0:00:02 > 0:00:04'On Roar today, meet Marmite the meerkat.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08'She was hand raised as a pet and thinks she's human.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13'But today she'll meet wild meerkats for the first time.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17'Will they mix, or will they fight?'
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Hello, I'm Johny.- And I'm Rani.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And welcome to another amazing episode of Roar.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54We're here with the rhesus macaques, which store food in cheek pouches
0:00:54 > 0:00:56to eat later, which we think is a great idea.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01It is a good idea, Johny, but it's getting a bit trickier to talk.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Maybe we could munch on these grapes and just get on with the show.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12'Here's what's coming up. It's feeding time for the big cats,
0:01:12 > 0:01:16'and I find out what it feels like to be hunted by a tiger.'
0:01:17 > 0:01:20'How do you give Anne the Elephant a wash?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23'With a power shower and a scrubbing brush.'
0:01:23 > 0:01:27I think we're going to be here quite a while.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29'And me and the gang are off to meet
0:01:29 > 0:01:32'one of the park's luckiest and most-loved animals.'
0:01:32 > 0:01:35ALL: Oooh!
0:01:35 > 0:01:40'It's Joey, the hand-reared baby wallaby.'
0:01:41 > 0:01:45'We're starting today down at Animal Adventure,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50'because recently there have been some unusual sightings.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56'A meerkat on a lead is not something you see every day,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59'but this is no ordinary meerkat.'
0:01:59 > 0:02:01This is Marmite and she is a meerkat.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04She's a little different to the ones in Jungle Kingdom,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06she's a hand reared meerkat.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14'Three-year-old Marmite was given to Longleat by her previous owners.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16'They'd raised her, but as she grew up
0:02:16 > 0:02:20'they realised meerkats don't make good pets.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25'They gave her to the park, and now keeper Kim is looking after her.'
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Having a meerkat in a house isn't a good idea
0:02:27 > 0:02:31unless you can have eight others. They need to be together.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Meerkats dig, they've got really big teeth, they stink.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39But the main reason is you will make them unhappy.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44'In the wild, meerkats live in large family groups known as mobs.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48'They're clever, social animals who need company.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:53We've one main group of meerkats in Jungle Kingdom, the breeding group.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57'Kim and the team wanted to introduce Marmite to the group,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01'but when they tried it, things didn't go well.'
0:03:01 > 0:03:04When we put her in with the group, she didn't know how to be a meerkat.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08She sat in the corner with her head in between her front legs
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and just stayed there. She looked very nervous.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16'Marmite has spent all her life with humans.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21'If she's to join the mob, Kim must teach her how to be a meerkat.'
0:03:21 > 0:03:26She digs. All meerkats dig for bugs, for food, so she did pick that up.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Obviously her noises.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31MEERKAT CHIRRUPS
0:03:31 > 0:03:36That's a meerkat thing. She chatters constantly when she's happy.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40And she sits up like you've seen most meerkats do.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The difference is she doesn't know what she's looking for.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Most meerkats will look out for danger, look up at the sky.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49She's just being nosy.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54'Nosy or not, it's a start, and Kim has got a plan for Marmite.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57'There is another small group of meerkats here at the park.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01'They're boys who have been pushed out of the main group
0:04:01 > 0:04:06'by the dominant male. So, might these boys be a match for Marmite?'
0:04:06 > 0:04:08She's going in as the only female.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Which, hopefully, will mean she'll have lots of babies
0:04:11 > 0:04:15and the next time we see her, she'll have a family of her own.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20'It's a risky strategy, but it's also the best thing for Marmite.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22'She needs to be with other meerkats.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'But will the males accept her?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28'We'll come back to see what happens.'
0:04:32 > 0:04:37'If you don't like spiders, then you won't like this fact.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41'The black lace-weaver spider is common in our woodlands.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43'The female is only 16mm long.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47'But she'll only ever have one family of babies.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51'That's because when her spiderlings have hatched from their eggs,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'mum lets them eat her.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55'Ewwww!
0:04:55 > 0:04:58'Disgusting, but true.'
0:05:02 > 0:05:06During my time on Roar, I've cleaned everything from giant pythons
0:05:06 > 0:05:08to tiny, cute, fluffy bunnies.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10But today I'm cleaning an animal
0:05:10 > 0:05:13that weighs an incredible 3.6 tonnes.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14Anne the elephant.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19'Anne is probably the most famous elephant in the world,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22'and she's certainly our favourite.'
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I'm here with Andy and Ryan,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28and I think they're going to be impressed, cos I've come prepared.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- Hi Andy, all right? - What's that all about?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33We're going to clean Anne the elephant, aren't we?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37We won't need that, or that, and definitely not the shower cap, mate.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38- Really?- Absolutely not.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I've got a camera. Is that better?
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- Do I look cool, now? - Yeah, really cool.- Andy!
0:05:45 > 0:05:49You guys at home might think this is funny, like Andy,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52but I'm doing this for you, so we can get a close look at Anne,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55cos our camera crew aren't allowed in there, are they?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58No, we can look after you in there, Johny,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01but if we have everyone in there, it'll possibly upset Anne,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05and we can keep you safer on your own.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Anne comes first.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10So where do we start, then, cleaning a giant elephant?
0:06:10 > 0:06:15You don't need a little bath sponge, you need a big scrubbing brush.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Ryan will wet her down, give her a soak,
0:06:18 > 0:06:23and we'll get some warm, soapy water and we'll scrub her all over
0:06:23 > 0:06:25and make her look marvellous.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39I think Ryan's finished rinsing Anne down.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42I've noticed chains around Anne's ankles.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Is that for Ryan's safety or Anne's?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47It's part of the way we manage Anne.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52We need to go in, we need to treat her skin and look after her skin.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54It's the best thing for her.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58It's like putting a lead on a dog, or a head collar on a pony.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02It's our way of making sure we can keep Anne still.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05She doesn't mind. It's half an hour a day for her bath. That's it.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09- OK, you come in behind me, Johny.- I'm going in!
0:07:09 > 0:07:15Right, what you want to do is get a bit of soap on that
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- and scrub as hard as you can. - Really?- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23If your arms aren't aching when you finish, you haven't done it right.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Right, that's a challenge.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27How often do you give her a scrub?
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- Every day.- Really?
0:07:29 > 0:07:32This is done every day.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36It's just a brilliant part of my day.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39If you feel her skin, it's like leather.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Really nice and soft and supple.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45How thick is an elephant's skin?
0:07:45 > 0:07:47In certain places it can be 2.5cm thick.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50In other places, behind her ears or around her eyes,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53very thin skin, probably as thin as yours or mine.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Really? Andy this is all good us giving her a clean,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00but if she was out in the wild, how would she clean then?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Are they vain animals?
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Yeah, they go out and go to mud baths,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11they cover themselves with mud which will help remove dead skin.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- So it's true what they say about mud?- Yeah, mud baths are great.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17This has been one of the highlights for me,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20getting so close to such a huge animal.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24She is 2.5 metres tall and she weighs 3.6 tonnes.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I think we're going to be here quite a while.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Come on, Andy, get stuck in.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41G'day! Time for Ask The Keeper.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Now, today, in the hot seat,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48or should I say the 'hop' seat, is Bev Evans.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Bev, we are going to be asking you questions
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- on the hand-reared wallaby, Joseph. - OK.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59- Only problem is, where is Joseph? - He's in my bag, actually, Rani.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04- Do you want me to get him out?- Yes! - OK, let me have a look in here.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07He's been a bit sleepy, but I'm sure he'll be hopping in a minute.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10ALL: Ooooh!
0:09:10 > 0:09:12My goodness. Is he cute?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Yeah.- He is, isn't he?
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Do you have a question about Joseph?
0:09:17 > 0:09:21How long does it take for a wallaby's tail to grow bigger?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Joseph is 6.5 months,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and when he was born his tail was half the size,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and they're normally fully grown by five years old.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32That can be up to about 75cm.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36So probably five years to grow a full tail.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Why do they need such a big tail?
0:09:38 > 0:09:42They need a big tail for hopping. It keeps them balanced.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46Sometimes when they're grooming they lean back and groom their claws
0:09:46 > 0:09:50and they use that tail to make sure they don't fall over.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52How big is a baby wallaby when it's born?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Right, I thought someone would ask this question,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59so I have a little thing in my pocket to show you.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03A baby wallaby is about the size of a jelly bean when it's born,
0:10:03 > 0:10:08and that goes into the pouch, and stays there for about 9.5 months.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Is it hard to hand-rear a baby wallaby?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Hand-rear a wallaby?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Yes, it is, actually.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21There's a team of three of us who look after Joseph.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23To begin with, it was feeding every two hours.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27We've finished his night feeds, that makes it easier,
0:10:27 > 0:10:32but then he starts hopping more, so he's all over your sofa at night,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35so it's quite difficult, he needs a lot of looking after.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38What's it like having a wallaby jumping on your couch?
0:10:38 > 0:10:40It's amusing to begin with,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44but after a while he tends to have a wee and a poo.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Ughh, Bev! On the couch?!
0:10:48 > 0:10:54- Yes. I'll put him down a sec. - Oh, he's getting down, look at that.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Look, he's come over.- You can stroke him if you want.- Can we?
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Go on, have a little stroke.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04'We can only stroke Joey cos we're with Bev, a trained keeper.'
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- How's he feel? - He feels like a fluffy pillow.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- LAUGHTER - Don't want you sleeping on that.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13What does he eat?
0:11:13 > 0:11:15He's on milk at the moment,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19but he's just about to start on a few bits of solids.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Banana, he loves. Melon.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25He likes cereals. Anything that's quite soft to eat.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28He's not on to grass or anything like that yet,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30but we're hoping soon he'll start doing that.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Bev, you are good at answering these questions,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- but I think you're playing on Joseph's cuteness.- I'm not!
0:11:37 > 0:11:39I think we're being too nice to you.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I think it's time for the killer question.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Let's get in here. Watch Joseph's tail.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Right, we need a killer question, we need to make it tough.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53WHISPERING
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Yeah, OK. Come on, then.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Listen, Joseph. We're not going to tell Bev the answer.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04You're going to be on our side this time.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08So, Bev, when a wallaby's born, it's the size of a jelly bean.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12So, how many jelly beans would it take to be the same weight
0:12:12 > 0:12:17as a 30 kilo adult wallaby.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22That's a bit tough. Don't you think that's a bit of a trick question?
0:12:22 > 0:12:25It's a killer question. Joseph came up with that.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Didn't he? - ALL: Yeah.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29He's a clever wallaby.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32What's mummy got to say about this?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Mummy's going to guess, and say about 70,000 jelly beans,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38which sounds ridiculous.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42What do you think, Joseph? Is Mummy right or wrong?
0:12:42 > 0:12:47Mummy's wrong. Oh, no, Bev, you were doing so well.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51It's actually 12,000 jelly beans.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54But well done for trying. Do you want to go back to mummy?
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Here we go. Make mummy feel a bit better.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Bev knew her stuff about wallabies.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04She let us have a little stroke. So thumbs up or down?
0:13:04 > 0:13:08You're all hopping mad, you are!
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Bev, well done, you. It's thumbs up all round.- Thank you.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20'Back at Animal Adventure,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24'today is the big day for Marmite the meerkat.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27'Keeper Kim is preparing for the move.'
0:13:27 > 0:13:31Today we are going to take Marmite up to Jungle Kingdom,
0:13:31 > 0:13:36which is where the meerkats live, and introduce her to her new boyfriends.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38'They won't be mixed straight away,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42'but will be placed in enclosures next door to each other.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Today we'll put her in in her box,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47and they'll get a chance to smell each other
0:13:47 > 0:13:51and get to know each other before they're introduced.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Come on, then.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Ready to meet your new friends?
0:13:54 > 0:13:57'If Marmite and the boys get on well,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'this could be one of the last days that Kim can handle her.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05'It's important that Marmite learns not to rely on human contact.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I'm a little bit emotional.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12Obviously I'm going to miss her, cos we spend so much time together.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15But it's the anticipation of whether they'll get on
0:14:15 > 0:14:19that's nerve-racking for me. Probably as much as it is for her.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23'The first stage is to put Marmite in an enclosure
0:14:23 > 0:14:28'next to her new companions so they can smell each other.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31'Then in a few days' time, if all goes well,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34'she'll come face to face with her potential boyfriends.'
0:14:34 > 0:14:38This is Marmite's pen. The boys are over there.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- Have we got her cuddly toys? - There's two in there.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46Shall we pop one back in here so she feels more comfortable?
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- No worries. - I'll get her donkey for her.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Right then, girlie. New house. You can smell the boys.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09'Marmite is keen to sniff out her new home, and her new neighbours.'
0:15:11 > 0:15:15They're trying to get their paws under the door,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18trying to touch her and have a little play.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22'While Marmite gets used to the unfamiliar surroundings,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25'Kim is keeping an eye on her progress.'
0:15:25 > 0:15:28It's difficult for her cos she's got to get used to a new environment.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The boys only have to get used to her.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35She seems to be doing all right. She's not scared.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39She's not nervous, she's not running and hiding in the corner.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43'So far, it's all been going well,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46'but the next step is for Marmite to meet the boys.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49'How will it go? We'll be back later.'
0:15:54 > 0:15:58What did the fish say when he swam into a wall?
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Dam!
0:15:59 > 0:16:02CLUCKING
0:16:02 > 0:16:07What time is it when an elephant sits in your fence?
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Time to get a new fence.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12SHE PANTS AND BARKS
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Why do gorillas have big fingers?
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Cos they have big nostrils.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21LAUGHTER
0:16:24 > 0:16:28'Three times a week here in the safari park,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30'the big cats are all on edge.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33'Their ears are straining, their noses twitching,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35'and they are ready to go hunting.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40'That's because it's feeding time.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45'And today, I'm helping keeper Bob out with the tigers.'
0:16:53 > 0:16:56This is my first time in the feed truck.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00We're in the tiger enclosure, they're chasing the truck,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04they've got to be hungry. Right, Bob, what do I need to know?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06First things first, you need gloves.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Secondly, don't put your fingers through the mesh.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I'm not going to put my fingers through the mesh.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15How do we feed them? Do we open the door and throw it out?
0:17:15 > 0:17:17No, we're a lot safer.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23As you can see, this hole there, this meat goes down the hole.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Now they've chased it, they've earned their supper.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- So, shall we feed them?- Yeah!
0:17:30 > 0:17:36- OK, so who is this?- Here we've got Soundari.- Soundari, my favourite.
0:17:36 > 0:17:42She deserves it. Shall I put one through? Ooh, it's heavy, isn't it?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- Yeah, it's a fair bit of meat. - Who's that one?- Turlough.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- He's a big fella, isn't he? - He's a nice size.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52He's going off into a quiet corner for something to eat.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55So how much is this for them?
0:17:55 > 0:17:59On average a year, we feed about 40 tonnes of meat.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05Which equates to about two 57-kilo people a day.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- That's a lot of food! - A lot of food.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Now, Turlough's a new boy here, isn't he?- He is.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15And this is quite a novel way to feed tigers, isn't it?
0:18:15 > 0:18:20This is ideal for them, it's almost like hunting for them.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23They have to chase it to get their food.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Turlough is especially good at it. He comes from a zoo,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29where they wouldn't have fed this way.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- For him to take to it like he does is brilliant.- Do they like the chase?
0:18:33 > 0:18:38I think they do. It's stimulation for them, and it looks natural for them.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40OK, they seem to be enjoying it.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44I've got to say, I'm not the best chef in the world,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47but I think I quite successfully fed the tigers there.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51- I reckon so.- Thank you very much, Bob, I really enjoyed that.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58'It's cheat code time for the Roar game.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01'Type in gold999 and see what you get.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06'A new treat, a new animal, or even a new enclosure.'
0:19:06 > 0:19:09'Just remember, keep checking up on your animals
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'on the CBBC website to make sure they're OK.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13'Happy gaming!'
0:19:23 > 0:19:27I'm going to let you into a secret. I've been on Roar for a few years,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31but sometimes I find it difficult to tell the animals apart.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33So I've nipped over to meet keeper Sarah,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38who is going to give me some tips so I can look all clever on TV.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Hello, Sarah. So, how can you tell these apart?
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Cos that looks like the same snake three times, to me.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49It can be tricky, but it is important that we can tell each snake apart,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53for records, and feeding, making sure we feed the correct snake.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56And with the snakes, each one has got different markings.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00What are we going to do? Guess which one's which?
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Yeah, I've got some notes here for you for each one.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09- There's a little bit describing the differences between each one.- OK.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Then I'll see if you can tell them apart by reading these.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17So, we've got Khan, first, who's male.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Long stripe down the neck.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Golden colour. Has 10cm stripe on tail.
0:20:25 > 0:20:31- I'm going to guess that right here we have Khan.- Right, OK.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35We've got Hunter. Male. Heart-shaped patterns on skin,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38a sausage-shaped mark on the back of its neck.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43I'm guessing... Yes, definitely heart-shaped. We'll go for Hunter.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- OK.- That leaves Keelan who's got a long stripe down the neck,
0:20:47 > 0:20:52small and slim, has a brown fleck on neck stripe.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57I reckon that matches up. I'm going to go with Keelan. How did I do?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- Not too bad. You got Hunter.- Yes!
0:21:00 > 0:21:04These two, though, need to be swapped round.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- Really?- Yep, this one's Keelan, and that one is Khan.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Apart from how they look, do snakes have different temperaments?
0:21:11 > 0:21:17Yeah, they can. It depends between species on how their temperament is.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18- Can I hold Khan?- Yeah.
0:21:18 > 0:21:24It's always, when you hold snakes, I forget they're not slimy at all.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26They're really nice to hold.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Sarah, where do these pythons come from, being royal pythons?
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Western and central Africa.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It's been great learning about them,
0:21:35 > 0:21:39but if I'm honest, I still can't tell the difference.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43So I'm going to leave the snake ID to the pros.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58'Down at Jungle Kingdom,
0:21:58 > 0:22:03it's an important day for Marmite the hand-reared meerkat.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07'Keeper Kim is planning to introduce her to a small group of males.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11'She's been living next door for the past few days,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15'so they can all get used to each other's smells.'
0:22:15 > 0:22:20Today we're going to mix them in for about 20 minutes or so.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'But Kim doesn't know how the introduction will go.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27'The boys might attack Marmite. So she's asked Becky to help.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32'It will need two of them to break up a serious meerkat battle.'
0:22:32 > 0:22:36There will be a little bit of fighting while they get to know her.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39They've got to sort out their pecking order,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42who's the boss, and who's at the bottom.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45It's only going to be for half an hour or so,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47then we'll separate them.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51We'll keep doing it in short bursts until they're together all the time.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54'This is always an anxious moment for keepers.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58'They love their animals and don't want to see any of them hurt.'
0:22:58 > 0:23:03A little bit nervous, cos we always give her cuddles in the morning,
0:23:03 > 0:23:08which we've got to try and stop doing, which is quite hard.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13- Right. Ready, Becks?- Go for it. - Ready, Marmite? Here come the boys.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26'This is the first time Marmite has ever seen her new companions.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31'One of the boys seems to have the role of boss,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34'and is the most interested in Marmite.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It's ordinary rough-and-tumble.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41There's nothing to worry about as such.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45'It'll be a good thing if one of the boys can assert himself quickly,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48'as it'll mean there'll be less squabbling.'
0:23:48 > 0:23:51He's just scenting his territory now.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56Yeah, he's making sure the other boys know "this is my girl".
0:23:56 > 0:24:02She seems to be doing really well. I'm really proud of her.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06'It's gone well, but it's best to introduce them gradually.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09'So they take Marmite out of the boys' enclosure.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14'Over the next few weeks they'll mix them for increasing lengths of time,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17'until they are all happy with each other.'
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Good girl!- Well done.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28'Kim's delighted with how it's gone, but she's also a little bit sad.'
0:24:28 > 0:24:30For me, this is massive.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34This is the last time I should ever touch her,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37unless there's something wrong with her.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41I can't keep picking her up and holding her.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44'Saying goodbye will be hard.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48'But she has to let Marmite get on with being a meerkat.'
0:25:01 > 0:25:04It nearly is the end of the show. Johny, what are you doing?
0:25:04 > 0:25:06I'm trying to say goodbye.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Sorry, it's just this amazing creature that Gemma's holding.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11Check this out.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16- Gemma, what is that?- This is Dante, he's our panther chameleon.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20He's absolutely amazing looking!
0:25:20 > 0:25:24We've got to mention his colour. Chameleons are known for colours.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Has he got a special type of colour, as a panther chameleon,
0:25:28 > 0:25:29and why does he have it?
0:25:29 > 0:25:33A lot of people think that chameleons change all sorts of colours,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35unfortunately that's not true.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39If I put him on my head, he wouldn't change all those colours.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41- It's not as simple as your skin.- No.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Basically, it's all down to light, temperature and mood.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49And it is generally the mood that has most changes.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53When I'm angry I turn a little bit red in the face. Is that the same?
0:25:53 > 0:25:58Actually, when he does get angry, he does go a dark red colour.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Ooh. What about when romance is in the air?
0:26:01 > 0:26:06When there's romance, he'll put all his most flashy colours on,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10as if to say "How you doin'?"
0:26:10 > 0:26:13So it changes with mood. And you said temperature.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Yeah, when it's very light, a lovely hot sunny day,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19he'll turn a bright, light colour.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- And that will reflect the sun off him.- Is it all right if I hold him?
0:26:23 > 0:26:26How many toes has he got?
0:26:26 > 0:26:29He's got three on one side and two on the other.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Very special, if you have a look, very good at holding on.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35They're like cooking mitts.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38- Definitely.- That is uber-cute, I've got to say.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42And he's all right there, walking up?
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Yeah, if you look at his tail, he's using that to hold on.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48I don't like the way he's looking at me.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52If you look at his eyes, they're like moving round, like big balls.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56He can look in all directions, but with one eye at a time.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57JOHNY AND RANI LAUGH
0:26:57 > 0:27:02When he's got a bit of food in front of him, a cricket or a locust,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05he'll lock both eyes on it and go for it.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Why don't you lock your eyes on what's coming up
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- on the next episode of Roar? - I like you!
0:27:11 > 0:27:16'Gertrude the giraffe is due to give birth,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19'but the keepers know she doesn't like babies.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24'In fact, she attacks them. So how will she cope with her own calf?'
0:27:24 > 0:27:27'What's this? Jelly-vision?
0:27:27 > 0:27:32'I'll be finding out if the meerkats go mad for their mealworm pudding.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34'And the lions are hungry.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37'So how will our Roar rangers cope
0:27:37 > 0:27:41'when they try and stick-feed the big cats? Don't miss it!'
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:50 > 0:27:54E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk