0:00:02 > 0:00:06Do you want to stand on here? So nothing to be scared of.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09I'll give you that.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12And just hold it there. Nice and still.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18- Benita. - CHILD GASPS
0:00:21 > 0:00:26Last spring, a controversial zoo in Cumbria was almost forced to close.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31The summer that followed was a fight for survival.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Over five months, we filmed the people determined to rescue
0:00:38 > 0:00:40South Lakes Safari Zoo.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Nothing here works properly.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47What does it mean to be a zoo on the bread line?
0:00:50 > 0:00:55- No cake for animals. - Which species should a zoo keep?
0:00:55 > 0:00:58This is going, this is going. Bloody hell. We're going to have nothing left.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And when there is conflict between business interests
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and animal welfare...
0:01:03 > 0:01:07It's just beyond belief. I've never experienced it.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Nowhere else on this planet.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..how should we look after lives in captivity?
0:01:15 > 0:01:17I see you looking down.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Come on.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23I mean, I don't think it gets more perfect.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45What do you reckon she's thinking?
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Yeah, I think that means, "Hmm, breakfast."
0:01:50 > 0:01:52For over 20 years,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56exotic species from all over the world have been entertaining
0:01:56 > 0:01:58the public at South Lakes Safari Zoo.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Do you like giraffes?
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- Yeah?- You've been obsessed from an early age, haven't you?
0:02:05 > 0:02:10There's worse things to be obsessed with.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Nearly.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14The zoo sits in Southwest Cumbria.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19It features open spaces
0:02:19 > 0:02:22where visitors can walk among some of the animals.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30- They're not shy, are they? - No, these ones aren't.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Another major attraction are the four species of big cats.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- Are you guys local?- No, Catterick.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- About two... About two hours away. - About two hours' drive.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45- I love this place.- Were you worried about it for a while?
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Yeah, I was. Did think it was going to close, I was in tears.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52I was like, "It can't shut down!" I'm so glad it stayed open.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Hello. Hello.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Safari Zoo was set up in 1994.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05The dream of entrepreneur David Gill.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13But in recent years, animal welfare issues have dogged the park,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16and in 2014, Gill received a conviction
0:03:16 > 0:03:19for allowing an invasive species to escape.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24The applicant has been convicted of an offence listed in section 4-5,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- of the act...- Gill maintains he was treated unfairly.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29But in March last year,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32he was refused a licence to continue running the zoo.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Since then, the remaining staff have been picking up the pieces.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45They formed a new company.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50And after making improvements...
0:03:52 > 0:03:54they persuaded the council to grant them
0:03:54 > 0:03:57their own zoo licence in May 2017.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Right, so,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04can you please work out for me how many weeks we've been doing this?
0:04:04 > 0:04:0617 weeks and five days.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Thank you. You've all worked tremendously hard over the last
0:04:10 > 0:04:1117 weeks and five days.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Licence will be for four years.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18We'll get inspected regularly throughout, but well done
0:04:18 > 0:04:21for getting here because it's been a hard slog.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And I just want to say thank you very much,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- and I'm really proud of all of you. - I might just go and get some fresh air.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- Oh, God!- I'm just emotional here. - Good work.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Winning the licence is just the first hurdle.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Visitors have been put off by the bad press.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Over the summer months,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45the zoo needs to win them back to survive the rest of the year.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51It has been tough, you know, we've felt a massive turndown in numbers
0:04:51 > 0:04:53at the door.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57We set up an income budget for August of something like £800,000,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00which is vastly reduced,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04you know, and takes into account the kind of issues that we've
0:05:04 > 0:05:08encountered this year. It's just a case of survival, really.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Can I just borrow you to go down
0:05:11 > 0:05:13and look at those vulture pens before I move them across?
0:05:13 > 0:05:18The new licence comes with strict conditions from the local council.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- Great idea.- Just take you with me.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24The zoo have had to take on a new director of animals to modernise standards.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Zoos have four tasks. You know what zoos are here for?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- Education?- Education.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33- Conservation?- Conservation.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- Research.- Research.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Now I'm lost.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44- Go on.- Recreation. Recreation, got it, see?
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Andreas Kaufmann is a consultant who's spent over 25 years working
0:05:49 > 0:05:51with the global zoo community.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53We have a very nice place.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57It's just a very high density of animals.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00And I realise that numbers in visitors have come down.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04- Yeah.- So, we'll talk about how to do things a little differently.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We could turn it into a better place for the animals.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10You could also create a better experience for the people.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13He wants to challenge every aspect of animal care.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18How they feed animals.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Which animals they should keep.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23And how they engage
0:06:23 > 0:06:25with international conservation programmes.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31We have to bring it to a highly professional level.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But this may involve
0:06:34 > 0:06:38actions that may not correlate
0:06:38 > 0:06:42with what some people feel emotionally.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Are you optimistic about things?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Absolutely. I am optimistic.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Visitor numbers may be down,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58but the costs to run the park remain the same.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03- Look!- Oh, wow!
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Safari Zoo's food bill can clock in at £10,000 a month.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15But savings can be made.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Lions.
0:07:17 > 0:07:18That's the jaguars...
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Cheap zoo grade meat is marked unsafe
0:07:21 > 0:07:23for human consumption with a blue dye.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28I've had some full calves come in this morning,
0:07:28 > 0:07:30which is always very exciting.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The lions have had one this morning already,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35so this one is going to the vultures.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Most zoos try to replicate natural behaviour
0:07:41 > 0:07:42as much as possible.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46All the organs are still in there.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48That's what they enjoy the most.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50It doesn't bother me. I'm a vegetarian,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54but I spent most of my life absolutely stinking of meat,
0:07:54 > 0:07:55so why not?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Fresh produce is a much bigger expense than meat.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07So we're going to do the barrow run.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11So the keepers supplement their fruit and veg orders with a daily
0:08:11 > 0:08:13trip to ten local supermarkets,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17picking up any freebies they might put to use.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20This is going to be an adventure, gang.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- Hiya.- Hello.- Do you have anything today?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Do you think some people would be surprised
0:08:38 > 0:08:41that a zoo relies on gifts?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I'm not really sure, because I would imagine like the bigger zoos will
0:08:45 > 0:08:49have more money to get sort of
0:08:49 > 0:08:51great amounts of food.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58That was a good one because there was a lot of citrus in that
0:08:58 > 0:09:02and we don't get oranges and the citrus is so good for the birds.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- OK.- 'Yes, please, if you don't mind, just...'
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Every day, we just do a little sort of log of what we get
0:09:08 > 0:09:12from each place. Just keep an eye on the petrol that we use.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I've only been here 18 months,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21but even though the zoo has had all these scandals,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25the prospect of the future is so exciting.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The minute we got the licence through, I put my flat on the market,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33sold it two weeks later, put in an offer up here, and fingers crossed,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35you know, I'll be settled up here.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39And that's how I'm here.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Since she moved to the zoo, Kathy has taken an interest
0:09:51 > 0:09:53in the red pandas, Pan and Tinkerbell.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59The pandas draw the crowds.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04But they're also endangered in the wild,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07where numbers have halved in under 20 years.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Safari Zoo has recently reared two young cubs.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19So, this is one of Tink's cubs.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I mean, I don't think it gets more perfect.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25I can't tell you.
0:10:25 > 0:10:31Like, I look at my friends' kids and stuff and I think, "No thanks."
0:10:31 > 0:10:36And then I look at a panda cub and I literally could just like cry
0:10:36 > 0:10:38with joy, like it's...I'm their mother.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42It's very weird.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45C'est la vie. Nothing new.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52If a zoo wants to play a role in global conservation efforts,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55they'll mate their animals on the recommendation of international
0:10:55 > 0:10:57breeding programmes.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59In recent years,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Safari Zoo has often made its own breeding decisions.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07We breed like rabbits. Everything does here.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12How important are babies to the zoo?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Oh, well, of course they're very important.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The public go absolutely mad, especially, you know, for like
0:11:18 > 0:11:21the lemurs, because they're bouncing around, interacting.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The kids get to see little things running around.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Look at the baby one! It's running in the zoo!
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Tinkerbell.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Kathy checks on the red panda cubs
0:11:37 > 0:11:39and their parents at least twice a day.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I see you looking down.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Come on. Come on.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Here she comes. Here we go.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52When I first started working with the pandas,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56they were a bit stressed out and they weren't looking in the best
0:11:56 > 0:11:59condition that they could've looked,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02so I took on this role of really nurturing them.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05It means everything, honestly. I absolutely adore them.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Hello, little one.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It wasn't just the condition of the red pandas that raised concerns
0:12:15 > 0:12:17in the past.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21The park's welfare issues have made headline news.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31Last year, it was reported that almost 500 of their animals had died
0:12:31 > 0:12:33in under four years.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'It was David Gill's attitude towards the number of animal deaths
0:12:39 > 0:12:41'which concerned inspectors.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47'And a keeper told the inspection team that their instructions were
0:12:47 > 0:12:50'to dispose of bodies and not tell anyone about them.'
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Andreas visited the zoo in 2016...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02while David Gill was still in charge.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09The first time I got here, what I saw was shocking,
0:13:09 > 0:13:14especially what they were feeding some species.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Leftovers, stuff they got from supermarkets.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Why were they feeding them that?
0:13:23 > 0:13:25It was cheap. It didn't cost anything.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Is it basic stuff?
0:13:30 > 0:13:32No, it's VERY basic stuff.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40This is a bone sticking out here.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43That was taken in July last year.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I see it. They're really skinny.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48You can see all the ribs.
0:13:48 > 0:13:55This is not what a giraffe is supposed to look like.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58They look totally different today. Today, they're well fed.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03But if you can't provide your animals with the right diets
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and the right environment, you just don't keep animals.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- Don't. Don't film that. - Oh, sorry.- Don't film.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14How did it make you feel when you saw all this?
0:14:14 > 0:14:18You know, you don't want to hear what I felt.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Probably can't put that on BBC.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Everyone was struggling for survival.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27The animals were. Employees were.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32There was one person who would just decide everything.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39But everyone who worked here, they were here for the animals.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Especially the keepers. They are good, yeah.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45They really cared for their animals. And that's the baseline.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Animal diets are one of Andreas' first priorities.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31By feeding animals the wrong stuff, you could actually kill them.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35He wants a bigger range of fresh produce,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38and to make sure it's prepared properly...
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Right. Can we go through this?
0:15:41 > 0:15:45..especially the free food they get from the supermarkets.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Just look at it. Tell me what you think.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- OK.- There must be no mould. Not a spot.- OK.- OK?
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Loads of the stuff is mouldy, and you just can't feed that to animals.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05They should be getting about the same stuff that we eat.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06Same quality.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Yeah.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Caramel cake. I wouldn't eat it if you paid me.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18No cake for animals.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Andreas' dietary changes will push up the food bills.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29The zoo's cash flow is already stretched.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35I think when he's gone to other zoos and, you know,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38he's used to a decent budget, a hefty budget.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43And there you go, we've brought you in, can you please resolve it?
0:16:43 > 0:16:48And he's had a decent budget to work to. We don't have that here.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50I'm speaking to the lady about the red panda experience this morning.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55- We need to balance stuff. - She's over in the entrance building.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00This summer, the zoo's financial hopes rely on numbers being boosted
0:17:00 > 0:17:02by tourists and families.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07That's 19.50 then, please.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11And to lure the punters back, the zoo has slashed its prices.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13There you go. Don't lose that.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- All right.- Thank you. - Enjoy your day.- Thank you.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18Our normal admission price is £16.50,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20but we've got an offer on at the moment.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24It's £5 per adult, children are free,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27and then we charge for animal feeding,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29food bags, things like that.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34If we don't make enough on the animal feedings,
0:17:34 > 0:17:39the business will struggle, so we're selling everything we can down here,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42except kidneys. We don't sell kidneys!
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Next, please.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48These days, the zoo relies on paid extras on top of the entrance fee.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We do have the £7 per person wristband, which will get you
0:17:51 > 0:17:54a giraffe feeding and a lemur feeding.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Many animal parks offer hand feedings for extra cash.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That's just £5, thank you.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01We've got three tigers, one male...
0:18:01 > 0:18:03But like a few others in the UK,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Safari Zoo takes things a stage further.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10They offer big cat feedings for £25.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13If you just make sure there's a bit of meat stuck out the end
0:18:13 > 0:18:14that they can get hold of.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Keep your hand a bit further back.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22There you go.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27Hand feeding, it is a way to generate more income, which is,
0:18:27 > 0:18:31obviously, in our situation, a very good reason to do it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33So, these are Sumatran tigers.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35There's less than 400 of these left in the wild.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40But looking into the future,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43the hand-feeding will have to be reviewed,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47because conservation is the clear message of a modern zoo of the
0:18:47 > 0:18:5221st century, and conservation is not about hand feeding.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Beautiful, absolutely beautiful creatures, aren't they?
0:18:58 > 0:18:59Look at that.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03You're a big cuddle puss, you just want your tummy doing, don't you?
0:19:03 > 0:19:05They're just like big pussycats, you forget.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Yeah, a lot of the behaviours are very similar.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12But the minute you turn your back, they'd go straight for you.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Many visitors come to the zoo for the big cats.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29But it was an incident in this section of the park
0:19:29 > 0:19:31that first made national headlines.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39In May 2013, keeper Sarah McClay was killed by a tiger.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45'24-year-old Sarah considered it a privilege to work with big cats.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51'She died when a tiger entered the keeper's area of the tiger house
0:19:51 > 0:19:55'through what should have been a self-closing locked door.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59'But the mechanism was faulty. The zoo's maintenance
0:19:59 > 0:20:02'and inspection regime had been inadequate.'
0:20:02 > 0:20:05'Do you feel responsible for her death?'
0:20:05 > 0:20:10The business was fined over £250,000.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It was the beginning of the end for David Gill as head of the zoo.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Today, Yaz runs the carnivore section of the park.
0:20:26 > 0:20:32- This is Nero. Tiger 4, I'm entering lion pen B1.- 'OK, Yaz.'
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Nero is one of the zoo's three lions.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40What are you going in for?
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Just put this in for him to have a play with.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47How long have you known Nero?
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Oh, God... It must be about almost three years now, I think.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55When he arrived, he didn't have all of his mane.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58He just had this little flick on the top of his head,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00so it's nice to see he's grown up a big boy, isn't it?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Tiger 4, I've left lion pen B1.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I'm coming.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- How old do lions live to? - About the same as a normal
0:21:21 > 0:21:24house cat, really. It can be from 16-20 years.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31He's so cute, I love him.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Oh, I tell a lie.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36I don't want to play with it as well, it's yours.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Do you like working with cats?
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Yeah, they're my favourite, I love them.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48I think it's like a little reminder of Sarah, really.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- Do you think about her?- Yeah, I think about her every single day.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56Yeah.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02It was quite a heavy time for us.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Hopefully, looking after them like she would have wanted.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13So I really like working with them, and, I don't know,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16maybe it makes it a bit more special for me, in a way.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Tiger 4, I've left tiger pen 1. - 'OK, Yaz.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Hi, Chin Chin.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Hi.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- I don't think she likes you! - SHE LAUGHS
0:23:02 > 0:23:04The zoo is relying on a summer boom,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08but their troubled history has prompted questions in Parliament.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15Mr Woodcock is our Barrow and Furness MP,
0:23:15 > 0:23:21and he's just won support for a parliamentary debate
0:23:21 > 0:23:27on the whole zoo legislation issue.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30So I've just got the press release.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- What does it say?- "Barrow and Furness MP won the support
0:23:34 > 0:23:38"of a top government minister for a parliamentary debate on the legislation
0:23:38 > 0:23:41"of the oversight of zoos following the appalling neglect of animals
0:23:41 > 0:23:45"uncovered at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton earlier this year."
0:23:45 > 0:23:49You know, it'll just bring it all back out again at the worst possible
0:23:49 > 0:23:52time, right for summer holidays, for summer.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Yeah, we get them for 5.95 a box.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09The same for the lettuce.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Over the coming months, the zoo will depend on their most
0:24:18 > 0:24:21popular animals to win visitors back.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31But this morning, something is wrong in one of the enclosures.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Nero is unconscious and unresponsive.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I found him this morning first thing.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42He was fine before I went home, but obviously there's a long time
0:24:42 > 0:24:46between half past five and eight o'clock in the morning.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50The staff need to move Nero indoors,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53so they must make sure he stays unconscious.
0:25:03 > 0:25:04We don't know what happened to him,
0:25:04 > 0:25:07so we just want to make sure he's OK.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13And we want to make sure he's OK, staying alive ourselves.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Nero's breathing is laboured...
0:26:03 > 0:26:05and his body temperature is dropping...
0:26:06 > 0:26:08but the cause is unclear.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13So we've basically been, first of all, keeping the lion alive...
0:26:16 > 0:26:21raising his body temperature and now we're just getting fluids into him.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26We've basically done all that we could do at this stage.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Have you ever seen anything like this before?
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Not like that, not that an animal just collapses in the enclosure.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00But I've seen animals that were under anaesthesia,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and that's a pretty similar state that he's obviously in.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Three days after he was discovered asleep...
0:27:18 > 0:27:22..Nero deteriorates and dies.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30At just four years old, he was the youngest of the zoo's lions.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41His body is sent for a postmortem, to determine the cause of death.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58In the meantime, Andreas is pressing on with his reforms.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03There's such a lot going on in here. That's a nice big enclosure,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05but there's still too many animals in here.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09So we go and find other zoos that could care for some of the species
0:28:09 > 0:28:13and animals that we currently have better than we can at this stage.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20He's preparing a list of animals to move elsewhere.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Pygmy hippo. I think we should make him available to other institutions.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30He is a breeding male, so he'd be very valuable for somebody that
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- wants to breed him.- There's no point in this male being here alone.
0:28:33 > 0:28:38- No.- In solitary. He should breed, so...
0:28:38 > 0:28:40And ultimately we're here for conservation.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52OK.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56The keepers are meeting to discuss which species to move on.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00We really, really need to reduce species.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06Animals selected to go to other zoos are added to a surplus list.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10So, red kangaroos, one male's going to Flamingo Land.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13The black howlers. Do we want to keep them?
0:29:13 > 0:29:17- I like them.- I like them, but that's not the point.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19The thing is - can we care for them?
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Pygmy hippo. I think we should surplus him too.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25To put it nicely, the indoor is just crap.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31That's the nice version.
0:29:32 > 0:29:38- Anaconda?- I have a private home. - I'm not sure we can.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40It's a dangerous wild animal.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46Currently we have a bit more than 1,000 animals on site,
0:29:46 > 0:29:51and I can't tell you the numbers now, but we'll reduce
0:29:51 > 0:29:54somewhere between...
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- 30% to 40%, maybe a bit more. - Wow! That's a lot of animals.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01That's a lot, that's a lot of animals.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09It's Andreas' responsibility to oversee the animal collection.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13But the zoo won't survive,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16unless financial targets are met this summer.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22How do you feel about the proposed changes to the animal collection?
0:30:22 > 0:30:24For us, we've both been here a long time.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29- Yeah.- And I think that we have a lot more contact with the visitors,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32and we know what the visitor enjoys and we know
0:30:32 > 0:30:35why they drive two and a half hours, three hours, to get here.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- Yeah.- I would be cautious if those changes
0:30:39 > 0:30:43meant any major difference from a visitor perception.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46We're quite limited to what you can do to make yourself different.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49So I think what we have at the minute is
0:30:49 > 0:30:51something you have to keep hold of.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55And we don't want to be the same as any other zoo in England
0:30:55 > 0:30:59and any other zoo in Europe, you know. We want to be different.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Some things you don't need to change.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Summer in Cumbria...
0:31:14 > 0:31:16and there's been more troubling news.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23One of the two red panda cubs that Kathy helped to rear has died.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29I'm quite bothered about the other cub now, and obviously it's a cold,
0:31:29 > 0:31:33wet day, so I'm just going to nip in now and check she's OK.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35I shall keep you posted.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42Hello, baby.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53SHE SIGHS
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- What's that?- It's the cub. It's not made it.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32- Tiger 14 to Teresa. You're in the vet room?- 'Yes.'
0:32:37 > 0:32:39Tink, she's a new mum.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44And maybe she's not quite sure what to do yet.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Still with us? No?
0:32:55 > 0:32:57Let's have a look.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04She looked absolutely strong and healthy last week.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- It's not your fault, you've been checking every day.- I know.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Tinks seems a bit funny as well. She's being a bit...
0:33:16 > 0:33:17Was she attentive yesterday?
0:33:17 > 0:33:22- Not really.- OK, so possibly they haven't been fed.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24Maybe. Can I leave you with her for a bit?
0:33:24 > 0:33:27- Yeah, that's absolutely fine.- OK.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Mammals, like the red pandas,
0:33:58 > 0:34:01tend to survive longer in captivity than those in the wild.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08But in both environments, infant mortality is common.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Nobody did anything wrong.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15We have a thousand animals on site, deaths occur.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18That's like in a village where a thousand people live.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21They don't stay alive for...
0:34:22 > 0:34:27the rest of time. Sometimes people die, sometimes kids die, which is...
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Nobody wants that, but that's the way it is.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33And sometimes, even though you put all the efforts in,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36you do everything possible, you provide all the veterinary care,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39you spend all the money on whatever is possible...
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Sometimes it just doesn't work out.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46What about the recent reports, you know,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48almost 500 deaths in under four years?
0:34:50 > 0:34:53The number 500 just doesn't mean anything.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56It's not so much about the mortality rate,
0:34:56 > 0:35:00it's knowing why these animals have died and then it's -
0:35:00 > 0:35:02what have you done about it?
0:35:29 > 0:35:32He was four, wasn't he, when he passed away?
0:35:34 > 0:35:36It's now been a fortnight since Nero died.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42Rumours are going round the zoo that he was fed contaminated meat.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Has it been released yet that Nero's died?
0:35:49 > 0:35:53No, because they're still waiting for some of the results and I think
0:35:53 > 0:35:55if you don't know the full story and you can't answer the questions
0:35:55 > 0:35:57properly, you look like you're making stuff up.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00You look like you're trying to hide
0:36:00 > 0:36:03and cover stuff when you know you're not.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05So I think until we all fully understand,
0:36:05 > 0:36:07fully know and we've got the results proving it,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I think it will be just kept to us.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13But he's beautiful.
0:36:13 > 0:36:14Or was.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Bless him.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Morning. Are you all right there?
0:36:27 > 0:36:30It's August, the month that will make or break Safari Zoo.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34Yes, please.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Cheaper pricing on the door seems to be winning families back.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Numbers are the same as they were at this time last year and in previous
0:36:43 > 0:36:46summers, so yeah, it's looking good.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Next, please.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51The animal feedings are proving popular.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57If you haven't got any just pull your hand back,
0:36:57 > 0:36:58so you don't get your hand pulled...
0:37:01 > 0:37:07So that is a 97% decrease in tiger numbers in less than 100 years.
0:37:07 > 0:37:08Wow!
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Also, there used to be nine different subspecies of tiger...
0:37:16 > 0:37:18and now there are only six.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27With business booming,
0:37:27 > 0:37:32engaging with animal conservation programmes is next on Andreas' list.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34Monday - we put you in charge.
0:37:34 > 0:37:39He's appointing a deputy with experience from 14 zoos to help them
0:37:39 > 0:37:41reconnect with the global community.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Make sure you get registered for EAZA, you know,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48be in touch with people and bring us back to the zoo world.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52It's a job, the EAZA conference, not a jolly.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03David is taking head keeper Kim to the Netherlands for this year's
0:38:03 > 0:38:07conference of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Hello, mate. How're you doing?
0:38:11 > 0:38:14So who are you representing?
0:38:14 > 0:38:15- South Lakes?- Yeah.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- How's it going?- It's coming on.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22Safari Zoo once held full membership with EAZA,
0:38:22 > 0:38:25but it was downgraded following an inspection in 2015.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27They have no captive population,
0:38:27 > 0:38:29they're just running around in the wild.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Being allowed back in would be recognition of their commitment
0:38:33 > 0:38:35to conservation programmes and animal welfare.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42What do we want to save, what can we save and where can we save it?
0:38:47 > 0:38:50David and Kim are here to get the latest on the breeding programmes.
0:38:52 > 0:38:53- Hello.- Hi.- How are you?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56I'm well, and you?
0:38:56 > 0:38:58And they're also here to network.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04We've been on the naughty step of EAZA for a number of years now.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- Hello, Wladyslaw.- Hi.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Good to see you again.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11And we need to get off it and get back into the fold.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14- Where are you now, Cumbria? - South Lakes.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18- Ah, South Lakes, yes.- Yeah... The famous South Lakes.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20- I remember.- Infamous South Lakes!
0:39:20 > 0:39:23When you're introducing yourself to new people, what's it like?
0:39:23 > 0:39:26I think they'll kind of go "How's it going?"
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But it's not in a kind of general, "How's it going?"
0:39:29 > 0:39:34It's kind of an implied "how's it going," or that's the impression,
0:39:34 > 0:39:36I don't know, maybe I'm paranoid.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Hello. Hello, hi. Hello. Marianne.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44David's got the fact that he's been known for other zoos and
0:39:44 > 0:39:48stuff like that, but in this kind of world, I'm an absolute nobody.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53So it's kind of getting past the old to the new, sort of thing.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54I think it will take a while.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12EAZA's breeding programmes are designed to keep captive populations
0:40:12 > 0:40:15of species healthy and prevent inbreeding.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21But when Safari Zoo bred the red pandas,
0:40:21 > 0:40:23they did so without their blessing.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28I can see Tink up in the tree there. She didn't eat this morning.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Oh, look, here she is.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Tinkerbell, hello, baby.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38I'm worried that she's going down there now to look for the cubs,
0:40:38 > 0:40:39because that's where the nest was.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45If the zoo want to rejoin EAZA,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48they should follow breeding recommendations,
0:40:48 > 0:40:51even if that means no more cute panda cubs.
0:40:53 > 0:40:58As a zoo, you need to have those young animals, you know,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00it does bring in the public.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04The pandas are incredibly cute, they're adored,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06they're very well looked after...
0:41:07 > 0:41:12but I also know that we're very keen to be taken seriously in the zoo
0:41:12 > 0:41:15world, so it's important how we move with this.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Of course, every zoo wants attractive animals,
0:41:23 > 0:41:27but one of our key reasons for the existence of zoos is conservation.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31So breeding programmes - you should be participating in.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Tiger 4, I'm opening snow leopard pen 1...
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Following conservation recommendations means zoos
0:41:39 > 0:41:42can also lose some of their most loved animals.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44What are we doing?
0:41:45 > 0:41:49The EAZA snow leopard breeding programme has found a genetic match
0:41:49 > 0:41:52for one of the zoo's young females.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55What is it?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59They're to breed on the other side of the world at Melbourne Zoo.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01The crate's in there for Mishka,
0:42:01 > 0:42:05so she can get used to the box before she moves to Australia.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Snow leopards are quite nervous,
0:42:07 > 0:42:10so hopefully it should mean she will smoothly walk into the crate when we
0:42:10 > 0:42:13want her to go and there'll be no problems at all.
0:42:15 > 0:42:16In theory!
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Got to try, haven't you?
0:42:20 > 0:42:21Oh, and he's gone.
0:42:22 > 0:42:27The population of this species in the wild has long been under threat.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30It's all right, come on, Mishka.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Yeah. Right through.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Yeah, what a good girl.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39Mishka is one of about 600 snow leopards kept in zoos worldwide.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40She's just so cute!
0:42:43 > 0:42:46You're a big girl now, aren't you? You'll leave me.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04On top of losing Mishka,
0:43:04 > 0:43:08Andreas' surplus list means many more animals going to other zoos.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14He's asked Kim to take a lead in arranging the transports.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17So, Zims is online,
0:43:17 > 0:43:21so it means it's available for anybody who's got Zims to see.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25So it's kind of a way of, I suppose, it's a really bad way of saying it,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28but advertising your animals that you don't want any more,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31sort of thing. These are the species available.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34Obviously that's our surplus list at the moment.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38What's your general take on the surplus list, then?
0:43:38 > 0:43:39I think...
0:43:40 > 0:43:44We've got quite a lot on there.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46Um...
0:43:46 > 0:43:48What are you worried about?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50There not being anything to see.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54I think we need to be careful...
0:43:55 > 0:43:59because if you're moving things and you're leaving empty enclosures,
0:43:59 > 0:44:02what are you going to put in the empty enclosures?
0:44:02 > 0:44:06So it's all about the plan for the future, and I think for everybody...
0:44:07 > 0:44:11If the plan is like we're moving this, but next week we're doing
0:44:11 > 0:44:15this, then that's fair enough. But if we're moving this
0:44:15 > 0:44:17and there's just a big field,
0:44:17 > 0:44:20then you can just go to the local park and you're in the same place.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36Nero's postmortem results are back.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45They confirm the lion didn't die of natural causes.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52Was there any indication as to what actually happened?
0:44:52 > 0:44:56I don't know whether Karen's okayed that for you guys to know,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59but it was barbiturate poisoning. So it was in the meat.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04It was drugs in the meat.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08So, barbiturates is what you use to put animals down,
0:45:08 > 0:45:09to put them to sleep.
0:45:10 > 0:45:15Now we have an agreement with our supplier that we only get from them
0:45:15 > 0:45:18meat that's been shot, so it hasn't had any...
0:45:18 > 0:45:21It's not supposed to have had any drugs at all.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24I don't really know what's happened or how it's happened, but...
0:45:24 > 0:45:25How does that make you feel?
0:45:35 > 0:45:37There's no sign on the meat at all.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40It's just in there, so there's nothing we could have known,
0:45:40 > 0:45:46but it means that he died from something we gave him,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48which is pretty devastating.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50So...
0:45:51 > 0:45:53Yeah.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08You do everything to save the animal's life,
0:46:08 > 0:46:12and you find out that it's been poisoned.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14It's just...
0:46:15 > 0:46:17It's just beyond belief.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19Yeah, that is very upsetting.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22Have you ever seen anything like it before?
0:46:22 > 0:46:26No. No, I've never experienced that. Nowhere else on this planet.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41It's September.
0:46:43 > 0:46:44Summer is over.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49And the zoo's board of directors is meeting.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51Right. Who's going to run this one?
0:46:53 > 0:46:55Despite Nero's test results,
0:46:55 > 0:46:58barbiturates in the meat supply is not on the agenda.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03But Andreas' surplus list is.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06There's animals on there that
0:47:06 > 0:47:09I have no idea why we would even get rid of them.
0:47:09 > 0:47:13At the moment, we're just trying to find room to move,
0:47:13 > 0:47:16- because we have so many animals. - I'm just hearing whispers,
0:47:16 > 0:47:19and I'm thinking this is going, this is going.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21Bloody hell, we're going to have nothing left.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Organisations like EAZA gave you recommendations,
0:47:24 > 0:47:26what to keep and what not to keep.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29But there are certain things that you think, "Right, OK,
0:47:29 > 0:47:32"we're going to have to protect and not dwindle."
0:47:32 > 0:47:36I tell you, if all these animals that are on the surplus list go,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38which will not be the case,
0:47:38 > 0:47:41you will not even notice that the animals are gone,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43because we still have many animals outside.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47- When I go through TripAdvisor, - Yeah.- It just says "lack of animals."- Lack of animals.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49I don't know where this comes from.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52- Me neither.- Because you fall over animals walking through this zoo.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55OK, I just think this is kind of our zoo,
0:47:55 > 0:47:58and I think all things like this should be put across the board,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01not just like, "Right, put all them on the surplus list."
0:48:01 > 0:48:03I didn't know it existed, this surplus list.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06I knew that obviously that there's a surplus list,
0:48:06 > 0:48:08but I wasn't aware until I heard about it,
0:48:08 > 0:48:11that it was even out there to even ask to be...to look at.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13The thing is, if...
0:48:13 > 0:48:17Why we have this surplus list in the first thing
0:48:17 > 0:48:20is so we get room to move, so we get room to shift animals around,
0:48:20 > 0:48:25so we can actually put animals into buildings when they're sick.
0:48:25 > 0:48:32Managing animals in some parts of the zoo is impossible.
0:48:32 > 0:48:36It is and I think we get that. That it's difficult.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38And we will be reducing deaths.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42But it's well worth it. The end result is well worth it.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45I'm happy to show you a few pictures of the past.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47Like the good old days.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50That's the good old days we're talking about.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53See how skinny they are? You see when they walk up?
0:48:55 > 0:48:57Lemurs, they were killing each other for food.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59We know, we were here when it was happening.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03- I just think that it's like a shame, personally... - Just let remind you of it.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07I don't want reminding, because I think that's not what we're here to do now.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20The highest priority's always animal welfare.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26If we cannot provide it with all that it needs,
0:49:26 > 0:49:28it has to go to a place that can.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30This is not a discussion at all.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37Look at this. Not a leaf left.
0:49:38 > 0:49:43Two weeks after getting in touch with EAZA's red panda breeding
0:49:43 > 0:49:45programme, Kathy's received a response.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49He's asked for us not to breed. They're not recommended breeders,
0:49:49 > 0:49:51so I've spoken with Andreas
0:49:51 > 0:49:54and we're obviously going to abide by that.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58- How do you feel about that? - I'm a bit gutted,
0:49:58 > 0:50:02because they are particularly beautiful, but you know,
0:50:02 > 0:50:07we're pushing to join EAZA and we're really wanting to adhere to any
0:50:07 > 0:50:10breeding recommendations, so, obviously, that's what we shall do.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18Pan and Tinkerbell are a good genetic match,
0:50:18 > 0:50:21but it's at the breeding programme's discretion
0:50:21 > 0:50:24to decide whether Safari Zoo should rear more young.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28Tell me how you feel the meeting last night went.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31Do you think there's a bit of resistance to change?
0:50:31 > 0:50:34I think maybe, the only thing I can think of is maybe just a little bit
0:50:34 > 0:50:39frightened. You know, some of the guys here, not particularly me,
0:50:39 > 0:50:43have been through quite a lot, like generally quite a lot.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46At the same time, it's got to be done,
0:50:46 > 0:50:51and it's a positive move forward, so...crack on.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06The zoo's summer of survival is behind them.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11But the winter that lies ahead
0:51:11 > 0:51:13will pose even tougher challenges.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21All right, come back.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23We have met our targets for summer,
0:51:23 > 0:51:28but the zoo's future is on a knife edge, and, you know,
0:51:28 > 0:51:32we don't go into winter with a massive cushion at all,
0:51:32 > 0:51:36and winter is the worst time for any outdoor attraction.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46Two months on from Nero's death,
0:51:46 > 0:51:49meat is still arriving at the zoo from the same supplier.
0:51:55 > 0:52:01I would like to know what is going on with regards to Nero's case.
0:52:01 > 0:52:05Is there a case? Nothing has been said to me,
0:52:05 > 0:52:07and I think this is a really important issue.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Yeah, they are our only suppliers of meat.
0:52:10 > 0:52:14- And have we got rid of that meat? Is that gone now?- No, it's still there.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Is somebody going to take responsibility for this?
0:52:17 > 0:52:21For his death? I don't really understand.
0:52:21 > 0:52:22It just seems like it happened
0:52:22 > 0:52:25and I don't know if anything has been done.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29Karen is pursuing to speak to our current supplier.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36We've spoken to our suppliers
0:52:36 > 0:52:41and they are trying to ascertain how it's happened.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44We'll continue to work with them
0:52:44 > 0:52:47and communicate back and forth, you know, until we get...
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Try and get some kind of resolution.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52- What do you mean? - It's really tricky,
0:52:52 > 0:52:55because obviously we want to make sure that we, you know,
0:52:55 > 0:52:57don't have a repeat of what's happened.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01But at the same time, the one thing that we do know is
0:53:01 > 0:53:05they will bring us what they've got, when they've got it,
0:53:05 > 0:53:08and we need to make sure that we've got that in stock.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12It's just not an easy thing to replace.
0:53:15 > 0:53:20In the UK, zoos can legally be supplied with a cheap category
0:53:20 > 0:53:22of meat, but it shouldn't be from
0:53:22 > 0:53:25stock that's been euthanized with barbiturates.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29There's no way this could happen in the country I come from,
0:53:29 > 0:53:32because a company that sells meat
0:53:32 > 0:53:35would never be able to buy an animal
0:53:35 > 0:53:41from an abattoir that is not legal to be food.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46It is a worry. It is a worry. It can't... It's happened once.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48I was told it happened in other zoos too.
0:53:48 > 0:53:53So it obviously... There is a chance that it happens again.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01The remains of the contaminated batch of meat that killed Nero
0:54:01 > 0:54:03are still in the zoo's freezer.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09It's just really fucking annoying, to be quite honest,
0:54:09 > 0:54:12that it's not even gone and it's still in the freezer after about two months of him dying.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14And it's meant to have been sorted out.
0:54:14 > 0:54:18I'm just sick of saying something, to be quite honest.
0:54:18 > 0:54:19I sound like a broken record.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Does it worry you at all?
0:54:21 > 0:54:24Yeah, it does.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26To not know what I'm going to feed out next
0:54:26 > 0:54:28could potentially kill something else.
0:54:33 > 0:54:37The remainder of the meat that killed Nero is still in the freezer.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40- What's going to happen with that? - Until the investigation's,
0:54:40 > 0:54:44you know, maybe reaching a conclusion or come to an end...
0:54:46 > 0:54:49We don't want to get rid of them until we know whether we need...
0:54:49 > 0:54:52Whether anybody will need them in the future.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56- Those particular batches of meat? - Yeah.
0:55:05 > 0:55:09On the recommendations of the international breeding programme...
0:55:09 > 0:55:11Mishka. What's that?
0:55:11 > 0:55:15..Mishka the snow leopard is leaving for Melbourne Zoo.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Can they settle anywhere?
0:55:23 > 0:55:25I think it depends what they're used to.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27The temperature here for them is fine.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31Australia might be a bit of a struggle for her at first,
0:55:31 > 0:55:34settling in with the heat, but I'm sure you'll like Australia.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39Yeah.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Come on.
0:55:42 > 0:55:43She's popped her head in.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51What a good girl. No hissing or anything.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57Hi, Wolfie.
0:55:57 > 0:55:58What's going on?
0:56:00 > 0:56:01Where's she gone?
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Say bye. Bye. He's looking for her, I think.
0:56:12 > 0:56:16Mishka has spent her whole life in Cumbria...
0:56:16 > 0:56:19but her mum and dad, Kady and Wolfie,
0:56:19 > 0:56:24were themselves originally transported to Safari Zoo to breed.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39Oh, Wolfie.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Where's she going?
0:56:43 > 0:56:44Huh?
0:56:48 > 0:56:50Where's she gone, Wolfie?
0:57:03 > 0:57:07- Thank you.- No problem.- Please will you let me know when you get there? - OK.- Thank you.
0:57:09 > 0:57:10Bye, Mishka.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16Sending Mishka to Australia
0:57:16 > 0:57:19should help the zoo regain full EAZA membership.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28And soon, over 100 more animals will go elsewhere.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32Andreas is getting his way with the surplus list.
0:57:34 > 0:57:38We are improving. I don't know if it's changing fast enough,
0:57:38 > 0:57:40but it's changing.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44What is it, Rome wasn't build in a day?
0:57:44 > 0:57:46And it keeps falling apart.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54Last time I did this, it took me a couple of years.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59Come on!
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Good boy.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05We've come through the summer,
0:58:05 > 0:58:07which has been pretty tiring for everybody,
0:58:07 > 0:58:11and I think sometimes people get impatient that the changes
0:58:11 > 0:58:14haven't happened maybe as quickly as, you know, they'd like.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18But when we started with this,
0:58:18 > 0:58:23the goal was just to keep people's jobs and keep the place open.
0:58:23 > 0:58:28- Yeah.- That hasn't changed.- No. No.