0:00:01 > 0:00:03Today on Roar,
0:00:03 > 0:00:07there's great excitement when a weird and wonderful animal arrives.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09It's got a head like a baseball bat,
0:00:09 > 0:00:14a tongue as long as your arm and a preposterous tail.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15But what is it?
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of Roar. I'm Rani.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48And I'm Johny and this fella here is the park's huge male eland.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52- Check the muscles on that.- Thanks, Rani, I'm quite built, aren't I?
0:00:52 > 0:00:56I wasn't talking about you, Johny. I was talking about that fella there.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59To save any more embarrassment, should we get on with today's show?
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- I think that's the best. - They are all right, your muscles.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Coming up today,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09we've got a tongue twisting test lined up for the giraffes.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Over half the flamingo chicks have died.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16We'll find out if the rest still stand a chance.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22And there's the cheeky chappie, the fidget and the mummy's boy.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25We're going to see how the kids got their nicknames.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Down in the animal adventure area, we're about to meet
0:01:34 > 0:01:37a pair of very strange creatures for the first time.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42For the last few weeks, a lot of work's been done
0:01:42 > 0:01:44to build them a new house and enclosure.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48The team has been busy welding and planting
0:01:48 > 0:01:52and they've even installed a luxury shower.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57Now it's finished and the mystery new residents can be moved in.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Which is easier said than done,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04because they are about two metres long and weigh almost 60 kilos.
0:02:05 > 0:02:11But at last they're in, and keeper Catriona Carr can reveal all.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14We've got something really, really exciting to show you today.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18We have got some new animals. Our new giant anteaters.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23These two are the first giant anteaters they've ever had here.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27The female is named Maroni while the male is Bonito.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29They've come from different wildlife parks
0:02:29 > 0:02:33but they're both just a year and a half old.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35I just think they are amazing.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39They are so unique and such strange animals to look at. But so much fun.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Giant anteaters come from Central and South America,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46but with only about 5,000 left in the wild,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49they're a threatened species.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53They are one of the few mammals that don't have any teeth.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54They do have huge claws,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57which they use to break into ant and termite mounds.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Then they use their long tongues to catch the bugs.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Their diet in the wild is about 35,000 bugs in a day.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Here at the park, one of the favourite foods is crickets.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12They eat them the same way they eat all bugs.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Basically, anteaters have got extremely long tongues.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19They are about 60 cms in length, so they can protrude them.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22They have loads and loads of saliva.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25They've got a gland that produces all this really, really sticky saliva.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28The tongue then goes back into the mouth then gets pressed
0:03:28 > 0:03:32up against the hard palate and that's how the bugs get crushed up.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39That long, sticky tongue can flick out up to 160 times per minute.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So the bugs don't last long.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45For me, learning more about the anteaters is absolutely amazing.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The characters that Bonito and Maroni have got
0:03:48 > 0:03:50are just so interesting.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Maroni is very, very much forthcoming.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Whereas Bonito is a bit more tentative. Very shy, at times.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01So far, the anteaters seem to be happy with their new house
0:04:01 > 0:04:04but the next stage is to introduce them to their outdoor enclosure.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09The keepers have worked hard to create an anteater-friendly zone
0:04:09 > 0:04:12but what will Maroni and Bonito make of it?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Stay tuned to find out!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22The giraffe is an amazing animal.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26With those long legs and stretched neck,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29they can eat the leaves that no one else can reach.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30But out in Africa,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33many of their favourite plants like the acacia tree
0:04:33 > 0:04:35are covered in thorns.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41So the giraffe, like the anteater, has evolved a very special tongue.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43To find out more,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47I've joined keeper Lauren to set up a tongue twisting treat feeder.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- We've cut some holes out in big bottles like this.- Right.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55And we're going to pop some of this chopped food into it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58OK, well let's get to it, then.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00I suppose you want me to put my hands in there
0:05:00 > 0:05:02cos they'll get nice and smelly with the red onion.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07We've got some sweet potato, red onion, apple and bananas today.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09How is a giraffe going to eat from this?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Giraffes, as we know, have got a very long tongues.- Yes.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15They are going to use their tongues to pick out bits of food
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and they are very good at it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19In the wild, giraffes use their tongues
0:05:19 > 0:05:21to navigate through acacia trees,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24past the thorns to get the leaves on the inside and outside.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Very strong tongues. Probably the strongest part of their body.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30And it's about half a metre long.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33They won't have any problems getting the food out of here.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Our main concern is the tongue will go in one hole and out the other.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- More than likely. - That would just be amazing.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Now, with the giraffes,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43we're not just going to leave these on the floor, are we?
0:05:43 > 0:05:47No, we'll winch them up on the browse hangers we already have there.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- So we can see them back there.- Yeah. - Now, they are quite high.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- The little ones won't be able to reach it.- Unfortunately not.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58The very small babies we have won't be feeding at all from these.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01They're still not completely on solids at the moment.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03They're still feeding from their mums.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06They will show a lot of interest and are quite inquisitive at the moment.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09It will just be the adult giraffes going for it today.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11All the fruit is in the bottles.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- All that's left for us to do is to winch them up then?- Yes.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Why don't you join us later on in the show and we'll find out
0:06:17 > 0:06:21if Lauren is right about how strong a giraffe's tongue really is.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Earlier in the series, we got the very first shots
0:06:34 > 0:06:39of the new pygmy goat kids when they were just a few hours old.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Since then, we've been following their progress
0:06:44 > 0:06:47along with keeper Bev Evans.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50We've got five baby goats. Two sets of twins and a single.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58All five of our goats were born in the same week.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05This is Jerry. He's very friendly and like hanging round the keepers
0:07:05 > 0:07:06and also the public here.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13His sister is Margot and she's a little bit more confident,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15a little bit more outgoing.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24We've got Benson. He's our single and he gets doted on by his mum Nottie.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25He's a bit spoilt, bless him.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33We've got Olive and Butler. Butler is quite cheeky.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42And Olive is always running around, to be honest. She never stands still.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51They're starting to nibble at grass and a few pony nuts occasionally
0:07:51 > 0:07:53so, they're starting to grow quite quickly.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57And even their tips of their horns are starting to poke out.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Baby goats generally are quite a handful.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06They're getting curious, so they are hanging around with the keepers
0:08:06 > 0:08:09and the public a lot, lot more, Jerry, especially.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10He walks along the fence.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13If you've got small hands you can push through and give him a tickle.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Hugely popular with the public at the moment.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Though Poppadom still is trying to get centre of attention, bless him.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25I think all of our goats, to be honest, are all such characters.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30They do really well with the public, especially the children.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32I love pygmy goats.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34We have so many exotic wild animals here
0:08:34 > 0:08:37which you can really appreciate and admire but not necessarily touch.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42Pygmy goats, you can give them a good old cuddle, to be honest.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I think that's what the keepers like.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47A little bit hands-on, as well as hands off stuff.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- What's a cow was favourite subject? - Don't know.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00Moosic.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Woof-woof-woof-woof! Woof-woof!
0:09:03 > 0:09:07What did one sheep say to the other sheep on Valentine's Day?
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Wool you be mine?
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Buk-buk-buk-buk-buk!
0:09:15 > 0:09:19What kind of dog tells the time?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21A watchdog.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27THEY LAUGH
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Now, earlier on in the show, Lauren and myself,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47we filled bottles filled with fruit and veg,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50and we have just finished winching them up
0:09:50 > 0:09:52into this tree and look at this.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56The giraffe are already making their way over, they're surrounding it.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Now, the idea was to see whether these bottles with holes in them,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01whether the giraffes would get their tongues in,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and just by using their tongues, just by using their tongues,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06eat the food in the bottle.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Lauren thinks their tongues are really dextrous,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11and if you look at them, they're going for it.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Now, who's this one to the right, this big fella here?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16That's our breeding bull, Doto. He loves his food.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19As you can see, he was the first one over.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23And he has practically finished the whole thing off
0:10:23 > 0:10:24and the bottle is still intact,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28so that is purely just by going through the hole, isn't it?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Yup, mmm-hmm.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45See, I always just think of giraffes being so big, so tall...
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- Hi.- Hey, Henry.- Henry?- Yes.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49This is you, Henry?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51What makes a giraffe good?
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Just a nice, calm temperament. He's quite friendly as well.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Can I just say, though,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I'm getting loads of hot air on my face from his big nostrils.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Sometimes you get snotted on as well.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04- Hey, Henry.- Hi, darling. Ooh, should I be...- Had your food, have you?
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Hey? Have you had some dinner? I smell of red onions and banana.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- Do you like that? - That's probably what it is, actually.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- He is so gentle. Are giraffes just really gentle?- They are.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19I think when they get spooked, obviously, they'll kick off,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23but generally they're very calm animals.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36Oh, my goodness. The length of that tongue. Who is that one?
0:11:36 > 0:11:38That's Imogen, she loves her food
0:11:38 > 0:11:42and she's been really giving it a go over there.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I can't believe how long her tongue is. It is like...
0:11:45 > 0:11:47She does like to walk around with it hanging out.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I've got to say, they are absolutely amazing.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52You said they had a really long tongue that was really dexterous.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56I think I've learned so much more and, in particular,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- just how big they really are.- Yes!
0:12:08 > 0:12:11For the park's flock of Chilean flamingos,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14it's been a season of triumph and tragedy.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16The keeper in charge of them is Mark Tye
0:12:16 > 0:12:19and he's been trying for years to get them to breed,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22with little success.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Flamingos build nests and lay eggs, but that's when things go wrong.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31What happens is someone will make a nest and lay an egg,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and it'll be quite happy with that.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Someone else will think, "I like the look of your nest,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39"I don't care that you've got an egg in it, I want it out."
0:12:39 > 0:12:41So, they'll kick the bird off
0:12:41 > 0:12:43and kick the egg out to lay their own egg in there.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So, this year, Mark hit on a cunning plan.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49He swapped their eggs for wooden dummy ones
0:12:49 > 0:12:55and took the real ones away to the safety of an egg incubating machine.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57And when they were just about to hatch,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01Mark had to get them all back on the correct nests.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06The trick worked,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and soon there were 15 brand new chicks in with the flock.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Mark couldn't believe his luck.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14We're really happy with the way things have gone.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22At first, the fluffy grey babies were doing really well.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28And then came a week of dreadful weather.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31The flamingos do have a house they can go inside,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33but just like in the wild,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37they prefer to be outdoors, rain or shine.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41In bad weather, they're supposed to shelter their chicks,
0:13:41 > 0:13:42but keeper Sarah could see
0:13:42 > 0:13:46the parents just didn't seem to know what to do.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Every now and then they seem to forget that they've got babies.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52You'll see them wander off with the group. They're a flock animal,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54so if the group are moving off, they'll move off
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and leave the chicks behind.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59In the end, the bad weather took a terrible toll.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Over half the chicks died.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03It's always disappointing.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Obviously, when you go through all the work of incubating them,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09they do the work of sitting on the eggs,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13then they follow that process and then to lose them at the last bit...
0:14:13 > 0:14:14Yeah, it's very disappointing.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17But now, the weather has been fine for a couple of weeks,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21and the keepers have called us back to see what's been happening.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Are the survivors hanging on,
0:14:23 > 0:14:29or has the flamingo's poor parenting skills led to further tragedy?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Find out later on.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50It's time for another Ask The Keeper,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52and the keeper hoping to earn her stripes
0:14:52 > 0:14:55answering questions on the Grant's zebra is Polly.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- Polly, are you ready for Ask The Keeper?- Yes, I think I am.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Oh, you'd better be. William, you've got a question, haven't you?
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Yeah. How big are the zebras when they are born?
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Well, we've got a baby zebra at the moment that's just over a week old,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13so she's still quite small. They weigh about 31 - 33 kilos when born,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16maybe a quarter the size of mum.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- Jonathan, have you got a question, now?- Yeah. What do zebras eat?
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Well, at the moment, they're just grazing on grass throughout the day.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26They graze constantly, and then in winter
0:15:26 > 0:15:27they also get hay and pony nuts.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31It's the same kind of things that you would feed a pet pony, really.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33How old is the oldest zebra?
0:15:33 > 0:15:35We've got Stephanie who's 17.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39She's got a little baby, she's the last one that gave birth.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Her baby's just over a week old now.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43But she's 17, she's getting on a little bit,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46but she's still fit and healthy and really well.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Have you got any other questions, guys?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- She's answering them well, isn't she?- What is you favourite zebra?
0:15:52 > 0:15:55To be honest, I love them all.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58I think, though, at the moment, with our babies,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Saga's little baby, Kimbya, is my favourite.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04She just seems really happy all the time and bounces around all the time.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08I've got a question, how come her stripes are brown instead of black?
0:16:08 > 0:16:11When they're born, they are, kind of, fluffy
0:16:11 > 0:16:15and more brown than black, but they do go black as they get older.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17OK. And have they got many predators?
0:16:17 > 0:16:20The big cats out in the wild, they'd be the main predators,
0:16:20 > 0:16:25and the stripes help break up their outline, so if a lion's after them
0:16:25 > 0:16:27with the stripes it, kind of, confuses them,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30so they can't just focus on one animal to catch.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Guys, she's done really well, hasn't she?
0:16:33 > 0:16:37But now, prepare yourself, because it's time for The Killer Question.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Come on, guys, come here. Huddle up, huddle up.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44THEY WHISPER
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Right, guys, are we happy with that?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50We're going to ask that? That's the killer question?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- Yeah.- OK, brilliant.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Well, you've done well so far, Polly,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56but I think all the questions so far have been a bit...
0:16:56 > 0:16:58black and white.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Sorry. This is The Killer Question.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05If a zebra, a Grant's zebra, was running full speed through
0:17:05 > 0:17:08a residential area and was spotted by a policeman,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10would it get a speeding ticket?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Yes, it would. Their top speed's about 40 mph,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20so I guess in a residential area it would be 30
0:17:20 > 0:17:22so they'd definitely be getting a speeding ticket.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27She's right. Round of applause for Polly.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Well, the main thing is, thumbs up or a thumbs down?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Thumbs up all round, yeah.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39Didn't she do well?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Everyone worked very hard to create the ideal home
0:17:48 > 0:17:51for the park's new giant anteaters, Maroni and Bonito.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54They seem to approve of their indoor space but now,
0:17:54 > 0:17:58what will they make of their custom-built outdoor enclosure?
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Keeper Cat is about to find out.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08This is really exciting. We're going to be letting the anteaters outside
0:18:08 > 0:18:10into their new enclosure for the very first time.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14So, there is a lot going on out here so they might be a bit nervous,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17so I've got some food here to try and entice them out
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and just, kind of, let them know that everything's OK.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Anteater's can be shy, and if they're too scared,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27they simply won't come out.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29But Cat's got avocado.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32After bugs, that's one of their favourite foods
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and to encourage them to explore the whole enclosure,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38she's going to lay out a food hunt.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42The first bit we come to is a kind of log pile,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44so, hiding the avocado down there.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48OK, if we move over to our digging area, now.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I think we'll pop a couple of bits of avocado down here.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Now, coming to the rock mound.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56I think we should put it in the crevices.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00So, let's see where we can hide it.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02And the best bit of all, come and see.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Anteaters absolutely love swimming,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08so we've got a lovely pool for them here, with an added extra
0:19:08 > 0:19:11of a bit of a shower cos they love having a bit of a sprinkle.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14So, with the avocado being over here, they'll go over,
0:19:14 > 0:19:19they'll explore and they'll quite enjoy the water.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23So, the treasure trail of treats is all laid out.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25This is going to be amazing.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27As I say, their very first time into the enclosure,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30they've got treats out there, so let's see if they like it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Maroni, the girl, is the first out.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44Bonito is a little more shy, but he can smell something interesting.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49Maroni follows her nose and is the first to find some avocado.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Anteaters have a fantastic sense of smell
0:20:00 > 0:20:02but their eyesight is quite poor.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Sometimes, they can smell a bit of food that's around the enclosure,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11and when they come very, very close
0:20:11 > 0:20:15you're wanting them to find it but their eyesight's not great.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19So, even though we can see that she's extremely, extremely close,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21she's still got to get that sense of smell
0:20:21 > 0:20:23so she knows exactly where it is.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Because they have no teeth, anteaters can't chew,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30so when they find the avocado
0:20:30 > 0:20:35they have to lick it up with their long, sticky tongues.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36Cat's plan has worked.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41Maroni and Bonito are exploring all around the enclosure.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Getting so close is actually really nice,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48just because we can't always go in with them
0:20:48 > 0:20:51and have that kind of closeness. So, they'll have a barrier here
0:20:51 > 0:20:55but getting that one-to-one contact is really, really nice.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59The anteaters are looking quite relaxed in their new home.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01That was so exciting.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05It was so fantastic to be able to see them out and about.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Pleased with the way it went. Absolutely fantastic.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18If you're a Roar gamer, you'll know what to do with this.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25That's today's cheat code. Type it in and see what you get.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30And if you're not a Roar gamer, why not?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32You'll find it on the CBBC website.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37It's easy to get started and great fun. Happy gaming.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48It's been a couple of weeks since the spell of bad weather
0:21:48 > 0:21:50that killed over half the flamingo chicks,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53so I've come to meet Mark Tye to find out
0:21:53 > 0:21:56if the parents are doing better, now.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00They've had some problems, haven't they, in the past?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03A few. But mainly because they're all young birds.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04They're all under 10 years old,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and for a bird that lives anything between 50 and 70 years,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09they're at the start of their breeding life.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- Wow, so they're just starting out as parents, I guess.- Absolutely.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16So, tell us about the story of these guys and how they've laid eggs
0:22:16 > 0:22:18and not really looked after their eggs.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Three years ago they started to lay and they laid a couple of eggs
0:22:21 > 0:22:25and hatched one chick out and, kind of, looked at it at thought,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27"Hmm. Don't like the look of you," and left it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29- "What's that?"- "What's that?"
0:22:29 > 0:22:33And then last year they really went to town at it,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36made loads of fantastic nests which they make here, these mud piles.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38- So they're flamingo nests?- Yep.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42- They're unlike any nests I've seen. - They're quite bizarre, aren't they?
0:22:42 > 0:22:44And where do they put the eggs? On the mounds?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Yep, there's these little dishes in the top,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48and they lay their egg into the top of those dishes.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The whole point of those nests is that normally
0:22:51 > 0:22:55they would lay next to lakes, and if there were any flood problems,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58obviously the nest and the egg and the chick are protected
0:22:58 > 0:23:00from any raises in the water level.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04I mean, what makes a good flamingo parent?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06I think a good flamingo parent is one that's attentive
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and actually looks after and stays with its chick.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13What you find is that some of the younger birds that are first-timers,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16they put a lot of effort into the egg and then,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20when it hatches, it's almost like, "Oh, not sure about this.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22"That's a bit beyond my responsibilities."
0:23:22 > 0:23:25And they don't really give them a lot of attention,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28or they keep looking at them and let them get wet by the rain
0:23:28 > 0:23:32and things like that, rather than sitting on and keeping them dry.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34And is that what's been happening here, then?
0:23:34 > 0:23:38That's what's happened with some of them but these ones over here, now,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42have, obviously, got through that stage and they're coming on nicely.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Mark, you must be so chuffed that these little ones are doing well.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48I mean, how important is it to breed these guys?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Oh, desperately important. In the wild, these birds are classed
0:23:51 > 0:23:56as near-threatened with, I think, around between 200,000 - 300,000 left
0:23:56 > 0:24:00and the captive populations are also of mixed ages, so every year
0:24:00 > 0:24:05people are losing some through old age, but we're not breeding enough
0:24:05 > 0:24:08to cover those losses, so every bird is a valuable asset.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11They look very different from their parents, though.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13They do, don't they? Incredibly different.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17They're grey, covered in down feathers rather than flight feathers
0:24:17 > 0:24:19and they won't get proper flight feathers
0:24:19 > 0:24:22until they're at least three to four months old.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24That's when they'll get that beautiful pinkish colour
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- we know flamingos for? - Ooh, not even then, no.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30They won't get the pink colour until they're about three years old.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31I can see the chicks running about
0:24:31 > 0:24:34so you must be delighted to see them healthy.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36I'm really chuffed. They're looking good.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37We'll be sure to keep you guys updated
0:24:37 > 0:24:40on how the chicks do throughout the series.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02It is nearly the end of the show, but before we leave here,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05we thought we'd pop up and see Corinne in wallaby woods.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06- Hi, Corinne.- Hello.- Hello, Corinne.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- Now, it's feed time, am I right? - It is, yep, yep.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11I've got an interesting mix, here.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Bits and bobs, really that the wallabies are going to love,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16so, if you want to dig your hands in there...
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- Right, we've got some grapes, some green beans...- Some apples.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22How are we feeding them? In a nice platter? A knife and fork?
0:25:22 > 0:25:26No, they really don't care for anything like that, Rani,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28so just, sort of, cast it out, there, on to the grass.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31When I think of wallabies, I think of timid animals,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33but they look chilled out. Are they not bothered by us?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Um, it's taken us a while to actually get to this stage, Johny.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39They've been in this enclosure now for a few years.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41To begin with, they just didn't want to know,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44they were up the back away from where the public was.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47But now, with a bit of bribery, doing this every day,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50that's made a difference and they seem more relaxed.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Is that because in the wild, you know,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55they are prey for a lot of predators?
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Exactly, they are not a type of animal that is naturally confident,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03certainly around people or any, sort of, large other mammal, really.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06So, it's sort of in their interest to be scared and, sort of,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09stay quite away from other animals.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11How closely related are these guys to kangaroos?
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Cos they look similar but they're tiny versions.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16That's exactly it. The same family,
0:26:16 > 0:26:20so just a smaller, cuter versions of the big kangaroos.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23We think of the big kangaroos being able to get away
0:26:23 > 0:26:26from their predators by jumping. What about these guys?
0:26:26 > 0:26:27Same, kind of, for these.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31If you can see they've got really long hind legs, very strong,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33brilliantly adapted for long jumps, not so much high,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36but certainly long distance.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It's been great to get so close to these guys and feed them,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41but we've got to make a quick getaway, too,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43and while we do, you lot check out what's coming up
0:26:43 > 0:26:45on the next episode of Roar. Come on, Rani.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I'll be catching up with the hand-reared baby otters,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54when they face their toughest challenge,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57their very first swimming lesson.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03The wolf pack go hunting, and their prey is running for its life.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Let's just hope that Johny doesn't mess it all up.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Ooh, I think I've lost control of Robuddy. Oh, he's gone off road.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16And training the new Roar presenter isn't going as well as we'd hoped.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Archie? Say goodbye.
0:27:18 > 0:27:19Goodbye, Archie.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Hello.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:37 > 0:27:39E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk