0:00:02 > 0:00:06A baby meerkat who nearly died has been hand reared by the keepers
0:00:06 > 0:00:09because her own family wouldn't take her back.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Good girl.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14But does she think she is a human baby now?
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Welcome to Roar. I'm Rani.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49I'm Johny, and this rowdy rabble here are the lion tailed macaques.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Lion tailed macaques can grow up to 60 centimetres tall
0:00:53 > 0:00:55which is double the size of your pet cat.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Don't be fooled by the size.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00This lot are capable of making some ear-splitting sounds
0:01:00 > 0:01:02from shrill barks to screeching screams.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04That's why I've got these on.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Sorry about this. Johny.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Johny!
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Listen, it's quiet. Nothing.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Well they are loud out in the wild.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16I think we should get on with the show.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Good tune.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Will there be howls of joy from the howler monkeys
0:01:22 > 0:01:25when they are let loose on the bungee tubes?
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I have to break open the poo of a clouded leopard
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and we'll find out why it is all furry inside.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37And is Matt trying to bribe his way to an easy time in Ask The Keeper?
0:01:37 > 0:01:40That's very kind of you.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42A porcupine spine for you.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Now, there's a rather special young meerkat in the park
0:01:51 > 0:01:53who is looking for a new home.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57You may remember from early in the series that a baby called Tiggs
0:01:57 > 0:02:00had to be taken away from her mum for emergency treatment.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Her plucky fight for life became one of our favourite stories this year.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10She's quite cute...aren't you?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13When she couldn't be reunited with her family
0:02:13 > 0:02:16because she had been away too long and they might hurt her,
0:02:16 > 0:02:21we saw keeper Rich Barnes hand-rearing the pocket-sized thing.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22It made quite a change from
0:02:22 > 0:02:26the large and dangerous animals he normally looks after.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30After six weeks, she went to stay with some of the other keepers
0:02:30 > 0:02:36like Jess. She's thrived ever since and is now a much bigger handful.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38She is about four months old
0:02:38 > 0:02:40and doesn't like to stay still so much any more.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43She's eating everything in sight
0:02:43 > 0:02:46including every bit of dirt and people's fingers.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48They are always tasty.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Ow!
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Stop it.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Tiggs is growing up fast, probably because she eats like a horse.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00She thinks someone is going to steal her food, I think.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03She is getting more aggressive with us around her food.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08She thinks we are going to steal it so she eats it really quickly.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Stop it. Ooh, stop it, you'll make yourself sick again.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17The danger of hand-rearing little animals
0:03:17 > 0:03:20is that they start to think they are little humans
0:03:20 > 0:03:25but fortunately, Tiggs is developing lots of classic meerkat mannerisms.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29It's brilliant that she is acting like a meerkat should.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34She definitely doesn't think she's a human. She thinks she's a meerkat.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36She thinks humans are a giant toy for her.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Some people have guard dogs and things, but we have a guard meerkat.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Don't we?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46But Tiggs really needs her own home now.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54You might like to know, we will be seeing Tiggs again soon
0:03:54 > 0:03:58in our very own competition - the Roar Cutest Baby Awards.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03BELLOWING
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I've popped down to the primate section because it's time to put
0:04:24 > 0:04:27another of keeper Jamie Robertson's inventions to the test.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Jamie, what do we have here?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It's a rope ladder with its own bungee cord.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Who have we got here?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37This is Tolkien and husband Clyde.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40They are pinching all our food.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43You wanted me to bring some bananas and nuts down.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46What do you want to do?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49The idea is if you stuff these pipes with the banana and peanuts,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52I'll try and tie this end on. If Tolkien lets us.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- The idea is it is puzzling.- They probably prefer bananas don't they?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Yes, they do prefer the bananas.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02She is not interested. She is so friendly,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- she is quite bolshie as well. - She is a bit of a special case.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09She's not hand reared, but she is as friendly as a hand-reared monkey.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12It is completely her choice to be this friendly towards us.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17She actually likes humans probably. OK, let's try and get this done.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22I don't think Tolkien wants us to get on with it.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26We are going to put this banana in this ladder here.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Why are we doing this, Jamie?
0:05:28 > 0:05:32It is environment enrichment. It keeps them occupied during the day.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36It is a bit more exciting than having them sat on a bench.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39We try and get stuff to keep them busy.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43It's quite difficult because howlers are particularly lazy animals.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45They will just sit quite happily,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47so, yeah, trying to get them to do something else.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50She is hanging on by her tail, that is amazing.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53She is trying to pinch some of our food here.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- Who is this fellow up here? - This is husband Clyde.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59I was going to ask if one would come over first,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02but it seems like they are all coming together.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Have you got anyone else in here other than Clyde and Tolkien?
0:06:04 > 0:06:09- We have a little one up there, Mary, that is their son.- Right.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13He won't come over until we are out of the way.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- There you go. - He's found the banana already.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Anything new, they will come down and have a look.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31They are quite sociable animals, they live in big family groups.
0:06:31 > 0:06:37They do quite happily come down and see us as well.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Look at how well she is balancing. Why are they so good at balancing?
0:06:41 > 0:06:44If you notice their tail, it acts as an anchor,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47like a fifth limb. It's called a prehensile tail.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52They have that extra almost fifth limb to grab on with.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54She's grabbing on to me now.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58That helps her balance as well and she can grip, like an extra hand.
0:06:58 > 0:07:04It acts like another hand while she uses her other hands to grab stuff.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- Are they quite dextrous? - Yeah, they seem to be.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Hello you. She is holding on very delicately with her hands.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Her hands, looking at them there, are just like ours, aren't they?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20They have the same amount of fingers, thumbs, opposable thumbs.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25What about their feet, are they similar to their hands as well?
0:07:25 > 0:07:31I don't know if you can see, on her feet, the big toe is to the side
0:07:31 > 0:07:32so it's just like another hand.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36- We have this little fellow up here which is their offspring.- Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- How is he getting on? - He is doing not too bad.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42He learns off his parents, what to do.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46He's starting to come down and see us as well.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Extreme close-up while we're talking!
0:07:49 > 0:07:52He's not quite as friendly as his parents,
0:07:52 > 0:07:53but he is coming along.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Jeremy, I think your experiment has been a massive success.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01She stealing your cap right now. They are absolutely brilliant.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04I'd give them a high five, but I wouldn't know which hand
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- to high five. Maybe that one. - Yeah, there you go.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23It is Ask The Keeper time now on Roar and we are going to be posing
0:08:23 > 0:08:25some questions to keeper Matt
0:08:25 > 0:08:28who could find himself in quite a prickly position
0:08:28 > 0:08:32if he can't answer questions from these guys. They are going to be
0:08:32 > 0:08:38asking loads of questions about those guys over there, the porcupines.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41- Matt, are you ready for your questions?- Give it a go.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Can you have them as a pet?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Not in this country, but in Africa, in the wild,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50some have been found orphaned and kept as pets.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51They can be house-trained.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54You could do, but I wouldn't want them as a pet.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57They eat everything and are full of prickles.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Matt, are we OK because we are really close to the porcupines.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- Has anyone been this close to a porcupine before?- No.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06- Are we safe, Matt?- We are OK.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09They haven't eaten anybody this week so we should be all right.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13We feel so much better! Someone else ask a question so we can leave here.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16What is a male and female called?
0:09:16 > 0:09:20They could be Mr and Mrs or Fred and Hilda.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23They are just male and female porcupines.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Do baby porcupines have spikes?
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Yes, baby porcupines are born with very soft quills.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32It makes them easier to give birth to.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36After an hour, they are really quite spiky.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Within a week or so you can hardly touch them.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Wow, so within an hour they are already getting spiky.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44That's amazing.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47How long to do their quills grow up to?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50The quills on a porcupine are various different lengths.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53You have very short ones and very, very long ones.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58I would say the longest ones are probably about 18 inches long,
0:09:58 > 0:09:59so they are quite long.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04- What do they eat? - Porcupines will almost eat anything.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07We feed them a diet of mainly vegetables -
0:10:07 > 0:10:08root veg, carrots, swede,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11that sort of stuff. But they'll eat anything -
0:10:11 > 0:10:14leaves and bark off the trees.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17They will even eat bits of meat sometimes
0:10:17 > 0:10:22and they are partial to pigs' ears, like dogs eat. They like those.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26They don't eat deer, do they? I can see a pair of antlers over there.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I'm sorry to disappoint you, but they haven't eaten a deer.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Rodents teeth grow continually.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37In the wild they would gnaw on bones and other things, like wood,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40to keep their teeth short. If the hoofstock guys find antlers
0:10:40 > 0:10:44that have been shed out on the park, they pop then in here for us
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and they love to chew away on the antlers.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49You really do know your porcupine knowledge, don't you?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Will you be able to answer our killer question?
0:10:53 > 0:10:57We've had a chat and we've got a few tough questions.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Give us a moment while we choose the most difficult one.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Before you do that, I've got a little present for them.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Not that it should influence the question that you ask me.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- There is a porcupine spine for you. - That's very kind of you.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14See how easy I gave those out.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Maybe you could make your question just as easy?
0:11:16 > 0:11:21It might be quite difficult because you are one porcupine quill short.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- Sorry, Rani.- Right then, typical.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Be careful, they are spiky, so no-one stab me.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Keep them down low. Here we go, let's discuss our killer question.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40OK, Matt, we've got one for you. We've made it quite easy for you.
0:11:40 > 0:11:46In a lifetime, on average, how many quills does a porcupine have?
0:11:46 > 0:11:48In a lifetime?
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Difficult one.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52I would say about 30,000.
0:11:52 > 0:11:5430,000?
0:11:54 > 0:11:5630,000.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01It is actually correct. On average they do have around 30,000 quills.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04What you think, guys? Thumbs up or thumbs down for Matt?
0:12:06 > 0:12:09All thumbs up. Matt, you didn't give me a quill
0:12:09 > 0:12:13so I'm only going to give you one thumb up. Well done anyway.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18All right then, have the other one, stop twisting my arm.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Why did the centipede get dropped from the insect football team?
0:12:24 > 0:12:25I don't know.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Because he took too long to put his boots on.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35What do you get if you cross a duck with a firework?
0:12:35 > 0:12:39I don't know, what do you get if you cross a duck with a firework?
0:12:39 > 0:12:40A fire quacker.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Quack, quack, quack!
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Miaow, miaow!
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Miaow!
0:12:50 > 0:12:53What's striped and bouncy?
0:12:53 > 0:12:56A tiger on a pogo stick.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Head of hoofstock Joel has asked me to bring some peanut butter
0:13:21 > 0:13:26and by the looks of things, he's got himself into a sticky situation.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Joel, what is this all about?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Hi Johny, this is a bit of dietary and behaviour enrichment
0:13:32 > 0:13:34for the red river hogs.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- OK, why are we doing this? - Just to give them something to do.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40It's in the wallow, they love to play in mud.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Also, we are going to see if they really love peanut butter.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46We're going to put them on the end of sticks
0:13:46 > 0:13:50and see if they eat them, lick them or do whatever with them.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- Have you tried this before?- No, so it will be interesting
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- to see what happens. - Let's get started.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07All right, Joel, here they come, it looks like they are coming straight
0:14:07 > 0:14:10to this wallowing paddock here.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Are they quite brave animals in general?
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Yes, generally they are very inquisitive. They like to
0:14:15 > 0:14:20see what things are and smell and touch and sometimes destroy them.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Hopefully they will go straight in there.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- Why is it so important to do this for the pigs?- Because they are
0:14:26 > 0:14:29intelligent creatures and they need some stimulation.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Any different ways you can find to keep them amused,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34or to feed them is always good.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38They've got those big noses, are they good at smelling stuff?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Yes, they've got a very good sense of smell.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43They're very powerful snouts that can dig things up
0:14:43 > 0:14:47they can smell in the ground. They're really good tools.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Look at this, one is quite interested.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54- Who have we got in here?- These three are the piglets from last year.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57He just took a stick off. I thought they would get in
0:14:57 > 0:15:01and wallow about and have the sticks there.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Hopefully they will do eventually. The ones more in the middle.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08It looks like they are eating the sticks. They are going mad for it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- We have three little ones. What are their names?- No names at the moment.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15There's two boys and a girl. We haven't named them yet.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19The one nearest the piglets, that is the male, Gosho.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22We have the female pig there, Tofika.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- Will they fight over food?- Yes. They do like their food.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Generally they get on OK, apart from when there's food around
0:15:30 > 0:15:32because they will eat anything.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- Are they intelligent animals?- Yes, they are very intelligent animals.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39- Reputedly more intelligent than dogs.- Really?- Yeah, supposedly.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43It's good for a wild animal to check things out
0:15:43 > 0:15:46and make sure it's not going to do them any harm.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48He's just showing natural wariness.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51They are more interested in the mud on this stick now.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Do they actually eat the mud then?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55There's lots of minerals and things in mud.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00A lot of animals do seek out wallows to get the nutrients.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03I thought they'd be going more mad for the peanut butter
0:16:03 > 0:16:05because it is something new in there.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08It is sweet and gooey.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10He is thinking about it, thinking about going in.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Maybe he feels it's not warm enough to wallow today
0:16:14 > 0:16:18so he's being careful so he doesn't fall in..
0:16:18 > 0:16:21I reckon they love our nutty treats. I reckon we should stick around
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- to see if they finish the rest off. What d'you reckon.- I think so.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43The park is home to an amazing 74 western lowland gorillas.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47The largest collection in human care in the world.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Their natural home in the forests of West Africa looks like a paradise.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56But, unfortunately, a lot of the trees they need to live amongst
0:16:56 > 0:16:59have been cut down due to logging.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04So the keepers here work hard to understand what makes the gorillas
0:17:04 > 0:17:05happy and healthy.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Laura says they are trying to create the best possible environment
0:17:09 > 0:17:11for them to live in.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14A major thing for us as keepers is to make sure the gorillas have
0:17:14 > 0:17:19a lot of enrichment and things to do because this is their home 24/7
0:17:19 > 0:17:23so the more new and exciting and different things we can put in there
0:17:23 > 0:17:24the better for them.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28As you can see, they have their pool which we fill up with water.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32They have their hammocks, the ropes, they have the fire hose,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35slides, tyres, they have a lot going on
0:17:35 > 0:17:38so there is a lot of things for them to play with.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42Like human babies, they need lots of toys and lots of stimulation.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46They also need the company of other gorillas
0:17:46 > 0:17:49which is why they share this big enclosure.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52We are able to keep our gorillas in big family groups.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55They are lucky to have the interaction with each other.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01After chimpanzees, gorillas are our closest relatives in the animal world
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and their kids, like ours,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07like nothing more than going absolutely bonkers.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Especially young gorillas, they will play every single day.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Like human kids, the children play more than the adults.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It is their favourite thing to do as well as eat and sleep.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30As with humans, play is a vital part of their natural development
0:18:30 > 0:18:33and they make up very similar games.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38The best thing to watch the gorillas do is the roly-polys.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41That is a really good one. Especially when they carry it on
0:18:41 > 0:18:44and on and get into what we call a bit of a silly.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01They just run around with their eyes shut banging into things
0:19:01 > 0:19:05and banging into each other just on a mad one.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07It's really funny and quite cool to watch.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13The play can get a bit out of hand but the keepers never intervene.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18There are plenty of responsible adults around to step in
0:19:18 > 0:19:19when it is needed.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24When the kids are little, the play is quite gentle and everything.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27If play does get a bit too rough, the youngest will go
0:19:27 > 0:19:29screaming back to Mum
0:19:29 > 0:19:34and Mum will tell the other gorilla off for playing too rough.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40Mother gorillas weigh about 80 kilos, as much as a fully grown man.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42They are very protective of their babies.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The teenagers, though, are left to get on with it.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50As they get older, play does get a lot rougher.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54If you are not used to the gorillas and not used to the way they are,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58then some people do misunderstand that as that they are fighting.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00But you can definitely tell the difference
0:20:00 > 0:20:03when they are fighting and when they are playing.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06They actually bite when they play but it is not a rough bite.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Because their skin is so thick it tickles them.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12You can definitely tell when they are playing.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16They wouldn't do that if they weren't happy and contented.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20It's a clear sign to the keepers that all their hard work is worthwhile.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26This job is absolutely brilliant.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I could watch these guys play all day,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32but unfortunately somebody has to clean the enclosures.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34You do get a lot of perks with the job as well.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It's really great to come into work
0:20:36 > 0:20:39and be able to create bonds with the gorillas
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and it is also good to watch them play and interact with each other.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Are you having fun running your own animal park?
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Anyone can open one in the Roar game on the CBBC website.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We give out a new cheat code in every show
0:21:02 > 0:21:05and today it is frost678.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07You type that in and it unlocks
0:21:07 > 0:21:09special treats, new animals or extra features.
0:21:09 > 0:21:15So, if you haven't tried yet, you should. It is great fun.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Whoah!
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Now, giving some of the most elusive cats in the park a health check
0:21:37 > 0:21:41is a tricky business, but keeper Ben has a way of doing it
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and I believe it is rather whiffy. Is that right?
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Yes, you are going to be playing with poo.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48I don't want to play with poo.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Don't be crazy. Why would I be touching a clouded leopard's poo?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Cleaning them out is a good way to give them a health check.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I was happy because you brought me here in style
0:21:58 > 0:22:00but hand me some gloves, please.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03I am not touching poo without them.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04- There you go.- Thank you very much.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Let's get cleaning.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12This is a clouded leopard enclosure. We've come through the back entrance.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Where is the cloudy that lives in here, and who lives in here?
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Right, we have Utan and Mimbu who are a pair of clouded leopards.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24- Oh my goodness!- Utan is up there, he's the male.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27OK, take a look at that.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30He might be a beautiful cat, but he still does a big poo.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34You talked about this being a health check.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Normally when you say health check,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- I expect Jane the vet to be here. - This is very basic,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41something we can do without the vet.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43If you want to pick it up and break it open?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Is that a question? Do you want to break it open?
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I'm telling you, I was just being polite.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50It is actually really light.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Surprisingly really light.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56It feels almost like it's fake.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57- Believe me, that is real poo. - Have a look at this.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It's all hairy as well.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01What do you feed them?
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Basically he gets a varied diet of rabbit, chicken, pigeon, fish,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- chicks.- He doesn't digest the fur.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09He gets rid of it.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12You need to feed fur to the animals.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It acts as a fibre and binds it all up.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17That is unbelievable.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19This is a healthy poo.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21That is all rabbit fur.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23If it was a bad poo, what would we be looking for?
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Basically, you're looking for worms.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Not normal earthworms you get in the ground,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31but very small thin worms they can have in their stomachs.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Can you see any in there? Do you want to have a good look, Ben?
0:23:35 > 0:23:36I can't see any worms.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- Do you have to check the smell? - No, no sniffing.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43One thing, we have a lot of poo in this area here.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44Are clouded leopards quite clean?
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- Do they poo in the same place? - They seem to.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51- They seem to dig channels down the side of these beds.- Like this?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- Yes.- I know they scent-mark.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Their poo isn't that smelly, actually.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It could be a good part of it.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05Basically, if Utan did a poo in a certain area,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08and another male came along and saw it and smelled it,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12he would be able to tell that there is another male in the area.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Could he also tell if he was healthy or not?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Would he have a look and say, yes, he has a good diet.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21They seem to know what sort of size they are as well for some reason.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- I don't know how. - That is quite amazing.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28- The bigger the cloudy, the bigger the poo?- Maybe.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Are you joking?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Straight up, most cats do it.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I'm very impressed by that.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39The poo is cleaned up for now, but there is loads of fur
0:24:39 > 0:24:41and other bits we need to clean up.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Utan's up there going, "Oi, Rani, hurry up, will you!"
0:24:59 > 0:25:03You may remember all the excitement earlier in the series
0:25:03 > 0:25:06when some tiny puppies were born.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13They're fairly rare bush dog puppies from Central and South America.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15They're not easy to breed in captivity,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18but their dad, a bush dog called Morley,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21was hand reared by the head of small carnivores, Neville,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23who knows just what bush dogs like
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and has created the perfect conditions for them.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33The puppies' first day out of the enclosure was wonderful to watch.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Now they're nearly six months old, Neville has invited us
0:25:37 > 0:25:39to see the family again.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41- How are you doing, mate? - Not too bad.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Obviously they hunt in the water, we hope so today,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46but there is no food in there.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I've got a bucket of food here, some of their favourite stuff,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51and we'll chuck it in the water
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- and they will be straight in there for it.- Have you got a good aim?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Will you get that into the water from here?
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Come on, Moles.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- You say Moles...- Good shot. - Moly's one of the adults here.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Here goes Moly. Face right in!
0:26:05 > 0:26:07We can actually see him swim.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10He looked like an otter in the water.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14One of the things about bush dogs,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18they kind of resemble otters and things like that.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Are they adapted to swim then?
0:26:21 > 0:26:25They have partially webbed feet to help propel them through the water.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29They were fighting with the food, do they fight often?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31There is no serious aggression or fighting going on.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34It's all about the pups keen to get some food.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38When they were younger, Moly would give the food to them straightaway.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Now they are a little bit older, he tends to make them work for it
0:26:42 > 0:26:45but he always tends to give in to them in the end.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47He knows he'll come back for more food
0:26:47 > 0:26:49and while they are busy eating that,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53he can sneak off and quietly have his tea.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56That is fantastic, he is trying to teach them
0:26:56 > 0:26:58what they would naturally learn in the wild.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01How to swim, have to get their food.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Honestly, I think they are a bit lazy.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07We're out of time on today's show, but while they dive in,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09we'll dive out and leave you to check out
0:27:09 > 0:27:11what's on the next episode of Roar.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16We'll find out why a giraffe's front legs are longer than the back ones.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21What reason could there possibly be to smear a perfectly clean rhino
0:27:21 > 0:27:23with gooey, sticky mud?
0:27:23 > 0:27:27And our Roar rangers are very excited when they find out
0:27:27 > 0:27:29which animal they will be working with.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Yeah!
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:41 > 0:27:45E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk