0:00:05 > 0:00:07LOW BELLOW
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Millions of us love watching the world's wildlife behaving
0:00:11 > 0:00:13in strange and wonderful ways.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22But what lies at the heart of these extraordinary behaviours?
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Can science explain what's really going on?
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The latest research from all around the world is increasing
0:00:34 > 0:00:39our understanding of animal emotions, relationships,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41intelligence and communication...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43ROARING ..faster than ever before.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46ROARING
0:00:47 > 0:00:52I'm Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and I've teamed up with wildlife experts
0:00:52 > 0:00:56to travel the globe in search of the more surprising animal stories.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Whoa, whoa. There, there, there. Look at them.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Using the very latest camera technology,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06we'll reveal how and why animals do such remarkable things.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11And we'll meet the scientists... Let's go through here.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..who dedicate their lives to understanding these
0:01:14 > 0:01:16extraordinary discoveries.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Tonight, we're exploring amazing stories about animal relationships.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37We meet the people who, as a result of Africa's poaching crisis,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39have struck up remarkable bonds
0:01:39 > 0:01:43with one of the world's most endangered animals.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48Biologist Patrick Aryee investigates our relationship with nature's most
0:01:48 > 0:01:52infamous scavenger and finds out how vultures are saving lives.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56I'm genuinely gobsmacked.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00I'm in Costa Rica exploring why these capuchin monkeys have such a
0:02:00 > 0:02:03fantastic team spirit.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Whoa!
0:02:05 > 0:02:07OK, that's called branch breaking,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and that's definitely a sign of aggression.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14Ooh-ooh. And zoologist Lucy Cooke is in Kentucky discovering the
0:02:14 > 0:02:18medicine that may improve a rare pig's relationship problems.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23But first, conservationist Giles Clarke is
0:02:23 > 0:02:26in the rainforests of Thailand,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29investigating how a clever matchmaking technique
0:02:29 > 0:02:33could help save one of our most stunning big cats from extinction.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44HORN HONKS
0:02:44 > 0:02:48I've cared for lions, tigers and cheetahs since I was a teenager.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52But there's one big cat that I've never worked with,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and that's the clouded leopard.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59They were once common in the rainforests of Southeast Asia,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01but today, as their habitat disappears,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04only a few thousand remain in the wild,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07and this elusive cat could soon be extinct.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11The clouded leopard is one of the most difficult cats
0:03:11 > 0:03:13to breed in captivity.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16But I've come to a breeding project in Khao Kheow
0:03:16 > 0:03:19to see how a revolutionary matchmaking programme
0:03:19 > 0:03:22is improving the relationships between their captive cats.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27'Project leader Bill Wood is giving me the chance
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'to get up close to these incredibly beautiful animals.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Ho-ho-ho!
0:03:36 > 0:03:39They are just so agile, aren't they? Absolutely.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44They're just amazing, so beautiful.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Named for its blotchy grey and cloud-like markings,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56scientists have discovered that the clouded leopard is the evolutionary
0:03:56 > 0:04:00link between small cats, like the lynx, and the big cat family.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05They are supreme killing machines, with the longest canines
0:04:05 > 0:04:09in proportion to skull size of any carnivore,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13but luckily, they don't seem to see me as a threat.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Clouded leopards make this extraordinary noise
0:04:16 > 0:04:18in exactly the same way as what a tiger does.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21It's called a chuff or a prusten, and it's their way of greeting
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and showing affection.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27My tigers chuff to me as a greeting or when they need reassurance.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29I often chuff back,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32but let's see if I can chuff in clouded leopard.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35HE CHUFFS
0:04:40 > 0:04:42HE CHUCKLES Hello.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46'They seem to like my chuffing
0:04:46 > 0:04:49'because this head licking is also a sign of affection.'
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Hey.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59Just when you pat them you can feel just how immensely strong they are
0:04:59 > 0:05:03and really these guys are perfectly adapted for a life in the trees.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Clouded leopards have one of the longest tails in the cat family,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11giving them exceptional balance.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Short, strong legs means they have a low centre of gravity
0:05:16 > 0:05:20and their broad powerful paws are perfectly suited to climbing.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29You can see just how comfortable she is in the trees.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32In fact, one of the things that allows her to do that
0:05:32 > 0:05:36are these incredible back paws
0:05:36 > 0:05:40and, in fact, clouded leopards are one of the only cats that can rotate
0:05:40 > 0:05:42these back paws around,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44which allows them to come face first down the trunk of a tree.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50They are tailor-made for the rainforests,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53but that forest has all but disappeared.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56If we can't breed them in captivity,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59there's a real danger we'll lose this majestic species for ever.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Clouded leopards in captivity are notoriously difficult to breed.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09Why do you think that's the case?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12One of the main problems is male aggression to the females.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Some cats like - you'll know - tigers, lions,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18you can often leave them together and eventually they'll breed.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Institutions have tried this
0:06:20 > 0:06:22and they've put clouded leopards together
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and come back in, the next morning, the female's dead.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Because they are so elusive,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31no-one has ever witnessed how clouded leopards breed in the wild.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36In the past, attempts by other breeding programmes resulted
0:06:36 > 0:06:38in serious injury to the females.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Bill's team is pioneering a new breeding technique,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44and it's very simple.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Instead of introducing male and female leopards to each other
0:06:49 > 0:06:51when they are sexually mature adults,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Bill plays matchmaker and brings them together as cubs.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57When we introduce them at such a young age,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59they get incredibly well bonded together
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and, as they grow up, there seems to be no real aggression.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04They love playing together.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Because they get on so well,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08they go on to breed and not have that male aggression problem.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12This technique of introducing unrelated male and female cubs
0:07:12 > 0:07:16at a very young age is known as pair bonding.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19This bond continues into adulthood,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21reducing the likelihood of aggression
0:07:21 > 0:07:24and increasing the chances of successful mating.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28How successful is this technique of having cubs?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It is actually incredibly successful.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Virtually all the pairs that we've put together have gone on
0:07:33 > 0:07:35and bred successfully.
0:07:35 > 0:07:41One of Bill's most effective pairings is Zhou Lai and Maximus.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Really appreciating each other's company, clearly.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Since they were introduced as cubs nine years ago,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53these two have parented no less than three litters.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Look at that, you can see how well that pair get on.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Just so affectionate towards one another. Yeah, yeah.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Before this centre was set up,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04very few clouded leopards were born in captivity.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08This pioneering programme alone has now produced 70 cubs.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10About to get ambushed again.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Oh!
0:08:13 > 0:08:16And these cubs have been sent to zoos all over the world to
0:08:16 > 0:08:19strengthen the gene pool of this vulnerable species.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The goal now is to make sure they stay genetically stable,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and we have a healthy captive population as a safeguard.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31So all this hard work is about trying to create
0:08:31 > 0:08:32a sustainable population.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Yeah, look what's happened to some of the tiger subspecies
0:08:35 > 0:08:38that are now extinct. Maybe if they'd had a core population
0:08:38 > 0:08:40in captivity, there might be a chance of re-releasing
0:08:40 > 0:08:42the Javan tiger or something like that,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44but once they're gone... They're gone for good.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Hello. LEOPARD CHUFFS
0:08:48 > 0:08:50HE GRUNTS Where did YOU come from?
0:08:52 > 0:08:55'This is the most successful breeding programme
0:08:55 > 0:08:57'for clouded leopards anywhere in the world,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01'and it's such a privilege to see the results for myself.'
0:09:05 > 0:09:06This is truly...
0:09:08 > 0:09:10..the most amazing cat experience I've ever had.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23With this technique of pair bonding,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27what was once one of the world's most difficult breeding programmes
0:09:27 > 0:09:29is starting to have results.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32And thankfully, the future of this beautiful species
0:09:32 > 0:09:34is looking a lot brighter.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43For many animals,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47being a good team player is vital for success and survival.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53I'm 11,000 miles away in the forests of Costa Rica.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Here, some highly unusual behaviour within a troop of monkeys is leading
0:09:58 > 0:10:02researchers to new theories about how primates maintain
0:10:02 > 0:10:03their relationships.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09CHATTERING
0:10:09 > 0:10:12These are white-faced capuchins,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16one of the most successful and most sociable monkey species
0:10:16 > 0:10:18in this part of Central America.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Biologist Kyle Van Atta is part of a renowned research team
0:10:28 > 0:10:32who've studied the behaviour of the capuchins here
0:10:32 > 0:10:35almost continuously for 25 years.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Let's go through here, I think they're just
0:10:38 > 0:10:39at the edge of the tree line.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Think we're close? Yeah.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44'We're on the trail of a very special group of capuchins
0:10:44 > 0:10:45'called the flake troop.'
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Oh. There we have some monkeys. Some movement there.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53It looks like Madison, it's pretty large. Oh, right. Yeah, I see him.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56There's another one over here, a smaller one.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Winnie The Pooh. He's very pretty.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Before long, we've caught the attention of Kiote,
0:11:02 > 0:11:03the alpha male of the troop.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06His fur is almost more of a yellow than a white,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09which is typical for alpha males. That's a lot of teeth he's showing.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Yeah, he's threatening us right now.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15The monkeys are used to the researchers being around,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19but Kiote is still keen to show newcomers who is boss.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21He even calls in some backup.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24CHATTERING
0:11:24 > 0:11:27You see I'm looking at Madison. Oh, yeah. That is what we call
0:11:27 > 0:11:30a head flag. He looked forward and looked back at the threat.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It's kind of like a call for help. KIOTE HISSES
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Scientists know that capuchins are
0:11:35 > 0:11:38one of the most socially co-operative animals.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Kiote has called in Madison and they start over-lording,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46buddying up to intimidate their foes.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50This two-headed monster will scare off most rivals.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58The monkeys spend the day on the move,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00foraging for fruits and acorns.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04But it's not all work and no play.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11It's fantastic watching these two playing.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Here comes number three.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16That's R Kelly. R Kelly.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18CRACKING Whoa.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22OK, that's called branch breaking, and that's definitely a sign of
0:12:22 > 0:12:25aggression. And that landed right on my head, thank you.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30Hello. He's trying to break branches right on my head.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32He is succeeding. R Kelly, what have I done?
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Have I upset you?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I thought we were getting along so well.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39CRACKING Whoa!
0:12:39 > 0:12:41He's quite a good shot as well.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'Lobbing sticks at strangers is quite sophisticated behaviour,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'but these capuchins have been observed acting
0:12:48 > 0:12:50'in a much more surprising way.'
0:12:50 > 0:12:51What actually happens?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54You'll have two monkeys facing each other and, for example,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57one monkey will stick its finger in the other one's eye and they have
0:12:57 > 0:13:01these massive nails... That sounds incredibly aggressive.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Yeah. But it's crazy, they almost go into like a trance
0:13:04 > 0:13:05while they do it.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Researchers have been filming this trance-like behaviour
0:13:11 > 0:13:13to help study and understand it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18They're both very calm and very calculated
0:13:18 > 0:13:20and one of them will stick its finger in the other's eye
0:13:20 > 0:13:22or perhaps its mouth or its nose.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26This isn't just strange behaviour,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29it's also quite dangerous.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Clearly, the monkeys risk being bitten
0:13:31 > 0:13:33or having their eyes scratched.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Now researchers have a theory to explain it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41They believe these are social rituals devised by the capuchins
0:13:41 > 0:13:43to reinforce relationships,
0:13:43 > 0:13:48secure friendships and create trust within the group.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51These behaviours are a method of bond testing,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54it just gives them a means of assessing the relationship they have
0:13:54 > 0:13:57cos that's a dangerous position to be in, if my finger's in your eye.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01And in the process, do they actually thicken that bond?
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I mean, if you can do this with another monkey repeatedly,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06that bond strengthens as a result.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Yeah. The information they get from it says,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11"I'm sitting well with this monkey,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15"this monkey's going to back me up in a dangerous situation."
0:14:16 > 0:14:21These bond-testing rituals haven't been seen in any other animal,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and I'm hoping to see this extraordinary behaviour for myself.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31After following the monkeys for another couple of hours,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35'we approach a small clearing, and Kyle thinks he's spotted something.'
0:14:36 > 0:14:38It's two other members of the troop,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Winnie The Pooh and Young Jeezy,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and it looks like they're performing the ritual.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I've been watching this session between these two...
0:15:00 > 0:15:05..and several times I've seen them put fingers in each other's mouths
0:15:05 > 0:15:07and finger sniffing.
0:15:07 > 0:15:13And there's no question that this is a version of the bonding behaviour,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15the bonding tests that Kyle has been telling me about.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19I didn't think I'd actually get to see this.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20It's a real privilege.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25For capuchin monkeys,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28knowing who you can trust is absolutely essential
0:15:28 > 0:15:32because they need to work together to find food,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36to raise each other's babies and to defend the troop from rival monkeys
0:15:36 > 0:15:37and predators.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42The forest would be full of dangers if they acted alone and weren't
0:15:42 > 0:15:43watching out for each other.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48The scientists think that the capuchins perform
0:15:48 > 0:15:50these bond-testing rituals
0:15:50 > 0:15:54because they have a greater need to reinforce their friendships than
0:15:54 > 0:15:55many other species.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01This is because teamwork is critical to every aspect of their survival...
0:16:02 > 0:16:06..making them one of the most socially co-operative primates
0:16:06 > 0:16:07on the planet.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Just spending time here with these amazing capuchin monkeys suggests
0:16:17 > 0:16:20to me that they've got what it takes to do well here,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22whatever comes their way.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23They're incredibly intelligent
0:16:23 > 0:16:28and these fantastic social bonds they have knit the whole troop
0:16:28 > 0:16:30together in a way that suggests that they should thrive here
0:16:30 > 0:16:31for generations to come.
0:16:41 > 0:16:458,000 miles away in the South African bush,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49scientists have discovered a very unexpected animal interaction.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Remote cameras at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
0:16:56 > 0:16:59in KwaZulu-Natal have captured footage
0:16:59 > 0:17:02that's amazing not just researchers at the park,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06but the online community all over the world.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08The internet went wild, our website crashed,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11we got so many views and so many comments on it.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16A research camera in the park had captured images of a genet -
0:17:16 > 0:17:21a small catlike predator - riding on the back of a rhino and a buffalo.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26This genet has been such an internet sensation,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29we have nicknamed it Genet Jackson.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Wow. That's with the new cameras.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Yeah, that's the new site. You should try and look at the...
0:17:34 > 0:17:36The first to spot Genet Jackson's antics,
0:17:36 > 0:17:40researchers Taryn Gilroy and Dave Druse have been trying
0:17:40 > 0:17:44to work out what's behind these strange relationships.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The genet's bizarre behaviour goes against everything we know about
0:17:49 > 0:17:51these animals.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55They belong to a unique group of small and medium-sized catlike
0:17:55 > 0:17:59animals. They are nocturnal, timid and solitary
0:17:59 > 0:18:02and wouldn't normally be seen near buffalos and rhinos.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08A small predator like the genet always try to avoid conflict
0:18:08 > 0:18:12and bumping into other animals that can injure them and squash them.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14So you would think that they'd try to avoid each other.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16For example, if a rhino was coming down a path
0:18:16 > 0:18:18and the genet was on the path,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21the genet would just get out the way as quickly as possible.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Very strange that they're even together.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27And it's not just a one-off.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29By studying their different markings,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33the team have realised that at least three genets have been recorded
0:18:33 > 0:18:34behaving in this way.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37The clarity is amazing.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Determined to find out more, Dave and Taryn set up additional cameras
0:18:42 > 0:18:46and finally managed to capture the genet's acrobatics on video.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Once again, in the middle of the night,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54a genet is recorded hitching a ride on a rhino.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56THEY LAUGH
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Just hold on. That's amazing.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07This video holds vital clues about what the genet is actually doing,
0:19:07 > 0:19:08and it's rather ingenious.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13I'd probably go for the theory that it's catching something
0:19:13 > 0:19:15as it's coming past the rhino.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18This genet leans down and appears to grab an insect.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21The rhino's disturbed that the genet has just gone down
0:19:21 > 0:19:23and caught it with its mouth.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26As the rhino eats from the bush,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30he flushes out insects that the genet swoops down and catches.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Then the rhino gets a fright from this stall camera that flashed,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38and all the while, the genet holding on to the back of the rhino
0:19:38 > 0:19:40in the darkness.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46These genets seemed to have worked out that riding on the back of large
0:19:46 > 0:19:49herbivores is a brilliant new way of grabbing a meal.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Animals don't do things without a reason.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57I think the genets figured out this is a good way of getting food every
0:19:57 > 0:19:59now and again and it's just exploiting that.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04These images show a highly unusual example
0:20:04 > 0:20:08of one mammal taking advantage of another without harming it.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Dave and Taryn are now installing more cameras
0:20:11 > 0:20:14to find out how many other genets are doing this,
0:20:14 > 0:20:18and establish just how widespread this intriguing
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and previously unknown relationship really is.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Next, zoologist Lucy Cooke is heading to Kentucky in the US.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36She's finding out if alternative medicine could help a rare pig with
0:20:36 > 0:20:37relationship issues.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The patient I'm on my way to see in Louisville Zoo has been suffering
0:20:43 > 0:20:45from sore knees.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47He's a six-year-old male called Albus,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and he's one of the world's most unusual animals.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Albus is a babirusa.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56This is Albus.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59LUCY LAUGHS Wow!
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Hello. My first-ever babirusa, nothing like I expected him.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05Hello, nice to meet you, sir.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09You really are an extraordinary-looking animal.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Babirusas are probably the oddest looking pigs on the planet,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17and one of its rarest.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21They originate from Indonesia, but deforestation
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and over-hunting has decimated the wild population.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31They are now an endangered species with only 5,000 left in the wild,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34which is why Jane Anne Franklin, curator of mammals,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37is keen for Albus to breed.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Can I handfeed him? Mm-hm. I can handfeed you. Ooh-ooh!
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Remember to let go of the peanut.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49This is the way to a babirusa's heart, handfeeding peanuts.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51What makes babirusas so extraordinary is
0:21:51 > 0:21:54that they are the only animal
0:21:54 > 0:21:58with teeth that grow up out of the roof of their mouth.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'These upper canines never stop growing.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05'In the wild they've been known to impale the skull,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08'which is why Albus's have been partially removed.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14'They also resemble antlers and that combined with their dainty legs has
0:22:14 > 0:22:16'earned the name pig deer.'
0:22:16 > 0:22:18You are extraordinary-looking.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24I don't mean that in a rude way, Albus, I think you're gorgeous.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28'With his penchant for peanuts and his plump posture,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31'I've fallen for this peculiar porker.'
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Albus has already stolen my heart. He steals everybody's heart.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Jane Anne doesn't just want this toothy stud to wow the crowds,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44it's essential that he captures the attention of Patrice,
0:22:44 > 0:22:45the resident female.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49He's got an important job to do, he needs to help save his species.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50Absolutely. Absolutely.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Albus is in the SSP, which is a species survival plan,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55so he is an important member of that population
0:22:55 > 0:22:57and he needed to reproduce.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59However, two years ago,
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Jane discovered that Albus was not the fighting-fit boar she needed.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06He had issues with those dainty legs.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09They've been causing him problems, right? Yes.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11About a year and a half, two years ago,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14he started having some issues and we started to investigate,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17and we found that he had a patella that slipped.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19As in his kneecap? Yes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22That sounds painful. Yes.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24The pain was clear to see.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Albus was limping badly and it was affecting his chances of forming a
0:23:28 > 0:23:30productive relationship.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Being able to be up on his hind legs and have some stamina to mount
0:23:34 > 0:23:36the female was very important,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39so that was one of the things we were really looking to fix,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42was to be able to allow him to breed and breed comfortably.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43When you've got an animal like that,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45that's in pain, what do you normally do?
0:23:45 > 0:23:47We could have corrected it with surgery
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and that would have been the easiest part.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51The post-operative care would have been very difficult
0:23:51 > 0:23:54because he would have had to have stayed off his leg
0:23:54 > 0:23:55for probably six to eight weeks.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57And he would have had to have a bandage,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and just managing a wild animal in that situation,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03it just didn't seem like a viable way for us to go,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05so we looked into alternatives.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09They turned, surprisingly, to acupuncture.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Doctor Kari McManus, a local vet, had successfully used it on
0:24:13 > 0:24:18other animals that were suffering from inflamed joints and arthritis
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and was convinced that this alternative treatment
0:24:21 > 0:24:24could help Albus.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Needles are carefully placed into the skin,
0:24:26 > 0:24:31where it's thought they trigger a tiny response that relieves pain and
0:24:31 > 0:24:33stimulates the healing process.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Kari's been treating Albus every fortnight for the last 11 months,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and today is his latest session.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Stacey, if you would let Albus in.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45Albus.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49He clearly trusts Kari in spite of her needles because he takes no
0:24:49 > 0:24:51time to assume the position.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Good boy.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57When Kari inserts the first needle into Albus, he becomes motionless.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02KARI: I just insert a little bit and then we can now push the needle
0:25:02 > 0:25:06in a little bit more. Once it's seated, what we call needle grab,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08then I'll twist it both directions,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11which allows the underlying cells to grab the needle.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15This has got to be one of the most peculiar things I have ever seen.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19It's like he's aware that something's happening,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22but it doesn't look like he's in any kind of pain.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26He gets this kind of quiet, still look in his eyes,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30and he seems to be happy.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Kari doesn't just treat Albus as a piggy pincushion,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37she knows precisely where to put each needle.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42So, I basically did a lot of research online,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44trying to map out his anatomy
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and physiology of where vessels run, nerves run,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49how his muscles actually go,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52so that I could actually adjust the acupuncture points
0:25:52 > 0:25:54to best fit his anatomy.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Good boy, Albus, well done.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Albus has just made a smell.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Yeah. Yes, he has. A lot of his back points will also stimulate
0:26:03 > 0:26:07not only treating muscle pain, but they will stimulate his colon
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and large intestinal tract.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Woo... Definitely. He is opening up those bowels, aren't you, Albus?
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Kari leaves ten needles in for 20 minutes.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Albus, shift.
0:26:20 > 0:26:25And when the treatment is over, Albus emerges seemingly pain-free.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27He's such a good patient.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Two months ago, the ultimate proof
0:26:30 > 0:26:33that Kari's acupuncture was working came into the world.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Want a peanut?
0:26:37 > 0:26:40'And I'm lucky enough to be meeting her.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41'Her name is Babs.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:51You probably wouldn't be here if Albus hadn't had the acupuncture.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58'The future of the captive babirusa population is looking very healthy,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00'if a little mischievous.'
0:27:00 > 0:27:02What are you doing down there?
0:27:02 > 0:27:04It's biting my bum,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06look, it's biting my bum.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I know, she doesn't have any manners!
0:27:11 > 0:27:13How does it make you feel to see them here today?
0:27:13 > 0:27:14It's awesome, it's very rewarding,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17it's the highlight of my career to have these guys here
0:27:17 > 0:27:20and to be able to share them with everybody
0:27:20 > 0:27:23and to be able to show them off, so to speak.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26What would you say to people who are sceptical about acupuncture?
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Don't knock it till you try it.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Albus doesn't know that it's acupuncture.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And it works for him, so...
0:27:35 > 0:27:37And he's not the only one.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Kari is also using acupuncture to treat animals at the zoo
0:27:40 > 0:27:45of all sizes, from an Indian elephant to a pygmy goat.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Some species never seem to get good press.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57But over in Africa, biologist Patrick Aryee
0:27:57 > 0:28:01is finding out why we may need to rethink the relationship
0:28:01 > 0:28:04between humans and vultures -
0:28:04 > 0:28:07since they are, in fact, saving our lives.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Vultures are the most notorious of scavengers.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18They're one of very few animals to feed on the carcasses of the dead,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22and this is why scientists think they play a crucial role
0:28:22 > 0:28:26in the environment, a role that is protecting us from disease.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I've come to South Africa's largest vulture sanctuary
0:28:31 > 0:28:36'and research centre to join vulture expert Kerri Wolter.'
0:28:37 > 0:28:41I want to find out why our relationship with vultures
0:28:41 > 0:28:43'has become so important.'
0:28:43 > 0:28:47'But first, Kerri wants me to meet a very special,'
0:28:47 > 0:28:49tame vulture.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52You're going to meet PJ, which stands for Percy Junior.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Percy Junior? Percy Junior. Right.
0:28:55 > 0:29:00Two-year-old PJ broke one of his wings when he was just a baby.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03He'll never be able to fly,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06so has become a permanent resident here at the sanctuary.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10He's sitting on his own, actually. Ah.
0:29:10 > 0:29:16Yeah, he looks quite big up close in person. HE LAUGHS
0:29:17 > 0:29:22Wow. A little daunting. Yeah, daunting.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I'm just very aware of his presence.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28This is quite intimidating.
0:29:28 > 0:29:29He probably can sense that.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Which is not a good thing.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36So if you want to, and if you're brave enough,
0:29:36 > 0:29:38you can close your fist. OK. OK.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42And if you want to, just pull away from you, you know,
0:29:42 > 0:29:44if it gets too hard, just pull away.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Oh-oh. Getting nipped by a vulture. KERRI LAUGHS
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Ha-ha, very quick. KERRI LAUGHS
0:29:53 > 0:29:55And he wants the attention.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Like mischievous children.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Always wanting to play, always inquisitive. Absolutely.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04If you want, you can take your cap off and hold it,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07hold it. That's it. KERRI LAUGHS
0:30:07 > 0:30:10And then he'll try and put his head into your cap.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12PATRICK LAUGHS Yes, look! He's messing around.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Look at that!
0:30:14 > 0:30:16PJ's wearing my hat.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20So that's very much like what they would do in a carcass.
0:30:20 > 0:30:21It is really interesting, look.
0:30:21 > 0:30:26Everything about PJ's anatomy makes him the perfect scavenger.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30His bald neck and head aren't a fashion statement,
0:30:30 > 0:30:34but instead help him stay clean as he digs into a carcass.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37His large beak is uniquely shaped.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43You can see how he uses the tip of his beak to rip things.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47It's just like a hook. It's just the tip there.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50And that is for hooking onto flesh and yanking it.
0:30:50 > 0:30:55And even his tongue is specially adapted for the task at hand.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01The tongue has razor-sharp edges, almost like sandpaper,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03and it strips the bone.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07Nothing about these birds has been left to chance,
0:31:07 > 0:31:11even down to their strangely flat feet.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14The reason why they're flat is they're not predatory at all,
0:31:14 > 0:31:16they're 100% scavengers,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19so their feet are only good for putting their full weight
0:31:19 > 0:31:22on the carcass, so they can actually rip it open.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Vultures cannot kill at all.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28But surely they can kill small rodents or, you know...
0:31:28 > 0:31:31They can't kill at all? No.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34They don't have that ability to.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40But it's the way a vulture consumes its food that's most interesting
0:31:40 > 0:31:42'to Kerri and it's making us rethink
0:31:42 > 0:31:45'how important our relationship is with them.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50'The best way of seeing this is to invite 200 vultures to lunch.'
0:31:51 > 0:31:54We've come to the centre's viewing hide.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58On today's menu - a carcass of a cow that's died from natural causes
0:31:58 > 0:32:00donated by a local farmer.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03And we've rigged it with cameras.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07The idea is to lure wild vultures and watch them feed.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11We can see them circling.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14It's taken just an hour for the vultures to begin to gather.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20How do they find this food?
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Vultures have incredibly good eyesight.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25They can see about 6km away from them.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27You will have, for example, the vulture in the front
0:32:27 > 0:32:31and he'll be thermalling and he'll find the site.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33That triggers the vulture behind him to go,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36"Oh, hang on, there must be something where that vulture is."
0:32:38 > 0:32:41So it works as a chain reaction,
0:32:41 > 0:32:42so eventually you have, like, 200 vultures
0:32:42 > 0:32:45that have followed the first vulture to the feeding site.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47That's incredible.
0:32:51 > 0:32:57After circling for 30 minutes, the first vulture lands
0:32:57 > 0:32:59and it soon has backup.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05But nothing happens.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07For me, that's really surprising,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10I thought that as soon as there's a dead carcass or an animal
0:33:10 > 0:33:12that even LOOKS like it's on the way out,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15that the vultures would be circling and just maybe coming down
0:33:15 > 0:33:17and pecking them whilst they're still alive,
0:33:17 > 0:33:18but that's not the case at all.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21No, it's what Disney likes us to believe,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24but it's not the case at all.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28They've got to make sure it's REALLY dead, and it's kind of past dead.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Surprisingly, it's another hour before one vulture
0:33:32 > 0:33:34tentatively makes its move.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41One just landed straight on top.
0:33:43 > 0:33:48Is there some sort of order in terms of which vulture comes in first?
0:33:48 > 0:33:52It's normally a female. Females are by far more dominant than males.
0:33:52 > 0:33:57She, basically, wants to just dominate the entire area.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04OK, now they're all coming in. Yeah.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08But look how many of them there are, that's just incredible.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Wow.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18The images from our cameras give us a unique vulture's-eye view.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23I can see how they're using those beaks so effectively.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Kerri, this is the first time you've seen how they feed from this angle.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31It's spectacular, it's amazing.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36And you can see with the long necks, how they adapt to really dig inside.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42You see how they're using just their weight to kind of push themselves
0:34:42 > 0:34:44and kind of lean against the carcass? Hm.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Our camera's getting completely swamped.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56There we go. Our camera's...
0:34:58 > 0:34:59Wow.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Kerri's research has shown that the way vultures devour carcasses
0:35:04 > 0:35:06is crucial to our health.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Unlike other animals, vultures can safely consume meat
0:35:11 > 0:35:13contaminated with infectious diseases
0:35:13 > 0:35:16like rabies, cholera and even anthrax.
0:35:16 > 0:35:21And it's all thanks to the strength of their stomach acid.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24We've got this acid here,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26so why don't we actually put that to the test?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29So, if you grab those glasses, I'll grab these ones.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Just pop these gloves on.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36'This is hydrochloric acid,
0:35:36 > 0:35:41'which closely matches the strength of vulture stomach acid.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45'Let's see what happens when I drop in a piece of metal.'
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Let's see what happens. All righty. Ready? Go for it.
0:35:53 > 0:35:54Bubbling a little bit.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57That is... Wow!
0:35:57 > 0:36:02Look at that, that is a very strong reaction!
0:36:06 > 0:36:08If we replace the hydrochloric acid
0:36:08 > 0:36:11with actual vulture stomach acid,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13we'd see the exact same reaction?
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Yeah. You're looking at a vulture's stomach
0:36:16 > 0:36:21that's 100 times more acidic than what a human's stomach is.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24So you can really see the power of that in action right here.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29What we need to remember as well is, you know, that breaks down diseases,
0:36:29 > 0:36:33any kind of bacteria, absolutely no issues for a vulture.
0:36:33 > 0:36:34That is incredible.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39It's taken just one hour
0:36:39 > 0:36:41'for the vultures to strip the entire carcass
0:36:41 > 0:36:43'along with any diseases'
0:36:43 > 0:36:44that may have been present.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52This is a completely different scene to how we left it.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Yeah, exactly. And do you also notice the smell's gone?
0:36:55 > 0:36:58You're right, I can't really smell anything at all, really.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02I am...I'm genuinely gobsmacked.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05When we left this carcass here, it was smelling,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08the belly was bloated and all the organs,
0:37:08 > 0:37:12all the meat has been pecked right off those bones.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Those vultures have not only removed
0:37:15 > 0:37:17those virulent strains of bacteria,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21those dangerous strains of bacteria, but they also process it,
0:37:21 > 0:37:26so it's completely eradicated from the ecosystem.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29'And this is why we need to change the relationship we have with them.'
0:37:31 > 0:37:34They're seen as the undertakers, and people don't actually understand
0:37:34 > 0:37:36their importance.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39The implications of losing the species is very real,
0:37:39 > 0:37:43and the effect of that is catastrophic for me, for you,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45for anyone, really.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50Without vultures, the spread of fatal diseases to humans increases.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54When India's vulture population plummeted by 99%
0:37:54 > 0:37:58over a ten-year period, scientists found the result
0:37:58 > 0:38:02was over 50,000 extra human deaths from rabies,
0:38:02 > 0:38:06which brings home how important it is to rethink our relationship
0:38:06 > 0:38:09with this life-saving species.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13In the brief time that I've spent with Kerri's vultures,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17I have to say that my impression of them has definitely changed.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Before, I saw them as mean,
0:38:19 > 0:38:24aggressive animals, but the truth is they have a much gentler side.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28The thing that impresses me the most is their role as protectors
0:38:28 > 0:38:32of the ecosystem and in some ways, even us.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Without doubt, the animal with whom we form the oldest
0:38:39 > 0:38:42and closest relationship is the dog.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44And now, in Australia,
0:38:44 > 0:38:48man's best friend is forging a new relationship that could help bring
0:38:48 > 0:38:52another much-loved animal back from the brink.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Just off the south coast of the state of Victoria
0:38:58 > 0:39:00is Middle Island.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04It's uninhabited, but every summer it plays host
0:39:04 > 0:39:07to a visiting colony of pint-sized guests.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10To avoid predators,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13they return to the island each night under cover of darkness.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18And by morning, you wouldn't know that they're here at all.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20See if there's anyone home.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23CROONING
0:39:23 > 0:39:28This is the little penguin, the world's smallest penguin,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31averaging just 30 centimetres tall.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Yes, we've got an adult.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36John Sutherland and Melanie Wells are part of a volunteer group
0:39:36 > 0:39:40that monitors Middle Island's penguin population.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42This one's already microchipped.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Hidden safely in underground burrows,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48the colony is currently doing well...
0:39:48 > 0:39:5013.2.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Righty-ho. ..but that wasn't always the case.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01A few years ago, a nocturnal predator arrived on Middle Island.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Trapped in their burrows or exposed on the beach,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09the little penguins never stood a chance.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16It wasn't a very pretty sight,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18there were just dead penguins everywhere.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22All over the island, I'm talking 100 penguins.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28The penguins were used to avoiding threats from the sea or the sky,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32but this predator was different, it came from the land.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37There were foxes on the mainland
0:40:37 > 0:40:40that worked out how to get to the island.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42They learnt how to swim.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47One of the females even taught her pups to swim out here.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Night after night, red foxes swam across,
0:40:52 > 0:40:57eating only a few, but slaughtering hundreds.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01Soon, just four penguins out of over 300 remained.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Pretty much wiped out the colony.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08The situation was bleak -
0:41:08 > 0:41:12how do you save a penguin colony from the brink of total eradication?
0:41:12 > 0:41:14PENGUIN CROONS
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Local government, scientists and conservationists had no answer...
0:41:19 > 0:41:22..until they got a visit from a chicken farmer.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27CHICKENS CLUCK
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Eh? Fearsome mongrels.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36Local farmer Swampy Marsh keeps his chickens safe from foxes
0:41:36 > 0:41:40using an Italian sheepdog breed known as the Maremma.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Big, bad dogs you are, yes.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47Maremmas were bred to protect and live among livestock,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50and they've been doing this for hundreds of years.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Because they're territorial,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55they'll protect any animal that lives on their patch.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59In Swampy's case - his chickens.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02And they'll chase away anything perceived as a threat.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Their senses are amazing.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10I've sat here with a spotlight and I can't see the fox,
0:42:10 > 0:42:12but they know exactly where it is.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15It's almost like they've got infrared vision.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18After hearing about the massacre on Middle Island,
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Swampy made a proposal -
0:42:20 > 0:42:24why not use these dogs to guard the remaining penguins?
0:42:24 > 0:42:28The conservation authorities were ready to try anything.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I knew they'd do it. As far as they're concerned,
0:42:31 > 0:42:33penguins are just chooks in dinner suits.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35It's no big deal.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40And Maremmas have been patrolling Middle Island ever since.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45Eight-year-old sisters Eudy and Tula are the current penguin guardians.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49They stay on the island at night, and in the morning
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Phil Root, their dedicated handler, comes to check on them.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57I'll come out here each day, bring the dogs some fresh water,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59bring them some food, feed them and water them
0:42:59 > 0:43:01while I'm out here, bit of grooming.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03And then I'll take the dogs for a walk around the island
0:43:03 > 0:43:09to let the scent of these dogs in the air keep the foxes away.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13Eudy and Tula were introduced to the penguins as puppies.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18They formed a unique social bond with the birds
0:43:18 > 0:43:22and an instinctive link with the island habitat.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25These girls protect the space they're in,
0:43:25 > 0:43:27protect their flock, protect their home.
0:43:29 > 0:43:30As night falls,
0:43:30 > 0:43:32the little penguins come ashore with a bellyful of fish
0:43:32 > 0:43:34for their chicks.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39Eudy and Tula are guarding their flock from invaders.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44The project's been a fantastic success,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47there hasn't been a single fox sighting on Middle Island
0:43:47 > 0:43:49since the dogs were introduced.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52And the colony, which was only one fox attack
0:43:52 > 0:43:54away from total annihilation,
0:43:54 > 0:43:58now has penguin numbers back at 130 individuals.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03And it's all thanks to the special relationship
0:44:03 > 0:44:07between the loyal Maremmas and these charming birds.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12Man's best friend has become the penguin's protector.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Next, Giles Clarke is in Africa to witness
0:44:18 > 0:44:22what could be one of the most emotional relationships
0:44:22 > 0:44:25between a man and a wild animal anywhere on earth.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29'Having hand-reared tigers in captivity,
0:44:29 > 0:44:32'I really understand the emotional bond that develops
0:44:32 > 0:44:35'between a keeper and their animals.
0:44:35 > 0:44:40'But what's it like to care for the last remaining animal of its kind?'
0:44:40 > 0:44:43I've come to Kenya to meet Zacharia Mutai,
0:44:43 > 0:44:46who for the last six years has been looking after
0:44:46 > 0:44:50an extremely important elderly rhino.
0:44:50 > 0:44:55Sudan is the only male northern white rhino left on earth.
0:44:57 > 0:45:02At 42 years old, he is the equivalent of an 80-year-old man.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05I feel very close to Sudan.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09He's my closest friend, we don't want him to get extinct,
0:45:09 > 0:45:12so I really take very great care of him.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18All the world's five species of rhino
0:45:18 > 0:45:20are under threat from poachers,
0:45:20 > 0:45:23but none more so than the northern white.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27They are completely extinct in the wild,
0:45:27 > 0:45:30with only three left in captivity...
0:45:31 > 0:45:34..Sudan and two females.
0:45:36 > 0:45:39These last survivors are highly protected
0:45:39 > 0:45:41at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51On the black market, rhino horn is now more valuable than diamonds,
0:45:51 > 0:45:54so the trio are under 24-hour armed guard.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58This is Sudan.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02I feel so humbled to be meeting such an endangered animal.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04He is the last of his kind.
0:46:04 > 0:46:09It must feel like an awful lot of responsibility taking care of Sudan.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12We really love him very much.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14So we really take care of him, just like elderly people.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17He's the only one left on the planet,
0:46:17 > 0:46:21and we don't want to lose him at any time.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24Wild male rhinos can be aggressive,
0:46:24 > 0:46:26but Sudan is used to his human protectors
0:46:26 > 0:46:29and is very comfortable when Zacharia is nearby.
0:46:31 > 0:46:33He knows you very well.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35Yeah, rhinos, they have got very good sense of smell and hearing,
0:46:35 > 0:46:38so they can recognise a keeper and a newcomer. OK.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41So he knows the difference between us? Yes.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45He's not quite sure of me yet, but you're definitely a friend. Yes.
0:46:45 > 0:46:49That's what makes me feel happy, to be so close to Sudan.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56The phrase, "the last chance to see" is often overused,
0:46:56 > 0:46:58but in this case it really could be true.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05Sudan spent most of his life in a Czech zoo.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07He was part of a captive breeding programme,
0:47:07 > 0:47:11including the two females, Najin and Fatu.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15After nine years of failed breeding attempts,
0:47:15 > 0:47:17in an ambitious last-ditch effort,
0:47:17 > 0:47:19they were airlifted to Africa and returned
0:47:19 > 0:47:23to their natural habitat in the hope that they would reproduce.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28'Richard Vine is CEO of the Conservancy.'
0:47:30 > 0:47:33All of them, their condition improved sort of almost overnight.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35So their toenails got better
0:47:35 > 0:47:38and stopped cracking, and their skin condition looked better,
0:47:38 > 0:47:41so it was, obviously, something that suited them
0:47:41 > 0:47:43about coming back to Africa.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46'Sudan, the only one of the trio to have been born in the wild
0:47:46 > 0:47:50'had a new lease of life amongst the other rhinos in the reserve.'
0:47:50 > 0:47:53He established a territory, fought with other males
0:47:53 > 0:47:54in the area when he first came here.
0:47:54 > 0:47:56He's acted as a territorial male and he's mated,
0:47:56 > 0:48:00but he's never successfully got females pregnant.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02Over the next six years,
0:48:02 > 0:48:06hopes that Sudan could help save his kind began to fade.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11As he got older, the younger females began to bully him.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15He was moved into a retirement paddock on his own,
0:48:15 > 0:48:19where he now depends on Zacharia and his team for everything.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26He's going blind in one eye, he's struggling to walk,
0:48:26 > 0:48:31so his relationship with people like Zach and other keepers
0:48:31 > 0:48:34is fundamentally important for his welfare.
0:48:34 > 0:48:39He's old, he relies upon them for his food and for company.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41It's enormously important.
0:48:43 > 0:48:49Despite his ailments, Sudan is not in any pain and has all the food,
0:48:49 > 0:48:54comfort, love and support an old man needs in his final years.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56I better die first before Sudan,
0:48:56 > 0:48:59because I don't want to lose him.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02I'll feel so sad, I'll feel so sad.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06It's completely obvious just what a remarkable bond
0:49:06 > 0:49:12both Zach and Sudan have together, and that's really important.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16Sudan's welfare, his psychological needs are being met
0:49:16 > 0:49:20by this special friendship that he has and, in fact,
0:49:20 > 0:49:23there's a chance that if he didn't have this relationship with Zach,
0:49:23 > 0:49:25he might lose the will to live.
0:49:26 > 0:49:32Tragically, at 42, Sudan's breeding days are now over.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34As things stand, he will be the last
0:49:34 > 0:49:38male northern white rhino to walk on earth.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41It's so amazing, but so sad, because he's too old now,
0:49:41 > 0:49:45but we still had hope that he can still exist.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49He looks very healthy, he's in good condition,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52so he might live after 50.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57'However long Sudan has left,
0:49:57 > 0:50:00'it's obvious he could not be more loved.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03'It breaks my heart to know what lies ahead,
0:50:03 > 0:50:05'so I'm thankful to spend some quality time
0:50:05 > 0:50:07'with this gentle giant.'
0:50:08 > 0:50:10There's a good boy.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19Whoa. Look at the size of that mouth.
0:50:19 > 0:50:20It's amazing to be this close.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24Such a handsome boy.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28You've got no idea just how significant you are.
0:50:28 > 0:50:32And it's an absolute tragedy to think that he's the last male
0:50:32 > 0:50:33of his kind.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40However, there is a glimmer of hope.
0:50:40 > 0:50:41These rhinos are the focus
0:50:41 > 0:50:43of a pioneering scientific endeavour,
0:50:43 > 0:50:47which has been used successfully to help save the giant panda.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51Frozen sperm from the northern white rhino
0:50:51 > 0:50:56could still be used to save the species, but the clock is ticking.
0:50:57 > 0:51:01Rhinos have existed for 40 million years,
0:51:01 > 0:51:03but it's only in the last hundred years
0:51:03 > 0:51:06that we have been responsible for their tragic demise.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12If ever there was a symbol of the need for change,
0:51:12 > 0:51:15then it's right there behind me, and although it might be too late
0:51:15 > 0:51:16for the northern white rhino,
0:51:16 > 0:51:18it's certainly not too late for their cousins.
0:51:26 > 0:51:312,000 miles away in a secret location in South Africa,
0:51:31 > 0:51:35Patrick Aryee has some encouraging news about our relationship
0:51:35 > 0:51:38with the southern white rhino.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43This is Ike. He was left for dead after poachers attacked him
0:51:43 > 0:51:45and removed his horn.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49Vet Gerhard Steenkamp was first on the scene.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54It was quite obvious that he was a fighter, he wanted to live.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58And just like in humans, I think that makes a huge difference
0:51:58 > 0:52:02if you have a patient that is willing to fight.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07Since then, Gerhard and his team of vets have struck up a remarkable
0:52:07 > 0:52:10relationship with Ike.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Their biggest challenge was making sure Ike's wound
0:52:13 > 0:52:16did not get infected and healed as soon as possible.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19So they needed a really heavy-duty dressing
0:52:19 > 0:52:22that would stay on the rhino's face.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24Eight days earlier, Gerhard sedated Ike
0:52:24 > 0:52:29and attached a state-of-the-art fibreglass dressing to his wound.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34'To get a closer look,
0:52:34 > 0:52:36'I've joined Ranger Steve Dell
0:52:36 > 0:52:37'to find out how the patient is doing.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43'As we enter the enclosure, I can see Ike on the far side.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48'And any fears that Steve had that Ike wasn't on the mend
0:52:48 > 0:52:52'quickly disappear as his 2? ton bulk
0:52:52 > 0:52:53'stirs from his slumber.'
0:52:58 > 0:53:00We'll have to go out.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03Steve's concerned about our safety,
0:53:03 > 0:53:06so we make a rapid exit to the other side of the fence.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12'Fighting fit, Ike seems to have made a speedy recovery.'
0:53:14 > 0:53:16It's OK. You coming to say hello?
0:53:16 > 0:53:19There's a good boy.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21Easy, my boy.
0:53:23 > 0:53:26Look at how magnificent he is, he's huge.
0:53:26 > 0:53:27He's coming, he's coming.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30And, finally, we manage to get a good look at
0:53:30 > 0:53:31Gerhard's handiwork.
0:53:36 > 0:53:37I can see it's fraying a little bit,
0:53:37 > 0:53:39but it's still on, which is a good sign.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42The longer it stays on, the better, in terms of the healing process.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45He is going to be a survivor, for sure.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49The dedication of Gerhard and his team has paid off,
0:53:49 > 0:53:53but, tragically, Ike is unlikely to be their last patient.
0:53:55 > 0:53:59The rhino poaching crisis has reached a tipping point.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01This year, for the first time,
0:54:01 > 0:54:04more rhinos are being killed than are being born.
0:54:08 > 0:54:12'I've travelled to a secret location to meet some of the most recent'
0:54:12 > 0:54:17casualties - PJ, Lizzy and Monty.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19Tragically, some of their mums were killed,
0:54:19 > 0:54:22but thanks to Amy Kooy, they still have a chance.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26It's heartbreaking, and it makes me angry that we can't protect the
0:54:26 > 0:54:31animals, that we cannot stop a young rhino from losing its mother,
0:54:31 > 0:54:32it's terrible.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35It makes you angry and it makes you sad at the same time.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38I get very emotional, yeah.
0:54:40 > 0:54:44Amy's plan is to raise them at her farm until they're old enough to get
0:54:44 > 0:54:46the protection they need.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51In the meantime, they seem pretty happy with their lot.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55PJ, Monty, come, come.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Come. You want milk?
0:54:57 > 0:54:59RHINO WHINES Come. Shh, shh, shh.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02RHINO SQUEALS Come, let's go get milk. Come.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04PATRICK LAUGHS Boys, come, come.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07'Baby rhinos use high-pitched squeaks
0:55:07 > 0:55:11'to communicate with their mum, and these ones don't hesitate
0:55:11 > 0:55:14'to let their human mum know when they're peckish.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21'The babies here drink 15 litres, twice a day.
0:55:25 > 0:55:30'I've been given the awesome job of feeding four-month-old Lizzy.'
0:55:33 > 0:55:36And do I have to squeeze it as she's suckling? No, she'll suck.
0:55:36 > 0:55:37She'll suckle. All by herself.
0:55:37 > 0:55:38Wow.
0:55:40 > 0:55:41You are a hungry girl, aren't you?
0:55:41 > 0:55:44RHINO SQUEALS
0:55:53 > 0:55:56It's remarkable to think that this whole poaching crisis
0:55:56 > 0:55:59comes down to this right here.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01The rhino horn is made out of keratin,
0:56:01 > 0:56:05the same material that horses' hooves are made out of,
0:56:05 > 0:56:09and even our fingernails, so, really, it is worthless.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16Thanks to Zacharia, Gerhard and Amy,
0:56:16 > 0:56:19there are at least some rhinos that are safe for now.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25But the plight of the rhino is a test of human resolve.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28If we can save this iconic species,
0:56:28 > 0:56:31then there may be hope for the many other endangered animals
0:56:31 > 0:56:34with which we share the planet.
0:56:37 > 0:56:41Next time, we'll be investigating the fascinating world
0:56:41 > 0:56:42of animal communication.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47I'll be in Austria, where scientists are interpreting
0:56:47 > 0:56:49perhaps the most chilling call in the animal kingdom...
0:56:49 > 0:56:51WOLVES HOWL
0:56:51 > 0:56:53..and asking, "Do wolves
0:56:53 > 0:56:56' "really deserve their big, bad reputation?" '
0:56:56 > 0:56:58My heart rate's up just a little bit.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01Lucy learns the communication skills needed
0:57:01 > 0:57:04to teach a hand-reared penguin how to swim.
0:57:04 > 0:57:05Hello, Charlotte.
0:57:07 > 0:57:11Giles is in Australia to see how cutting-edge telecoms technology
0:57:11 > 0:57:14could save one of the best-loved animals down under.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18And Patrick's in South Africa to investigate
0:57:18 > 0:57:22the seductive calls of a lovestruck lioness.
0:57:22 > 0:57:27LIONS CALL AND MOAN
0:57:27 > 0:57:30Unbelievable, that's so electric.
0:58:01 > 0:58:02BEEPING
0:58:02 > 0:58:04What exactly happened? No idea.