0:00:02 > 0:00:07The lion cubs must go outside and meet their dad for the first time,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11but he is dangerously unpredictable so will they survive?
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The worst possible result will be that if we do let Dad out
0:00:14 > 0:00:17that he comes over and kills them.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Hello, and welcome to Roar! I'm Johny and this is Rani.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48What are you doing?
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Shh! Meerkats are really good at keeping watch, being nosey,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55looking out for things. I'm looking out for something, too.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58What could you possibly be looking out for?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01- What's coming up in today's show. - I want to see, too!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Today on Roar.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08It's got more legs than 10 football teams
0:01:08 > 0:01:12- but will the kids catch the keeper offside...- Oh, my goodness!
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..about the giant millipede?
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Why are we giving the giraffes massive ice lollies?
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And no, it's not just because they've got massive tongues.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27And we'll meet Whippet the owl. He's only a baby but already
0:01:27 > 0:01:29he's got some fancy moves.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I am so in love and I love all this.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38But we're starting off with the lion cubs
0:01:38 > 0:01:42because they're about to face the most dangerous day of their lives.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47So far Mum, Yendi, has been doing a great job.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49And keeper, Bob, is delighted with their progress.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53The cubs, at this moment in time, are about seven and a half weeks old
0:01:53 > 0:01:57so from being born and being this size they've virtually trebled
0:01:57 > 0:02:00in size over the past seven weeks.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04They're just coming to the age now when they're branching a little bit
0:02:04 > 0:02:08further away from Mum each day, just finding their feet a little more.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11SHE GROWLS Calm down.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Yendi is one of the more dominant females in the pride.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20She's a very good mum, one of these females that will protect the cubs,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22no doubt.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27At this age, the character of each cub is starting to show.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The male is quite a quiet young lad, whether it's cos he's got
0:02:30 > 0:02:33three sisters that pick on him, I don't know!
0:02:33 > 0:02:39The paler one with the head on the other one is very, very feisty.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Knowing what the parents are like,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46I'm pretty sure these are going to be a handful.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Just like pet kittens and puppies, the cubs have to stay indoors
0:02:49 > 0:02:53until after they've had the injections that protect them
0:02:53 > 0:02:56from various diseases. Those are now done,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01so today they're going outside for the very first time.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Since they were born, this is all they've known so the next step
0:03:04 > 0:03:10is to get them used to grass, big wide open spaces,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13they've got to be used to being out in the big wide world.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18It's going to be an anxious time but it's got to be done.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21It's a big step for them, they're going to be scared
0:03:21 > 0:03:25but Mum will try and reassure them as much as she can.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Going out will be the easy challenge today.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32The tricky part will be meeting Nibilo, the big pride male.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38He is their father and it's natural for them to live together
0:03:38 > 0:03:42as a family group but Bob reckons he could be unpredictable.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Dad is a bit of a character.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Niblo is a nice big male,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53he looks stunning and he's now very much the head of the pride.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Dad and the cubs have seen each other but only through
0:03:56 > 0:03:59the mesh inside the lion house and this is the first time that
0:03:59 > 0:04:04Nibilo has had cubs, so no-one knows what he might do.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08If he was to go and take over another pride and they had cubs,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11the first thing he would do would be to kill all the cubs.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Everyone wishes it would just be textbook and you open a slide
0:04:15 > 0:04:19and they'll run out in one big happy family but there are concerns.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Most keepers will think, oh, I don't know about this,
0:04:23 > 0:04:28if I want to pull that slide back, but you've got to let them all mix.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31And that's exactly what's about to happen.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Will Nibilo attack?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36We're going to find out very soon so don't go away!
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Scientists have been arguing about the zebra for decades.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Is it a white animal with black stripes
0:04:49 > 0:04:53or a black animal with white stripes?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56In fact, if you were to shave their hair off...
0:04:57 > 0:05:01..you'd find that underneath most zebras have dark skin.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Tell you what, this is the life.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Out on the beautiful East African reserve among the zebras,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23the giraffes and the camels, oh! No work to do, right, Karin?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Afraid, not, Johny, we've got our ice lollies
0:05:27 > 0:05:30but we've got some for the giraffes. We need to get those out.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35I've never heard anything so silly as giving lollies to giraffes.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Are they really going to go for this?- You wait and see.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41We've got all sorts in here. They're going to love it.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- What have we got? - Here we've got apples, oranges,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48I think there's grated carrot in there as well.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50They're going to absolutely love that.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53We've got some work to do? I was enjoying that as well.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55We'd better get on with this
0:05:55 > 0:05:58because these giraffes look like they're pretty thirsty.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00They are, they do seem quite keen,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04so if you stay here I'll pop off the back and we'll get these up.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Do you need a hand?
0:06:05 > 0:06:09You hand it to me as I get out as unfortunately for safety's sake
0:06:09 > 0:06:10you've got to stay on here.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13OK, I'll stay on and pass it over.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- You've got a lot of experience working with these guys?- Yeah.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19A fair few years, now.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We've got Bev over here as well. You all right?
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Can I pass... These are really heavy, actually.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- All right? Have you got it?- Yep.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32On one of the chains on these ice blocks we've got a little camera
0:06:32 > 0:06:35so hopefully we'll be able to see a giant giraffe tongue
0:06:35 > 0:06:38coming out and licking the lolly. Pretty cool!
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Is it important to put their food quite high up?
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- Would they naturally snack high? - Definitely in the wild.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48They're browsers, so they're going for the trees, so this is basically
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- mimicking how they would eat in the wild.- This is the ice lolly
0:06:52 > 0:06:56- with the camera on it, have you got that?- Yeah.- OK.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03These giraffes seem pretty chilled out,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06do they ever argue over their food?
0:07:06 > 0:07:10No, there's not such a kind of a matriarchal hierarchy
0:07:10 > 0:07:14like you'd find with elephants, something like that.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I suppose the adults go in first and the little ones,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21especially with browse, where obviously it's varying in height,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25you'd find the little ones underneath the adults so there's a nice mix.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Unfortunately the little ones from last year are going to miss out
0:07:29 > 0:07:31as they're just that bit too small.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Both lollies are in position. Join us later on in the show
0:07:34 > 0:07:37to see what these giraffes make of their tasty treat.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47What do you get when you cross a parrot with a centipede?
0:07:48 > 0:07:49A walkie-talkie!
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Squawk! Squawk!
0:07:53 > 0:07:56What happened to the lion when he ate the comedian?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58He felt funny!
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Ooh-ooh, ah-ah, ooh-ooh, ah-ah!
0:08:00 > 0:08:02What's a duck's favourite food?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- Don't know.- Cheese and quackers!
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It's time for Ask the Keeper and armed with an array
0:08:27 > 0:08:32of amazing answers about that millipede is Ms Tucker.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Hello, Ms Kim Tucker.- Hello.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38You've got the answers, but do we have the right questions for you?
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Who wants to ask Kim the first question?
0:08:43 > 0:08:48- What kind of millipede is that?- This is a giant African black millipede.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52How many species have toxic compounds in them?
0:08:52 > 0:08:57Most of them. When they get attacked by other animals, like meerkats,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59through the grooves in their skin,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02they can excrete some pretty nasty tasting stuff.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05That can have lots of different chemicals in it.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08They don't taste very nice, the animal drops them and they get away.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Can we hold or stroke a millipede?
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Would anyone like to touch Kim's millipede? Go on then.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17You can all have a hold. Two hands together.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It's a bit tickly, that's all. It feels like a moving hair brush.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- What do you think? Is it smooth? Is it tickly?- It tickles.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29How many legs are there?
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Between 250 and 350, depending on how old the millipede is.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Do you get more legs with age, or lose legs?
0:09:37 > 0:09:41They grow extra segments, so they've got extra legs on those segments.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- What are the waggly things at the front?- Those are antenna.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48The millipede can't see very well, and they live under leaves,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51so she's using those to feel around with.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53How long do they live for?
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Millipedes like this can live up to eight years. So quite a long time.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I think she's found something she likes!
0:10:00 > 0:10:04They get more tickly the further they go up your arm. There you go.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12- What do you think, Clara?- It grips. - It does, yes.- It's weird.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- All right?- That's wicked!- Well done, guys. Do you want a go, Rani?- Really?
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Yeah, go on.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23A bit more weight to it than I thought there would be.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- They're quite heavy. - How big are they when they're born?
0:10:26 > 0:10:28You said they keep growing segments.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Do they just have two legs when they're born?
0:10:30 > 0:10:34No, they've got quite a few legs, a good 100 or so, when they're born,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36but they're very tiny.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39As they grow, each segment's got two pairs of legs on it.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41so, they grow another 10.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46It feels like a little brush on my arm.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- As lovely as it is, I want to hand it back now!- Thank you very much.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55It kind of tickles. Kim, I think you're doing well with your answers,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58but it's time we stepped it up.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02It's time for the killer question. Come on!
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- Are we ready? Are we ready? - ALL: Yes!- OK!
0:11:07 > 0:11:09If a pair of trainers cost about £20,
0:11:09 > 0:11:15how much would it cost to kit out a millipede?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Oh, my goodness!- Think about it.
0:11:17 > 0:11:23He's in the 2012 Olympics. He needs some new running shoes.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26I'm going to say £24,000.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Oh, Kim!
0:11:29 > 0:11:35Any millipede expert would have known it was £2,500.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- Oh, no!- But you do know your other millipede stuff,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43so thumbs up or thumbs down for Kim? Yeah, thumbs up.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47And I give you a thumbs up for letting us stroke the millipede.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Back at the lion house, the four cubs are about to have
0:11:58 > 0:12:02the most exciting and dangerous time of their lives.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Since they were born, they've lived indoors.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08But today, they're going to be let out into the paddock.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12We've rigged up some extra mini cameras
0:12:12 > 0:12:14to see how the cubs react to the great outdoors.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19They've never seen the big outdoors, never been on grass.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24They've not done a lot of things that we take for granted every day.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28The dangerous part will be when the cubs have to meet their father.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32But first, Bob wants to let Yendi and her youngsters out on their own.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34So he's brought the other females in.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The rest of the pride, we've had to put them in
0:12:38 > 0:12:41so that the compound is clear and so that nothing goes wrong.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44So Mum can go out and feel safe.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49The best possible result for us today
0:12:49 > 0:12:51would be all the cubs getting out into the compound.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55There's nothing to say they'll come out straight away.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58We're just going to open the doors and hope that Mum will call them out.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03That's it. Mum's out.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Hopefully, Mum will go out and have a look around
0:13:07 > 0:13:09to see that everything's safe.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Come on then. Take them out.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44For the cubs, everything is a first.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Even flowers are challenging!
0:13:47 > 0:13:51To watch them seeing things for the first time is incredible.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56There are a few plants in that tunnel they've taken a liking to.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58The stinging nettles frightened one of them!
0:14:02 > 0:14:06So far, they've stayed within a couple of metres of the door.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07There's Mum.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11So Yendi has to lead them right out into the paddock.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Come on. Hooray!
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Good girl! Go on. All of you.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24Good girl!
0:14:26 > 0:14:30# Baby, you light up my world Like nobody else
0:14:30 > 0:14:34# The way that you flick your hair Gets me overwhelmed
0:14:34 > 0:14:37# But when you smile at the ground It ain't hard to tell
0:14:37 > 0:14:40# You don't know oh-oh
0:14:40 > 0:14:42# You don't know you're beautiful
0:14:42 > 0:14:45# If only you saw what I can see
0:14:45 > 0:14:49# You'd understand why I want you So desperately. #
0:14:49 > 0:14:52We've got a result here.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56They look so happy running round, playing with Mum.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59# You don't know you're beautiful
0:14:59 > 0:15:03# Oh oh-oh That's what makes you beautiful. #
0:15:03 > 0:15:05This is going really well,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08but what comes next could be a different story.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13The next step is to let Dad out. The cubs love him to bits.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16They meet him in the house and try to get to him
0:15:16 > 0:15:19so hopefully, they'll be a big, happy family.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23And we'll soon know if they're going to be a big, happy family
0:15:23 > 0:15:26because Bob is about to let Nibalo out.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Will he love his cubs or turn against them?
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Stay tuned to find out.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Earlier on in the show, myself and Karin put some ice lollies up
0:15:52 > 0:15:55for the giraffes and now it's time to see what they make of it.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57I think it's a hit. They're over there already.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- Karin, are you surprised by that? - Not at all.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Giraffes are very inquisitive animals.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06They're used to us putting browse out,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09so the fact that it's a different shape and it's a bit cold
0:16:09 > 0:16:12isn't that surprising to them.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Poor Gloria. She's one of our younger ones.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16She's trying to have a reach there.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20She can't quite reach, can she?! Poor Gloria!
0:16:20 > 0:16:23She'll get her tongue out and give it a good go in a minute.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Also, on one of the ice lollies on a chain, we've got a mini camera.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Hopefully, we'll get some amazing shots of the giraffes up close.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32I sometimes get very sensitive teeth.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Will the giraffes get sensitive teeth as well?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37They don't actually have many teeth.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41They've got a hard palate with the ridged roof of their mouth.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44They only have teeth on the underside,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46which they use to comb the leaves off the branches.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49So these guys should be well designed
0:16:49 > 0:16:53for not getting any tooth problems or brain freeze.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56It's incredible how intrigued they are by these lollies.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Doto, the tall one, he's our bull, on the right hand side,
0:17:00 > 0:17:01he seems to be the keenest.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03He's going for the bottom,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07so he's probably slurping up all the stuff that's melting.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10But Doto, being the tallest, has an advantage, really.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14It doesn't look very tasty, but Doto's licked the camera
0:17:14 > 0:17:17so hopefully, we'll have caught that.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21- Doto is massive. How tall is he? - He's definitely over five metres.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- Really?- He's quite a substantial size.- And how tall can they grow?
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Is that about the right eight for a giraffe?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Males are always taller than females.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35I think the tallest male would probably be about six metres,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37that's ever been known.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39About that high.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42It's been absolutely amazing to see these giraffes
0:17:42 > 0:17:45snack on some ice lollies, but how about we get back to ours?
0:17:45 > 0:17:47I think that's a good idea.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51There's a couple of lemon ice lollies waiting for us. Let's go.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02Hey, gamers! Have you got your own animal park on the Roar game yet?
0:18:02 > 0:18:05If you haven't, you should. It's great fun.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08To make your park a success,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11you need to collect as many cheat codes as you can.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Today, it's crystal8.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20It also helps to check on your animals every day. So happy gaming!
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Being a presenter on Roar means I get to go backstage
0:18:41 > 0:18:44and show you all the animals before anyone else.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Whoa! Read it and weep!
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I've got an access all areas pass, thank you very much.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54I'm here to see Jimmy the falconer. The falconer. Oh, Jimmy!
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Not to you, but to this. Who have we got here?
0:18:58 > 0:19:01This is Whippet and he's an 11-week-old boobook owl.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04HE TWEETS
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- Listen to that sound. Is he OK?- Yeah.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10He's hand reared, so he's really friendly.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12He kind of looks at us like Mum and Dad.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- Do you want to have a go at holding her?- Really?- Yeah. Put that on.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19This is to keep you nice and safe. Not that she's dangerous or anything.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- So it is a girl then? - We're not exactly sure.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25We'll find out when she or he is fully grown.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It might be a bit difficult because he's never done this before.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31You're the first person, apart from me, to hold him.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34If I can't, that's OK. But it would be lovely to try.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36If we go backwards like this, and then we'll try.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- Are you like Daddy to Whippet? - A little bit.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44- And then if you go that way.- Here we go.- There we go.- Oh my goodness!
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I'm the second person to hold her.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50He will nibble at your fingers, but he's very gentle.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54- He's only just feeling for food because we hand feed him.- Wow!
0:19:54 > 0:19:58- Hey, you.- He uses those little whiskers.- He's so soft and feathery.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02He's cute. These little feathers are his baby feathers.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05They will go in a few weeks so he'll look completely different.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07And how old before he can fly?
0:20:07 > 0:20:11He's getting there now so this is the exciting stage, really.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13And what are you feeding him?
0:20:13 > 0:20:17He'll eat small rodents, mice and voles and things like that.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20But we feed him bits of beef, chicken and things like that.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22What kind of noise is he making?
0:20:22 > 0:20:26This is like a baby call, so he's just reassuring himself.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29He's talking to us, saying, "I'm here. Don't forget about me."
0:20:29 > 0:20:33We're never going to forget about you. You're just so gorgeous.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38- Where are boobook owls from?- They're from Australia and New Zealand.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41At the moment, he's got this little baby call,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45which is a bit like a grasshopper when they rub their legs together,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48but when he gets bigger, his call will go, "boo-book, boo-book"
0:20:48 > 0:20:50and that's how he gets his name.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53He is unbelievably beautiful. I love all these soft feathers.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56On his wings now, these are the adult feathers?
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The darker feathers you can see on his wings there
0:20:59 > 0:21:01are new flight feathers coming through
0:21:01 > 0:21:05and these fluffy bits around the edges are baby feathers,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07which will go when he takes to the skies.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- When he is bigger, how big is he going to get?- That's kind of it.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13He won't get any bigger than that.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17He'll fill out and get a bit beefier, but that's as big as he gets, really.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- He's the smallest one here. - I'm so in love, and I love all this!
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- Our Roar viewers are very lucky today.- You're very welcome.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Thank you so much for letting them say hello to Whippet.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41ALL: Did you know?!
0:21:42 > 0:21:46In real life, owls don't bring the post. But pigeons can.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Homing pigeons have been used to carry messages
0:21:50 > 0:21:53since the time of the ancient Greeks.
0:22:00 > 0:22:06But now, back with the lion cubs. The moment of truth has arrived.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10The four cubs are about to meet their dad, Nibalo, out in the open.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15We've only had Nibalo here for a few months,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18so we don't really know what he's like with youngsters
0:22:18 > 0:22:22because it's all new to him, as far as we know.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24He could be a right so and so.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29Nibalo has seen the cubs through the mesh inside the lion house,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33but this will be the first time he can get at them.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37The worst possible result would be if Dad comes over and kills them.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44He shouldn't do, but you can't say for sure what's going to happen.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49They can't put it off any longer. It's time to let Nibalo out.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56Come on.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Once he's out, there's no going back.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Behave.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Nibalo and Yendi greet each other
0:23:13 > 0:23:17for the first time since the cubs arrived,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20and then the cubs come face to face with their father.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Nibalo doesn't seem to know what to do.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35He almost seems frightened of the cubs.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43But after a few minutes, he settles down and lets the cubs come to him.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48He's acting like a grumpy dad, but the cubs aren't fooled.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52This is new to him.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54He's never sired before,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58so we didn't know what he was going to be like with the cubs.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01There were tentative moments, but look at them. They love him.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05It's absolutely brilliant. He's being hounded, mind!
0:24:05 > 0:24:09A big male like Nibalo getting picked on by a little cub!
0:24:09 > 0:24:12It's a great moment for everyone.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I think we can give ourselves a pat on the back
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and definitely give Mum and cubs and Dad a pat on the back.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Well, not literally, obviously!
0:24:20 > 0:24:24It's been a proud day for Bob and the big cat keepers.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Whenever there are any babies in the park, it's good news.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31But the best ones are always in the lion reserve, obviously.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33And of course,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37we'll be keeping a close eye on the cubs all through the series.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42# I'm glad you came
0:24:42 > 0:24:45# Oh oh oh oh-oh Oh oh oh oh-oh
0:24:45 > 0:24:49# Oh oh oh oh-oh Oh oh oh oh-oh
0:24:49 > 0:24:52# I'm glad you came Oh oh oh oh-oh
0:24:52 > 0:24:54# Oh oh oh oh-oh Oh oh oh oh-oh. #
0:24:54 > 0:24:58It's almost the end of the show but before we leave you today,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00we've popped to Animal Adventure to meet Alexa,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03who's got someone very special to show us.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Hi, Alexa. Oh, no! You've got a big rat on your arm! Quick!
0:25:06 > 0:25:08What is this?
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- This is Freya. She's a giant African pouched rat.- So she is a rat?
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- She's a type of rat, yes. - She's bigger than most rats.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20- Just how big can these guys get? - Boys will get bigger.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23She's a little girl, but she's fully grown now at two years old.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28- Boys can sometimes be even double her size again.- You said, pouched rat.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Is that the difference between her and a normal rat,
0:25:32 > 0:25:33or is it just the size?
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Size as well, but she has little cheek pouches like a hamster.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38You might just be able to see.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42She's got some nuts in her cheeks at the moment.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44You can see that her cheeks look a bit of an abnormal size.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46She's storing nuts in there.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49They can store lots of food in their pouches
0:25:49 > 0:25:52and they can move about three kilos of food in two hours.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- You've got Freya on a little lead. Do they make good pets?- They can do.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59They like to bond with one person.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01A lot of people are keeping them now
0:26:01 > 0:26:03because they live longer than normal rats.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07These ones can live up to eight years and they're a lot more intelligent
0:26:07 > 0:26:09so more people are keeping them now.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11But they're few and far between in the UK.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13How can a rat be intelligent?
0:26:13 > 0:26:16They use these guys in Africa and train them as sniffer dogs.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19They can sniff out the chemicals in land mines
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and being so light, they don't set them off.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24They alert their handlers to its whereabouts
0:26:24 > 0:26:26and they can be disposed of correctly.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31They are pretty bright then. Talking about pets, they're a good size.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34When people keep rats at home, they keep them in a little cage.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39- You'd need an extension for this thing!- You'd need a spare bedroom!
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Look at the length of the tail!
0:26:42 > 0:26:45She would need a very large cage and it would have to be metal
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- because she'd eat through plastic. - What size are we talking about?
0:26:48 > 0:26:50The bigger, the better.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54So if you want to keep one of these as a pet, you need a big bedroom.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57That's all we've got time for on today's show.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Why don't you check out what's coming up
0:26:59 > 0:27:01on the next episode of Roar?
0:27:02 > 0:27:06The prairie dogs are notorious escape artists.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10We're about to release the prairie dogs. Send over the reinforcements.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13So can the keepers stop them from doing a runner?
0:27:13 > 0:27:17She's a celebrity, she can do what she likes
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and she weighs almost four tonnes.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23So how do they get Ann to come out for a walk?
0:27:23 > 0:27:28And when it comes to coati poo, the Roar Ranger is fearless.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I can't believe you just smelt it!
0:27:30 > 0:27:34But does he really have nerves of steel?
0:27:34 > 0:27:36I don't like it! I don't like it!
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Subtitling by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:49 > 0:27:51E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk