0:00:04 > 0:00:07The first years of a young animal's life, are the most crucial.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10So, if they grow up without their mothers,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13these animals are going to need help.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Good morning. Hello, darling.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20We're going to meet baby animals whose only hope of survival
0:00:20 > 0:00:23lies with some very dedicated people.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24What a clever girl.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30And find out what it takes to get them back into the wild.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34This is about salvation for some little guys who've been
0:00:34 > 0:00:37through hell, who've been through trauma, who deserve a second chance.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Hey, dude. Argh!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44I'm biologist Patrick Aryee and I'm in Central America,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47home to exotic and rare wildlife.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Here, I'll be visiting centres where the wildlife gets
0:00:51 > 0:00:53incredible specialist care.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56That is remarkable.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01And I'm zoologist Lucy Cooke and I'm in Southern Africa,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04home to some of the most iconic animals in the world.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09I'll be helping out at rescue centres, devoted to
0:01:09 > 0:01:11rehabilitation and release.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14You're going to become a wild cheater one day, aren't you?
0:01:14 > 0:01:15If you carry on being this good.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21'In this programme, I'm travelling to Costa Rica...'
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Wow, look at these guys!
0:01:23 > 0:01:26'..where I'll help put the baby sloth through boot camp.'
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Go for the inner cowboy. She's so ready.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36And I'm in Zimbabwe, following the stories of precious wildcats...
0:01:36 > 0:01:38You can smell that, can't you?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42..as they are taught the skills to live an independent life.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Well done.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Join us as we follow these miracle orphans.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Through their most crucial moments.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54On their long journeys back to the wild.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Costa Rica is in Central America.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14It's a world-famous wildlife hot spot.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19From warm, tropical waters, to dense rainforest.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And home to millions of exotic animals.
0:02:26 > 0:02:32But this small country is also home to nearly five million people
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and, when animals and humans compete for space,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37it's often the animals that lose out.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45I'm travelling into Costa Rica's tropical jungle
0:02:45 > 0:02:47to meet sloth expert Sam Trull.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53She moved here from America to dedicate her life to saving sloths.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Whoa! Hi, baby.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Basically, when sloths arrive here from the wild,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04it's because something is seriously wrong with them.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06OK, so, you let go of the legs first... Mm-hm.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07Oh, it's a young one.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09..and then I'm going to put the head in.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13They're essentially already dying, and it's my goal to reverse
0:03:13 > 0:03:18that process and heal them, so that they have a second chance.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Sam works at Kids Saving The Rainforest -
0:03:21 > 0:03:24a rescue and rehabilitation centre.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Now, Sam doesn't just live FOR sloths -
0:03:30 > 0:03:33she actually lives WITH sloths,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35and she's given up all of her creature comforts
0:03:35 > 0:03:37to instead live in the jungle
0:03:37 > 0:03:40in a specially-adapted sloth-friendly house.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Hey, Sam! Hey!
0:03:44 > 0:03:47How are you doing? Good, how are you? Very well.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Feels like I've stepped into the ultimate treehouse.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51This is totally for the sloths -
0:03:51 > 0:03:55it's essentially a sloth nursery, and I just live here.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57If you imagine what they would be in in the trees with their mom,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00they would have things to climb on nonstop,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02and that's really important for their development.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Sam currently cares for both types of sloth found in Costa Rica -
0:04:06 > 0:04:09two-toed and three-toed.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11You actually arrived at a really good time,
0:04:11 > 0:04:12because I need to feed them.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14(Oh, you're a good boy!)
0:04:14 > 0:04:16This is amazing! OK... OK, now, how do I hold this guy?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18So, he might pinch you... OK, that's fine.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20I'll try and keep him on your shirt.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Oh, my God! Be gentle.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23This is incredible.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The first time I've seen a sloth,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27first time holding a sloth.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I mean, it's just magical.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35This is Locket, a seven-month-old three-toed sloth.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39He was found alone on the ground, just a few hours old.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Hello!
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Hey!
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Sam believes his mum lost her grip and fell from a tree.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52You're really interested in my fingers, aren't you?
0:04:52 > 0:04:53My hands. Here you go, look.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54There you go.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57Come here!
0:04:57 > 0:05:01But I'm actually here to meet Locket's best friend.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04This is the famous Monster.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08She actually came in when she was about two weeks old.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Wow. Now she's a year and a half old.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14She was actually found trying to cross the street all by herself -
0:05:14 > 0:05:16I mean, she was probably half the size Locket is now.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Tiny little ball of fur, and she was crying and crying and crying,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21looking for her mom,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24and somebody found her and realised, "OK, this is a baby sloth,
0:05:24 > 0:05:25"they need help."
0:05:26 > 0:05:30It's thought that her mum may have been hit by a car.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33The very first night that she was here,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36she was inconsolable. She was so traumatised that she lost her mom,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39she was screaming and crying and climbing the curtains -
0:05:39 > 0:05:42there was, like, literally nothing I could do to calm her down,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44and I didn't sleep a wink...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46and then, one of the other volunteers,
0:05:46 > 0:05:47I saw them the next morning,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50and they were like, "How's the new baby sloth?"
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and I was like, "This sloth is a monster!"
0:05:52 > 0:05:54That's how she got her name?! That's how she got her name!
0:05:54 > 0:05:57It was, obviously... I mean, she's a perfect angel now.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01In the wild, three-toed sloths like Monster
0:06:01 > 0:06:04become independent between six and nine months old,
0:06:04 > 0:06:09so it's time for her to break her bond with Sam and be released.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12So, you've known her the whole of her life, at least. Mm-hm.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Mm-hm, yeah. We're very close.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16She's my soul mate.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19At the moment, she still relies on Sam for everything,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22including the special goats' milk formula,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24the closest match to the real thing.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28So, she's a little behind where, you know,
0:06:28 > 0:06:29someone her age in the wild would be.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32She needs to be given a little tough love
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and pushed towards independence.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38But before Monster goes back to the wild,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Sam needs to make sure she can survive on her own.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45So, now that Monster is graduating from the nursery,
0:06:45 > 0:06:50she will be entering into the boot camp phase of her rehabilitation.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Boot camp is survival training for the wild,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59tailored by Sam for sloths.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Sloth boot camp is basically just going to provide Monster
0:07:02 > 0:07:07with the chance to practise being in and living in the wild.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09She will practise climbing on trees,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11she'll practise being alone for periods of time,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14she'll practise being in different weather conditions,
0:07:14 > 0:07:15listening to predators -
0:07:15 > 0:07:18everything, basically, that she needs to know
0:07:18 > 0:07:19to be successful living in the wild.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Until now, Sam has only been able to release sloths rescued as adults,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28who already have the skills to survive.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Being able to release hand-raised babies would be a breakthrough.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39The nursery is home to five little orphans,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43and Sam has to work around the clock to be their surrogate mum.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's late at night - this is when you're meant to be asleep.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I'm lucky if I get maybe five hours in a night.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52That's a good night.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55On a good night? Mm-hm. Don't you feel exhausted? Er, yes.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Most sloths are active after dark,
0:07:57 > 0:08:02but two-toed, like Elvis and Bruno, are almost entirely nocturnal.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04TRICKLING Oh, I think he's peeing.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Oh, he's peeing.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Oh, my God, he's peeing on the floor right now! Look at that!
0:08:09 > 0:08:15Sloths do everything slowly - including digesting their food...
0:08:15 > 0:08:18and two-toed sloths can lose a third of their body weight
0:08:18 > 0:08:20when going to the toilet.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Thank you! I'll help.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I'll be a nice house guest.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Argh!
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Elvis looks so proud of himself, too. I'm sure he does!
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Well... It smells, doesn't it?
0:08:32 > 0:08:34TRICKLING Ugh!
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Oh, no, come on!
0:08:37 > 0:08:41I've just finished! Oh, shoot, it's...!
0:08:41 > 0:08:43THEY LAUGH
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Are you serious?!
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Look at his face. Oh, my God!
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Look at his face, look how content that little face is.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50Why are they so proud of themselves?!
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Look, both of them are doing it!
0:08:52 > 0:08:55One's peeing out that way, and one's peeing directly down.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Oh, my goodness.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Look how small they are - that's how much... That's like human-size pee!
0:09:02 > 0:09:04You better be glad you're cute.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10You bad boy.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Do you want to hold him while I clean the rest up? Yeah!
0:09:15 > 0:09:16Wow!
0:09:16 > 0:09:22This is basically...pretty much just like looking after real babies.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27This gig is 24/7, nonstop.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29When you see them all grown up, and they're safe,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32and they're ready to be released into the wild,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34does it make it all worth it?
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Yeah.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Yes!
0:09:37 > 0:09:39SIGHS: Eyes on the prize.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41They will get there, they will grow up,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and they'll stop pooping and peeing in my house.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Sam's hope for all her babies, two-toed and three-toed,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52rests on Monster.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Training starts in the morning...
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Argh!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59..so everyone needs to get some sleep.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Sam, this is a madhouse.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02This is my life.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Around 8,000 miles away, in southern Africa,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17I'm off to meet an animal that most of us don't realise is in trouble.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Africa is a land of giants,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26home to our planet's most iconic beasts,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28but habitat loss and poaching
0:10:28 > 0:10:32mean that many of these animals are under threat...
0:10:37 > 0:10:40..even the lion, king of the African savanna,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43is teetering on the edge.
0:10:43 > 0:10:51In the last 21 years, Africa has lost over 40% of its wild lions.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Africa simply wouldn't be Africa without its lions,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00so I've come here to Zimbabwe to meet two young cubs
0:11:00 > 0:11:03that are part of a pioneering scheme
0:11:03 > 0:11:07to safeguard their species' survival.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15This is Antelope Park, a lion conservation programme in Zimbabwe.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Over 100 lions have been successfully bred here
0:11:21 > 0:11:25by a team headed up by manager Leigh Anne Webb.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29A lot of these lions I've actually raised, and I've watched grow up,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33and they all - each individual lion here is very important to me.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37With the lion population dwindling all across Africa,
0:11:37 > 0:11:43Leigh believes that her lions could be an insurance policy.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48If numbers continue to fall, they could help repopulate the wild.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52This programme is possibly the future for Africa's lions.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Leigh's latest hope rests on two siblings.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Africa and Alika are two very important cubs in our programme.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They are nine months old at the moment.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Africa's the little boy...
0:12:09 > 0:12:12..and Alika's the little girl.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13You can try.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14You're too heavy!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Leigh hand-raised them from a very young age.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Their future is to join a pride in a huge protected enclosure.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30They'll end up in a semi-wild environment,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32where they'll be able to hunt and reproduce
0:12:32 > 0:12:33and have cubs of their own.
0:12:33 > 0:12:40But first, these hand-raised cubs need to learn how to be predators.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Yeah, they can't wait!
0:12:42 > 0:12:48Every day, Leigh takes them outside their enclosure onto the savanna.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50THEY LAUGH
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Come, Alika, come!
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Alika! It's OK, girlie. Come.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56So, Leigh...
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Leigh's their surrogate mum, and it's her job to teach them
0:12:59 > 0:13:03a lot of the skills that they would be taught by their own mother
0:13:03 > 0:13:07and their own pride, if they were wild-born lions.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10So, right now, she's trying to encourage them
0:13:10 > 0:13:12into doing a bit of stalking.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Oh, here we go!
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Just like a big kitten.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Young and inexperienced, they still have a lot to learn about hunting.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24At this age, they wouldn't be partaking in any hunts -
0:13:24 > 0:13:26they would just ruin it, pretty much! Yeah, yeah.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30It's just that childish enthusiasm! It is, yeah!
0:13:33 > 0:13:38In a lion pride, females like Alika do up to 90% of the hunting -
0:13:38 > 0:13:40but young males in bachelor groups
0:13:40 > 0:13:43may also have to fend for themselves.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Yeah, I think Africa's caught it!
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Come on, babies! Come on!
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Today, the cubs will be practising a vital skill -
0:13:54 > 0:13:56climbing.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58This is known as our pride rock.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Lions need to get up high to spot prey on the savanna.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Try and see if Africa and Alika will go up. You going to climb, baby?
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Come on!
0:14:07 > 0:14:10So, if she comes up, I'll give the stick to you,
0:14:10 > 0:14:11and then...
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Good girl!
0:14:17 > 0:14:18What's going on, Alika?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22OK, do you want to come and take over from here? OK.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Just hold the stick right at the end... Yeah.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26..and then try and lure it up... OK.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28..so that you can come all the way up.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Ooh! Oops. Broken it.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33LIONS ROAR IN DISTANCE
0:14:35 > 0:14:37That's the sound of lions.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Her instinct has taken over,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42and she's gone to the top of the rock,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44where she's got a vantage point,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46to try and see where that noise is coming from.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47That's fantastic.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Lion roars can travel up to five miles.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Look how alert she is up there.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Alika can hear one of Antelope Park's prides.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02There's a lot of advantages to being a good climber, if you're a lion.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05If you can get up high, you can see what's going on.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09It's nice and cool up there, and there's also less flies about,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13so, altogether, it's a very good survival skill.
0:15:13 > 0:15:14Come on, boy.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Now it's Africa's turn.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Come on, be a big, brave boy.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Don't get shown up by your sister.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25It's embarrassing for you.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Male lions are the heaviest of all the African cats,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34so they're not naturally the best climbers.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Come on, up you go. Up!
0:15:36 > 0:15:37Up, up, up!
0:15:39 > 0:15:40SHE LAUGHS
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It takes a lot of encouragement from his surrogate pride.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Almost there, Africa, just a little bit more. There you go.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Oh, there he goes!
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Good boy!
0:15:54 > 0:15:56That's fantastic. That's Africa now at the top.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59He definitely doesn't look as sure-footed as his sister, though -
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and is that normal with males and females? It is.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Because the females will have to climb up trees
0:16:04 > 0:16:06to get vantage points, like you said,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09to see if there's game in the area - males don't usually climb that much.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12With their weight and everything, trying to climb up a tree,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14especially with their big manes, it's quite hard,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16whereas with the females, it's easier,
0:16:16 > 0:16:17because they're a lot more agile
0:16:17 > 0:16:19and a lot more smaller than the males. Yeah.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Ooh!
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Now the cubs have practised finding prey,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26their next challenge will be to try and hunt it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Just so they don't start stalking us too much,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33it's time we got them home to bed.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Come, Alika. Bedtime.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37Slowly, slowly, slowly.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39THEY LAUGH
0:16:39 > 0:16:44Africa and Alika's training is off to an energetic start.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48In Costa Rica in Central America,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51it's a slightly more sedate pace in the nursery.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57The sloth babies are doing what they do best.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59Best play face.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00Playing...
0:17:04 > 0:17:05..sleeping...
0:17:09 > 0:17:12..and tucking in to wild leaves that Sam has collected...
0:17:15 > 0:17:18..but Monster's days of having food delivered are over.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21She'll have to work for her breakfast in boot camp.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23We're just going to throw her into the deep end,
0:17:23 > 0:17:27and see how she reacts to it. Pretty much!
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Today will be full of new experiences for Monster...
0:17:34 > 0:17:38..starting with her journey into the forest in a car.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52The first challenge is an assault course,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55where Monster must find her own food.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00We've got basically everything we need.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01We just need to put it up.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04I'm a bit of a novice at building boot camps for sloths.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06OK!
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Um...well, it'd be great to connect these two trees,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11so if you want to get over here...
0:18:11 > 0:18:16OK. ..and stick the rope up there, that would be a good start.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Go for the inner cowboy.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19There you go!
0:18:21 > 0:18:24It's a big moment for Monster - and Sam.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27She needs to make sure this area is totally safe.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31So, I'm just doing a quick search around for snakes.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35I like to make sure I've removed as many dangers as possible.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39We've actually lost a sloth from a snakebite.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Pelota, who was actually the first sloth that I ever took care of.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52Six months ago, Pelota was also in training for a return to the wild...
0:18:52 > 0:18:54when tragedy struck.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02She was, you know, in the home stretch before being released,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and a terciopelo, one of the most dangerous snakes in Costa Rica -
0:19:05 > 0:19:09it's very venomous - climbed up a tree and bit her.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Killed her pretty quickly, actually.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Did you have a long night?
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Was it scary?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Mommy's here.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23It made me want to give up.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25I mean, it was just like, "Really?"
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Like, you know, she'd been through so much already.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40Despite the sad loss of Pelota, Sam's more determined than ever.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Boot camp is very important,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45because Monster needs to practise all her normal behaviours,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49so that way, when she is in situations that are dangerous,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52she has a better chance, because she is, you know...
0:19:52 > 0:19:57she's not just this ignorant little sloth struggling to make do,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00she, you know, has well-honed skills
0:20:00 > 0:20:04that hopefully see her through all the hard times.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Being able to find her own food is the best start.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13These hibiscus flowers are like sloth chocolate...
0:20:15 > 0:20:18..and, because of a special enzyme in Monster's saliva,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20melt in her mouth.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I think Monster thinks we're taking too long! She's ready to get going.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Right, we'll hang the last couple of flowers...
0:20:26 > 0:20:28She might eat them all before we're done!
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Hopefully not - let's get these up.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34But reaching them will test her climbing skills.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37We've suspended them from a clothes hanger.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40I mean, it may be made for socks, but it's perfect for Monster.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46She's wasting no time, is she?! She's so ready.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49Hey, well done!
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Oh! She's moving.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58This is pretty fast for Monster.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Flat out, sloths can cover between three and five metres per minute.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06Yeah, she didn't waste any time.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13They have poor vision, so they rely on smell and touch to find food.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17This set-up is actually really good
0:21:17 > 0:21:19for Monster, not only to look for food,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21but, in order to eat this,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24she's going to have to hang upside down and reach for flowers
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and that makes her practice natural postures
0:21:27 > 0:21:30that she would exhibit while she's in the wild,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32and it would build her muscles -
0:21:32 > 0:21:34and look, she's upside down!
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Good job, Monster!
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Her diet usually just consists of flowers and leaves,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43which aren't that rich in nutrients,
0:21:43 > 0:21:48so that's why they're usually very slow - it conserves energy.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Sloths have a slow metabolism and low body temperature,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55helping them to be extremely energy-efficient.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Does it surprise you how strong sloths are?
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It does, because they have the lowest muscle mass of any mammal,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03so they're not starting off with the building blocks
0:22:03 > 0:22:06to be these extremely strong creatures,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09but they are - what they have, they use really well,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and the things they can do with their body is amazing -
0:22:12 > 0:22:14I wish I could move like a sloth!
0:22:19 > 0:22:22It's kind of crazy - she's only hanging from one leg, there,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25but she's still able to eat all those flowers
0:22:25 > 0:22:27without any problem at all.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Elongated claws hook over branches,
0:22:32 > 0:22:36taking the strain of spending 90% of their life upside down.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Flexible joints allow a wide range of movement,
0:22:44 > 0:22:49and some species can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Sam, she's completely off the ropes, and well into the trees -
0:23:05 > 0:23:07is this good news?
0:23:07 > 0:23:08Oh, yeah.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09That's great news,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13because - I mean, everything that she's touching right now is natural,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16and she's super relaxed.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I mean, her body posture is totally open, she...
0:23:19 > 0:23:22I mean, she looks really good up there.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34Monster doing well in boot camp is a huge thing for the other babies,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37because she is the first three-toed to go through boot camp,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40so she really is leading the way.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42She needs to do well, or -
0:23:42 > 0:23:44you know, then what do we do with the other babies?
0:23:44 > 0:23:46We don't really have a plan for them.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50From here on in, Monster's lessons only get harder.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Eh?
0:23:57 > 0:24:01At Antelope Park, Africa and Alika are resting.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Look at the size of that paw! Look at that!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Yeah! It's big, isn't it, sir?
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Wow!
0:24:12 > 0:24:17Lions actually sleep more than sloths - up to 20 hours a day.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It helps conserve energy for hunting,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22and that is the cubs' next challenge.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Big paws for taking down big animals.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36In the wild, the cubs wouldn't start hunting for another few months...
0:24:42 > 0:24:45'..so, we're building some animals
0:24:45 > 0:24:47'that may be a little easier to catch...'
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Never done this before, clearly! Sorry.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52'..but they need to be convincing.'
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Believe it or not, this is going to be a giraffe.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58The all-important...
0:24:58 > 0:25:00breakfast.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01Horns, OK.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04This is a decoy giraffe,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06and this is filled with meat -
0:25:06 > 0:25:10and, hopefully, Africa and Alika are going to want to hunt that.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14With the help of lion handler Ticha,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17we're making a herd of... passable savanna animals.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22I'm very impressed by your craft skills, Ticha.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Wow!
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Africa, Alika!
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Come on, babies, come!
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Come on!
0:25:29 > 0:25:30Come, lions.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31Africa's already picked up
0:25:31 > 0:25:33that there's something different on the route.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35He's a little bit wary of it at the moment -
0:25:35 > 0:25:37he was actually calling to it just now -
0:25:37 > 0:25:40but he's starting to make his way in slowly, just to see what it is.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43They're sniffing around.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46They can tell there's meat here somewhere.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Lions' sense of smell is good,
0:25:50 > 0:25:54but their sharp eyes and hearing help hone in on their prey.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02It's interesting, because they're approaching it from behind,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04cos they know the scary bit's in the front, where the ears are.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Cos when they do come across game, especially with zebras,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10they'll sometimes bite the cubs, and they use their front hooves
0:26:10 > 0:26:13to actually kick them, so it's good that they're going behind.
0:26:13 > 0:26:19In the wild, lions regularly go days between meals.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22If Africa and Alika want their lunch,
0:26:22 > 0:26:27first they must take on these strange-looking beasts.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31But Alika's now... Now she's picked up on the giraffe decoy. Yeah.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33OK, come, babies! Oh, look!
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Come on, boy.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37'When a pride hunt together,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41'they are one of the most successful of the big cats...'
0:26:41 > 0:26:42They can smell that - can't you?
0:26:42 > 0:26:44That smells good, doesn't it?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46OK, Africa!
0:26:46 > 0:26:50'..making a kill about one in every three to five attempts.'
0:26:50 > 0:26:52That's it! Well done!
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So, that was impressive from Alika - she properly brought it down,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02so she deserves what's inside.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Even though Alika hunted it, just like in the wild,
0:27:06 > 0:27:11it's Africa, the male, who steps in to claim the Lion's share.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Usually the dominant boy will have...
0:27:13 > 0:27:15he'll usually grab the whole kill for himself
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and stand there, or sit there, and growl,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and the rest of the boys will make their way in really slowly.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Because males are not willing to share -
0:27:21 > 0:27:23females are a lot more willing to share when it comes to food.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25When lions feast,
0:27:25 > 0:27:30males can eat up to 15% of their body weight in a sitting.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Their behaviour changes a lot when they have meat -
0:27:32 > 0:27:36they go from a cute, cuddly little lion to this savage beast.
0:27:36 > 0:27:37So, it's good to see,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40they're really possessive, aren't they, over their food?
0:27:40 > 0:27:41And that's really important, isn't it?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44It is, it's very important, because when we put them into a pride, now,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and when he's moving to the next stage,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50he needs to be possessive and dominant over his food,
0:27:50 > 0:27:51because, if he's not,
0:27:51 > 0:27:53the other lions will just come in and steal food from him.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56So, it's actually really, really good that he's possessive like this.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02It's incredibly heartening to see how hand-reared cubs
0:28:02 > 0:28:07can have their wild instincts ignited by a straw giraffe,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10and it's these kinds of behaviours
0:28:10 > 0:28:14that are going to be absolutely crucial for their survival,
0:28:14 > 0:28:19and, ultimately, the survival of Africa's wild lions.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Africa and Alika will soon join a pride,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27and Leigh hopes they'll start families of their own.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31It brings a tear to my eye, sometimes,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33because it's just amazing to watch them grow,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and to see them go from such a tiny little cub
0:28:36 > 0:28:38to an amazing, superb hunter.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42And if they continue to progress,
0:28:42 > 0:28:47Leigh thinks they could help ensure the survival of their species.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Proud mum moment? Yeah, definitely!
0:29:00 > 0:29:04In Costa Rica, Monster has been reunited with her best friend Locket
0:29:04 > 0:29:08for a late-night feed from their surrogate mum Sam.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Feeding two sloths at one time cuts feeding time in half,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17and I need that time to do other things.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Like sleep.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24But rescuing sloths is a 24-hour business.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29'A woman called and said she'd seen a sloth on its back on the ground.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:31OK.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33A call's come in, and there's a baby in trouble.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37We're going to go check it out and see if we can help it.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40THUNDER RUMBLES
0:29:42 > 0:29:45This could really be a life-or-death situation. Oh, yeah.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47We need to get there really fast.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54Oh, my gosh.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Oh, the arm is messed up.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59It was found on the ground by a bunch of dogs,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01and the dogs were barking,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03and it looks like it has a broken arm.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05The dogs could definitely have attacked it -
0:30:05 > 0:30:08which means it could have other, internal injuries.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10It'll probably need surgery.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11And back to the centre.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Sloths only climb down from the safety of the trees
0:30:16 > 0:30:20to go to the toilet or to cross roads that cut through the forest.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24This is when they're at risk from being hit by cars
0:30:24 > 0:30:26or attacked by dogs.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29I guess that you think you're going to find, like, a baby sloth,
0:30:29 > 0:30:31and it's just going to be on someone's doorstep -
0:30:31 > 0:30:34the reality is that the situation's completely different.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36It's a young juvenile,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39so hopefully it's not going to have lost heat
0:30:39 > 0:30:41as quickly as if it was a baby...
0:30:41 > 0:30:42There's one on the wires.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44What? Where? What?
0:30:44 > 0:30:45There's one on the elec... or the wires -
0:30:45 > 0:30:47it might be the telephone wires.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49Oh, what, hanging there?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Is it OK?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57The team have spotted a sloth in danger.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01It's hanging on telephone wires
0:31:01 > 0:31:03just inches from high voltage power lines.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09This is one of the main killers of sloths - uninsulated wires.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Sloths climb onto these cables from overhanging trees,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16mistaking them for jungle vines.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18As soon as it touches the next wire on top,
0:31:18 > 0:31:22which is literally about a foot away from the wires below...
0:31:22 > 0:31:24I mean, it's a goner.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Yeah, it seems like there's always something.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Yeah, it's like - whether it's a dog attack, or electrocution,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33or hit by a car - I mean, it's just...
0:31:33 > 0:31:36It's raining injured sloths, it seems like.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40They live amongst these dangers. It's impossible to avoid it 100%.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42How are we going to get it down?
0:31:42 > 0:31:45We're trying to call the national electric company to see
0:31:45 > 0:31:46if they can come and get it down.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49HE SPEAKS SPANISH
0:31:49 > 0:31:52He said that, as soon as one of the trucks is available,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54he's going to send it here. OK.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Well, at least they know - that's the main thing. Yeah.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57They know about it.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00With a specially-trained team from the electric company en route
0:32:00 > 0:32:03to rescue this marooned sloth, Sam's priority
0:32:03 > 0:32:06is to get the other injured sloth back to the centre
0:32:06 > 0:32:08for emergency treatment.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Hey. Hey. I've been trying to keep it warm.
0:32:15 > 0:32:16Hey, Pia.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Pia Martin, the centre's vet, gets straight to work...
0:32:20 > 0:32:22but initial signs aren't good.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26I don't hear anything.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Oh, God...
0:32:30 > 0:32:34What do you think this sloth's chances are right now?
0:32:34 > 0:32:39Not good at all. I mean, these dog attacks are usually really bad.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44I am just getting some oxygen ready,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47just to see if it helps.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53The sloth's heartbeat is so weak it can't be detected.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Pia switches to a hi-tech heartbeat monitor,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00hoping to find the faintest signs of life.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Do you think there's anything that we can do for this sloth?
0:33:11 > 0:33:13No, I don't think so.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15I couldn't hear a heartbeat.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17I think that he's dying.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19So, the only thing that we can do is try...
0:33:21 > 0:33:26..to help him...die peacefully. Yeah.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30I mean, Pia and Sam have done everything that they can,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34and, unfortunately, they've called it - the sloth has died,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and there's nothing we can really do about that.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41This is the reality of what it takes to look after these animals,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43and to run a rehabilitation centre.
0:33:43 > 0:33:48I imagine that Sam and the rest of the team go through highs and lows,
0:33:48 > 0:33:50and it's those few animals they can save,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54that they can rescue, rehabilitate and finally release into the wild,
0:33:54 > 0:33:58and that's what keeps them going, and that's why they do this.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Last night was really tough...
0:34:12 > 0:34:13..but it was a reminder
0:34:13 > 0:34:16of what these orphans have already been through.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Sam and the team are even more determined
0:34:21 > 0:34:24that Monster's training is successful,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27so that every one of these sloths
0:34:27 > 0:34:30has a chance to return to their wild home.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40On the other side of the world, in Zimbabwe,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43saving African cats is a priority
0:34:43 > 0:34:47for many of the country's rescue centres...
0:34:47 > 0:34:50and each centre has its own unique approach -
0:34:50 > 0:34:53from big conservation projects like Leigh's
0:34:53 > 0:34:56to rescuing individual animals in trouble.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06Five hours' drive from Antelope Park is Twala Wildlife Sanctuary.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12It's run by Sarah Carter and her vet husband Vinay.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Oh, Ben. I know.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19I know. Hey.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21They rescue cats that have been injured,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24badly treated or abandoned...
0:35:26 > 0:35:28from lions...
0:35:28 > 0:35:29to domestic moggies.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Tiger-lily, Tiger-lily!
0:35:31 > 0:35:34No, no, no, that's not your bottle.
0:35:34 > 0:35:41Twala was created for animals who are unwanted, who are damaged,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44who have had a terrible life.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46Harriet! Breakfast!
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Harriet, a wildcat called a serval,
0:35:49 > 0:35:53is one of Sarah's long-term patients.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55You want your breakfast?
0:35:55 > 0:35:56Hmm? You hungry?
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Well, come. Let's go. Come, we can't eat here.
0:35:59 > 0:36:00Good girl. Keiko!
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Fully grown, Harriet will be twice the length of a housecat -
0:36:03 > 0:36:11but she is a perfect predator, agile and acrobatic.
0:36:11 > 0:36:12Let's go.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14Let's go, let's go. Come. Come.
0:36:17 > 0:36:18Harriet is almost a year.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21So, we got her when she was three weeks old.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23I mean, she was about that big.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27She was found on the side of a really busy road
0:36:27 > 0:36:28coming out of Harare.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33She had a broken pelvis and a broken left back leg,
0:36:33 > 0:36:35and she couldn't walk -
0:36:35 > 0:36:38she used to pull herself along on her front feet.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Sarah wasn't sure if Harriet would ever walk again,
0:36:42 > 0:36:46but after surgery, physio and a year of intensive care,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49she's made a miraculous recovery,
0:36:49 > 0:36:53and has now joined other orphans being cared for at Twala.
0:36:53 > 0:36:54One for you, Smudgy...
0:36:55 > 0:36:56..and one for you.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01You want some? Now that everyone else is having.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Sarah doesn't stop at rescuing cats -
0:37:07 > 0:37:10she finds a home for any animal.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Many are too badly injured to go back to the wild.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20When we first had the idea of Twala,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I don't think that we planned
0:37:22 > 0:37:25on having this diverse menagerie of animals,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28but it's just evolved like that,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31and it was always something that we dreamt of,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35and something that we worked towards for a very, very long time.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Sarah's even turned her own house into a nursery,
0:37:40 > 0:37:44which is home to this very unconventional family.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46There's always somebody doing something,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48and it's normally something they shouldn't be doing.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55I always say that Twala is not based on science -
0:37:55 > 0:37:56it's based on love.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00The animals that are in my care
0:38:00 > 0:38:02are with me because they've been orphaned.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06If we can use another animal to make up for that loss,
0:38:06 > 0:38:10even if it's not with another animal that you might have thought of,
0:38:10 > 0:38:14and it works, then that's something that I'm all for.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Skittles, the baby duiker, is over there,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21giving his surrogate mum, Layla, a hard time.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24It's so funny, cos when we rescued Skittles,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28he was so traumatised, cos he'd been really badly handled by people,
0:38:28 > 0:38:30and it's just - in about the last two weeks,
0:38:30 > 0:38:34he suddenly got this personality, and he's just so great.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Pairing Skittles with a surrogate mum
0:38:36 > 0:38:38has really brought him out of his shell...
0:38:38 > 0:38:40Oh, there he goes!
0:38:42 > 0:38:45..and it's even more important for social animals
0:38:45 > 0:38:48like Horace the vervet monkey.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52In the wild, he would be part of a troop,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55so surrogate siblings like Ginger the cat...
0:38:55 > 0:38:59and Keiko the dog are important for his development...
0:38:59 > 0:39:00whether they like it or not.
0:39:10 > 0:39:11But, at a year old,
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Harriet is starting to outgrow her friends in the nursery.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18Her natural instincts as a predator are developing.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24She's started to play too rough with Keiko...
0:39:26 > 0:39:29..and has even started stalking Horace...
0:39:31 > 0:39:32..and Skittles.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Harriet's getting more and more confident every day,
0:39:36 > 0:39:37which is lovely to see.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42It's now my job to widen her world for her.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Harriet has spent her whole life
0:39:44 > 0:39:47within the confines of the house and garden,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50but Sarah has built her a new enclosure
0:39:50 > 0:39:53in over one hectare of wild grassland.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Her life is going to change.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59I am nervous, because, for a long time,
0:39:59 > 0:40:03I was there for whatever she needed and to keep her safe.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08Now that she is so much better, she's ready to move on.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Harriet has made an enormous amount of progress
0:40:11 > 0:40:13towards being self-sufficient -
0:40:13 > 0:40:17but she still has to prove she can hunt for herself.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23We're back in the jungle, continuing Monster's training.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Today, I'm going to help Sam teach her a brand-new skill.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34For the first time, we're taking her for swimming lessons.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36It's definitely important that she knows how to swim,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39because, once she's out there in the forest on her own,
0:40:39 > 0:40:40I'm not there to help her,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and the last thing I want is for her to drown.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47In the wild, sloths are surprisingly strong swimmers,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50moving better in the water than they can crawl on land.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56They can even hold their breath underwater for up to 40 minutes.
0:41:01 > 0:41:02During the rainy season,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05parts of the forest floor become flooded,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and the only way to move between the trees and find food
0:41:08 > 0:41:11is through the water.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13I've got you! THEY LAUGH
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Are you ready?
0:41:16 > 0:41:19I mean, she's definitely on, kind of, alert, you know?
0:41:19 > 0:41:20She knows she's in a new area.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I hope this doesn't mean she'll try and get away from the water.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25There's only one way to find out.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Hey, let's go for it. Fingers crossed!
0:41:28 > 0:41:29Are you ready?
0:41:29 > 0:41:30OK. OK.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Baby sloths may take their first dip in the water
0:41:35 > 0:41:38whilst clinging to the safety of their mums...
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Are you scared?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Hmm? Want to swim?
0:41:44 > 0:41:46She could swim off now, if she wanted to.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Sloths' hair is especially adapted
0:41:51 > 0:41:55to keep rain and even river water away from the skin.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56You can do it.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59She seems like she's reluctant.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00She looks like she's just...
0:42:00 > 0:42:01HE GASPS Oh, she's going to...
0:42:02 > 0:42:05There she goes - actually, she's going.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Her natural instinct to swim is kicking in -
0:42:08 > 0:42:11but she's not quite ready to take the plunge.
0:42:11 > 0:42:12HE LAUGHS
0:42:15 > 0:42:16She's using your head as a raft.
0:42:16 > 0:42:17Come on.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20But with Sam supporting her body weight...
0:42:22 > 0:42:25This might be the moment we see...
0:42:25 > 0:42:28this sloth swim for the very first time!
0:42:30 > 0:42:31HE LAUGHS
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Wow! Good girlie!
0:42:37 > 0:42:41That is remarkable!
0:42:48 > 0:42:50HE LAUGHS
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Good job! She seems so much more at home in the water
0:42:55 > 0:42:58than she would, like, on the ground.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00She's doing well.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02She's keeping her head up...
0:43:02 > 0:43:05MONSTER SQUEAKS Hey! Oh, she's scared.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08So, that... She just cried. ..that whistle, that... Yeah.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12Was that her crying? Mm-hm. OK. Yeah, she's scared.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14But the good thing is that she seems to be swimming,
0:43:14 > 0:43:17knows how to swim, she's just unfamiliar with... She definitely...
0:43:17 > 0:43:19..the water. Yeah. She definitely knows how.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21I just don't think she wants to any more!
0:43:21 > 0:43:25But she did it. You did so well, Monster, well done!
0:43:25 > 0:43:26Good job!
0:43:28 > 0:43:30It's still baby steps for Monster,
0:43:30 > 0:43:33but she has surpassed all expectations.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38All that she needs, really, is time and practice,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42and that's going to come about, because Sam is really dedicated.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45Sometimes, when they're learning survival skills
0:43:45 > 0:43:47that they'll need in the wild,
0:43:47 > 0:43:49I mean, it's not always things that they'll enjoy.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52I guess it's all part of her path to getting rehabilitated
0:43:52 > 0:43:53and back into the wild.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56Just one of the parts of the learning experience.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00The final challenge for Monster will be spending a night
0:44:00 > 0:44:02without Sam in the forest...
0:44:05 > 0:44:09..but, for now, she can enjoy the comfort of her surrogate mum's arms.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19In Zimbabwe,
0:44:19 > 0:44:23Harriet could be about to get her first taste of freedom
0:44:23 > 0:44:25in a new wild enclosure -
0:44:25 > 0:44:27but she has one final test.
0:44:31 > 0:44:35In the wild, servals have an aerial hunting strategy
0:44:35 > 0:44:38to pounce on small but speedy prey like mice...
0:44:40 > 0:44:44..and can leap three metres into the air to catch birds in flight.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48Before any predator can fend for itself,
0:44:48 > 0:44:51it needs to hone its hunting skills,
0:44:51 > 0:44:53and for any young animal - whoo! -
0:44:53 > 0:44:57the best way to do that is through play.
0:44:57 > 0:45:02Something Sarah's been encouraging Harriet to do on a daily basis.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06What a clever girl!
0:45:06 > 0:45:08Wow!
0:45:16 > 0:45:17She's very determined.
0:45:20 > 0:45:21Yeah!
0:45:21 > 0:45:25All this play is actually teaching her really useful skills.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28It's also really good exercise for her,
0:45:28 > 0:45:30and it's getting her to use the muscles
0:45:30 > 0:45:32that she would be using if she was hunting.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35Harriet's practice is paying off...
0:45:40 > 0:45:42That was very elegant!
0:45:42 > 0:45:45..and she will soon be ready to put her hunting skills to use
0:45:45 > 0:45:47outside the nursery.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51Horace! Hey, bud!
0:45:51 > 0:45:55Harriet may not be the only orphan whose life is about to change.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Come on!
0:45:57 > 0:46:00Oh, good boy. Here, my darling.
0:46:00 > 0:46:01Hi!
0:46:01 > 0:46:04Horace was rescued about five months ago.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08Just like Harriet, it's thought his mum was hit by a car.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11He was just found sitting by her body.
0:46:11 > 0:46:12He was not even two weeks old.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16He was very traumatised, very dehydrated -
0:46:16 > 0:46:19and he's made a really good recovery,
0:46:19 > 0:46:22and he has created this amazing life for himself at Twala...
0:46:22 > 0:46:26but as much as it's lovely for Horace to have a serval
0:46:26 > 0:46:30and a duiker and a dog and domestic kittens as friends,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32it would be really good for him
0:46:32 > 0:46:34to actually start learning about being a monkey.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37And this could be his big chance -
0:46:37 > 0:46:41another orphan has just arrived at the centre.
0:46:41 > 0:46:42This is Jackie.
0:46:42 > 0:46:46She is also an orphaned vervet.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49A little bit younger than Horace -
0:46:49 > 0:46:52she's probably three and a half months old now.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54What a clever girl.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56Hey?
0:46:56 > 0:46:57Ohh...
0:47:01 > 0:47:05Jackie lost her mum, and is still very traumatised.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10She's going to need lots of love and reassurance,
0:47:10 > 0:47:12but if she can form a relationship with Horace,
0:47:12 > 0:47:16that would also be great for her, because obviously...
0:47:16 > 0:47:20the most comforting thing for her would be to be with another monkey.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Horace!
0:47:24 > 0:47:26Come, babe. Come.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28It's an important meeting.
0:47:28 > 0:47:29Good boy!
0:47:29 > 0:47:33If they get on, Horace will help Jackie become more confident...
0:47:33 > 0:47:37I am right here, Jackie, so you don't need to freak.
0:47:37 > 0:47:38OK?
0:47:38 > 0:47:42We can just do our own thing, OK?
0:47:42 > 0:47:44..and Jackie will teach Horace what it's like
0:47:44 > 0:47:48to play, climb and learn with his own kind.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Hello, Horace, special boy.
0:47:54 > 0:47:55You mustn't be jealous.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58Gently, Jackie - be nice.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00Come on, let's be friends.
0:48:00 > 0:48:01There we go.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04Oh, good girl!
0:48:06 > 0:48:08Oh, good girl. Well done, Horace.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11Yes! And you're being such a gentleman.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13I'm very proud of you.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15They are getting on so well.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19You know, monkeys are into everything,
0:48:19 > 0:48:24and now we have twofold monkeys...
0:48:24 > 0:48:26there's going to be no peace.
0:48:26 > 0:48:31Horace and Jackie can now grow up together here at Twala,
0:48:31 > 0:48:34and Sarah hopes, when they're older,
0:48:34 > 0:48:36they'll join the centre's monkey troop.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39I do my best to teach them what I can,
0:48:39 > 0:48:43but there is no better way for them to learn than from each other.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Sarah strives to give all the animals in her care
0:48:47 > 0:48:51new experiences that make them more independent...
0:48:51 > 0:48:55and it's now Harriet's chance to take a big leap,
0:48:55 > 0:48:57and leave the nursery.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Hey!
0:48:59 > 0:49:01Well, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed -
0:49:01 > 0:49:03I'm not sure how she's feeling!
0:49:03 > 0:49:05She looks completely confident.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07Harriet, come!
0:49:07 > 0:49:09This is the first time that she will have been out of the garden.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11So, this is huge for her,
0:49:11 > 0:49:14and, you know, this is her safe place, it's her haven,
0:49:14 > 0:49:18so we're really taking her out of her comfort zone now.
0:49:20 > 0:49:21There you go!
0:49:28 > 0:49:30OK. It's OK, there's nothing to be scared of.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32Good girl.
0:49:32 > 0:49:36It's a lot wilder than the garden, it's totally natural,
0:49:36 > 0:49:39so this is the perfect place for a serval to be.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43I'm just not sure she's going to think that initially, but I think
0:49:43 > 0:49:45that, once she settles in here, she will absolutely love it,
0:49:45 > 0:49:49because, if she was in the wild, this is where she would be.
0:49:53 > 0:49:57Out here, Harriet can use the hunting skills she's learnt
0:49:57 > 0:49:58for real.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Servals have the longest legs.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13relative to their body size, of any cat.
0:50:13 > 0:50:18It helps Harriet see above tall savanna grass.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22Her natural marking helps her blend in beautifully,
0:50:22 > 0:50:26and her large ears pinpoint prey - even if she can't see it.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30What have you seen?
0:50:30 > 0:50:32What is it, Harriet?
0:50:32 > 0:50:35She's a lot more confident than I thought she would be.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38She's a bit wide-eyed, but, yeah, she's excited -
0:50:38 > 0:50:41I thought she might just find a spot where she felt safe
0:50:41 > 0:50:42and then just lie still,
0:50:42 > 0:50:45but she's all over the place, so that's brilliant.
0:50:45 > 0:50:46Frog!
0:50:48 > 0:50:50It's only a frog, darling.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55Harriet's injured hip is clearly not holding her back.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58Sarah can now bring her here every day
0:50:58 > 0:51:00to experience this new, wilder life.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03It's an amazing feeling.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06It's just - I feel really proud of her.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10She had a very slim chance of survival, when Harriet came to me.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Often I find with animals that it's as much their spirit
0:51:18 > 0:51:22and their personality that will pull them through,
0:51:22 > 0:51:24as, you know, all the care that we give them.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26She was determined, she got a second chance
0:51:26 > 0:51:29and she has made the most of it.
0:51:29 > 0:51:32You've just got to say, "Well done, Harriet."
0:51:43 > 0:51:44In Costa Rica,
0:51:44 > 0:51:48Monster the sloth is also one final step away
0:51:48 > 0:51:50from proving she can survive in the wild.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52Good luck!
0:51:53 > 0:51:57She's going to be facing the rainforest alone - and after dark.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02Sam will only observe from a distance, in a hide.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06RAIN PATTERS
0:52:10 > 0:52:11And it just started raining.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18Being out in the rain is actually good practice for Monster,
0:52:18 > 0:52:20but it can be a problem for sloths.
0:52:20 > 0:52:25Sloths have a hard time regulating their own body temperature.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27Sloths don't have enough muscle to shiver -
0:52:27 > 0:52:31the process by which most mammals' muscles contract and relax,
0:52:31 > 0:52:34producing heat to warm them up.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38They're a little bit more like reptiles,
0:52:38 > 0:52:41in that they use the environment to stay warm,
0:52:41 > 0:52:45and she's just kind of cuddled up, basically trying to stay dry.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54As night falls, Monster faces a new challenge.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Using a night vision camera,
0:52:58 > 0:53:01Sam's watching to see how she reacts.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06It's a whole new ball game.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Many jungle predators hunt after dark,
0:53:09 > 0:53:11and Monster is an easy target
0:53:11 > 0:53:15if she's not in the safety of the tree tops.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Monster is actually...
0:53:17 > 0:53:18very close to the ground.
0:53:18 > 0:53:22I mean, it's pretty important that she finds a higher place to go,
0:53:22 > 0:53:25and more cover.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31It looks like she's coming down.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Wild sloths only come down from the trees about once a week
0:53:37 > 0:53:39to go to the toilet...
0:53:41 > 0:53:43..and Monster has picked a risky time.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47It's such a tense moment for Sam.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55She is very vulnerable on the ground.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59It's kind of scary to see her like this.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Just the thought of a dog being here
0:54:09 > 0:54:11is...petrifying.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14She's kind of on a steep slope, though.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17So, my only concern is if she doesn't...
0:54:17 > 0:54:19if she's not able to climb back up.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28But sure enough, Monster's wild instincts kick in.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Wow! OK, yeah, she's going up.
0:54:41 > 0:54:42Good job, Monster!
0:54:48 > 0:54:49She's doing good.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Monster has tackled the single most dangerous moment
0:55:00 > 0:55:02in a wild sloth's life -
0:55:02 > 0:55:07and she's done it in the dark, and all by herself.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09She's done really well. I'm very proud of her.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13But it's probably time to call it a night,
0:55:13 > 0:55:16so that Monster and I can both get a little bit of sleep.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20Good girl.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22You did so good!
0:55:23 > 0:55:25You were so good!
0:55:33 > 0:55:36So, I'm back at Sam's house to find out how Monster's doing
0:55:36 > 0:55:39after her final boot camp challenge.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44Sam, this is our latest sloth graduate.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47She's looking pretty distinguished today.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51Monster has basically passed every single test I have thrown at her.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53She's almost ready to be released.
0:55:53 > 0:55:54It feels like validation
0:55:54 > 0:55:57for what I've been doing for the past couple of years, you know?
0:55:57 > 0:56:00All this hard work is actually going towards the goal
0:56:00 > 0:56:02of getting them back in the wild.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05She's basically, like, an ambassador for the other sloths.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07I did that!
0:56:07 > 0:56:08Well, she did it too.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11How is that going to make you feel, Sam?
0:56:11 > 0:56:15Leaving Monster to her own devices?
0:56:15 > 0:56:16I can't think about it.
0:56:18 > 0:56:19Look what you're doing!
0:56:28 > 0:56:31If I can just imagine her happy and healthy,
0:56:31 > 0:56:35and with her own little Monsters, then that's all I need,
0:56:35 > 0:56:37and I'm OK with saying goodbye.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39She's a survivor, really, isn't she?
0:56:39 > 0:56:41She IS a survivor, and she's never given up,
0:56:41 > 0:56:43and I'll never give up on her.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48Since I last saw Monster,
0:56:48 > 0:56:51Sam has moved her to a remote patch of forest,
0:56:51 > 0:56:53from where she'll be released.
0:56:55 > 0:57:00Africa and Alika have graduated onto stalking real prey,
0:57:00 > 0:57:03and Harriet continues to practise her hunting
0:57:03 > 0:57:05in her new wild enclosure.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10Next time, I meet Santino, a baby howler monkey...
0:57:12 > 0:57:15..who's about to take his first step back into the wild...
0:57:15 > 0:57:17Hello!
0:57:17 > 0:57:20..but only if he can find his place in a troop.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25And I'm being introduced to Shelly - a young hand-raised cheetah...
0:57:25 > 0:57:27So fast!
0:57:27 > 0:57:30..who must learn to hunt before she can be released.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04This is an amazing place.