0:00:02 > 0:00:06On ROAR today, Gertrude the giraffe is due to give birth,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but the keepers know she doesn't like babies.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14In fact, she attacks them, so how will she cope with her own calf?
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Hello, and welcome to ROAR.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44- I'm Rani.- And I'm Johny, and I'll tell you what,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I think we've got a big 'un at the end of this line!
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Well, stop chatting and pull it in! Woah, woah, woah, woah!
0:00:51 > 0:00:53What is it? What is it?
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh. It's just another action-packed episode of ROAR!
0:00:56 > 0:00:57Shall I put it with the others?
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Yeah, go on. I suppose we'd better get on with today's episode.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08On ROAR today, the lions are hungry, so how will our rangers cope
0:01:08 > 0:01:12when they try and stick-feed the big cats?
0:01:12 > 0:01:16It takes years of training to be a falconer,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20so how will Johny and I do when the vultures come in to land?
0:01:20 > 0:01:22And what's this? Jelly-vision?
0:01:22 > 0:01:26I'll be finding out if the meerkats go mad for their mealworm pudding.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But we're starting today up with the giraffes.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36There are several different types of giraffe.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38These ones are called Rothschild,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40and they are amongst
0:01:40 > 0:01:44the rarest in the world, with only 500 left in the wild.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48But, here at the safari park, they have had a very successful
0:01:48 > 0:01:50breeding programme with these giraffe.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Last year alone, three babies were born.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01Kaiser, Kate and Kruger are now one year old and thriving,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04but this year, it looks like the group,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08or tower, as it's known, will grow bigger still, because
0:02:08 > 0:02:13five-year-old female Gertrude is carrying her first ever baby.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Andy Hayton is in charge of the giraffery.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21Gertrude is due to have a baby within the next few weeks.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24She's a fantastic, beautiful-looking giraffe, and hopefully she's
0:02:24 > 0:02:28going to give us some nice calves, but it's always a worry
0:02:28 > 0:02:31with a first-time mum, cos you never know what they're going to do.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Usually, everything is fine,
0:02:34 > 0:02:39but sometimes giraffe mums can love their calves too much.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42When Gertrude was born, her mum, Becky,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44couldn't stop licking her ears.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Licking is a way of bonding with a calf,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51but licking too much can lead to problems.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54In fact, it nearly killed Gertrude.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00Her ear became infected, and whilst everything is OK now,
0:03:00 > 0:03:01it did leave a big scar.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The tip of Gertrude's ear, her left ear, is missing,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10where Becky over-mothered her and licked it.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12No one knows what Gertrude will be like as a mum,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16but Andy has another reason to worry.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19The big problem, or not so much a problem, a worry that
0:03:19 > 0:03:23I have with Gertrude is she's not a huge lover of baby giraffes.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Whenever we put young calves out with these guys,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Gertrude doesn't like them, and she'll try and knock them over,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35or she'll have a sly little swipe with her front feet, trying to
0:03:35 > 0:03:40kick them, and what have you, so it's worrying in the back of my mind
0:03:40 > 0:03:44that she is not going to do the right thing when she has her baby.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47With Gertrude due to give birth any day now,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Andy is putting her in a separate pen overnight.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54She's being kept company by one of the group's
0:03:54 > 0:03:57most experienced mums, Imogen.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00What we tend to do here is we separate them when they calf. It's
0:04:00 > 0:04:04just easier for us to keep a little bit of control over the situation.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06If there's a problem, we've got to get mum out
0:04:06 > 0:04:08and we can deal with the calf. If it's in here,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and we've got giraffes in here, it's difficult to deal with.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Will Gertrude be a good mum, or will she ignore her new baby?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18We'll be back as soon as she gives birth.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The giraffe is not only the tallest land mammal,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but it also has one of the longest tongues.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32Check this out.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38Their tongues grow to 45 centimetres long, and are coloured bluey-black.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Scientists reckon that's to help stop them
0:04:40 > 0:04:42from getting sunburn as they feed.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44ALL: Now you know!
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Myself and Rani have popped over to the Hunters of the Sky
0:05:01 > 0:05:03section of the park, we've met up with Jimmy,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06because he's going to teach us how to become top falconers.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- Now then, Jimmy. Who have we got here?- This is Moriarty.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12He's a little hooded vulture from Africa.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Little? He looks quite big!
0:05:14 > 0:05:16He is fairly big, he's not the biggest vulture in the world.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20OK, then. As Johny said, we want to learn to become top falconers.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22How long have you been doing this?
0:05:22 > 0:05:2716 years, so since I was a little lad. I'm always flying birds of prey.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30OK, so we've got a couple of minutes now to learn everything from you.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32How do we do this? What do we need to know?
0:05:32 > 0:05:35First of all you need a little bit of safety equipment,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38because he's got quite powerful feet and quite sharp talons,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41so I'm going to give you a glove which goes on your left hand, OK?
0:05:41 > 0:05:44So, do you want to start off? Do you want to go first?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Go on, Rani!- Oh, yeah, thanks(!) If it all goes wrong...
0:05:47 > 0:05:48I'll learn off you, your mistakes!
0:05:48 > 0:05:50So, I'm going to give you a little bit of food,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52that's goes between your finger and thumb,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and I'm going to get you to hold your arm out, like that.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57There's no chance he'll miss that meat and go for my nose?
0:05:57 > 0:06:01No, not at all. He knows where he's got to land. Here he comes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- Oh, you see!- You've got a wing in your face, there!
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Is it possible I turn round and just show the camera something,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09show everyone at home?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Look at his nails! Now, we were talking about how sharp they are.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Those ones are curled under, and this one is straight
0:06:16 > 0:06:19and really clawed, and now he's on my arm!
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We'll get him to walk up a little bit further. He is very gentle.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25He is, because that nail is going right into my arm
0:06:25 > 0:06:26but I can't feel it.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29No, no. He's a very, very gentle bird.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Originally, vultures were closely related to eagles and hawks
0:06:31 > 0:06:33and buzzards, you know, all the other birds of prey,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36so they have the talons, but they don't necessarily use them as much.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38So, do they grip their food at all,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41because that's the image I always have of vultures and birds,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45going down, grabbing a little mouse, or something, and then flying off.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47- Do they use them for that? - Yeah, most birds of prey do.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Vultures are a bit different, because they're scavengers,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52they're kind of nature's answer to dustbin men,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55they use them to hold food while they use their beaks to eat with them, OK?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57So, they do have power in their talons,
0:06:57 > 0:06:58but they're very, very gentle.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- All right then, Johny. Do you want to have a go?- Yeah, please.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It's not fair you're having all the fun. I want a go, please.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- So, er, is it heavy?- It is heavy,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07and I've got to admit, I was a little bit scared
0:07:07 > 0:07:09because of the wingspan.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13It seems quite big, I felt it was going to go in my eyes.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16The hooded vulture is actually one of the smaller vultures,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19but they still have a wingspan of one and a half metres across.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23What I want to know is he's going to come over
0:07:23 > 0:07:25and fly above these chairs. Why have you got him doing that?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27What we want to do with the displays we do,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29we want to bring the birds really close.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31The closer you are to the birds...
0:07:31 > 0:07:36- You see?- ..the better you can get an appreciation for them.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38So, we want to get people up close and personal with them.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40They're a magnificent bird, but because they eat dead things,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43and, you know, they're those birds you see in cartoons which
0:07:43 > 0:07:45you don't really like, we want to change people's opinion on vultures.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And you know what? They have got, actually, beautiful blue eyes.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51They have, they've got a blue colour around the edge
0:07:51 > 0:07:53of their eyes, so they're really pretty birds, actually.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55I thought that went well. How did we do then, Jimmy?
0:07:55 > 0:07:56I think we did great!
0:07:56 > 0:07:59You were strong, confident, I was strong and confident.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- You knew your stuff. - We did, didn't we?- We were naturals.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03We could run this show, couldn't we, Jimmy?
0:08:03 > 0:08:07You just flew one vulture. We fly groups of vultures.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I think we've got some work to do.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11You've got work to do, I'll just sit back and watch.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23What has 100 legs and can't walk?
0:08:23 > 0:08:24I don't know.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26A dead centipede!
0:08:29 > 0:08:33What do you call a show full of lions?
0:08:35 > 0:08:36A mane event!
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!
0:08:39 > 0:08:42What did the religious skunk say?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I don't know.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Let us spray!
0:08:45 > 0:08:48LAUGHTER
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Our ROAR Rangers today are best friends Molly and Cassie.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07These two do everything together, but it looks like they need
0:09:07 > 0:09:11a bit more practice with the wheelbarrow race!
0:09:11 > 0:09:14They're both animal-mad, but who will they be helping with today?
0:09:15 > 0:09:19As usual, we're giving them two clues.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Clue number one, smelly catnip,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and clue number two, a baby's bottle of milk.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Well, it's flowers. What do they smell like?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Sort of like lemon, limey.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Quite strong.- It smells like mint.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- Possibly for a gorilla - GORILLA SHOUTS
0:09:38 > 0:09:40And what about clue number two?
0:09:40 > 0:09:42- It must be a baby.- Yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Because I don't know many adult animals that drink
0:09:45 > 0:09:46- milk from a bottle.- No.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49So, come on then, girls, let's have your answers.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51I think it's a gorilla. Oo, oo, oo!
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I think it's a big cat. Grrr!
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Oo, oo!- Grrr!
0:09:55 > 0:09:57There's only one way to find out,
0:09:57 > 0:09:58and that's to meet their keeper for the day,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01deputy head of section, Bob Trollope.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- I hear you thought it was a monkey you were going to feed.- Yeah.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08What we're going to do is go in and feed some lion cubs.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10CUB MEOWS
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- Oh, my gosh! That is, like, amazing! - Yeah! So excited!
0:10:15 > 0:10:18While the rest of the pride have been let out for the day,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Mum, Dad and the cubs have been kept in.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Keeper Bob wants to see what the cubs make
0:10:23 > 0:10:25of the smelly plant, catnip.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Many cats find it irresistible, both pet cats and lions,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and it can make some little playful.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Yeah!
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Even the biggest, toughest male lions can act like kittens
0:10:40 > 0:10:44when catnip's around, but it only affects around 50 percent
0:10:44 > 0:10:46of cats, so will it affect our cubs?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's time to meet the family.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- Babies.- Oh, my!- All right, keep going.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57First up, it's Dad.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59His name's Nibalo.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02LION ROARS
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- He's all noise at the moment. - He sounds like a car!
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Nibalo is twice your size, Molly, and five times heavier than you!
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Will mum Yendi be any friendlier?
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Er, no.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18I definitely wouldn't think I'd be this close.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- Get this close, only seeing them from a field, or something.- Yeah.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Our rangers can only get this close to the lions
0:11:25 > 0:11:29because they're with Bob, who's a very experienced big cat keeper.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32What we going to try, for the very, very first time,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35is put this catnip in with the little cubs.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I don't know whether you've got catnip in your garden,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41but cats go nuts for this.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45So, we just want to see whether lion cubs go nuts for it!
0:11:46 > 0:11:48OK, OK.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52The catnip's in and the door is open so the cubs can get to the plants.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Little bit cautious of it, at first.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Weigh it all up, first, and see whether it's dangerous,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04because that could be really dangerous.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06They've never come across it before.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10She's smelling it, but will it send her silly?
0:12:10 > 0:12:14It's thought that oils in the leaves have a particular smell that sends
0:12:14 > 0:12:18cats wild, so the more they bite it, the more they may get affected.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Gradually, like, one by one comes in and they start playing with it.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29At first they were a bit cautious, but they're enjoying it now.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44They're really enjoying it, and pushing it around and pulling it
0:12:44 > 0:12:48apart, and it won't be long before they've destroyed the whole thing!
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Do you think it's been a success?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Well, I think, as an experiment, for a first time,
0:12:58 > 0:12:59I think that's brilliant.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02I think it's been really successful, don't you? GIRLS: Yeah.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05That's one happy cat!
0:13:07 > 0:13:08ANDY LAUGHS
0:13:08 > 0:13:11So far, the girls have had a fun, easy time of it,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14but there's work to be done.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15Scary work!
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Mum, Dad and the cubs need their stick-feed, and that means
0:13:21 > 0:13:24being just centimetres away from some very big teeth.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Will our rangers keep their nerve? Find out later in the show.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39Are you playing the ROAR game on the CBBC website?
0:13:39 > 0:13:40If not, you should try it.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43It gives you the chance to run your own zoo
0:13:43 > 0:13:44and look after the animals in it,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48but you'll need plenty of these, cheat codes!
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Today it's:
0:13:50 > 0:13:55Type that in, and see what it gives you. Happy gaming!
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Brrrrrrr! Look at my lovely jelly!
0:14:09 > 0:14:11It's not actually for me, it's for our mob of meerkats,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and I'm here with their lovely keeper, Becky.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16I've just dropped some but it'll be all right, we've still got this.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18What type of jelly is this?
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Is it going to be all right for our meerkats?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21It's fine for our meerkats. It's a natural jelly.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25In fact, the jelly is made of arrowroot, a starch that
0:14:25 > 0:14:29comes from a plant, and is completely safe for the meerkats.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31I can see we've got something inside here. Is this mealworms?
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Yeah, that's their favourite food, so they're instantly going to
0:14:34 > 0:14:36have to come down, hopefully, for it, and try and eat it.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Well, even though it's their favourite food, though,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41why would they bother going into jelly to get it?
0:14:41 > 0:14:43There must be easier ways for them to get food!
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Yeah, in the wild they'll have to climb up trees, dig around in
0:14:45 > 0:14:49logs, they'll dig in the ground to find food, so this is a new way.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Well, let's see what they make of this jelly. Where shall we put it?
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Just put it up on there's fine. Hopefully they'll all come round.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57OK, if I put it there...
0:14:57 > 0:14:59And we've got a little camera just there,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02so hopefully we'll be able to get all the action
0:15:02 > 0:15:06when they dive in with the jelly, if they dive in with the jelly.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09You say they've not seen it before. Are meerkats quite scaredy-cats?
0:15:09 > 0:15:13They're very inquisitive, so they want to know what is around.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16So, here come the meerkats, and they have come in numbers.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18How did they know that the jelly's there?
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Have they got a good sense of smell?
0:15:20 > 0:15:22They've got a very good sense of smell, yeah,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24so they will be able to smell it.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- You can see we've got one already. - Look at this. He's going up to it.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Never seen jelly before. I wonder what he'll make of it? Look at that!
0:15:31 > 0:15:35He's gone for the easy bit first, a little mealworm on its own.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Becky, I've noticed that one's come over and he's quite tentative,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41he's touching it and trying to work out if it's safe.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Is that something they would do out in the wild?- They would, yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46They always see if it's safe before they go completely in.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Now, look at that, they're scraping away the jelly.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- They're not scared at all! - They're not scared, no.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53I mean, do they ever hunt for dangerous animals
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- that might cause them some pain? - Scorpions is the main one.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57It is one of their favourite foods,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01so the first thing they go for is the tail to get rid of the sting
0:16:01 > 0:16:04before they get stung, but they are immune to the venom anyway.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06They're immune? Wow, so they're sturdy little animals!
0:16:06 > 0:16:12They're having a massive feast, they're actually loving it!
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Are they really hungry now, and do they feed often?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32In the wild they'll naturally feed pretty much throughout the day,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35unless it gets too hot, so they're constantly foraging for food,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38just because they haven't got a very high fat storage in their body.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Oh, really? So they usually just eat what they need, and then that's it,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- and then they'll eat again when they're hungry?- Yeah.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46You know what, it's been incredible to see them,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and they've really gone crazy for our mealworm jelly.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51I thought that made excellent jelly-vision(!)
0:16:51 > 0:16:53CROWD GROANS
0:17:03 > 0:17:07Now, earlier in the show we met Gertrude the giraffe.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10She's expecting her first calf, and guess what?
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Rani's just had the call.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21We've heard some amazing news from the giraffery, there's been a birth!
0:17:21 > 0:17:24So, the man who's going to tell us all the gossip
0:17:24 > 0:17:27is head of section, Andy, and I can't wait to find out!
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- Andy!- Hello, Rani.- I'm guessing you had a late night, then!
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- A little bit of a late night, yes. - So, tell us all!
0:17:34 > 0:17:38- Gertrude's calved, last night. - Absolutely great news!
0:17:38 > 0:17:39What time did this happen?
0:17:39 > 0:17:44Erm, about half-past midnight last night, sort of quarter to one-ish.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Is it right that you've actually got this on tape?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50We have, so you can actually see what I'm talking about.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51The picture looks green
0:17:51 > 0:17:55because it's one of our special cameras that can film in the dark.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59We fixed it higher up, out of the way, so it didn't disturb Mum.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01So, she's pacing around, she's kind of...
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Yeah, pacing around a bit, you know, you can see the legs sticking out.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07This is where she's really, really close, now.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10She's kind of, like, pushing, she's just rocking back and forth.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14You can see how far the calf'shanging down, now, where the front legs are,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17there's the head, so it's a long old drop.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24- There you go!- It's a big old drop!
0:18:24 > 0:18:27It's a big old drop, but it stimulates them,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30it'll clean any gunk out of them,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33and I've heard them before, when they hit the ground,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- you actually hear them gasp, and take their first breath.- Wow!
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- That's actually Dad.- Oh, is that Dad? - That's Dad, in there.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Oh, and he's swinging over, it's like he's heard the drop
0:18:43 > 0:18:46and he's coming in to say, "Are you all right?"
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Hang on, is that baby getting up? Is that baby up? Oh, wobbly legs!
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- And just fallen over again!- Oh!
0:18:56 > 0:19:01Yeah, it's amazing, they'll fight and they'll try to survive,
0:19:01 > 0:19:05get up, drink, get moving, something's not going to come along
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and eat you, so you can see Gertrude bending down, now, and just cleaning
0:19:08 > 0:19:12the calf, making sure her baby's OK, because it's just fallen over.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17This is perfect, absolutely perfect, textbook giraffe mum behaviour.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Andy was worried that Gertrude would not be a good mum,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23but just look at this.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27The calf is suckling, and so far Gertrude is being brilliant.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It looks like baby's having a good old drink, and Gerty seems great.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37This first drink is absolutely crucial for the baby,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39because it's colostrum, it's called colostrum,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43which is a special kind of milk, which Mum will pass on antibodies
0:19:43 > 0:19:47and all this kind of thing, and it's protection for life for this calf.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51So is it a big relief for you, now? Is baby completely safe,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53and you're just happy to let her get on with it?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56This is beyond perfection, to be honest with you,
0:19:56 > 0:20:01for a first time mum. She is being absolutely awesome with it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04So far, so good. Because the calf has only just been born,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08we aren't allowed in to film it with our normal cameras yet.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13So, will Gertrude continue to be a model mum, or will she change?
0:20:13 > 0:20:16We'll be back later for an update.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28We're back in the lion house, where our ROAR Rangers, Molly and Cassie,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32have spent the morning watching the lion cubs getting silly on catnip.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36But that's all about to change,
0:20:36 > 0:20:42because it's time to get their hands dirty with the morning stick feed.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Why do we feed them off a stick, like with some meat and stuff?
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Well, what we do is, you know with your own cat,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51you have to put worming tablets, to stop them having worms?
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- Yeah.- Well, we have to do that with our big cats as well.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57At 12 weeks of age, it's up to Bob
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and the girls to train the cubs to eat from a stick, so they'll
0:20:59 > 0:21:02be able to give them worming tablets and other medicines in the future.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07- Shall we see if Mum wants something to eat?- OK.- I'll show you what to do.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09What we do is we put the meat on the end of the stick,
0:21:09 > 0:21:14we hold it really tight, and then just put it through like that.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- Oh, look!- Awww!- Really gentle.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Bob makes it look easy, but with a fully grown lioness just
0:21:21 > 0:21:24centimetres away from you, it's anything but.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27At home I have to feed my cat, but this is so much better.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29This is amazing.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33This is a real treat for our Rangers, but they can only do
0:21:33 > 0:21:36it because they are with Bob, who is a very experienced keeper.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- So who wants to do the first feed? - You go!
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Molly's going first. She's a brave ROAR Ranger.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Now, just do what I said, hold the stick tight
0:21:46 > 0:21:50and just put it in there, nice and gently.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- Oh, look at that!- Wow! - You've fed a lion.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Now it's Cassie's turn.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00- I'll tell you what we'll do. You can have that one, Molly.- Thank you.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02And you have the big one.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08- Now, when you feed Mum, let's see if Molly can feed the cub.- OK!
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Slowly, girls. Keep those hands steady!
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Go on, just put it in. Go on, cubbies, come on! Good girl.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25- She makes a lot of noise when she eats.- She does, she's very noisy.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- You got it.- They're adorable, they're just so gentle
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and they don't pull or anything.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38With Mum and the cubs all fed, it's time for Dad's stick-feed.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42He's much bigger, much noisier and much scarier.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46You have that. Oh, all right, get it in. Ready?
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Cassie's going first this time.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55- He looks very big, a lot bigger than me.- Right, you ready? Go on, then.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Oh, he's a lot more gentle than I thought.- He's very, very gentle.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03He doesn't look gentle!
0:23:03 > 0:23:09A male of his size could eat up to 40 kilograms of meat in one sitting.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11That's more than Cassie weighs!
0:23:11 > 0:23:15It's Molly's turn, and if you ever wondered how tall a lion is,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17just watch this.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Right, as high as you can, as high as you can,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22let's see if he can get that. Oh, look, there he is.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Wow, let's see that again!
0:23:25 > 0:23:27They don't call them big cats for nothing.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32He is actually bigger than me, isn't he?
0:23:32 > 0:23:35It's, like, amazing.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37It doesn't feel real that you're feeding a real lion,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40and you're so close up to it.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45- And his breath stinks. - Yeah, it smells of raw meat!
0:23:45 > 0:23:47With all the food gone,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51how have our ROAR Rangers enjoyed their big cat experience?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54That was amazing, it was like once-in-a-lifetime,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and they were so cute.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It was fantastic, I'll never forget that.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04I think they've done really, really well, you know,
0:24:04 > 0:24:08bearing in mind that these are big cats, it can be quite daunting.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Feeding them on a stick was a bit scary at first,
0:24:11 > 0:24:12but at the end it was really amazing.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I think, if they want to be big cat keepers in the future,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I think they've got what it takes.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20BOTH: The lion cubs are great!
0:24:20 > 0:24:21Raaaaargh!
0:24:25 > 0:24:30We've got some breaking news, now, from the giraffery,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33about Gertrude and her new baby.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36The keepers were worried that she would not be a good mum,
0:24:36 > 0:24:41but it turns out she's being brilliant.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45These are our first shots of the little one outside.
0:24:45 > 0:24:46The calf is thriving,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50and we'll catch up with Mum and baby next time on ROAR.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Now, it is nearly time for us to put on our trainers
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and run out on ROAR, but before we do, we thought we'd catch up with
0:25:06 > 0:25:09a few creatures who take a little bit longer to put their trainers on.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12We're talking about the millipedes, and their keeper, Kim. Hiya, Kim.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Hello, Kim. Will you give us an official introduction?
0:25:15 > 0:25:16I don't know if I can shake their hands,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18because they've got so many legs, but not many hands.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- Well, this is Molly, and this is Milton.- Nice, Molly and Milton!
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Well, they're looking lovely there.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Now, realistically, how many legs do they have?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Between 250 and 350. It depends on how old they are,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32because as they grow they get extra segments.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34- Can we get close to them and have a look?- Do you want to have a hold?
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- OK.- Oh, yeah, great, Rani, let's do that, let's get close to them(!)
0:25:37 > 0:25:39You know, I don't actually mind the millipedes.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- Would you like the little one, Johny?- Go on then!
0:25:42 > 0:25:44So, this has got about 300 legs?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46About that, yeah, cos she's pretty much fully grown now.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49So, who's the male and who's the female?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51I've named them, but we're going to now have a little go
0:25:51 > 0:25:53at making sure that I'm right!
0:25:53 > 0:25:57- Oh, right!- We just hope that Milton and Molly are unisex names, then!
0:25:57 > 0:25:59OK, so how do you sex a millipede?
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- Do I just flip it over and have a look?- Well, technically, yeah.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05We've got some gloves here, because they do excrete a little bit
0:26:05 > 0:26:08of stuff that can stain your hands, so if you want to put a glove on.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- They stain our hands?- Yeah, just a little bit of orange stuff.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13It's a defence against things that want to eat them.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15What we're doing is we're pulling the head back,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17so if you want to do that, Johny.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- So, if I hold it in this hand? - Yep, we're pulling the head back,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24and what we're looking for is on the seventh segment back
0:26:24 > 0:26:29from the head, the males are missing, well, I say missing.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Their legs have been changed for breeding apparatus,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34and what we're looking for is a gap.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- Oh, yeah, look at that! - Yeah, you can see it!
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- It's quite pronounced, isn't it? - Flip you over, Molly.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- If we pull her head back... - Oh, my goodness, don't break her!
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Can you see?- All her legs are there. - I think she's all legged up.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Molly, you are officially a Molly!
0:26:48 > 0:26:51So, does that mean we're going to have little Molly and Miltons?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- Well, hopefully, fingers crossed.- Awww!
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Kim, I'm glad that we can confirm that you're correct,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59and we do have a male and a female here, Molly and Milton.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And, while we hang out with our new friends,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04why don't you lot see what's coming up on the next episode of ROAR?
0:27:04 > 0:27:05Looks like a great ring!
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Next time, the lion cubs are finally coming out to where the visitors
0:27:11 > 0:27:16can see them, but are they ready for their first public performance?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20He's grown a bit since we saw him take his first swim,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23but is Riley the sea lion still a big kid?
0:27:24 > 0:27:28And when is a tortoise all soft to stroke?
0:27:28 > 0:27:32When they're a tiny baby, just a few days old.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35That's all next time on ROAR. Don't miss it!
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:52 > 0:27:55E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk