0:00:02 > 0:00:06The first years of a young animal's life are the most crucial.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10So if they grow up without their mothers,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12these animals are going to need help.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Good morning. Hello, darling.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19We're going to meet baby animals whose only hope of survival
0:00:19 > 0:00:23lies with some very dedicated people...
0:00:23 > 0:00:25What a clever girl.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29..and find out what it takes to get them back into the wild.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33This is about salvation for some little guys who have been
0:00:33 > 0:00:37through hell, who have been through trauma, who deserve a second chance.
0:00:37 > 0:00:38Hey, dude. Ah!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'I'm biologist Patrick Aryee'
0:00:42 > 0:00:46and I'm in central America, home to exotic and rare wildlife.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50'Here, I'll be visiting centres where the wildlife
0:00:50 > 0:00:52'gets incredible specialist care.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:55That is remarkable.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58'And I'm zoologist Lucy Cooke'
0:00:58 > 0:01:00and I'm in southern Africa,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03home to some of the most iconic animals in the world.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08'I'll be helping out at rescue centres devoted to
0:01:08 > 0:01:11'rehabilitation and release.'
0:01:11 > 0:01:14You're going to become a wild cheetah one day, aren't you,
0:01:14 > 0:01:15if you carry on being this good?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18In this programme, I'll be meeting Moyo,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22who found sanctuary on a sofa after nearly drowning.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24He's got a terrible phobia of water,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28which is just the most dreadful thing.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30'And I'll be meeting Robin, an anteater from Costa Rica...'
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Hello.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33'..to see if he can master
0:01:33 > 0:01:36'the skills he'll need to return to his jungle home.'
0:01:38 > 0:01:42He's sniffing my armpits. Apparently...
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I've got ants in there.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Join us as we follow these miracle orphans...
0:01:47 > 0:01:50..through their most crucial moments...
0:01:50 > 0:01:53..on their long journeys back to the wild.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Zimbabwe is in southern Africa.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Its diverse and breathtaking landscape
0:02:07 > 0:02:13is dotted with evergreen forests, mountains and savannas...
0:02:14 > 0:02:20..and it's home to some of the most recognisable animals on the planet.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23But many of these animals are now under threat,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26including Africa's elephants.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35This is 14-month-old Moyo,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39a baby elephant that lives here at Wild Is Life...
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Oh, you clever little so-and-so.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44..a rescue centre founded by Roxy Danckwerts.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46You're so clever.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Yes, you are. You're so clever.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Roxy's been helping sick and orphaned animals
0:02:52 > 0:02:54for nearly 20 years.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59She's rescued and rehabilitated many different species,
0:02:59 > 0:03:00from African cats...
0:03:00 > 0:03:02PURRING
0:03:02 > 0:03:03..to primates and birds.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But Moyo is her biggest challenge yet.
0:03:10 > 0:03:11Oh, dear.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15On the veranda of the house at the moment
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and Moyo's just having a little quiet...
0:03:18 > 0:03:19quiet moment.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21This is his favourite sofa.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But he's getting a little bit big for it now.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25I think it might break soon.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Moyo came here when he was just a few days old.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Thought to have been washed away
0:03:33 > 0:03:36whilst trying to cross a flooded river with his herd,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38he nearly drowned.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Luckily, he was found by rangers and brought to Roxy.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46Oh, Moyo.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49She's become Moyo's surrogate mother
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and he follows her everywhere.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56He's very inquisitive, so he's just grabbed a teabag,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and he doesn't like it. No, doesn't like that at all.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Now he's just peed on my floor.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04With most animals, it's a little puddle.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06This is a very, very big puddle.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12So... Yeah... The wee's quite big to clean.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Come, little Moyo. Come on. Let's go. Come along. Come, Moyo.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16CLATTERING
0:04:18 > 0:04:21This is not a good place for an elephant. Come.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25He's now outgrown the house but old habits die hard.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28In the beginning, I used to make Moyo's milk in the kitchen,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30so he used to follow me in here.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Oh, he's found the salt.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35And so he's quite used to the kitchen. Strawberry?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Come.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41No, he wants chocolate brownies.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Come on. These are not good for you. All of these.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45He knows he's being naughty now.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Come, Moyo. Come on. Let's go.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48Moyo, come on.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53He loves silver. It's really interesting.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Talk about an elephant with a silver spoon in his mouth.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58CLATTERING
0:04:58 > 0:05:01You can bring your spoon. Come. Let's go. Come on.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Come, Moyo. Come, Moyo.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Good boy. Come on.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12Across Africa, wild elephant numbers have declined by over 60%...
0:05:12 > 0:05:16You... You are just a little mischief, aren't you?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Such a mischief. Yes.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21..and if things carry on as they are,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24experts believe that in the next couple of decades,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27they could disappear from the wild completely.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Roxy is determined to do what she can to help and, by the time
0:05:35 > 0:05:39he is nine years old, her plan is to return Moyo back to the wild.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Elephants have been very much a huge interest
0:05:45 > 0:05:47and a huge passion for me since I was in my teens.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49I've always wanted to work with them
0:05:49 > 0:05:52so everything I've done up until this point
0:05:52 > 0:05:54has been like a preparation.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Such a precious boy.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Moyo's rehabilitation is her top priority
0:06:00 > 0:06:04and it's something that I'm hoping I can help with.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07It's not every day you get to meet a baby elephant, is it?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11But today is one of those days.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16- Hello. You must be Roxy and... - Good morning.- Oh, my word.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- This must be... I'll say hello to you first. Hello.- Hello.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And now I'm going to say hello to you.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24I was a bit nervous about how we were going to get on,
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Mr Moyo, but it looks like we're going to get on famously.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Just as long as I let you suck my fingers.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34According to surrogate mum Roxy,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37this means he's already warming to me.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43The sucking is all part of a comfort, greeting, trust whatever.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44I think a lot of ellies do that.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50The babies, they will often go and suck on aunties and sisters,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53just for the comfort and the bonding and the security.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56So that's really what he's trying to do, I think.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Baby elephants will often put the trunk in their mouths
0:06:58 > 0:07:00and taste what they're eating,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and they are also picking up a lot of probiotics.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05You see a lot of trunk interaction.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07He's really liking you, Lucy.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08- Really?- Yeah, he's really liking you.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11It would've been really awkward if we hadn't got along.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- No. He's found a new friend.- He's getting a bit boisterous, isn't he?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Yeah, Lucy, I think we'll take him out for a walk and go and see
0:07:18 > 0:07:20what there is to see out there and go and have a bit of a play.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Come, Mr Moyo. Come on. Let's go.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Moyo's rehabilitation is going well
0:07:25 > 0:07:28but there's one problem that's holding him back.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Soon after his arrival, Roxy noticed that he was frightened around water.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Nearly drowning as a newborn has left him with emotional scars.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45That whole experience of getting separated from your mother
0:07:45 > 0:07:49when you're that tiny, that must have been traumatic for him.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I think it must have been the most awful, terrifying experience.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56I can't begin to imagine what that must have been like for him.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59I'm seeing quite unnatural behaviour from him.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02He's not excited about water.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05They need to play in it, drink it, they need to cool themselves.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06There's a lot going on there.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10It should be an integral part of their daily lives.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Roxy has to get him over his fear of water if he's ever going to stand
0:08:13 > 0:08:18a chance of being a wild elephant, and I'm going to help with that.
0:08:21 > 0:08:268,000 miles away is Costa Rica, in Central America,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Over a quarter of the country is pristine national parks...
0:08:36 > 0:08:40..and its rich forests are home to extraordinary animals.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45But this wildlife is under threat.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51A growing human population is having a huge impact...
0:08:53 > 0:08:57..and I want to see for myself what dangers animals are facing.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02In the distance, we can see this lush tropical rainforest,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04which is a safe haven,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08however, right next door to it is this - human settlements.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10You can hear the cars on this busy road,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12there are electric cables above.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15So many different threats to these wild animals,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18it's easy to see why they get into trouble.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28I've come to a centre called Kids Saving The Rainforest,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32where a team is working tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate
0:09:32 > 0:09:37and return Costa Rica's precious wildlife back to the wild.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40I've come to meet one of the centre's most challenging
0:09:40 > 0:09:42and demanding patients.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44This is Robin the tamandua,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48a type of anteater who has a highly specialised diet.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52He spends most of his life looking for ants and termites
0:09:52 > 0:09:53high up in the tree tops.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- Ow.- Just stand still and let me know if you need help.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04I love how he uses that nose, just sniffing nonstop.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09And if you can see, his tail is wrapped around my neck,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13but that's again to make sure he is secure so he...
0:10:13 > 0:10:16He's sniffing my armpit. Apparently...
0:10:18 > 0:10:20..I've got ants in there.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Robin is an orphan.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Found on the roadside, he came to the centre
0:10:24 > 0:10:28at just a few weeks old and was days away from starvation.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33At this age, baby tamanduas rely on their mothers
0:10:33 > 0:10:35for milk and protection.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39They have a close bond for their first 12 months.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Robin was raised under the watchful eye
0:10:41 > 0:10:44'of biologist Pedro Montero,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47'who has years of experience with orphaned wildlife.'
0:10:47 > 0:10:48Hello.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Robin is nearly a year old and is learning to hunt ants for himself.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59You can see how he's using those claws to rip apart that vegetation
0:10:59 > 0:11:03and then that allows that really long, sticky tongue to investigate
0:11:03 > 0:11:05to see if he can find any ants.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Oh!
0:11:08 > 0:11:11What stage is he at? How much longer
0:11:11 > 0:11:13do you need to wait until you can release him out into the wild?
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Robin is pretty much at the final stage.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I know that he has pretty much all the skills,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21the basic skills to survive
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and we just need to confirm that he has everything ready to be released.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26So you had to be mum for Robin
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and it looks like all your hard work is paying off right now.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Yes, I'm hoping... I was hoping for a Mother's Day present,
0:11:32 > 0:11:37and that didn't pan out so I guess I'll settle for a happy release.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39With Robin being ready to be released,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41is there anything that might stop that?
0:11:41 > 0:11:44He's been having a little problem with his eye.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46He's had it a little cloudy.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48We think something got in there,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50like an ant or a piece of wood or something.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54We need to make sure that's not going to affect him.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56He's coming out by himself.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00He's brought Robin to see Pia Martin, the centre's vet.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08It looks like it's not cloudy at all any more. It looks very good.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10It's not swollen and it's not red.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16He has a good weight, he's old enough, he's big enough,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20and his eye is good, so health-wise he's excellent.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Now we just have to make sure that behaviour-wise
0:12:23 > 0:12:26he has all the skills to be able to survive in the wild.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31With a clean bill of health, the next step for Robin will be
0:12:31 > 0:12:35a series of tests to ensure he can fend for himself in the wild.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47In Africa, Roxy has spent the last 14 months helping Moyo
0:12:47 > 0:12:52develop his survival instincts as part of his rehabilitation.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Good morning. Hello, darling.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58In the wild, he would have learnt those skills from his herd.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Elephants live in family groups led by the matriarch.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Roxy has taken on that role.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09I have to think like an elephant, I have to taste like an elephant,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I have to keep thinking ahead and planning to make sure that
0:13:12 > 0:13:16what we're doing is going to be right for his future.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21So what's going to happen now, you'll find, Lucy,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23is that he has a sense of social hierarchy.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26So what you might find that he does is that he'll let me
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- go forward but he'll keep you slightly back.- Oh, OK.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32So what's going to be going on is his trunk will probably be
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- slapping you a little bit.- Yeah.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- He's just keeping you slightly to the back...- Right.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- ..because you're a lesser mortal. - OK. I accept that.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42In his presence, I do definitely feel like a lesser mortal.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- All right, let's go and join him now.- OK.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Come, Moyo. Moyo, come. Let's go.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Oh, yeah, sorry. Got to get back.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51Got to keep back.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56All right, no, OK, I'm keeping behind. I'm keeping behind.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Mum's in front.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03As Moyo doesn't have any other elephants to hang out with,
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Roxy has also built Moyo his own unconventional herd.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- It includes the family dog... - Hi, Josephine. Hello.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Are you full of prickles?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16..and Moyo's best buddy, Kimmy the sheep.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18It might seem like an odd pairing
0:14:18 > 0:14:22but years of experience had taught Roxy what her animals need.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26It's a combination of teaching and playing.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Because they're such good herd animals,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I used a sheep and a zebra foal once and it was a huge, huge success.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Like most babies,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Moyo currently does most of his learning through play
0:14:37 > 0:14:42and Roxy knows that something as simple as a sandpit can teach
0:14:42 > 0:14:44and entertain him at the same time.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Lucy, what I suggest you do is just climb on it.- Yeah.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50And then he'll probably follow you up.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52You want me to climb up the sandpit?
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Yeah, cos he'll probably follow you up.- OK.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00You going to come up and join me? You going to come up and join me?
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Yes.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- So this is playtime, really.- Yeah.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And you see elephants in the wild doing this a lot.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It may be play but it's also really important for them
0:15:10 > 0:15:15to throw sand to control parasites and to help them with sunburn,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17and it's just a lot of fun.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19He absolutely loves it.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20He's practising digging.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Roxy's rehab programme for Moyo has brought him on leaps and bounds.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29He's learning all the skills he needs to be a wild elephant,
0:15:29 > 0:15:35but when he gets near water, his confidence disappears completely.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Elephants are famous for and never forgetting.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42You know, this little orphan baby elephant suffered a massive trauma
0:15:42 > 0:15:46at the start of his life involving water and he nearly drowned.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51And now he's got a terrible phobia of water,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54which is just the most dreadful thing for an elephant
0:15:54 > 0:15:56because they love water.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02In the wild, swimming is a vital part of an elephant's life.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08It's a way to socialise, avoid predators
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and to travel great distances
0:16:10 > 0:16:14to locate new feeding and breeding grounds.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Moyo's lack of confidence
0:16:15 > 0:16:18could be a major setback in his development.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Like any human that's suffered from trauma,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Roxy's using therapy to try and get him over this fear.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Roxy has specially dug out this shallow paddling pool
0:16:29 > 0:16:34and, over the last six months, she's been slowly getting him used to it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39I'm guessing, as his herd, this is a shoes-and-socks-off situation.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- Absolutely.- This is a get in the water and show him...- Absolutely.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Yeah, we've just got to get a bit of energy up. Come, Mr Moyo.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- A bit of energy. OK. - Come, Mr Moyo. Come, come, come.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51He's not... He doesn't want to come in, though, does he?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- He needs a lot of encouragement. - Yeah, he needs some encouragement.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57It'll just take a bit of time, and we might put a bit of mud on him.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02Come on, Moyo. Come, Mr Moyo. Come on. Come, Mr Moyo.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Look, it's lovely in here.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06It's really nice and cool, cos it's quite warm out there.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08It's really nice and cool in here.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10'Moyo isn't sure.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14'But with Roxy and I cheering him on...'
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Good boy. Good boy.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20'..he decides to dip his toes in.'
0:17:20 > 0:17:25That's it, you got your feet wet. Well done. Well done.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29He's going to come in. He's gone to come in, aren't you?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31You big, brave boy.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Fantastic.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40There was a little bit of anxiety to start off with, wasn't there?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43And then little steps and then, boom,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45- and he had a good time, didn't he? - Yeah.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47Oh, yes.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53So how long has it taken to get to this point?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56This has taken quite a few months, actually.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59You know, it's been one step at a time, really.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Each one of these experiences is going to make him
0:18:02 > 0:18:05remember that water's good and forget that water's bad.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Exactly. We want loads and loads of good memories, I think.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13And how does it make you feel to see him like this?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I just love it. I mean, I just... You know,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19watching his expressions, and he just makes you laugh,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23he just behaves like a clown and... Oh, it's just... It's a really...
0:18:23 > 0:18:27It's a sense of achievement as well that we've got this far, you know?
0:18:27 > 0:18:29He's just a little boy growing up
0:18:29 > 0:18:32and learning little boy lessons and I really enjoy that.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38'Roxy believes that this pool will help him
0:18:38 > 0:18:40'to start conquering his fear of water.'
0:18:42 > 0:18:44He's come a really long way
0:18:44 > 0:18:49from a little elephant that nearly drowned to doing this.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54You are totally cool with this puddle, aren't you?
0:18:54 > 0:18:59'But it is just a puddle, compared to what he might face in the wild,
0:18:59 > 0:19:03'and his next challenge will be sink or swim.'
0:19:03 > 0:19:06The next thing will be to try him on a bigger body of water,
0:19:06 > 0:19:07that'll be the real test.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18'Here in Costa Rica, I'm also helping with vital survival skills.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21'I'm about to get first-hand experience of the lengths
0:19:21 > 0:19:25'Pedro will go to to help Robin the tamandua.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28'Whilst here at the centre, Pedro needs to provide Robin
0:19:28 > 0:19:30'with everything he needs,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33'and today I've been roped into helping find his dinner.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36'Tamanduas have a highly specialised diet
0:19:36 > 0:19:41'and in the wild can eat up to 9,000 ants in a day.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44'Robin needs to hone his foraging skills
0:19:44 > 0:19:46'and that means being able to track the scent of ants.'
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- There.- Yeah, that'll work.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54'It's down to Pedro and I to collect some so we can give him
0:19:54 > 0:19:56'an all-important life rehearsal.'
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Unfortunately his food is bitey and moves very quick
0:20:00 > 0:20:02and lives halfway up this tree.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04There's a really big ants' nest up there.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07OK, so I'm going to climb and I'm going to
0:20:07 > 0:20:11put my machete like this and then push and then it's going to
0:20:11 > 0:20:15fly directly into your bucket and it's going to be completely safe.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Just be... Just be really careful.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21- There's an ants' nest right behind you.- No, I know.- OK, wait, wait.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Just take your time. OK.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27I don't know if I'm going to be able to catch all of it but...
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Oh, my... OK, got loads of ants here.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Ow, ow, ow, ow.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35Ah.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37OK, these ants are going crazy.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40What I need to do is get them into this jar real quick.
0:20:40 > 0:20:41- That might be too big.- Huh?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47- Ah! Perfect.- Yes.- I think I've managed to...
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Ow!
0:20:49 > 0:20:50Oh, man.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52OK, here we go.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53- Perfect.- Yes.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55That...
0:20:55 > 0:20:56is how...
0:20:56 > 0:20:58you catch...
0:20:58 > 0:21:00a tamandua's dinner.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04'When ants are under attack, they release a special pheromone,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07'a chemical signal that acts as an alarm call to other ants
0:21:07 > 0:21:10'to coordinate a strike on their attacker.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12'In this case, that's us.'
0:21:12 > 0:21:15It's so weird, you can't feel them at all, you don't
0:21:15 > 0:21:17know where they are, then they just decide to bite you randomly.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Ah, ah.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- Have you just...? You've just put some on me, haven't you?- I have not.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24I have not.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Robin's made us work really hard for his dinner and, in my opinion,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31these ants are worth their weight in gold.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34So I'm not going to give them to him that easily.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Pedro and I have got a series of tests that we're going to
0:21:37 > 0:21:40put him through to make sure that his eye is OK and that he's got
0:21:40 > 0:21:43all the skills he'll need for when he's released into the rainforest.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44Thank you.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48'We put a couple of holes in the jar so Robin can smell the ants,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52'and hide it, with the hope that he'll sniff them out.'
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- We've got Robin. Shall we let him out and see what he does?- Yes.- OK.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'Anteaters have a sense of smell 40 times more powerful than ours,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03'and he quickly picks up the scent of the ants.'
0:22:05 > 0:22:06All right.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09He's found those ants no problem.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11'But this is just the start.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'Pedro wants to confirm that he has all the tools he'll need to
0:22:14 > 0:22:18'fend for himself, and has some more tests for Robin that will
0:22:18 > 0:22:20'determine how he'll cope in the wild.'
0:22:20 > 0:22:21Ow, ow, ow.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23OK, yes, they bite quite a lot.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28'And a skilled tongue is essential for anteaters to catch their food.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:32I got bit already so you'd better appreciate this. Smell that.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36All right. Excellent.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Robin's tongue is over 40 centimetres long
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and covered in spikes and sticky saliva.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49He can move it in and out of his mouth at 150 times a minute...
0:22:51 > 0:22:55..allowing him to eat ants and termites with astonishing speed.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00The result of this test is encouraging for Pedro.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Their tongue is really amazing, the way that it works.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Also they have some more adaptations.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10They have very strong claws that they use to destroy trunks
0:23:10 > 0:23:14and get to the nest, and that's what we are going to test next.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20So we've got this log that we might find some termites
0:23:20 > 0:23:22hiding in or some ants,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25so we can see how strong and how powerful those muscles are
0:23:25 > 0:23:29and see if he can get his claws into there and tear it open.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Hello, Robin.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34Hello.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37You can see he's sniffing straight away.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40He knows what he's doing.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Robin's secret weapons are his claws - really sharp.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50And he has really powerful muscles which are helping him
0:23:50 > 0:23:53to rip open that bark.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57'Unlike us, Robin is adapted for ant foraging.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00'His claws allow him to break and enter quickly
0:24:00 > 0:24:03'and his thick, coarse hair acts like a suit of armour
0:24:03 > 0:24:06'which protects him from biting ants.'
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Perfect.- He's doing really well.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15I think it's fantastic that he's able to tackle this log no problem.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19'Robin has passed these foraging tests with flying colours,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22'but he still looks for reassurance from Pedro,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25'and this bond is cause for concern.'
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- He really does enjoy your company, doesn't he?- He...
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Yes, he really likes me.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33This is one of the things that I am most concerned about.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36This kind of behaviour is unacceptable.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39So he needs to lose that sense of attachment, not only to you
0:24:39 > 0:24:41- but humans in general.- Exactly.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45It would be very dangerous for him to go out like this.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- We are not good news for a wild anteater.- How do you prepare him,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53then, for life in the wild and to lose his sense of attachment?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Whenever he goes into a tree that he really likes then
0:24:56 > 0:25:01he switches into, like, wild tamandua mode and, yeah,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03he behaves much better than right now.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08So the key is to get him really interested in ants, termites,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12foods that he'd be eating naturally in the wild and just let him
0:25:12 > 0:25:15- basically go about his own business. - Exactly.- OK.- That's the plan.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20'I'm going to help Robin become less and had to Pedro.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22'For his release to be a success,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'they must break their bond completely.'
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Ah. Oh!
0:25:35 > 0:25:36'At Wild Is Life,
0:25:36 > 0:25:41'I'm getting to know Moyo's extended family a little better.'
0:25:41 > 0:25:46This is Skye. Skye is another orphan here at Roxy's.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49She's just five or six weeks old.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50She'd been a bit poorly actually
0:25:50 > 0:25:54cos she's had a bit of a brush with pneumonia.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58'If she recovers, she'll return home, but some of these sick or
0:25:58 > 0:26:03'abandoned animals have had to become long-term residents.'
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Noodle's been here for nearly four years now.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Her mother died in childbirth.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12So she's another survivor.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14She's rather gentle for a wildebeest, aren't you?
0:26:16 > 0:26:20But there's one long-term resident...
0:26:20 > 0:26:23that really keeps Roxy on her toes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26So Pickles is a warthog, as you can probably tell.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Warthogs are really smart, social animals.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34She uses this smart brain of hers to figure out where all the food is.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Come on, steady on. Pickles.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Pickles!
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Pickles came to Roxy has an injured orphan
0:26:41 > 0:26:46and, with no other warthogs to be with, she became part of the family.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48She kind of thinks that she's a two-legged animal,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50not a four-legged animal,
0:26:50 > 0:26:55so unfortunately she'll never be able to go back into the wild.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57She's going to remain Roxy's house guest.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02But I don't think Pickles minds that, to be honest. Right, Pickles?
0:27:02 > 0:27:07'These animal survivors have found sanctuary here.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11'But Roxy is determined to make sure that Moyo's future is different,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13'a life in the wild.'
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Come along. Come, boy.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19He's now outgrown her house so he'll become a temporary
0:27:19 > 0:27:22resident in a purpose-built elephant orphanage...
0:27:24 > 0:27:27..that she's constructing in her back yard.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It'll be the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34This is about salvation for some little guys who've been
0:27:34 > 0:27:38through hell, who've been through trauma, who need a second chance or
0:27:38 > 0:27:42who deserve a second chance, who are going to go and be wild elephants.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45It's his bedtime...
0:27:46 > 0:27:50..and, like most babies, Moyo has a strict routine,
0:27:50 > 0:27:51starting with his milk.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56So Mr Moyo here, he drinks 22 litres of this stuff a day,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and they take a really long time to wean.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Up to ten years, even, there's been reports of babies
0:28:04 > 0:28:06still suckling from their mums,
0:28:06 > 0:28:11so Moyo's got a lot of milk drinking ahead of him, haven't you, Moyo?
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Roxy has spent months researching and perfecting a winning formula.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19I work really closely with my vets
0:28:19 > 0:28:22and they've calculated out all the values of every single
0:28:22 > 0:28:25thing that's going into that milk just to make sure
0:28:25 > 0:28:27that our balances are correct
0:28:27 > 0:28:29because if you throw out the phosphorus
0:28:29 > 0:28:30or you throw out the calcium
0:28:30 > 0:28:33then you're going to have a growth problem,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35and that's why I like to do it myself,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37just to make sure he's getting exactly the right amount.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40I also add a bit of protein
0:28:40 > 0:28:44because he is growing so fast at the moment,
0:28:44 > 0:28:46and then I'm also adding a porridge.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48And it's a porridge that's been developed
0:28:48 > 0:28:51actually for patients with HIV,
0:28:51 > 0:28:53children that are malnourished,
0:28:53 > 0:28:56and I've found it works an absolute treat.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58I use it in all my animals.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01It's completely and utterly 24-hour care.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04We cannot for a moment, you know...
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Oh... Hello. Hi.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11When he first came here, he was incredibly weak and he...
0:29:11 > 0:29:14You know, because we put him on to a new formula,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16he instantly got diarrhoea,
0:29:16 > 0:29:22and it took weeks and weeks and weeks, actually, to get him stable.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25But we've been really... Moyo.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28We've been really lucky because we've never, ever
0:29:28 > 0:29:31had to give him an antibiotic, which is remarkable.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35We've managed to get his own immune system to kick in,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39and I think that's come from really good nutrition as well.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42It's a well-balanced diet but, like most babies,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45he can't resist playing with his food.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Come out. Oh!
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Moyo.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Come on, Moyo.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56He's having a dust bath with the milk.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59It's very, very expensive milk, this,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02and he's having a little dust bath.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05When I come and make milk, normally I shut the door, lock it,
0:30:05 > 0:30:10cos otherwise we have this chaos and...and it is chaos.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Come on. Let's go.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Come along, now. You're just wasting...
0:30:15 > 0:30:18This is unbelievably, ridiculously expensive milk. Come on. Let's go.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Come on. Oh. Oh, dear.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26Due to his size, it's easy to forget that he's just a baby...
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Come, Moyo. Come clean your trunk as well.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32..and has a long way to go before becoming an adult.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Come on. Come, come clean your trunk. Come on.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Yeah, I know it's cold but you can't have milk all over your trunk.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41That's going to be sticky all night.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Settling down for the night
0:30:44 > 0:30:48gives Roxy time to reflect on how far Moyo has come.
0:30:48 > 0:30:55What's driving me to face these challenges is quite simply love.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Come on, then. Come. Come on. Good boy. Come on, then.
0:30:59 > 0:31:04I think most humans can relate to going through some level of trauma,
0:31:04 > 0:31:11some level of pain, and coming out of that and rebuilding themselves.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16The endgame is re-wilding,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18and that is my goal, that's my vision.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22There's some very, very big hurdles but I'm not giving up.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26No, no, no. Moyo represents a brighter future.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29I am extremely determined. I really am.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31For Moyo, a good night's sleep
0:31:31 > 0:31:34is essential so he can grow and develop.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39But in Costa Rica, the night-time offers Robin the orphan anteater
0:31:39 > 0:31:42a chance for more training in essential life skills.
0:31:42 > 0:31:43I know it's late.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47In the wild, tamanduas will forage not only during the daytime
0:31:47 > 0:31:48but also at night,
0:31:48 > 0:31:52so this next step is vital preparation.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56So what I'm doing here today with Robin is trying to do
0:31:56 > 0:32:01a little night practice and see how he performs at night.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03It's a skill that he needs to develop
0:32:03 > 0:32:07because some of these animals are completely nocturnal.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12And, for Robin, this is an important milestone.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15This will be the first time that I'm bringing him out
0:32:15 > 0:32:18and it will be the first time that I'm actually following him
0:32:18 > 0:32:19at night to see but he will do.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21What I'm really concerned about, this test,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24is that at night it's going to be harder to track him.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26'We're going to be using infrared cameras.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29'The idea is that it's going to be as natural as possible
0:32:29 > 0:32:31'and our torches are not going to be
0:32:31 > 0:32:34'interfering with his natural behaviour.'
0:32:34 > 0:32:35This could work.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39If this night walk is a success and Robin doesn't need
0:32:39 > 0:32:44reassurance from Pedro then he will be one step closer to release.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Clearly he is navigating with his nose.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49He's just sniffing where the ants are.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53So, yeah, he seems to be doing great.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59The most important part is that he is not interested in me at all.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04I have put him in the trees and he moves away,
0:33:04 > 0:33:06doesn't even look back, which is great.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12Robin has taken a big leap forward in his development...
0:33:12 > 0:33:15He doesn't even want to come to me.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18..as well as breaking that bond with Pedro.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22It's really nice to see his progression
0:33:22 > 0:33:26from being a scared, little orphan to a wild anteater,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28an animal that is ready to be released.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30I'm really proud of him.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33I'm sure that he's going to do great in the wild and I'm looking
0:33:33 > 0:33:37forward to seeing him out there, but of course I'm going to miss him.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41You're way past your bedtime so, yeah, we need to go back. Come on.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Robin is going for a well-deserved rest.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49But, for Pedro, it's going to be a long night.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Wildlife rescue happens around the clock and some casualties
0:33:53 > 0:33:57have been brought to the centre in need of some urgent treatment.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00There's been a late-night call.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Two orphans have come in.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06We don't know what they are or what's happening, really,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10so I'm heading down to the clinic to find out what's going on.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18So we just had a box brought into the centre
0:34:18 > 0:34:20by the electricity company.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26What they found was, unfortunately, a dead mother, dead possum.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29But there are two really small babies.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Their eyes are barely open.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33SQUEAKING
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Listen to that. You can hear them squeaking.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38You can see that tiny, tiny baby
0:34:38 > 0:34:40still clutching on to its mother's body.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44Luckily they've been brought in so the team here are going to see
0:34:44 > 0:34:48what they can do and hopefully they can make sure that these
0:34:48 > 0:34:51babies survive the night.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55The centre gets 15 wildlife rescues a month.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01'Pedro and rehabilitation manager Sam Trull have lots of experience
0:35:01 > 0:35:05'with these woolly opossums and know exactly the kind of care they need.'
0:35:05 > 0:35:08We just have to examine them, make sure that they're healthy,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10cos they could have been electrocuted as well.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13But mostly it's supportive care, so we need to rehydrate them
0:35:13 > 0:35:15because babies like this have to eat very often.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Then we're going to set them up with a surrogate.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Luckily, we actually have one with a pouch.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Obviously, that's what they're used to.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25Their new surrogate is a soft toy
0:35:25 > 0:35:27which will provide warmth and comfort.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32They're marsupials and so they are born, you know,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35really teeny-tiny and they grow up in a pouch
0:35:35 > 0:35:37and they kind of come out and experience the world that way.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40- Right, so a bit like... a bit like kangaroos.- Exactly.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43And because of that, this pouch will make them
0:35:43 > 0:35:45feel a little bit more at home.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47I mean, their entire world has just changed.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Their mom was the entire world.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51So anything we can do to make it
0:35:51 > 0:35:53a little bit more comfortable for them will increase
0:35:53 > 0:35:56their chance of survival.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Would you hold this one and keep it warm
0:35:59 > 0:36:00while we give fluids to this one?
0:36:00 > 0:36:03OK, so what am I doing? I'm holding him.
0:36:03 > 0:36:04Just hold him really gently
0:36:04 > 0:36:08but basically your body temperature is going to warm him up.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Because it's so small, it's going to lose body heat really rapidly.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17Normally, it's got to be really close to its mother
0:36:17 > 0:36:20and it's going to be able to maintain its body temperature.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24We're doing all that we can to keep them warm, keep them stable,
0:36:24 > 0:36:26and then we'll put them into this incubator.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32- Let's see...- My God, he's moving so fast!
0:36:32 > 0:36:34Another boy.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39- A little bit warm, too. Nice job, Patrick.- Yeah? Good.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42We've taken their temperature,
0:36:42 > 0:36:44we've checked how much they weigh, given them fluids,
0:36:44 > 0:36:46what's the next step?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48OK, well, it seems like they are pretty healthy
0:36:48 > 0:36:52so what we need to do now is put them in the pouch
0:36:52 > 0:36:56and then we're going to put them in the incubator.
0:36:56 > 0:36:57Oh, they are so small.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02But it's, you know, it's really good that they are in
0:37:02 > 0:37:05this incubator and they look really relaxed and calm.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09The future for these woolly opossums is looking good.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11In the wild, they're capable of fending for themselves
0:37:11 > 0:37:15at a young age, and so in a matter of weeks, will be ready to be
0:37:15 > 0:37:18released back into their jungle home.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27I've witnessed that every animal at this centre is proof that incredible
0:37:27 > 0:37:32care for struggling wildlife is the best way to ensure its survival.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39But with that level of emotional investment,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42when things go wrong, it can be devastating.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45It's early morning in Africa
0:37:45 > 0:37:49and Moyo is about to have a medical appointment that could
0:37:49 > 0:37:53affect his future rehabilitation and his ability to swim.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Good boy.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00The vet's coming today to do a mobilisation of Moyo,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03because we need to get really good x-rays of his back legs.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09Baby elephants can suffer from irregular bone development.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10Come on, Moyo, come on.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14And Moyo's legs are giving her cause for concern.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I was worried because he was tripping a little bit and I just
0:38:17 > 0:38:21noticed there was a slight growth deformity going on in the back legs.
0:38:21 > 0:38:28And you can see here that the angle of this bone is not vertical enough.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33Over the last 12 months, Roxy has tried everything, from fitting
0:38:33 > 0:38:37a supported boot to being meticulous about Moyo's nutrition.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43Today she wants to find out if his bones are absorbing enough calcium.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46The problem is that as he gets older, if he grows into a
0:38:46 > 0:38:51four- or five-ton elephant, he has got to be able to have those legs which hold him,
0:38:51 > 0:38:55so they've got to be very, very dense and very strong.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57If there's no improvement,
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Roxy's dream of returning Moyo to the wild might be over.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04If we don't sort out his leg, there's a very, very poor
0:39:04 > 0:39:08prognosis for his life. We would have to euthanize him.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12And that, for me, is out of the question, we will fix this leg.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18When a baby elephant has a medical appointment,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21the hospital comes to the patient.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Wildlife vets Keith and Lisa will need to sedate Moyo
0:39:26 > 0:39:28to carry out the X-ray procedure.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34They have both been part of Moyo's journey from the very beginning.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38Keith went up and rescued Moyo, and travelled back with him
0:39:38 > 0:39:42and they've been here constantly and they're completely not only
0:39:42 > 0:39:46scientifically, but also emotionally involved in him as well.
0:39:46 > 0:39:47Come on, Moyo.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51We've got pictures of him at about that high, at the knees.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53He's considerably bigger.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Giving an anaesthetic to an elephant this young
0:39:56 > 0:39:58always carries risks,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01and Roxy is naturally anxious.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05Everyone wants the best for their children and it's that close a bond.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10It really is that close, you want the best for your children.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14I'm a very neurotic, very, very neurotic mummy. Very.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19Keith uses a pole syringe to inject Moyo with the sedative.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20It's OK.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22It's OK, good boy.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25And it's vital that he's given the correct dose.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26Sorry, my boy, it's OK.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31Roxy notices that something isn't right.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33Notice he's gone down quickly.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37The sedative isn't supposed to send Moyo to sleep,
0:40:37 > 0:40:42but be just enough to make him stand still long enough for the team
0:40:42 > 0:40:44to take an X-ray.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- Stand there, so that he doesn't fall over.- OK.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53To get an accurate picture, Moyo's legs need to be holding his weight.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54Turning it on.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56MACHINE BLEEPS
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And vet Lisa isn't sure how the results will go.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03I haven't seen Moyo now for about two months
0:41:03 > 0:41:06and I'm a little bit concerned.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09I thought his legs might be a bit straighter than they were. So, you know,
0:41:09 > 0:41:13he's not out of the woods yet, by any stretch of the imagination.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17With the procedure over, all Roxy can do is wait.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23Her dream of returning Moyo to the wild relies on
0:41:23 > 0:41:26a good result from today's X-rays.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29There's a lot that... I'm worried about his future
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and you know, that he grows up to be a big elephant, a big wild elephant
0:41:33 > 0:41:37and there's a lot to think about and it's a big, big responsibility,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39it's a lifetime responsibility,
0:41:39 > 0:41:43is not just one animal that's, you know, growing up
0:41:43 > 0:41:45and then he'll go into the paddock, this is like...
0:41:45 > 0:41:46It is a lifetime.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57- OK, so, which are from today? - The top two are from today.- Yeah.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02So the joint spaces are slightly narrower, you can kind of see
0:42:02 > 0:42:06- there's more calcification around the edges of that bone there.- Mm-hm.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08And subjectively, the bone looks denser
0:42:08 > 0:42:11than it did back then.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14But your gut feeling is that we are on the right track?
0:42:14 > 0:42:18- He's better than he was six months ago, when his foot was like this. - Yeah.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22I mean, it's straightened considerably in three months,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24but in the last two months, it's not...
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- I'd hoped to put them perfectly straight.- OK.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30- But I'm not as worried as I was six months ago.- OK.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Hearing this news is a huge relief
0:42:33 > 0:42:38and allows Roxy to be optimistic about Moyo's future rehabilitation.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41I had a look at those X-rays and I'm not a scientist,
0:42:41 > 0:42:43but I could see a difference.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46And the bone density looked better.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50We've certainly halted the problem, but the job is not over yet.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52We've got a long, long way to go.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Because if he's going to be a wild elephant,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56he's got to have the best...
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Be in the best physical condition possible.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04There's just no, no way at all that Moyo can be a captive elephant.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06That's not his destiny.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08His destiny is for the wild.
0:43:19 > 0:43:24In Costa Rica, Robin the tamandua's release is now just days away.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28At KSTR, he hasn't had much contact with other tamanduas
0:43:28 > 0:43:30but that's all about change.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33- Hey, Pedro.- Hey. - Who have we got here?
0:43:33 > 0:43:37This is Peligroso, which means dangerous in Spanish
0:43:37 > 0:43:39and he's our new tamandua.
0:43:39 > 0:43:40He is really small!
0:43:40 > 0:43:43How old was he when he first came to the centre?
0:43:43 > 0:43:48He came here... He was about two weeks old, he was really tiny.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51Sadly, it's a very similar story to Robin's.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55He was found on the street, apparently the mom was
0:43:55 > 0:44:00killed by a car and he was found by himself, scared and crying.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07Pedro wants to build Peligroso's confidence.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10He thinks that introducing him to older tamandua, Robin,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13will help him develop his wild skills.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15No, stay there!
0:44:15 > 0:44:18And it should help Robin get used to interacting with his own kind.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Robin, hopefully, is going to stop being so attached to me.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28So, what I'm trying to do is get them together
0:44:28 > 0:44:32so that Robin will hang out with Peligroso and forget about me.
0:44:32 > 0:44:35'Tamanduas are typically solitary animals,
0:44:35 > 0:44:39'but will come into contact with others in the wild.'
0:44:39 > 0:44:41Go on. Be friends.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44'Pedro isn't quite sure how they'll get along.'
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Love each other!
0:44:46 > 0:44:49'But little Peligroso isn't up for making friends.'
0:44:51 > 0:44:53Peligroso!
0:44:53 > 0:44:55I did not raise you like that.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58'Tamanduas are naturally gentle animals.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02'But when they feel threatened, they stand up on their hind legs,
0:45:02 > 0:45:04'using their tail for balance.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08'And with their arms outstretched and claws exposed,
0:45:08 > 0:45:10'take a swipe at their perceived attacker.'
0:45:11 > 0:45:14'In this case, an unsuspecting Robin.'
0:45:14 > 0:45:17For now, it looks like a fight between brothers.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19So, I'm not going to intervene yet.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21I'm going to let them figure it out.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24If it gets worse, I might have to stop them.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27'This natural defence mechanism is part of the reason
0:45:27 > 0:45:31'why so many tamanduas are hit by cars.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35'Instead of running from oncoming traffic, they'll stand up
0:45:35 > 0:45:36'and try and defend themselves.'
0:45:38 > 0:45:42Robin is approaching Peligroso, so, that is going to be interesting.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45'After a shaky start...'
0:45:45 > 0:45:47Don't fall. Don't fall!
0:45:47 > 0:45:51'Robin and Peligroso eventually find some common ground.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54'A mutual love of trees and ants.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58'And, for Robin, it's the last step in his rehabilitation.'
0:45:59 > 0:46:02I think this was a very positive experience for Robin.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03He was great.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05He was following Peligroso.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09This shows that he can interact in a natural way with other tamanduas.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12And, most importantly, he completely forgot about me.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14So, good job, man.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17'In a few days, he'll be returning to the wild.'
0:46:22 > 0:46:26'In Africa, Moyo has fully recovered from his anaesthetic.'
0:46:26 > 0:46:28Moyo coming through! Come, Moyo.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32Let's go.
0:46:32 > 0:46:33Yeah, come on.
0:46:33 > 0:46:38'Roxy now needs to get his rehabilitation back on schedule.'
0:46:38 > 0:46:40Yes, yes, yes, I know you want to play.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42But it's serious time now.
0:46:42 > 0:46:43Come on.
0:46:43 > 0:46:44Let's go, let's go.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Come on, boy.
0:46:46 > 0:46:51'Today, I'm joining them on a bush walk with a difference.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54'Moyo's legs are going to be put to the test.'
0:46:54 > 0:46:57The physio's really important for Moyo, because he needs to be
0:46:57 > 0:47:00able to use muscles that he doesn't really use on the flat ground.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03He needs to be able to stretch and strengthen those muscles
0:47:03 > 0:47:05just to hold the... Hold the legs nice and firm,
0:47:05 > 0:47:08and to hold the tendons and the bones together, basically.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11- He has to spend a lot of time out here.- OK.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14Let's see you do your elephant obstacle course
0:47:14 > 0:47:17this morning then, Mr Moyo.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20'In the wild, elephants cover great distances
0:47:20 > 0:47:23'and cross challenging terrain to find food.
0:47:23 > 0:47:29'It's crucial for Moyo to be exposed to these real-life situations.'
0:47:30 > 0:47:33- The pads of the feet are completely smooth.- Yeah.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35So, they have to be incredibly careful
0:47:35 > 0:47:37when they're climbing on rocks that they don't slip.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40And if he does, he'll really do some damage to his bones.
0:47:40 > 0:47:41It doesn't look like much,
0:47:41 > 0:47:45but it's a steep slope and he's got to work with his feet
0:47:45 > 0:47:47and use all those muscles.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51And, really, it's all about his confidence.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54So, do you see he's using his trunk to check, check, check.
0:47:54 > 0:47:56- He's checking the distance.- Yeah.
0:47:56 > 0:47:58He's checking the terrain.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Well done! That was very, very clever.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04He's turning into a real little boy.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06Yeah! Aw.
0:48:09 > 0:48:13'And Roxy decides to push Moyo a bit harder.'
0:48:13 > 0:48:15I'm going to try and get him to climb over this log.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18So, I'm just not sure where...
0:48:18 > 0:48:20I don't know how it's going to work,
0:48:20 > 0:48:23but we'll give it a try and see how strong he is.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25Come on. Come.
0:48:25 > 0:48:26Good boy.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28Good boy!
0:48:28 > 0:48:29Well done.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31So, he's really thinking now.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33You can see how hard he's thinking.
0:48:33 > 0:48:36And this is quite a big challenge for him, because it's quite high.
0:48:36 > 0:48:40He hasn't negotiated this sort of situation before.
0:48:40 > 0:48:41We're not teaching him tricks.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44This is just showing him his limitations,
0:48:44 > 0:48:46but also his capabilities,
0:48:46 > 0:48:49that he can actually do it if he works it out and he thinks about it,
0:48:49 > 0:48:51he might be able to do it.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54Come on. Good boy.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56So, he's got his weight on his front legs now.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58But he's now got to really push those back legs
0:48:58 > 0:49:00to get himself across.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02Come on. Come, boy.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04Good boy, well done!
0:49:04 > 0:49:06Clever boy.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Yes, you're very clever too, Josephine.
0:49:08 > 0:49:09Well done.
0:49:09 > 0:49:13That was really cool, cos it's quite a big manipulation of the back leg.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16It's getting movement and looseness in there.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18I'm really happy with that.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22'For Moyo, this is another small step on a journey back to the wild
0:49:22 > 0:49:25'that'll take many years to complete.'
0:49:29 > 0:49:34'But, over in Costa Rica, it's a very different story.'
0:49:37 > 0:49:40'Robin the tamandua has completed his rehabilitation
0:49:40 > 0:49:42'and is finally ready for release.'
0:49:47 > 0:49:49'I'm joining Pedro,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52'who's taken a great deal of time to find the ideal spot.'
0:49:57 > 0:50:00So, why is it important to take Robin deep into the jungle?
0:50:00 > 0:50:02Why can't you just release him here?
0:50:02 > 0:50:05We know that car accidents are the main cause of death
0:50:05 > 0:50:07for these animals.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10So, we want to get him as far away as possible from roads.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15So, getting him deep into the jungle is the best bet for Robin?
0:50:15 > 0:50:16Exactly, yes.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18The deeper the better.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24'On the long drive into the rainforest,
0:50:24 > 0:50:26'it begins to live up to its name.'
0:50:34 > 0:50:37'We arrive and head out on foot into the jungle.'
0:50:44 > 0:50:48'And there's no sign that the rain is about to give up.'
0:50:48 > 0:50:49THUNDER RUMBLES
0:50:54 > 0:50:57As you can hear, the heavens have opened,
0:50:57 > 0:50:59and we're getting drenched!
0:50:59 > 0:51:02But nothing's going to stop Robin from being released.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04This is his big day.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06It might be uncomfortable for us,
0:51:06 > 0:51:08but it's going to be perfect for Robin.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Well, Pedro, you couldn't have picked a more idyllic spot.
0:51:13 > 0:51:14This looks beautiful.
0:51:14 > 0:51:15How are you feeling?
0:51:15 > 0:51:18I'm a bit nervous. Now, it's like on.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21Cos, before, I was trying to find the best place.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24But now it's real, he's going to go.
0:51:24 > 0:51:25And that's scary.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28The fact that the rain has stopped, the sun has come out...
0:51:28 > 0:51:30It's time to let Robin...
0:51:30 > 0:51:32- It's a sign. - ..out and explore.
0:51:33 > 0:51:34Let's do it, I guess.
0:51:38 > 0:51:39Wish him luck.
0:51:45 > 0:51:46Oh, there he goes.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52'Robin is finally returning to his jungle home.'
0:51:52 > 0:51:53He's doing his thing.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57I was a little concerned he was going to just run back to me.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59But he seems to be going good.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01He seems all grown-up.
0:52:01 > 0:52:06'And he takes to the tree tops just like a wild tamandua.'
0:52:06 > 0:52:10It's amazing seeing him climbing the tree
0:52:10 > 0:52:13and getting used to this habitat, his natural habitat.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15He is doing great.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24It's a success. This is what we worked for.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28This is what I wanted for him and he performed admirably.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30So, yeah, I'm proud of him.
0:52:30 > 0:52:31Good job.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42This is where he's meant to be, out in the rainforest.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45And it makes all the sleepless nights,
0:52:45 > 0:52:48all the times that Pedro's been bitten by ants,
0:52:48 > 0:52:51covered in mud looking for termites, totally worth it.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53It's incredible seeing him up there,
0:52:53 > 0:52:56and to know that he's one of nature's survivors.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07'On the other side of the world,
0:53:07 > 0:53:12'Roxy and I want to help Moyo reach an important milestone, too.'
0:53:12 > 0:53:14Hello!
0:53:14 > 0:53:19'As we've seen, Moyo has a deep rooted fear of water,
0:53:19 > 0:53:23'and months of therapy have rebuilt his confidence.'
0:53:23 > 0:53:27'Today will be a big challenge.'
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Mr Moy! Here, Moy.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32'All of his herd are coming, too - including Kimmy the sheep.'
0:53:34 > 0:53:35That's it, Kim.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37That's it, keep up with the herd.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42This is the lake on Roxy's farm,
0:53:42 > 0:53:46and we're going to try and see if we can get Moyo
0:53:46 > 0:53:48to come for a swim in this.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55This is a big step because although he's been doing really well
0:53:55 > 0:53:59in his mud pond, this is...
0:53:59 > 0:54:00This is very different.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03This is a big, wild body of water.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06And this probably looks a lot like the place
0:54:06 > 0:54:08where he nearly drowned as a baby.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13Do you think he's going to be all right?
0:54:13 > 0:54:16It's just a lot bigger than he's used to.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20Hopefully he'll... We'll just do it slowly, slowly.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22And he'll slowly get his confidence.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26Come on, Mr Moyo, you're going to be a big, brave elephant today.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Are you going to go in any further?
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Or is this far enough for you?
0:54:34 > 0:54:35Come on, boy. Come.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38He's using his trunk,
0:54:38 > 0:54:39it's quite amazing,
0:54:39 > 0:54:42to measure the depth of the water in front of him.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46And he seems to be happy to go in as far as a depth
0:54:46 > 0:54:50that he recognises, about the depth of his muddy pool, basically.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54He's not... He's a bit... He's definitely...
0:54:54 > 0:54:56He's nervous, for sure.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00So, he doesn't want to come in any further, does he?
0:55:00 > 0:55:01He doesn't like it.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03He comes in, and then...
0:55:03 > 0:55:07His ears go out and he looks anxious, doesn't he?
0:55:07 > 0:55:09So, this really is quite a big deal for him.
0:55:09 > 0:55:10You know, all this grass and things,
0:55:10 > 0:55:13he doesn't really know what's going on and he is very nervous.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16He's like a little frightened little baby elephant.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19He needs mum to help him, calm him down.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25'After some gentle reassurance, we try again.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27'And Moyo surprises us all.'
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Has he been... This is deep for him, isn't it?
0:55:38 > 0:55:41This is deepest he's ever been. He's never been this deep.
0:55:41 > 0:55:42- Never been this deep?- Never.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48Oh, you are one clever elephant!
0:55:48 > 0:55:53'And as his confidence builds, he begins to enjoy the experience.'
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Look at him! He's swimming.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59This is amazing.
0:55:59 > 0:56:00Absolutely amazing.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02You're a swimming elephant!
0:56:02 > 0:56:05This is so important that he learns to swim.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07I mean, it's one thing that he's not afraid of water
0:56:07 > 0:56:10and he can go up to it and drink and play.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12But as a wild elephant,
0:56:12 > 0:56:16being able to swim is going to be one of his vital survival skills,
0:56:16 > 0:56:20because elephant migratory routes go across major rivers
0:56:20 > 0:56:21and they need to be able to cross them.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24He's got to learn to swim
0:56:24 > 0:56:26and be comfortable with being out of his depth
0:56:26 > 0:56:28if he's going to survive in the wild.
0:56:28 > 0:56:29It's as simple as that.
0:56:29 > 0:56:34Now he's experiencing it like an elephant really should.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36He knows how wonderful it is.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45That was just the most extraordinary experience.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47When you think what Moyo's been through,
0:56:47 > 0:56:49and where he's come from,
0:56:49 > 0:56:54to see him today just totally embracing it and loving it,
0:56:54 > 0:56:57just like an elephant should.
0:56:57 > 0:57:03It means that his chances of survival are looking really good.
0:57:10 > 0:57:11'I'll be breaking a sweat...'
0:57:11 > 0:57:13Go for the inner cowboy.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15'..in sloth boot camp,
0:57:15 > 0:57:19'with Monster, an orphan in training for a life in the wild.'
0:57:21 > 0:57:23She looks really good up there.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26'And I'm meeting two of Africa's precious cats,
0:57:26 > 0:57:30'who are being given a second chance to lead independent lives.'
0:57:30 > 0:57:32Well done!