0:00:01 > 0:00:03Today on Roar...
0:00:03 > 0:00:05A rare Oryx has to be sedated
0:00:05 > 0:00:10but with metre-long horns and a drug that's fatal to humans,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13the team must make sure that nothing goes wrong.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41MUSIC: "Electric Feel" by MGMT
0:00:41 > 0:00:44- Hello and welcome to Roar, I'm Rani. - I'm Johny.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48And this little cutie is the park's new baby rhino, Ebun.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50I have to say, I am absolutely in love with her.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- Isn't she amazing?- She is.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Talking of amazing, here's what's on today's show.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57I thought you were talking about me!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Coming up, even the ants are mad about Roar,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05but how strong are these six-legged workers?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08I'm doing a spot of housework for the otters,
0:01:08 > 0:01:13but Romeo and Rosie prefer their bedroom to be messy and stinky.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And we've got some sticky questions and slippery answers
0:01:16 > 0:01:19when this lot grill the keeper.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27But first, we're off to the Big Game Reserve,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31where the team are preparing for a difficult and dangerous operation.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Wildlife vet Chris Mangham has been called in to sedate
0:01:35 > 0:01:38one of the scimitar-horned Oryx.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42There's always a risk with sedation. We do all we can to minimise it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44We're getting everything ready here, now,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48so we can knock him out, calmly, quietly, efficiently,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51get on with what we have to do and we can wake him up, ASAP.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55These antelope are very rare and very special.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57They're called scimitar-horned Oryx
0:01:57 > 0:02:01because their horns are in the shape of a scimitar sword.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06A century ago, they used to roam the desert areas of North Africa,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10but sadly, now they've been hunted to extinction in the wild.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Today, one of the males - he's called Jeff -
0:02:14 > 0:02:18is off to another park in France to start a family of his own.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21It's vital for the species that they're bred in captivity,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25so that later they can be reintroduced into the wild.
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Before he can go, though,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31vet Chris must run some tests to make sure he's fit and healthy.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Oryx have huge horns. They can grow to a metre long.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39And if they're frightened, they will attack.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41He must be sedated but even this is very risky.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47We use a really dangerous drug, actually.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The big animals need a drug that'll knock them out quickly,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52but it's really dangerous to people.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56We have to be careful drawing it up, you don't want to scratch yourself.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And we have a special revival kit here, ready to inject anybody
0:03:00 > 0:03:03in case they accidentally get pricked with a needle.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06So we are fairly serious about doing this carefully
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and not messing about with it.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Deputy Head of the safari park Ian Turner
0:03:15 > 0:03:18is specially trained to use the dart gun.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Because the anaesthetic they use is so dangerous to humans,
0:03:22 > 0:03:28Ian must wear gloves to protect his skin and goggles to cover his eyes.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33One drop of this drug could kill a human.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40The Roar camera crew has to stand well back for safety reasons.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Ian has to be careful and his aim must be true.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54The dart's gone in...
0:03:57 > 0:03:59..but there's a problem.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It hit the Oryx, got the dart in, but not all of the drug's got in.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07So he's not had the full dose.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10So we're trying to decide now whether we...
0:04:10 > 0:04:12give him some more or not.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14The plan is we'll give him a few minutes,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17see if he's had enough, see if he goes to sleep.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20As we said earlier, it's a dangerous drug.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22We don't want to charge in with the dart on the floor,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25potentially with some drug left in it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27So we're just going to let him relax for a second.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Hopefully, he's had enough to sleep.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32If he has, great, we'll carry on as normal,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35but at the moment, we'll just give him a bit of time.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Now all the keepers and Chris the vet can do is to wait.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48It's too dangerous to go into the shed unless Jeff is fully asleep.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50We'll be back later to see what happens.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Keeping the animals' enclosures ship-shape and mess-free
0:05:05 > 0:05:07isn't an easy job.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10There is one animal that makes it particularly difficult.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- I'm here with keeper Bev. Hiya, Bev.- Hello.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14And I want to know which is the animal?
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- The otters.- The otters?!
0:05:16 > 0:05:18How can they make it so difficult for us?
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Yeah, they look cute and cuddly, but they're very messy.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23One of the messiest animals we have.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26We're in the otters' enclosure and it looks pretty tidy,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29so I'm guessing you've had a bit of a clean-up.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31A little bit, yeah, to save a bit of time.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33OK, so what we will be doing today?
0:05:33 > 0:05:35We'll put a bit of their bedding down, straw,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37which they like to bed in.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40We've got some bamboo here, which they love to destroy.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- They also drag that into their nest area to make a bed out of it.- OK.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46So what we're going to do, we'll put the bamboo over here.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48OK, here's a question for you.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- If they shred this and make a mess with this...- Yeah?
0:05:51 > 0:05:53..why are we putting it in here?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55It's good enrichment for them.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- Give them things to do and it won't last long, honestly.- Really?- Yeah.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Give it a few seconds and they're ripping it apart.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03Especially Romeo.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07- As you said, you have Romeo here and who is his lady friend?- Rosie.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Now, is Rosie messy or, like all good girls,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12is she nice and tidy, and tidying up after Romeo?
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Sadly not. She's still as messy as Romeo.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Yeah, Romeo tends to make more of a nest than that.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19You'll lose me behind the bamboo!
0:06:19 > 0:06:21You'll have to move or I'm won't see you!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24So I'll put a bit in there. That's the bamboo done. Lovely.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26All right. Let's get on with their bedding.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30We've got some straw here, we'll put down over here for them.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Where would you like this straw?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33We'll put it in their nest area here.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36So we'll put a bit just there, that's brilliant.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41You know, I'll be honest, Beth, it looks messy already with the straw.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43How are they going to make even more of a mess?
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Basically, when we let them run out, they'll come running out.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49They're going to know we've been in here.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52What they'll start doing, especially Romeo, he'll start wagging his tail.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Cos he has scent glands underneath his tail area.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57That's cos he's scenting everything
0:06:57 > 0:06:59to make them feel comfortable in here,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01cos they know we've been in here.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05It's also a way of communicating with members in the family group,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08if they lived in social groups, so they know who belonged to who.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10All right, I'll get this straw down.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12I'm still not completely convinced
0:07:12 > 0:07:16that the place is going to look a mess but, Bev, you are the boss.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18So why don't you join us later in the show to find out
0:07:18 > 0:07:21if of those 'orrible otters trash our hard work.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40It's ask the keeper time.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43We've popped down to meet keeper Graeme at Animal Adventure
0:07:43 > 0:07:46to talk about creepy crawlies and slithering snakes.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Nice(!) Graeme, you might be brave enough to have those things on you,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53but are you brave enough for these guys' questions?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Yeah, I think I can handle their questions.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Think you could handle the snake? - I'll give it a go.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Shall I put it over here? How am I doing? Am I doing all right?
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- You're doing perfectly fine.- OK.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Guys, have you got some good questions, then?
0:08:07 > 0:08:10How many babies can a snake have a year?
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Generally, snakes lay between four and six eggs every year,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17so that could be a possibility of four to six babies every year.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20How do you restrain a snake when it gets angry?
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Luckily for us, none of our snakes generally get in very bad moods.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Sometimes you can grab hold of their heads if you need to,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29but if they're in a bad mood, we leave them alone
0:08:29 > 0:08:30and let them just calm down.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32He's in a good mood, can we just clarify?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35He's in a very good mood at the moment.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Good, cos he's around my neck, now. I'm a bit worried!
0:08:37 > 0:08:41I'm not too bad with snakes, I have to say, but what are those things?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43These are New Guinea spiny stick insects.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46They're one of the larger stick insects that you can get.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Any of you guys fancy holding those?
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- Me.- Really?- I will.- Quite brave!
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Now, what you have to do is you have to put your hand out nice and flat
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and they'll just crawl on. They do have little hooks on their feet,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01so they do grip on nice and tight, but they won't do you any harm.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04When they have babies, do they look after them,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06or leave them to go by theirself?
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Generally, they don't look after the babies.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10They're not the best parents,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12but they do dig their eggs into the ground.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Once they hatch, the babies eat solid food straight away,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and they're really just miniature versions of their parents.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21What kind of food do they eat, then?
0:09:21 > 0:09:24These guys eat a wide range of different leaf material.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28We feed them here in captivity on oak and bramble and hawthorn,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30but they'll eat most things.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38- Janjan, you are incredibly brave, how does that feel?- It feels weird.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40And is it sticking to you?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- They're called stick insects, do they feel quite sticky?- Yeah.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- Can I hold the snake?- Yeah, you can have a shot. I'll take the snake.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Be my guest. Lovely as it was and everything...!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01OK. Are you OK with it around your neck or in your hands?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Maybe everyone else can help support him.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Put your hands up and around. There we go as well.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11You seem to know everything about creepy crawlies and snakes, Graeme,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15but you'll not slither out of this one, cos it's killer question time.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16Come on in, guys.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Right, we need to ask a question.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20THEY WHISPER
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- OK, ready for the killer question? - Yeah.- Come on, then.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31- Grrr! Are you ready for our killer question, Graeme?- Yeah, I think so.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33The average python can grow to 1.5 metres.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37With that in mind, how many fully-grown pythons,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39stretched end-to-end,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42would it take to fill the entire length of the London Marathon?
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Oh, it's a difficult one.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48I'm afraid I don't really know the answer to your killer question.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Are you going to give it a guess, a guesstimate?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53I will guess...
0:10:55 > 0:10:57I'll say 1,000.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03Well, the correct answer is actually 28,130.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05I was a long way off!
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- What do you think, do we give him a thumbs up or a thumbs down?- Middle!
0:11:09 > 0:11:13- Ooh.- Harsh lot, this lot, Graeme.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- I thought you did really well. - Oh, well, that's the game, isn't it?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19After all, this is Ask The Keeper and these guys are the boss.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29I can't believe I said 1,000 now, why did I said 1,000?!
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Back at the Oryx house.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33It's been a while since the young male, Jeff,
0:11:33 > 0:11:34was darted with anaesthetic.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39He's now asleep and Chris the vet thinks it's safe to go in.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I think we'll have to be careful monitoring him
0:11:41 > 0:11:45and making sure, you know, if he wakes up then, you know...
0:11:45 > 0:11:48we may need to top him up, but...
0:11:48 > 0:11:51the plan is to be quick about what we're doing, anyway.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56Head of section Andy Hayton isn't taking any chances.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- Let's do it.- Yep.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Now the team can get to work.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I'll just make sure he's not going to get up, Ian.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12You can get rid of the dart and then we'll go in and do our stuff.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16All right, pal.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17OK, Ian.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24With the dart and its dangerous drug safely out of the way,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Chris can start work.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31He's taking vital blood samples to check that Jeff is fit
0:12:31 > 0:12:33and healthy for his move to France.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37He's a very important animal for the breeding programme.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41So they've covered his eyes with a fleece to reduce any stress.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- I need to get to his jugular and neck.- Shall we drag him round?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49OK.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53You measure him, I'll hold his horns in case he flicks his head.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57This is a rare opportunity for the keepers to get close to an Oryx
0:12:57 > 0:12:59without being attacked.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00So, as Chris take blood samples,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04the team take important measures for their records.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07630.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Some animals don't respond well to sedation
0:13:11 > 0:13:15and can simply stop breathing.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17So, the team are keeping a close eye on Jeff.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22He's beginning to wake up, so they must work fast.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24JEFF GROANS
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Hush.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- Right, anything else we need to do? - I've taken a load of blood.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Done the TB, so TB, brucellosis, blue tongue, done.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Right, OK.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Finally, they've got all the samples
0:13:38 > 0:13:39and measurements they need.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Chris the vet gives Jeff a reversal drug to make him wake up fully.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46This is pretty speedy stuff as well, isn't it?
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Only have to stick the needle in once.
0:13:48 > 0:13:49- OK, mate?- Yep.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55It's always an anxious time waiting for an animal to come round.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Sometimes, they don't.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02But finally, Jeff stirs.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05He's going to be OK.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Things went really well, actually.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Despite not getting the full amount of the drug,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13he went to sleep reasonably fast
0:14:13 > 0:14:16and also safe enough for us to go in there.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Fingers crossed, he'll be waking up now, we'll keep an eye on him
0:14:19 > 0:14:22until he gets to his feet and job done.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25The vet will send the blood samples off to a laboratory,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28to check that Jeff is healthy enough to go to France.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33He's such an important animal. Everyone is hoping he's OK.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37We'll be back at the Oryx house when the results come in.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44What's a moth's favourite subject?
0:14:44 > 0:14:45Er, lunch?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47No, moth-ematics!
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Miaow!
0:14:49 > 0:14:53What kind of dog likes to fight?
0:14:53 > 0:14:55A boxer!
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Arf! Arf! Arf! Arf!
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- What do you call a sheep on a trampoline?- I don't know.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02A woolly jumper!
0:15:02 > 0:15:04THEY ALL LAUGH
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Earlier on in the show, Bev and I were inside the otters' enclosure.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18We were giving it a good spruce up.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22We put some bamboo there, we put some nice straw,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24but apparently, it's all going to be messed up
0:15:24 > 0:15:26in a matter of moments, isn't that right, Bev?
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Hopefully, yeah, they're going to come out and mess it all up.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Not hopefully, that's a lot of hard work!
0:15:32 > 0:15:34When we say they're going to mess it up,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37it's not because they're untidy animals, is it?
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- No. No. There is a reason for it. - What's that reason?
0:15:40 > 0:15:43They come out and want to make this feel like their home.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46In the wild, wild otters would do this.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49They'll come out and wag their tails with their scent glands
0:15:49 > 0:15:52to mess their bedding up or to make it smell of them.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57This is a way of communicating to other otters in their social group.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- Here they come.- And they...
0:15:59 > 0:16:03I see what you mean, just wagging on the straw.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04Everywhere, isn't it?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Releasing that scent.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10- That is some quick action there, isn't it?- Yes, they are really good.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13We are talking about dirty bedding - do they poo in there as well?
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Sometimes they do,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19sometimes they have certain areas where they will go to the toilet.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Here he goes. They love it.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23He will pull that down, eventually.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Oh, my goodness, he's not going to fall, is he?
0:16:26 > 0:16:27They are pretty good.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29He looks like he's enjoying that.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33I think they do enjoy it. It's good for them to be able to do this.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- Very natural for them. - They're loving it!
0:16:37 > 0:16:39There he goes.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- That's amazing!- There we go, he's using his teeth to drag it in.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Now they've only got tiny teeth - are they strong?
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Yeah, those teeth, they look very small and everything,
0:16:48 > 0:16:53but those teeth are sharp, so they are good at ripping things apart.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Oh, just look at him!
0:16:55 > 0:17:00Now, in the wild, you're not there to clean their bedding every day.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03So does that mean, when it really starts to pong,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07after they have wagged their scent glands on it, they find a new home.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11They will have several holts, which is what it's called, the nest areas.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13They are pretty clean animals,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16they tend to put their spraint, their poo to one side
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and they will get fresh bedding and put it in, so they are pretty good.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Romeo's had a good go at that bamboo but I'm slightly stronger,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and I have pushed that in, nice and firm.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28So I think that'll last another day.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31I'll admit, when you said to me they'd mess up my work, I thought,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35"That's the last straw!" I'm pleased it looks good for another day.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36Thanks, Bev.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46OK, all you gamers, it's cheat code time.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51Today's secret code is wind995.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Type that in and see what you get.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56If you aren't playing the Roar game on the CBBC website,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58then give it a go.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02It's easy to get started and it's great fun. Happy gaming!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11After my introduction to an insect that looks like a stick,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13I'm now off to meet another bug,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17that for its size, is one of the strongest in the world.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Rarr! Yes!
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Now, if you think that's strong, that ain't nothing.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36I'm meeting one of the park's strongest animals,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- isn't that right, Kim?- It is, yes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- It's the ants!- One of the smallest. - One of the smallest, too!
0:18:41 > 0:18:45We set them a challenge to carry this Roar leaf, which looks small,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47but it's five times bigger than they are
0:18:47 > 0:18:51and they've done it, they carried it, that shows how strong they are.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Give us an idea of how powerful these guys are.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Well, these guys can carry about 12 times their own body weight.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00- Which is like you carrying a Mini to your house.- The car?- Yep.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03It's like carrying a car. That is incredible.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- We've got a colony here, I guess. - Yeah, this is our other colony.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08So talk me through, I'm looking in here.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10And there's all these tiny ants,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14but I hear they all work for the big one, the queen ant.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17They do. The queen ant sits in the middle of the nest
0:19:17 > 0:19:19and just lays eggs.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Now, Kim, I've heard these queen ants are massive.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26They are, they're pretty big and if you promise not to tell anyone,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28I'll show you what a queen ant looks like.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- I won't tell a soul. This is exciting!- If I use my little stick,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33cos they give a nasty nip with those pincers.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35If you look.. Can you see her there, look?
0:19:35 > 0:19:38That massive ant in the middle.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Doesn't even look like an ant!- No. She's not even full size.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45That looked big and chunky to me, just how big can a queen ant grow?
0:19:45 > 0:19:47About the size of a small mouse. So pretty huge.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50That's bizarre, an ant the size of a mouse. Weird.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53And why is she so important? I know she's a lot bigger.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- Does she bully the ants into working for her?- No. They depend on her.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01She's the one that lays the eggs, so without her, there are no ants.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03They've got to look after her, have they?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Now, does she ever move at all?
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Or does she spend all the time, like, covered?
0:20:07 > 0:20:11If she moves, she relies on these guys to move her.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15- So she's too big to move herself. - She's like a proper queen?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- She is, yeah.- Is it true there are other types of ants?
0:20:18 > 0:20:21You have the queen, you have these...runner ants?
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I've got some tiny ones crawling around on my hands.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26These are like the worker ants, what they'll do,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30they are either coming out to pick up food or they might be tidying up.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32So you have cleaners as well.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34They might be digging new chambers,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38- they need more bedrooms for more ants, that sort of thing.- Right.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41You've got the ones that do the gardening inside the nest.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43When they take the leaves in, they don't eat them.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Are you having me on? Gardening ants?- No, no, no.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49It's a very important job. They'll take these leaves...
0:20:49 > 0:20:51The workers take the leaves to the ants in the nest.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53They'll then hand them over to the gardeners.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56The gardeners do their thing and they turn it into the fungus.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- And if you look down here...- Yeah.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01..at the bottom of this nest, you can see it.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03This is what they eat.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- Wow, OK. So they don't eat the leaves...- No.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07..they wait for the leaves to decompose
0:21:07 > 0:21:10and they eat the fungus that comes from that?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13That is why the gardeners' job is as important as everyone else's,
0:21:13 > 0:21:14cos they make the food.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17I've noticed in here, I don't know where he has gone, now,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21but I noticed a pretty chunky ant. Not queen size, but quite big.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24You'll have scouts. There's one just here, look.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- See him?- Yeah, I can see him.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28There's scouts and there's the soldier ants.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31The soldier ants are bigger, they protect the nest,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33as the queen can't come out and protect herself.
0:21:33 > 0:21:34So the bigger scout ants
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and the soldier ants do that for her.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38So they work as a team and they're so strong.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40All this talk of working out
0:21:40 > 0:21:43has got me in the mood for pumping iron. Let's bring it on.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Back up at the Oryx house, the keepers have been waiting
0:22:04 > 0:22:07for the vital test results to come back for Jeff the Oryx.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10He's so important for the breeding programme
0:22:10 > 0:22:12of this endangered species,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15that everyone has had their fingers crossed.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23The good news is that he's been given the all-clear
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and today, his new French keepers have come to collect him.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32He'll be transported in a box that's big enough for him to lie down in,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35but not too large for him to bang around and hurt himself.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40But the next challenge is to persuade Jeff into his travel crate.
0:22:40 > 0:22:46It won't be easy, so Andy will give him a sedative to calm him down.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49You have fight and flight, the two main responses of animals.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52The number one defence is to run away. That's flight.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56They take off and run away. When you've got trailers and doors, etc,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59you don't want animals spooking and running blindly,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01because they'll hit something.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03The other response is fight.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Which isn't good for us.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08This it to just need to chill that fight and flight response.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11MUSIC: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
0:23:11 > 0:23:15This time, Andy will use a blow pipe to deliver the drug,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17since it will be less stressful for Jeff.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21HE BLOWS
0:23:26 > 0:23:28I'll have to keep you guys out of the way a bit.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30And everybody, absolute silence.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The only people talking are me and Cos...
0:23:33 > 0:23:34just trying to guide him into the box.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It's all safe. He'll run down a corridor,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39so we're not going to be anywhere near him.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42But we don't want any outside influences or sudden noises
0:23:42 > 0:23:44or anything to bring him out of his sedative.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47He could come out of it quite easily and it will be a danger to him.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50So if we can do it as quietly and nicely as possible for him.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52OK, so I'll shout.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Can you see him?
0:23:56 > 0:23:57You go on in, mate.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Easy, easy, easy.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Although he's been sedated, Jeff is still nervous.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23But gentle coaxing does the trick.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26OK, Marika. OK.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Lovely, fantastic.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34That went brilliantly.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Obviously, it's a big, scary, dark box and he didn't want to go in
0:24:39 > 0:24:41but the sedative that we gave him worked really nicely.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43If we hadn't had that...
0:24:43 > 0:24:45I think he'd have been bouncing off the walls.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48So, yeah, brilliant.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Let's just take it into this area here and we can then spin it around.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Oh, great, he's stood at the back!
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Now, all they have to do is lift the box on to the lorry
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and Jeff's ready to say, "Au revoir!"
0:25:01 > 0:25:03One, two, three, hup!
0:25:06 > 0:25:07That was nice, well done.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10So now he's off to France.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13A lot of young ladies over there, waiting for him.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16He's going to go off and have a little baby Oryx over there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18It makes it all worthwhile.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21We breed animals here, they're endangered
0:25:21 > 0:25:25and they go off to pastures new and carry on what we've been doing.
0:25:25 > 0:25:31You're an ambassador for your species, Jeff, so, bon voyage.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Now, last time on Roar, there was a new arrival at the park.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46A young female sea lion,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48that I helped to move down to a holding pen
0:25:48 > 0:25:50here on Half Mile Lake.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Before we leave you today,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56we thought we'd pop down and catch up with keeper Sarah,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and find out how Sally the sea lion is settling in.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Hey, Sarah.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02A little while ago,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Sally was introduced to the rest of the splash
0:26:04 > 0:26:05and we're joined by Sarah,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07- who'll give us an update.- Hi, Johny.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08How's it all going?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Yeah, she's getting along really well, as you can see.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- She's met a few of them through the fence.- Right.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15They seem to be getting along all right.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17She's settling down in here.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So hopefully before long, we will be able to let her out
0:26:20 > 0:26:23and she can really meet the rest of the splash in person.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26So we'll have the slip slap of flippers then.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Now, what kind of timescale are we looking at for that,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31before it's safe?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34It's going to be a few weeks yet. We need to get her comfortable.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39Obviously it's a big change from where she was to now,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43into from what she can see is this big, huge lake with hippos in it,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46loads of other sea lions she's never met before.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49She's very quiet, so she might not fit in, you know?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- She's so shy, I mean... - Yeah, normally, not a peep from her.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55She's the quietest sea lion I've heard in my life. Aren't you?
0:26:55 > 0:26:59It looks like Sally wants attention, so we'll give it to her.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02While we do, why don't you lot check out what's coming up next time?
0:27:02 > 0:27:03Keep it down!
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Next time on Roar...
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Kaiser the baby giraffe has been thriving,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15but unless he gets a vital inoculation,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18his health could be at risk.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I'm going off to flying school with Harriet the barn owl.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Hello!
0:27:26 > 0:27:28'But while Rani and Harriet are bonding,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31'me and Matilda just can't seem to hit it off.'
0:27:31 > 0:27:32Whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:27:32 > 0:27:34'Don't miss it!'
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk