep
0:18:04 > 0:18:06'a giant bird under control?'
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Big tug.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Well done! That's great.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15'Until today, best buddies Harriet
0:18:15 > 0:18:20'and Luke had dismissed donkeys as being dull and a little scary.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24'But their experience at Britain's biggest donkey sanctuary
0:18:24 > 0:18:26'seems to be changing all of that.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29'Now it's time to help a hospitalised wonky donkey
0:18:29 > 0:18:30'with an awful hoof.'
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Today we're helping Copper, one of our hospital in-patients.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36He's 20 years old and came into the hospital yesterday
0:18:36 > 0:18:38and had an operation on his foot
0:18:38 > 0:18:41because he had an infection in his front hoof.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45So we need to make him a medication sandwich so he's not got as much
0:18:45 > 0:18:48pain in that hoof and then change the bandage. Are you up for that?
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- Yep.- Who wants to put the jam on and who wants to put the medication in?
0:18:52 > 0:18:53- I'll do the jam.- Jam and medication.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58'The medicine that Copper needs tastes a bit bad, which is why it
0:18:58 > 0:19:03'has to be hidden away inside this delicious jam sandwich.'
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Then if you put some gloves on,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08I'll give you the medication to sprinkle on there.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Get that and shake it in the middle.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14That's it. Well done. Harriet, if you flip it together.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Brilliant. That's perfect. Then pat it down on there.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21'It's a sarnie fit for a... Well, fit for a donkey, really.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24'So it's over to Copper to see if he's hungry.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27'There's no wonder he looks so down in the mouth.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31'You would if you'd just had surgery to remove a nasty infection
0:19:31 > 0:19:34'from inside your hoof. If you had a hoof, of course.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37'The medicine will help soothe Copper's pain,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40'and that will make it easier to complete a check-up
0:19:40 > 0:19:41'and re-dress the wound.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44'Don't go throwing food down the neck of animals yourself.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47'This has been arranged by experts.'
0:19:47 > 0:19:48We don't normally feed them titbits
0:19:48 > 0:19:51because we don't want anybody to get bitten,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53but when it's a pain-relief sandwich
0:19:53 > 0:19:55we feed it to them in a sandwich so they eat it.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Luke, off you go.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58'Big moment, this.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05'Excellent work, my friend.'
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Yummy.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- That will relieve the pain, and then we change the bandage?- Yeah.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'As soon as the painkiller has kicked in, Harriet and Luke will be
0:20:16 > 0:20:20'able to join Sophie and the team and get to work helping Copper out.'
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Considering Harriet didn't like donkeys this morning -
0:20:23 > 0:20:25she thought they were spooky,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27and Luke wasn't interested in animals at all -
0:20:27 > 0:20:29I think they're doing pretty well.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33Before, I didn't really like them. I thought they were really evil.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Now it's like...OK. They're cool.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Yeah, I'm liking donkeys more and more as the day goes by,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44because, really, they're not as bad as everyone thinks.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48They don't exactly do much, but they're actually really friendly.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53'And it's more donkey doctoring later, but have they got the mettle
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'to get Copper up and running?'
0:20:55 > 0:20:59- How do you think he's doing?- I think he's doing fine. Being brave.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06'First, Dick explains why I have to prepare and wear goat lunch.'
0:21:07 > 0:21:10I don't understand why I have to wear this ridiculous jacket.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13You're wearing it to demonstrate the difference
0:21:13 > 0:21:16between grass-eaters and bush-eaters.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Great(!) In that case, why do I have to wear this bushy jacket?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22You see, animals like sheep eat things mainly off the floor,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25like grass. So they are grazers.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- Right, OK. What are goats?- Goats?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Ah, yes. You see, goats like branches and trees,
0:21:30 > 0:21:34and they usually eat the young bits of the branches called brows,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36so they're known as browsers.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Oh, right! That still doesn't really explain
0:21:38 > 0:21:40why I have to be wearing this stupid jacket.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44No, it doesn't really, does it? And that's a fact.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46What are YOU looking at?
0:21:49 > 0:21:52'Back at Wildwood Trust in Kent,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56'Brayden and Carina, not massive wildlife lovers,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59'have backstage passes to help specially protected animals.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03'Some are so rare, they don't live in Britain here any more.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06'Next up, European white storks.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11'These birds haven't lived in the wild here for over 500 years.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'They became extinct here after changes in farming
0:22:14 > 0:22:15'cut into their nesting areas.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19'The storks were taken in from other animal sanctuaries five years ago.'
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Now, today what we need to do is clip their wings, because
0:22:23 > 0:22:26that enables them to have as big a space as possible
0:22:26 > 0:22:28without being worried they're going to fly away.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31'Sounds cruel, but it's a painless way of making sure
0:22:31 > 0:22:34'they don't escape from this safe home.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38'It will give them a great chance of having a future in this country.'
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Now one of these has already been done and we want to do the same wing
0:22:41 > 0:22:44because a couple have been removed already.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- And just to confirm, this doesn't hurt the bird at all?- No.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50The shafts of the feathers are dead, so you can't feel it.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- It's like cutting your nails.- OK.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56'By keeping the storks together here,
0:22:56 > 0:23:01'it's hoped they'll rear young that will eventually return to the wild.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04'Now, don't even think about clipping birds' wings yourself.'
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- Do you want to try?- Yeah.- OK.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09If you come round here, I'll hold the wing for you.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11Big tug.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Well done. That's great. Good job.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Can they keep these feathers?
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Yeah, you can take one, definitely.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Good work.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- Quite tough?- Yeah.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Do you have to clip the other wing?
0:23:28 > 0:23:32We only clip one side, because it puts them off balance.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35If you were to clip both sides they could get wind
0:23:35 > 0:23:38underneath their wings and be able to fly again.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39So we can release it now.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Well done, bird. He's chomping at the bit, so we'll release him.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Countdown in three. Three, two, one.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58'Yeah, OK. Not the most spectacular release, admittedly,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01'but a crucial one all the same and Brayden and Carina
0:24:01 > 0:24:04'have been right at the centre of this successful job.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07'They've been given a brilliantly rare opportunity to get up close
0:24:07 > 0:24:10'and help very special British wildlife.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13'I think they've even turned into big animal fans now.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:20Today was fantastic because we got to learn loads of things
0:24:20 > 0:24:22about wild animals.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27I've really enjoyed today because it has been a really good experience
0:24:27 > 0:24:32and I've enjoyed learning about the wildlife.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34'Harriet and Luke have had a turnaround in Devon.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38'They arrived as serious donkey doubters
0:24:38 > 0:24:41'but these lovely creatures are really winning them over.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49'And it's time to help 20-year-old Copper complete his recovery
0:24:49 > 0:24:51'after a serious hoof operation.'
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Right, so we've got Copper out. Now what?
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Now we need to take this bandage off, because it was
0:24:57 > 0:25:00put on yesterday, have a look at the surgical wound, clean it
0:25:00 > 0:25:02and put a new bandage on.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06- Harriet, you don't look happy about this.- I don't like blood.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07- Luke, are you all right?- Mm.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11'Understandably, our helpers are a little nervy about the job
0:25:11 > 0:25:13'of redressing Copper's wounds,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16'but the chance to be a fully-fledged vet's assistant
0:25:16 > 0:25:20'is an opportunity too good to miss. They're up for this one.'
0:25:20 > 0:25:23We need to make a waterproof patch to go on the bottom of the bandage.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28Harriet, if you pull on there. We need roughly four of those.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29That's it. Well done.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33Perfect. I'm going to cut the original bandage off,
0:25:33 > 0:25:38then put some sterile gloves on and Luke can pass me things.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42'Harriet's doing a fantastic job of keeping Copper calm and relaxed,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45'allowing Sophie to remove the old dressing.'
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Good boy, Copper.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49'Then it's over to Luke to assist with the new one.'
0:25:49 > 0:25:50Looked a bit sore, didn't it?
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Ready, Luke? Do your bit.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56That's it, perfect. I need to grab that. Brilliant.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00'It might look painful, but thanks to the pain-relieving sandwich
0:26:00 > 0:26:02'he can't feel a thing.'
0:26:02 > 0:26:04How do you think he's doing?
0:26:04 > 0:26:06I think he's doing fine. Being brave.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12- Good boy. - Then we need the black wrap bandage.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19'Vet Sophie applies a final bandage to the wound before Harriet helps
0:26:19 > 0:26:22'her put on the sticky plastic patches to finish the job off.'
0:26:22 > 0:26:26There we go. A nice new bandage.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Good job, and of course you had two very good helpers.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Yeah? So shall we lead him back into his pen?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35'With Harriet and Luke's work complete,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37'it's hoped Copper will make a full recovery.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41'Our pals have been converted from donkey dissers to donkey adorers.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43'There's no stopping them now.'
0:26:48 > 0:26:51This is a sight I never thought I'd see.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56This morning when I came here, I thought donkeys were really boring.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Now I've changed my mind completely.
0:26:58 > 0:27:05They're not lame, not boring, loads of fun and just great.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Before I came, I didn't really know just how friendly they could be,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12but now I do.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I think it's quite surprising how much I actually like them.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Well done. Dawn, do you have they've got what it takes
0:27:20 > 0:27:22to be donkey sanctuary assistants?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24I think they did a great job today,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27but I wonder if they've been wooed enough to come back.
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Have you been wooed?
0:27:28 > 0:27:33It's been very great experience, and I'm pretty sad it's all over now.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Will you start looking after your dog at home?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Maybe a tiny little bit.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Hear that, Mum? He's going to start washing the dog. Harriet?
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Severely wooed.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44You don't think they stare at you funny any more?
0:27:44 > 0:27:46No. They stare at you, but not funny.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Good. So you've enjoyed your day?
0:27:48 > 0:27:51I love it when a plan comes together.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:05 > 0:28:10E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk