0:00:03 > 0:00:06Coming up, we've been following the hand-reared baby otters
0:00:06 > 0:00:08ever since they were born,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11but today they're reunited with their parents.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Will they remember them or attack them?
0:00:39 > 0:00:47# Like a butterfly... #
0:00:47 > 0:00:51- Hello, and welcome to Roar. I'm Rani.- And I'm Johny.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- Aren't we a pair of beauties?- Let's get the show off to a flying start.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57The butterflies aren't bad either, are they?
0:00:57 > 0:01:02It's all change today on Roar with new arrivals at the safari park.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03If you think baby otters are cute,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06then just wait till you meet the new baby rhino.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Sally the sea lion is another newcomer,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14but how will she get on when she meets the rest of the splash
0:01:14 > 0:01:16down at Half Mile Lake?
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And it's the first time we've seen these animals.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22They're called mara and have just had babies.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25We'll be meeting them in a moment.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35But first, Half Mile Lake on the edge of the safari park
0:01:35 > 0:01:39is probably the wildest stretch of water in the whole country.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Most lakes have ducks and swans on them, but here there are hippos,
0:01:43 > 0:01:48a gorilla, and five Californian sea lions, swimming free.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51and today, a new resident is about to move in,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Sally the sea lion.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56She's come in as part of the park's breeding programme.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01I'm with keeper Mark now. Hi, Mark. What's the plan for Sally here?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Well, we've got to know her now, she's been here for a few months.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06- Right.- So she knows us very well.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09So now what we're going to do is move her down to another pen
0:02:09 > 0:02:14down at the lake so that the others can meet her through the fence,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18then she'll make the next transition out with the others.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22- She's quite a chatty one, isn't she? - Yes, mouth almighty, this one.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- Is everything going fine? Is she all healthy, all well?- Yes, very good.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29She's had a very heavy moult, so she's quite patchy.
0:02:29 > 0:02:36but that will grow back very soon. Apart from that she's been brilliant.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39OK, how are you going to get her from here, down there?
0:02:39 > 0:02:43- Are we going to walk her? No?- No, we've got a box outside
0:02:43 > 0:02:45on the end of the pen and we're going to hopefully
0:02:45 > 0:02:48sweet talk her into that.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50How can I help, because I can't speak sea lion?
0:02:50 > 0:02:51If you come outside with Sarah,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55she'll have some fish and you two can call her in, hopefully.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57And myself and Luke will work the doors and shut her in.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00All right, it sounds like you've got everything worked out.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I'll go over to Sarah, then. Sarah, I'm here to help.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08It's a big day for Sally, but before she can meet the other sea lions,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12first she must be tempted into the travel crate.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14I can see Mark and Luke poised with the shutter.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18If you hold on to this and if you could waggle it in front of there,
0:03:18 > 0:03:24just to tempt her in. That's it. Come on, Sally. Sally, darling.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27We're just trying to tempt her over for the moment.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29It's not quite working.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32So if we have a go at lifting the door up a little bit.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35If I lift this up, you hold the fish underneath, so she can get it.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- They do bite, don't they? - They do indeed.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42That's it. Good girl, Sally. Do you want to get another bit?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Just watch out for her bum, just watch out for her bum.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- OK, another bit?- That's it, door's coming down at the back. That's it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53She's in. Wonderful.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57She's gone in nice and calmly, she's not distressed.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Well, she's in there, she seems OK. What's the plan now?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04The plan now, if you don't mind,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07is we need a hand lifting her onto the back of our truck.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09All right, we'd better do it sharpish.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Join us later in the show
0:04:10 > 0:04:12and Sally will be sniffing her new pals.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Come on, then. Come on, Mark, you can help, too.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22'So far everything has gone swimmingly,'
0:04:22 > 0:04:26but how will Sally react when she meets the grown-up sea lions
0:04:26 > 0:04:30down at Half Mile Lake? Don't go away.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38This series we've been really lucky to film
0:04:38 > 0:04:41so many baby animals born here at the safari park.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44In case you missed any, here's a reminder.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Deputy head of the safari park Ian Turner
0:04:56 > 0:04:58is delighted with all the new arrivals,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02but there's one baby he longs for in particular.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05A baby rhino is very, very special.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Of all the animals we've got in the safari park,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09if I could have one wish for one baby,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11it would be a baby rhino, for sure.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16But today his dream is about to come true.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20After a 24-hour journey, two new females are arriving at the park.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24They're part of an international breeding programme
0:05:24 > 0:05:26for the white rhino, and one of them is a baby.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33Ebon is just one year old and has come from a zoo in Germany.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37She might be small, but she still weighs 600kg.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40That's the same as eight of me.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Keith Harris is head of the safari park.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51We've got to make sure we've got the box as close as possible,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54so she hasn't got any gaps either side to stick her nose out.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It's just a matter of manoeuvring.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Inside, the keepers are preparing a nice warm bed for her.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09Good girl.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Being young, Ebon is naturally curious,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and is very keen to get out of her crate to stretch her legs
0:06:15 > 0:06:17and explore her new home.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Ian is chuffed with the new arrival.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Yeah, it went very well.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39I mean, obviously the baby is really cute. That is a mega-cute baby.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42We've had a bit of a cuddle with her, she's quietened down.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44The other one is being unloaded now, but she'll be fine.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51The German keepers have come over to help settle in baby Ebon.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55They know her well, since they've hand-reared her from birth.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Ebon came in quietly, but will the other rhino,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03four-year-old Cara, be so easy?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13She's nervous of her new surroundings.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Suddenly, she changes her mind and walks into the rhino house.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Ian's thrilled with the new arrivals,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and is very excited about what the future may hold.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It's going to be a bit stressy the first few days
0:07:43 > 0:07:45with all the noise and bits going on.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Eventually, and it won't be done overnight, it is a long process,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but the plan is they'll grow up in a herd of rhinos together
0:07:52 > 0:07:56and they'll get pregnant and have babies of their own.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00For now, little Ebon needs lots of love and attention,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02and the keepers will have to learn how to bottle-feed her.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07We'll follow both the new arrivals over the next few programmes.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Over this series I've been lucky enough to be involved
0:08:17 > 0:08:21with the hand-rearing of two of the park's cutest animals,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24the baby otters. I saw them when they first opened their eyes.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I saw them when they had their first swimming lesson.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40And now I'm here with surrogate mum Bev to see another big day.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41What is going on today?
0:08:41 > 0:08:44We're actually going to mix Mum and Dad with the baby otters.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49I'm going to go in, open the slider and see if they come out.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Wow. What makes you think they're ready?
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The babies are about 12 weeks' old now, they're at that stage
0:08:55 > 0:08:59where we want to get them back in soon, and hopefully they'll be OK.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01What's the plan? How are you going to release them?
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- Have you got to go in? - Yeah, I'm going in.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05I'm going to open the slider up.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The babies may come out and follow me out and then I'll come out here.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Because they still think you're Mum? They still see you as Mum and Dad.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- Yeah!- Go on, Bev, do your work.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19'Bev is taking a brush in to protect herself.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23'Mum and dad Romeo and Rosie are very territorial,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27'and they could be aggressive towards her and the babies.'
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- Is he all right, do you think?- Yeah, I think he's just a bit nervous.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37He doesn't know what's going on, so he's just a bit...
0:09:37 > 0:09:42- Who've we got who has come out first?- I think this might be Somali.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43I have to try to get out now.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47OK, you've definitely won, Romeo, you definitely won that fight!
0:09:47 > 0:09:52I'll just get the brush out. Both of the babies are out now.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Look at this, they're meeting for the first time, properly.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58BABY OTTERS DRONE
0:09:58 > 0:10:04- What's that noise they're making? - I think that's like a warning sign.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09They're a little bit nervous. They've never seen big otters before.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Look at this, they're meeting.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Look, they're OK, at least no-one is attacking anyone.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Just a bit of smelling going on at the moment.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24You guys are related, do you know that? They're your children.
0:10:26 > 0:10:32The babies, they're trying to stick up for themselves, as you can see.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- So far, so good, Bev. - It's all to do with smell.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I think it's all to do with smells.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40They probably smell a little bit different
0:10:40 > 0:10:42because they've been coming home with me.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44You know, it's just them. Especially Romeo.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47I mean, Rosie's not too bothered at the moment.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50She's just letting Romeo come over and do all the investigating.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Yeah. Well, Bev, I think that's gone really well.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56They didn't attack each other, at least. What's the next stage?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Where do we go from here?
0:10:58 > 0:11:02We'll keep putting them in for short periods of time and eventually,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04hopefully, build that time up more.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07We'll just keep doing this now until the babies are comfortable
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and Rosie and Romeo are comfortable.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Well, Bev, I think that was a success,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14it's been incredible to see how you have hand-reared these baby otters,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18and if you ever need a surrogate dad for them, I'm your man.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Where do you find deers with no eyes?
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- I have no- eye deer.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33HE MIMICS CHIMP
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Why was the dog jealous of the tree?- I don't know.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Because the tree had a better bark.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43SHE MIMICS ELEPHANT CALL
0:11:43 > 0:11:45What do you get from pampered cow?
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I don't know, what do you get from a pampered cow?
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Spoilt milk.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52LAUGHTER
0:12:02 > 0:12:07Our Roar Rangers today are brother and sister Rickneet and Tanya.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14These two are looking forward to meeting some more wild animals.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19They've helped with fierce tigers, snappy pelicans and nervous deer.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23But what animal have they got today?
0:12:23 > 0:12:28"Rickneet and Tanya, today you are going to be meerkat keepers.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- "It's going to be simply amazing." - Meerkats? Simples.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36The first job, though, is to meet their keeper,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38who is also head of animal adventure.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40- All right?- Hello, I'm Ricky. - Hi, Ricky.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- I'm Tanya. - Hi, Tanya, I'm Darren.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46You're going to have fun, but we've got some hard work to do down here.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50I'm going to introduce you to the meerkats. Have you got your muscles?
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- Yeah.- We've got a bit of cleaning out to do.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56They're a bit messy and smelly, but they are fun.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Meerkats belong to the mongoose family, and in the wild
0:12:59 > 0:13:05they live in dry areas like the Kalahari desert in southern Africa.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Your first job is to keep an eye out for the meerkats.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14They should spot you before we see them. Are they there waiting for us?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Ha-ha! Hello.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21Ricky, Tanya, meet the meerkat gang. You're now in Meerkat Mountain.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29The way the meerkat family is set up, is we've got a mum and a dad meerkat.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33The rest are their babies, brothers and sisters from different years.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35They all build up in this big family group.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38If they do come up to you guys, don't go down to touch them
0:13:38 > 0:13:39because they are wild.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43They look very friendly and cuddly, but they might climb on you,
0:13:43 > 0:13:44but don't you touch them.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46We'll go round and start digging over,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48and I'll show you what I want to you do.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Firstly, put your buggies down.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Can you see how the sand, where they run over it, it's become compact?
0:13:54 > 0:13:57So I'm hoping what you guys are going to do...
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Who's got the muscles? There's one.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Have you ever seen one of these before?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- No.- They'll really groovy, these are great fun.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08You whack it in the ground like that and you twist like that.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It's breaking up the surface for the meerkats,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14just to reveal some of the bugs and help them dig down a little bit.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18So, I don't know how tired you're going to get.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21You see all this area here where the meerkats are playing?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Get your fork, get your twister, get over there and get digging.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38Look at him go! That's great. Do you dig potatoes at home or something?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41You've got the action, that's brilliant.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Good job. The meerkats will love you.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48They are naturally curious animals.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Everything they find they smell out and they've got to dig up.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54But if they find an interesting object, a snake or something,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56they've got to investigate it,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59so they'll all bark and they'll all have a little go at it.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01And the other thing you can probably see they're doing,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- where are they pointing their tummies, what's up in the sky?- Sun.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07So they've got very thin hair on their tummies
0:15:07 > 0:15:09so they can warm up really quickly.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12They stand up on their back legs and they sunbathe.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Can you see they've got black hairs around their eyes?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Looks like they've got sunglasses on. The idea is they are like sunglasses,
0:15:20 > 0:15:24because they spend a lot of time looking up, looking for dangers,
0:15:24 > 0:15:26it doesn't dazzle them. So they can look up there
0:15:26 > 0:15:30and they don't have to squint like we do when we haven't got sunglasses on.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33So they've got furry sunglasses, a brilliant design.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Right, enough chat, let's get on with some more work. Let's get this on.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40There'll be no rest for our rangers. We'll join them later
0:15:40 > 0:15:42when they have a treat for the meerkats.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47The next bit you're either going to love the most or hate the most.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48The next bit is the bug bit.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04OK, I'm down at Half Mile Lake with head keeper, Mark Tighe.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Earlier in the show we got Sally the sea lion from quarantine
0:16:07 > 0:16:08and we're bringing her down here
0:16:08 > 0:16:11and hopefully she's going to meet her new family.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13We've still got to get her out of the truck.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16We've got a bit of work to do. So, Mark, how shall we do this?
0:16:16 > 0:16:19We've got to back the truck into the yard here
0:16:19 > 0:16:22and then we can take the box off the back and just let her out.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Half Mile Lake looks beautiful at the moment. Really inviting,
0:16:27 > 0:16:31much bigger than where she's been for the last few months.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33She's not going all the way out, though, is she?
0:16:33 > 0:16:37No, she's just going to come into this containment pen here.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41So it'll give a chance for the others to come and meet her
0:16:41 > 0:16:45through the fence and she's still safe.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Let's get her out, I want to see what she's like in there!
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- See if she likes it. - Right, then. Let's have it.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58- I'm just helping here. Look at that! - Come on, then.- All right, then.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01It is really, really heavy.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04That's it. If we just go to there.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09- And that's it. Do you want to open the door?- Can I?- Yeah.
0:17:09 > 0:17:15- Jump up on top. - Jump up on top? All right. Right...
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Then just lift that up and hold it up until she comes out.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23- Here we go. Come on, Sally, your new home.- There she is.- Good girl.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Oh, bless!
0:17:26 > 0:17:31'But will Sally be brave enough to go swimming straight away?'
0:17:35 > 0:17:40She has no fear! She is absolutely brilliant.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54And we've got one who has come over already to say hello. Who is that?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I think that's Jo-Jo.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00How long will this take to get them together and become friends?
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Probably weeks. I mean, we've got no rush.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07I don't want to scare her, because she is only young.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10We'll do it slowly and perhaps when she's comfortable
0:18:10 > 0:18:12and they've met between the bars a few times,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14we might let one of them in with her
0:18:14 > 0:18:16to see their reaction and see how they get on.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Generally they're sociable animals, so it's not too much trouble.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22They all look quite interested in Sally
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and hopefully soon she'll have some great new pals
0:18:25 > 0:18:26and a great lake to swim in.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- Definitely. - Mark, fantastic, thank you.
0:18:37 > 0:18:43Is it a deer? A giant guinea pig? A rabbit on stilts?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Do not adjust your TV set.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49These are new animals for us all on Roar. They're called mara.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Keeper Polly is trying to tempt these shy
0:18:55 > 0:18:57and strange-looking creatures
0:18:57 > 0:18:59over for an introduction.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05This one here is Bernice, and the one that's just over there,
0:19:05 > 0:19:10that's Bernie, and we've got little Bernard over there,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12that's their first baby they've had.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15In the wild, mara live in South America
0:19:15 > 0:19:18and are the fourth-largest rodent in the world.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Their closest relative is actually the guinea pig,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24but an adult mara is much bigger.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29In fact, it's the same size and weight as a small dog.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34This week, the park's mara family has some very exciting news.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Bernice, we think gave birth on Monday, but we're not quite sure
0:19:37 > 0:19:41how many there are. We think maybe two, but we're not sure.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Polly's not seen much of the babies because Bernice has dug out a den.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49This is where Bernice went under to give birth.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52She felt it was most comfortable for her,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55she felt safe and secure there to give birth.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00But Polly needs to get a look at the youngsters to check they're OK.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04So she's asked the Roar team for help in catching them on camera.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Join us later to see if Mara Cam gets any shots of the little ones.
0:20:14 > 0:20:20OK, gamers, it's cheat code time. Today's secret code is...
0:20:25 > 0:20:30Type that in and see what you get. Happy gaming.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Back at Meerkat Mountain our Roar rangers Rickneet and Tanya
0:20:44 > 0:20:47have been cleaning up the enclosure. After all their hard work,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50head keeper Darren has got a treat in store.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The next bit you're either going to love the most or hate the most.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56The next bit is the bug bit.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Oh, do you think we mentioned the bug word?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Look at that, they're all over! So, one hand over your bucket.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04You're going to get some iggly-wigglys on it.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08That's cockroaches, look at that.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Well done, shake them in your bucket.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15Knock that one off as well. Give it a good mix around. Yeah, go on.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19So these are mealworms. Hold your hand over the bucket.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23OK, so these are the larvae of a mealbug which you find in flour
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and grain and things.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29These are a particular meerkat favourite, they love these.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38I want this scattered around in all the little holes, nooks and crannies.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I think they're absolutely brilliant, you know.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Being a zoo keeper is not all just about hugging bunnies
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and all the cuddly stuff, all the nice stuff,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56it's about getting down and dirty and getting your back into it.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59In the wild, meerkats would spend a lot of the day digging for food.
0:21:59 > 0:22:05They love bugs, but also eat roots, scorpions and even small snakes.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Your knack is now, like keepers, watch your animals,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10check they're all eating, nobody's hurt,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12check nobody's got any bad toes or anything.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17And also, mission for the day, count them for me. OK?
0:22:17 > 0:22:19One, two, three...
0:22:19 > 0:22:26Erm... One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
0:22:26 > 0:22:29One, two, three, four...
0:22:30 > 0:22:34It's really hard to count them because they all look the same
0:22:34 > 0:22:37and then every time they move you think it's another one.
0:22:37 > 0:22:43One, two, three.. You're one. You're two.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48- How many did you get then, guys? - Five.- Five?!
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I think we'll be here a little bit longer, then.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54I'm not surprised the rangers couldn't count them all.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57In fact, there are 16 meerkats running about in this enclosure.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It is difficult. They are always on the go.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02And to be honest, you know, if you work with them every day,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04you begin to tell them apart.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08You can tell they have their own little mannerisms. Hey, he likes you!
0:23:08 > 0:23:11I didn't notice the meerkats' hands was on my leg.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15I turned around and then it just ran away.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Although meerkats look cute and cuddly,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21don't let their appearance fool you.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24They're very territorial and have big, sharp teeth.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Our rangers are safe, though, since they are with head keeper Darren,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29who knows these animals well.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38That's brilliant, guys,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40thank you very much for your help there, digging that over.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42The meerkats appreciate it as well.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Thanks a lot. Well done, let's go.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51Being a meerkat keeper was excellent because we got really close to them
0:23:51 > 0:23:58and they started to crawl around you and smell and look at you.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01To see people, young people like that really interested,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03it's heart-warming and a good future.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05We've got keepers of the future there.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09It was once in a lifetime. I'm really happy that I did it.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Our rangers are done for the day and they've made some new friends.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Back up in the mara enclosure, keeper Polly
0:24:25 > 0:24:29has been secretly filming to try to get a glimpse of the new babies.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31She needs to check they're OK,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36so it's time to take a look at the camera footage.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45There's Mum. There's a little baby just coming out of the hole there.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Just one there. There's a second one, so we've got twins.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01They both just seem quite happy playing out in the sun.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03They look healthy. They look a good size.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05They are fully developed when they're born,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08so they're fully furred, eyes open and everything.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11They'll stay with Mum for a few months.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Generally, I think they're weaned at about four months.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17So within a few weeks they'll be out fully,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19but they'll probably keep going under the burrow
0:25:19 > 0:25:21because they feel safe there.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23If something scares them or spooks them,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26they'll probably fly back over towards the tunnel.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29We're really pleased everything's gone well and she's given birth
0:25:29 > 0:25:33and the babies look healthy. So it's really good, yeah.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Really pleased that we've got twins as well, so that's quite cool.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03We hope you've enjoyed another jam-packed episode of Roar today,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05but sadly it's time for us to skedaddle.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Nearly, because we've found just enough time to pop here
0:26:08 > 0:26:11to the beautiful big game reserve to meet keeper Bev
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and talk about these beautiful ankole. Hi, Bev.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17So, incredible animals here, how many have we got?
0:26:17 > 0:26:19We've got 11 here at the moment.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Our oldest is Clarabelle, she's nearly 22.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Ah, so she's the oldest, 22. How old is the youngest, we've got to ask?
0:26:25 > 0:26:29OK, he's only little, He's Kenny, and he's four weeks.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- I'm guessing that's this fellow here?- Yes.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- Oh, my goodness! And little tiny, incey-wincey horns?- Yes.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36When will they grow into big ones?
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It normally takes about 18 months to get to quite a big size.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41But they won't be that heavy at that point.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44But, yeah, they continue growing throughout their lives.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46The horns are massive, aren't they?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49They're one of the biggest horned cattle species you can get.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Cattle don't normally have horns like that. Where are these from?
0:26:52 > 0:26:55These are an African species, but they're actually used
0:26:55 > 0:26:59like domestic cattle out in Africa, and people do use them for milk
0:26:59 > 0:27:01out there all the time and also for beef.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Well, I think these guys have wandered off
0:27:03 > 0:27:05because they know it's time for to us go now.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09But check out what's on the next episode of Roar. Thanks, Bev.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Next time, a rare orix must be sedated,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18but with metre-long horns and a drug that's fatal to humans,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22the team must make sure nothing goes wrong.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26I'm doing a spot of housework for the otters, but Romeo and Rosie,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29well, they prefer their bedroom to be messy and stinky.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33And even the ants are mad about Roar, but just how strong
0:27:33 > 0:27:35are these six-legged workers? Don't miss it.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:52 > 0:27:55E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk