0:00:02 > 0:00:05Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets are the victims
0:00:09 > 0:00:12of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18trying to protect and care for them right around the clock.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Today on Animal 24:7...
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Whoa!
0:00:39 > 0:00:45I join one of the most dangerous and unusual horse rescues ever staged in Britain.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49When you see them all in here, you get a feeling for the power
0:00:49 > 0:00:53of the horseflesh, the muscle and the weight of them. Got to be so careful.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56In at the deep end -
0:00:56 > 0:01:00the rescuers being given the bird by an injured swan.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Do you want to go for the direct-catch approach
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and get both of us in there?
0:01:05 > 0:01:07KNOCKING
0:01:07 > 0:01:12There's one than one surprise in store for another RSPCA inspector.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Ooh, it's quite big, whatever it is.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Animal rescues are rarely straightforward
0:01:24 > 0:01:27but today, I'm in Scotland to be involved in one of the toughest.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Somewhere in this landscape are over 100 horses
0:01:30 > 0:01:35that have been running wild and pretty much uncared for, for years.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39The problem is, they're now suffering. They need to be helped,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41they need to be treated. But in order to do that,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43they first need to be caught.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53This is Morayshire, in the north-east of Scotland -
0:01:53 > 0:01:58a haven for wildlife, it's one of the harshest environments for keeping farm animals.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But today, dozens of experts from the charity World Horse Welfare
0:02:05 > 0:02:09are staging an extraordinary rescue mission.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16The operation will involve more than 20 vets and will be coordinated
0:02:16 > 0:02:18by Eileen Gillen.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22It's all in response to a cry for help from a farmer
0:02:22 > 0:02:23who can no longer cope.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28We're here today because we have a situation
0:02:28 > 0:02:31where we have herds of wild ponies.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33The farmer knew himself he was in trouble.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37He actually loves his ponies but it's totally got out of hand,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41so therefore we decided that maybe we should stop, or curb,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44the breeding as much as we possibly can.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45This is where we are today.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48If the herds were to continue for a few more years,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52a, you will be possibly doubling the amount of ponies
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and this year, we will have around 103.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59But you will be actually straining on the genetic pool
0:02:59 > 0:03:01and that is a big major welfare concern.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Field officer Jim Maxwell first discovered there was a problem 12 months ago.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11It's taken much of the past year to plan today's operation.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Jim's all too aware of the risks which a wild horse can pose
0:03:15 > 0:03:17if it's penned in.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21It can rear, kick, they'll never have had anaesthetic before
0:03:21 > 0:03:24so that is going to be a risk.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29We just don't know so we need to be ready for every, er, possibility
0:03:29 > 0:03:31that might happen.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35This unique operation is all about stopping inbreeding.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39There are fears some of these horses are suffering from genetic disorders
0:03:39 > 0:03:45and unless action is taken, they'll continue to pass the defects on to future generations.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48So the team from the Royal Veterinary School in Edinburgh
0:03:48 > 0:03:51must castrate all the males, and to do this,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55they've built their very own hospital at the farm.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00This purpose-built corridor is a veterinary production line.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04It's got to be tough cos some of these animals weigh close to half a tonne.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07As they come through here, they'll get an injection for sedation.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12Then at this point, they get split up, one at a time,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15they come through here, get divided into males and females.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19That's when the real operations begin.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24It's the moment of truth, as the first horses are rounded up.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27A group of ten are ushered towards the operating area,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30through specially built fences.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32So far, so good.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Up close, their size and power is obvious.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40And they're not afraid to charge if they feel threatened.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45At the third attempt, the stallion leads his family
0:04:45 > 0:04:49behind the farm building and into the operating station...
0:04:49 > 0:04:51There we go.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54..where their nerves are clear to see.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Make sure that's closed, someone!
0:05:04 > 0:05:06HORSE NEIGHS LOUDLY
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Hup, hup, go on!
0:05:10 > 0:05:15Hup, go on, go on. Hup, hup!
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And immediately, the vets are on the back foot
0:05:18 > 0:05:19as the stallion rears.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Whoa!
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Despite that fence being seven foot high, he's desperate to escape.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30You can really see why these need to be strong barriers.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35I think the team are a bit worried cos there's a danger a horse can injure itself.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38'It's a crucial few moments for Eileen and her team.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40'The horses need to calm down.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44'Suddenly, the stallion makes another escape bid.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46'And has a heavy fall.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49'It looks serious.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55'But he's soon up, facing the wrong way.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59'Eileen's team need to take control.'
0:05:59 > 0:06:03That injection was a bit of sedation, crucial to calm everything down.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'After a few minutes, the sedation has kicked in.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11'The one facing backwards can be led to the crush, where he's given a full anaesthetic...'
0:06:11 > 0:06:13He's starting to go, he's starting to go.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Open it, open!
0:06:15 > 0:06:20'..before being dragged to the operating field for a castration.'
0:06:21 > 0:06:23We've never seen anything like this before.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26That was a tricky one. He had faced the wrong way
0:06:26 > 0:06:30but he managed to put himself right but he did fight the anaesthetic,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and as you see, many hands make light work.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36And now the castration is taking place. This is where I exit,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38because I'm not that good with needles!
0:06:41 > 0:06:45While the stallion is the first to be castrated,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48back in the assessment corridor, another horse has collapsed,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and it's more cause for concern for Eileen.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56This is where we just don't know how they're going to react.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Some of them may take more sedations while others go down.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04The horse's age and weight determine the amount of drugs they need.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07But with no time to assess their condition,
0:07:07 > 0:07:12the anaesthetists are guessing at the dosage, and this one has nodded off too soon.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15It's quite a puzzle. How do you lift half a tonne of horse
0:07:15 > 0:07:17that's gone down too early?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I tell you what, brute force doesn't do very much.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'It looks rough, but these horses are strong
0:07:24 > 0:07:27'and with a queue of semi-sedated animals behind,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29'there's no time to waste.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33'This horse is safely pulled free via the side exit.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37'But, having waited patiently, another stallion makes a bid for freedom.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39'and becomes tangled in the fencing.'
0:07:39 > 0:07:42This horse has momentarily calmed down
0:07:42 > 0:07:46but it's been flailing those front legs in a dangerous-looking way.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49One of its back legs is caught in the fence.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53It's now quite a delicate operation to get it back on the ground.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56'But eventually, with some firm action,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59'Jim and his team bring the horse back down to earth.'
0:08:00 > 0:08:04It's textbook, the way we righted it. Aye.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Of course, the anaesthetic helped!
0:08:07 > 0:08:10So you're saying this is a bit calmer than they would be?
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Absolutely. If they didn't have anaesthetic,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16we probably wouldn't be able to handle them, and in a close space.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20'But while the team and their powers of sedation are succeeding
0:08:20 > 0:08:22'in the treatment area,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26'the vets at the field hospital have found a complication in one of the stallions.'
0:08:26 > 0:08:28What's the story with the operation here?
0:08:28 > 0:08:30We've come across, in the first group,
0:08:30 > 0:08:31what we term as a "rig".
0:08:31 > 0:08:34This is where one of the testicles hasn't descended.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39The veterinary team are working very hard to see if we can actually find
0:08:39 > 0:08:42one of them that's been kept up in the abdomen.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45'With one of the testicles retained in the body,
0:08:45 > 0:08:50'this horse can't be castrated. This congenital defect is exactly
0:08:50 > 0:08:53'the kind of evidence the team feared it might uncover.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57'The vet can't afford to allow the horse to rejoin the herd
0:08:57 > 0:09:01'as it would add to the problems with inbreeding.'
0:09:01 > 0:09:04This is why we have to do this job,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07because we cannot let this continue.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12We've got to make sure the horse's welfare comes first here.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17Finding a defect in the very first group of horses is devastating for Eileen.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19And despite his best efforts,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22vet Paddy Dixon simply can't solve the problem.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25One of the testes is deep in his abdomen.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27I've tried his canal, I can't get it out...
0:09:27 > 0:09:31So you literally can't find where it is, you can't reach it?
0:09:31 > 0:09:33We're going to have to make a decision on him.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37If he's left, he's still fertile and passing on this defect.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41'With little choice, Paddy the vet decides to put the horse to sleep.'
0:09:42 > 0:09:47The breeding has to stop, we cannot keep letting rigs be born.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51This is not a nice wild situation, this is serious.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54All Eileen can do now is hope the condition hasn't spread
0:09:54 > 0:09:55through the rest of the herd.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07Still to come... Danger looms as horses literally pile up.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12They've got a problem here - one of the horses is on top of one of the others.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15They're not sure whether to pull the bottom one out
0:10:15 > 0:10:17or lift the top one over the top.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22One family finally finds out
0:10:22 > 0:10:25exactly what's been chirping in their chimney.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28OK...I now have it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Often, the hardest part of helping animals
0:10:37 > 0:10:39is to catch them in the first place.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43A wild animal's first instinct is to shy away
0:10:43 > 0:10:45from humans, for fear of coming to any harm.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49That presents organisations like the RSPCA
0:10:49 > 0:10:51with all sorts of challenges.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Close to the banks of the River Humber in Hull,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04inspector Sarah Keith is reacting to a call
0:11:04 > 0:11:06about an injured bird in a country park.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12One of the park rangers has called us about a swan with an injury to one of its feet.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's not weight-bearing on the foot.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17It's on the edge of a lake, it's been on the bank all day.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21There is a boat available to us if we need to use it.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22I'm hoping we don't!
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Sarah's not only worried about the bird's foot.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The bird is nesting and any unnecessary stress
0:11:33 > 0:11:37could jeopardise its chances of breeding.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40The swan's right leg, she's holding it up,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43she's not attempting to use it to get off the nest.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45It's in a bit of a funny position.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Normally that would be in the water at the moment
0:11:48 > 0:11:52but I can't tell from here whether that's a break or what...
0:11:52 > 0:11:55The foot looks in reasonable condition,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57it doesn't look swollen or anything.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02I wouldn't imagine... Sometimes if you get constriction from fishing wire, the whole foot swells up.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Eventually, it'll die and drop off.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08At the moment, that just looks like it might have a break.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13With an injury like this, the swan could be vulnerable to predators.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15So, Sarah wants it checked over by a vet.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18But her first challenge is to catch the swan.
0:12:18 > 0:12:24Sarah's called in council workers Clifford Reddin and Lawrence Gill to help with the rescue.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32The idea is, we'll get near enough to it for me to hook it
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and get it in the boat and get it in the bag when we get back to shore.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Armed with her swan hook, Sarah tries to approach the bird
0:12:41 > 0:12:44which she now thinks is the male of the pair.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53But the swan's proving more elusive than she first thought.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00So she'll need to resort to more drastic action.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02We need to come back with our motor boat, really.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04We won't catch it without an engine.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08But it's still proved a useful fact-finding mission for Sarah.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13It's not using the foot at all but the foot seems...it's dangling
0:13:13 > 0:13:18but the bird can still move the leg, so whether it's a deformity
0:13:18 > 0:13:21or whether it's an old injury,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24we won't catch it without a motor boat because it's too fit.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30The following day, Sarah is back at the park,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33this time with a team of RSPCA colleagues
0:13:33 > 0:13:34and a motor boat.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38We're going to try and get the swan into one of the two areas
0:13:38 > 0:13:42where the lake goes in, like that. Keira's going to stay on land,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I'm going to chase it from one side, she'll be at the other side,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47and hopefully one of us will be able to grab it.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54But with more than four years' experience as an RSPCA inspector,
0:13:54 > 0:13:59Sarah knows that catching wildlife is a notoriously unpredictable business.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Her first job is to identify which of the pair is injured.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04It's not that one!
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The female is fit and well.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10It's the male which has the problem.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12His foot is trailing behind him.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It's clear to Sarah's colleague, Keira Wynne, that the male is struggling to take off.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20It's just not getting the same height out of the water.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Keira thinks it's time for plan B.
0:14:22 > 0:14:28Sarah! Do you want to go for the direct-catch approach
0:14:28 > 0:14:30and get both of us in there?
0:14:30 > 0:14:36With two inspectors on board, they're pinning their hopes on finally snaring the swan.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39But it's got other ideas.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Still, Sarah's focusing on the positives.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52The concern was that it couldn't fly, that the break was higher up,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55when I saw him get off the nest yesterday.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59But yesterday, we didn't have the motor, we couldn't get enough speed up
0:14:59 > 0:15:03to see if he could use it enough to manage with it.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08And that now has proved that he can cos he took off and flew off!
0:15:08 > 0:15:10I think, from watching him move round the lake,
0:15:10 > 0:15:15it's the foot that's the issue. Both joints seem to be working fine.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20After two attempted rescues, Sarah's left with no choice but to pack up.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23But then, there's an unexpected twist.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It actually landed on the field
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and a member of the public's just managed to catch it.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34The swan may have avoided the clutches of the RSPCA,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38but it failed to evade passer-by Dave Harris.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44It was making towards the river, I thought, "I'll just grab it before it goes in the river."
0:15:44 > 0:15:47And I just managed to get hold of it.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50The way it's moving, the way it's walking and it was swimming,
0:15:50 > 0:15:56it's not quite right, so for peace of mind, I want to get it checked over by a vet
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and make sure there's nothing serious.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06With the elusive swan finally bagged up,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Sarah must now act fast. It's the height of the breeding season
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and the male will need to be returned to the lake as quickly as possible
0:16:14 > 0:16:17if this pair are to have any cygnets.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28Still to come... Mystery mounts over what could be wrong with the swan.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33I can't rule out respiratory infection, lead poisoning would be on the list, with generalised weakness.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35If you look, he keeps holding his head down.
0:16:35 > 0:16:41And I get hands-on with the vets treating Scotland's wild horses.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45This is how you move half a tonne of horseflesh!
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Many of us like nothing more than a close-up look
0:16:54 > 0:16:56at Britain's wildlife.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59But it's quite another thing to have it living in your own home.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Still, that's often the outcome when an animal's curiosity takes over.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08It's then they can find themselves trapped in all sorts of unusual places.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17In Bristol, RSPCA inspector Kim Downes is making her way
0:17:17 > 0:17:21to what could prove to be a very peculiar rescue.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26I had a call from a member of the public, saying that a bird of prey,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29allegedly, has got trapped in the chimney
0:17:29 > 0:17:31and they can't get it out.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Off to go and have a look, see what's there.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36They seem to think it's a bird of prey
0:17:36 > 0:17:38but obviously, we'll find out when we get there.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43It's very rare, I don't think I've ever rescued a bird of prey out of a chimney.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51Still, Kim's an experienced inspector so she's used to taking on
0:17:51 > 0:17:53the unpredictable in her day-to-day work.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And it looks like today will be no exception.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Hello there, from the RSPCA, had the call about the bird?
0:18:01 > 0:18:02Yes.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08The homeowner, Natalie Davis-Brown, was first alerted
0:18:08 > 0:18:10to the mystery intruder three days ago,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13after hearing scratching from the chimney breast in her dining room.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Now, the uninvited guest is refusing to leave,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20she's called in Kim to help evict it.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23But before Kim can draw up a plan of action,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27she needs to be sure the bird is still there.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Where are you, bird?
0:18:32 > 0:18:33BIRD SQUAWKS Oh, there he is.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Soon, she's in luck.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Now I need to think of how I'm going to get through this plasterboard.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42BIRD SQUAWKS Yes, he's definitely there. He's even crying for us now.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Hello!
0:18:44 > 0:18:47But Kim still faces the real obstacle
0:18:47 > 0:18:49of how she can best rescue it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55We need to try and cause as least damage as possible for you!
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- Have you got a problem with us breaking through that at all?- No.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04- Have you got anything that...- Shall I have a look in the garage?- Yes.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06That would be great.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Kim thinks she knows how to get the bird out
0:19:08 > 0:19:12but first, she needs the right tools for the job.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18That's a huge hammer. I'll take a selection.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20And we'll give it a go.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Armed with a hefty hammer and a selection of screwdrivers,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Kim's finally ready for action.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31The plan is to make a small hole in the plasterboard,
0:19:31 > 0:19:37so that hopefully I can put my hand up and grab the bird out safely.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I need to be careful that I don't injure it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:41Lovely, thank you.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46It's a painstaking operation, with the bird just inches away
0:19:46 > 0:19:48from where she's hammering,
0:19:48 > 0:19:53Kim can't afford to be too heavy-handed.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57It's a nail-biting time for Natalie's children, Finlay and George,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01as they wait to find out exactly who, or what,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04their squawking squatter really is.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Ah, we have a hole.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12After 10 minutes of delicate DIY, Kim's finally created a gap
0:20:12 > 0:20:14in the plasterboard.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Ooh, it's quite big, whatever it is.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21But she still doesn't know the identity of the mystery intruder.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30OK, I now have it...
0:20:30 > 0:20:32It's all getting very tense.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33Ooh, he's so close.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Oh, there we go.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39See?
0:20:39 > 0:20:43But it's not long before all is revealed.
0:20:43 > 0:20:49Looking even more sooty than normal, the trapped bird is actually a jackdaw.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Kim's priority is to check he's not injured.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57He's got a good grip on his feet.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59His wings look OK.
0:20:59 > 0:21:05So we'll let him have a little fly and see if he gets off OK.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08If it looks like he's struggling to fly off, I'll catch him again,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10we'll get him looked at by a vet
0:21:10 > 0:21:15but he seems quite lively, considering he's been stuck in there for quite a while!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17He's probably just a bit hungry and thirsty.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Yes, we'll let him out.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23After being trapped in the chimney space for the best part of three days,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Kim is sure the young jailbird will be more than ready
0:21:27 > 0:21:29to taste freedom again.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32So let's see how you go.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36It doesn't take long for the bird to get its bearings and head for home.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Go on, then!
0:21:37 > 0:21:39KIM CLAPS
0:21:39 > 0:21:40Going to go?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43It should recover fine, it's flown off.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48It hasn't got any injuries, just a bit of soot on it, but yeah,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51hopefully it should go off and find a meal and the rest of its family.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58It all seems like a happy ending.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Ah, there he goes.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05But out of the blue, there's suddenly more scratching from the chimney.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17Oh! And it looks like there's a little friend in there.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Another one.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22If not a whole family.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26It looks like Kim's great escape hatch is needed again.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Oh! There it is.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31CHILD LAUGHS
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I've got all of it now, out he comes.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38There we go.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42I think we'll be having another look to check there's no more up there!
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Luckily, this one appears to be in fine fettle too.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50I'm checking your wings.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Although after a few days with no food, it's, not surprisingly, a little peckish!
0:22:55 > 0:22:58He's a lively one, he's got more energy than the other one.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02With Kim's sweep of the chimney now complete...
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Let's let you go.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06..it's not long before this one is on its way too.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11He's off.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Jackdaws are intelligent, inquisitive birds,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18but this pair's sense of adventure has resulted in them having a lucky escape.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It was a bit of a surprise to find a second one there,
0:23:21 > 0:23:22I wasn't expecting that.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Could have been they were nesting up there
0:23:25 > 0:23:27and both of them have come down.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29There's definitely only two though.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Both were fit and well and have been released to the wild
0:23:33 > 0:23:34so it's a good ending.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36For Kim, it's finally "job done".
0:23:36 > 0:23:41But it might not be too long before she's needed again!
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Now, we're heading back to the Scottish Highlands,
0:23:48 > 0:23:52where earlier, I joined a team of more than 60 equine experts
0:23:52 > 0:23:56and vets, on a mission to help a herd of wild horses.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59After the population had grown to over 100,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02the farmer was struggling to cope so he called in the charity
0:24:02 > 0:24:04World Horse Welfare.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09One stallion had been put to sleep, after being found with an abnormal genetic condition
0:24:09 > 0:24:13which, it was feared, it could pass on to the rest of the herd.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Now the team's priority is to round up the other horses,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20castrate the males, and check on the health of the rest.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Morayshire, in the north-east of Scotland.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30It's the location for an extraordinary rescue mission.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So far, 15 wild horses have been checked over
0:24:33 > 0:24:36but with the recovery pens now empty,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39field officer Kenny Smart, from World Horse Welfare,
0:24:39 > 0:24:44is ready to start the tricky process of gathering up the next herd.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Tell me what the plan is here.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49There's already another group of horses in the field,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53further up beyond there. We'll just slowly walk up the hill,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57get round behind them, try and keep as calm as we can,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00bring them downhill and get them through the gates.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Once the lead horse is in there, the rest should follow through.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08'In full flight, these horses are impossible to stop.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12'So it's down to me and the team to keep them calm.'
0:25:13 > 0:25:14There they are.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19'The team keeps a tight cordon to make sure there's no room for the horses to break through.'
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Bit nearer me?
0:25:25 > 0:25:29It's all a question of just taking it easy, let them relax,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31move in a few more feet, let them relax again.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40'And, after a bit of hesitation,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43'the horses gallop towards the operations waiting room.'
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Stay back to that gate.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57- That seemed to go according to plan, Kenny.- It was first time lucky!
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Nice work.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00They look fairly on edge in there though.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04'These horses are so big and strong
0:26:04 > 0:26:07'that they could cause serious damage if they try to escape.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10'But with nowhere to go, this family finally
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'can make their way into the operating corridor.'
0:26:13 > 0:26:17They've just about got them in but even now,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21some of them are backing out. In fact, one of them's trying to make a break for it.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24You can never be sure until they're finally in there.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29When you see them all in here, that group of horses,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33you get a hell of a feeling for the power of the horseflesh there,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36the muscle and weight of them. Got to be so careful.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41'Anaesthetist Jules Duncan and her team give the horses
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'some basic sedation to try and calm them down
0:26:44 > 0:26:46'and make them easier to handle.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Here, there are some pretty fine judgements to be made,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53which are difficult to do out in the field, you'd rather be doing them in the lab!
0:26:53 > 0:26:56In our normal working day, we get to examine the horse
0:26:56 > 0:26:59before we give it any drugs so we get to check its heart, lungs,
0:26:59 > 0:27:03its age will have a factor. We've not been able to do any of that.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06What kind of risks do you get from anaesthetics?
0:27:06 > 0:27:10There's always the risk of death, which we cannot avoid.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14There may be some horses that have underlying disease or problems,
0:27:14 > 0:27:16we won't know about them so they may die.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Some of them seem to go down quicker than you were expecting!
0:27:20 > 0:27:22That is dangerous because you can get
0:27:22 > 0:27:24another horse climbing on top of them.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28That could end up with them not being able to breathe, or broken bones.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35'And almost immediately, Jules' concerns are realised.'
0:27:38 > 0:27:41They've got a problem here, one of the horses is on top
0:27:41 > 0:27:42of one of the others.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45They're not sure whether to pull the bottom one out
0:27:45 > 0:27:47or lift the top one over the top.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49It's not easy.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54'Every situation is delicate, but these horses are so strong,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56'there's only so much the team can do.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03'Gradually, the horse on top is led forwards, given more drugs...'
0:28:03 > 0:28:05- Are we just rolling him over? - Yes, roll him over.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07There we go.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11'..and pulled away from danger.'
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Many hands!
0:28:15 > 0:28:18'While the one underneath proves a trickier case.'
0:28:18 > 0:28:19Pull.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Seems pretty brutal pulling a horse like this, are they OK with it?
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Yeah, they're fine. They're sturdy, we're not going to do them any damage by doing this.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32We're not strong enough to do any damage just by pulling on them.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39'It takes five of us just to pull the horse clear.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45'And the delay is having a serious knock-on effect on the queuing horses,
0:28:45 > 0:28:50'with sedation kicking in before they reach the exit.'
0:28:52 > 0:28:55This is how you move half a tonne of horseflesh.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01One, two, three!
0:29:01 > 0:29:03GRUNTS OF EXERTION
0:29:03 > 0:29:07'Even under sedation, these wild horses are volatile.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10'A single kick could cause serious damage.'
0:29:10 > 0:29:11Watch out!
0:29:16 > 0:29:20'Every male in the herd has to be castrated,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22'including the foals.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25'And they also receive a full health check.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27'The aim is to re-home many of the horses
0:29:27 > 0:29:30'but only if they're free of disease
0:29:30 > 0:29:33'so vet Katrina Ward gives them all a once-over.'
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Katrina, what's the plan here?
0:29:35 > 0:29:38We're going to give him his microchip
0:29:38 > 0:29:40and that's going to go into the left side of his neck
0:29:40 > 0:29:44because that means it won't move around as he grows,
0:29:44 > 0:29:46it should stay in the same place.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51'The microchip is a legal requirement that allows horses to be tracked.'
0:29:51 > 0:29:56- Got any other concerns?- Yeah. He's got quite a long coat
0:29:56 > 0:30:02and in various places, he's got patches where he's been rubbing himself
0:30:02 > 0:30:03so you can see through to the skin.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07This is because this little guy has lice on him.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11He's obviously got a large burden of them,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14we're going to treat him with a spot-on,
0:30:14 > 0:30:16which is an anti-parasite drug.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22And this foal isn't the only animal with some health concerns.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25A farrier is on hand to deal with any lameness,
0:30:25 > 0:30:30treating some of the horses for split hooves or long feet.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36The most accessible animals have now been brought in.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38But out in the rolling hills,
0:30:38 > 0:30:42there are other elusive horses, still trying to evade capture.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51Still to come... I join the Royal Marines, as we head for the hills
0:30:51 > 0:30:55to gather the really wild bunch.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58It really shows how tough it is to round horses up
0:30:58 > 0:31:00in a landscape like this.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11We're heading back to Hull, where earlier we joined RSPCA inspector
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Sarah Keith, who's been dealing with a swan.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16The bird was suspected of having an injured foot
0:31:16 > 0:31:20but Sarah also feared it could be suffering from lead poisoning.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Her priority now is to get it checked out.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Staff at Swanbridge veterinary practice, near Hull,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34are used to dealing with rescued wildlife.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36There we go!
0:31:36 > 0:31:40That's why Sarah wants vet John Levison to examine the injured swan.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44And John's keen to find out more.
0:31:44 > 0:31:45What's the story, Sarah?
0:31:45 > 0:31:48We knew there was an issue with this leg.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52But we didn't know what it was... Whether it was broken
0:31:52 > 0:31:56and I couldn't tell where on the leg, potentially, the injury was.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59I saw it, from a distance, clamber off a nest
0:31:59 > 0:32:02and I saw it moving round on the water
0:32:02 > 0:32:06but not quick enough. Anyway, it can take off and fly.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10It's feeding but there is an issue with that foot, I'm not sure what it is.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13John gives the swan a thorough check.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16The other thing we do is always assess the body condition.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19It's actually in good bodily condition.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23The first priority is for John to examine the swan's leg,
0:32:23 > 0:32:25to see whether there are any signs of damage.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29We look for things like abscesses, fishing line around the feet.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34Just feel for any fractures, abnormal swellings.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39With no obvious problems with its leg,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42John's turning his attention to the other possible reasons
0:32:42 > 0:32:45for it appearing so weak.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49I can't rule out respiratory infection, lead poisoning would be on the list as well
0:32:49 > 0:32:53with the generalised weakness. He keeps holding his head down.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58He's a big, powerful bird, right? But he seems to lack power,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02really, he's physically large but is weak. For the moment,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05let's see how he responds and re-examine him.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10John's plan is to keep the swan in for observation
0:33:10 > 0:33:12and see how he responds.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Three days later and on the lake where the swan was rescued,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25its partner cuts a solitary figure.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28It's the breeding season and if they're to have any chance
0:33:28 > 0:33:33of having young, it's vital these two birds are reunited as soon as possible.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Back at Swanbridge veterinary practice,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39John Levison is joining up with RSPCA inspector Keira Wynne
0:33:39 > 0:33:42to check on the progress of the male.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45And he's already encouraged by what he sees.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47He feels stronger when you handle him.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52He's got more power about him. Check your wings again, mate, come on.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Keira is delighted the swan's looking much stronger,
0:33:56 > 0:34:00but admits the whole episode's proved a bit of a mystery.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03One foot seems slightly larger than the other
0:34:03 > 0:34:07so maybe he's off-balance with that and that's made him get tired.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Or if he's had a bad to-do or crash-landed,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12it may be that one of his legs hasn't coped as well.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16We're going to take him back to his lady friend, as long as
0:34:16 > 0:34:20- John gives him the all-clear. - The sooner he's back out in the wild, the better.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22Back with his lady friend, where he belongs.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29It's great news for the male, and for his partner,
0:34:29 > 0:34:32who's been waiting at the lake, all alone.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Now then, big boy, are you ready?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42You just wait for me to get out of the way first!
0:34:42 > 0:34:43Cheeky monkey.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Off you go, then.
0:34:46 > 0:34:47Go on, then.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Go on, then!
0:34:49 > 0:34:52SWAN SQUAWKS
0:34:52 > 0:34:54There we are.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57There you go, cheeky.
0:34:58 > 0:34:59Bye!
0:35:01 > 0:35:06Once set free, he needs little encouragement to rejoin his partner
0:35:06 > 0:35:09in the middle of the lake for a familiar ritual.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13That was really nice to see both of them back together.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16I love it when they make the heart shape with their heads,
0:35:16 > 0:35:20it's always nice when they reunite in a good way like that.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22It's one of the better parts of the job.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Now we're back to Scotland, where a huge operation
0:35:36 > 0:35:41to round up a herd of more than 100 wild horses has been going well.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46The team was called in to control numbers and prevent inbreeding
0:35:46 > 0:35:49after the farmer admitted he was struggling to cope.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54But now the rescue team face the challenge of rounding up the wildest bunch of all.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58And for that, they've called in military support.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10In the hills of Morayshire, an elite team are preparing for a special mission.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Three families of horses remain unaccounted for,
0:36:12 > 0:36:15somewhere in the hills.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19And a 16-man unit from 45 Commando Royal Marines
0:36:19 > 0:36:23have been called in to help co-ordinate this part of the round-up.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26This moment gives you a snapshot of the campaign.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28There's a group of horses up there,
0:36:28 > 0:36:30with the marines above them on the ridge
0:36:30 > 0:36:32but this is where they've got to get them to.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Down here, up this valley side, across this field,
0:36:35 > 0:36:40into the fields over there, which are the waiting room for the vet.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Then behind the farm, where they've got their surgery set up.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44That's quite a challenge.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50Tell him to keep next to the fence.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55Dan Bottomley will be in charge of pushing the horses down to the farm.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00We've got the two sections in the wood line, we're ready to move off when you are.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03These marines may be more used to military campaigns,
0:37:03 > 0:37:07but their skills will be invaluable in tracking the horses
0:37:07 > 0:37:09through rough terrain.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12A bit of a contrast from your usual life, this one?
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Yeah, definitely!
0:37:14 > 0:37:17'One group of about ten horses has been spotted in the woods,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21'and they need to be forced out into the open fields.'
0:37:21 > 0:37:22RADIO BLEEPS
0:37:22 > 0:37:27'Section one have moved to the start point, now over.'
0:37:27 > 0:37:31'Roger that, we'll have to stand by here. Over.'
0:37:31 > 0:37:33There we go, this is them.
0:37:33 > 0:37:39'The horses are feral and their first instinct is to move away from humans.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42'So, as we appear behind them, they start to move off.'
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Push that way, mate.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48'Getting them out of the trees will make herding the horses much easier.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:51James, I'm pushing Ali's section down towards the field
0:37:51 > 0:37:56where those horses are on the edge of the treeline to push them further down.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58- RADIO:- 'Will be appearing exactly...'
0:37:58 > 0:38:03'And out in the open, it's clear there are two separate groups.'
0:38:04 > 0:38:08We need those horses to come this way! Get Ali to flank them now.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11'But with all eyes on the group to the right...'
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- RADIO:- 'Dan, get in position quick! Come over that treeline, get on the south side now, over!'
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Right, come back this way, lads!
0:38:18 > 0:38:21'..the ones on the left charge back towards the trees.'
0:38:21 > 0:38:23Don't let those horses get into the wood block.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26'But I've seen enough of these wild horses today
0:38:26 > 0:38:29'to know they'll stop for nothing.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33'Getting in their way could prove a potentially lethal experience.'
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Well, our team of marines have jogged back to the start
0:38:38 > 0:38:40because the horses bolted back in the woods
0:38:40 > 0:38:43so we have to go all the way round again.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46It really shows how tough it is to round horses up
0:38:46 > 0:38:49in a landscape like this.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54'Dan Bottomley is in no doubt about the dangers these horses pose.'
0:38:54 > 0:38:58They went into flight. When they get into flight, you let them go
0:38:58 > 0:39:02cos they won't care if you're a tree, a fence, they'll go through you.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05'This is tough work and even this elite military unit is struggling.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09'But these animals have to be treated, so we have another go.'
0:39:09 > 0:39:13The horses are spooked and they're much further ahead this time.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17But I think they might have gone down to the field we want them to go to.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21We're not quite on their haunches like we should be, though.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28'The military line must be tight. With the horses now out of the trees,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31'they mustn't be allowed to turn back again.'
0:39:31 > 0:39:35All right, just slowly push forward, lads!
0:39:35 > 0:39:37HE PANTS
0:39:40 > 0:39:43Yes! Go on, go through that fence.
0:39:43 > 0:39:49'At last, the tactics are working. The horses race down the hill
0:39:49 > 0:39:51'and into the secure fenced-off field.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55'They're now too stressed to be pushed up the valley today.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59'So they'll be held here overnight to calm down.'
0:40:03 > 0:40:06'The next morning, the team arrives back for the final push.
0:40:06 > 0:40:13'The horses have nowhere to go, apart from up the other side.
0:40:15 > 0:40:20'Getting these animals to this point has proved a demanding task
0:40:20 > 0:40:22'for all the team.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25'But the horses are finally where they need to be.'
0:40:26 > 0:40:31Well, they did it, they got them into the vet's waiting room, as we call it,
0:40:31 > 0:40:36ready for their operations. Quite a tough job but it was done!
0:40:36 > 0:40:38HORSE WHINNIES
0:40:38 > 0:40:41But already in the waiting area is another family.
0:40:41 > 0:40:47Having lived without human contact, the prospect of being penned in is causing them to get agitated.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51The first of the group is sedated in the assessment corridor
0:40:51 > 0:40:55but left behind are a potentially dangerous group of stallions.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56With nowhere to go,
0:40:56 > 0:41:00these horses could react badly to any human contact.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Right, can we leave them?
0:41:02 > 0:41:07Getting more stressed, one of the horses kicks out at the barriers.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15Some of the fencing breaks off, and in a panic,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18the horse desperately tries to free his legs and escape the enclosure.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Grab the gate.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30It's a lucky escape, and with no serious injuries,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33the stallions are pushed into the assessment corridor.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36This bent pin gives you an idea of the strength of these animals.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38One of the stallions bashed into this gate,
0:41:38 > 0:41:42pushed this completely out of shape and that's inch-thick steel.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46'Under sedation, the stallions quickly relax
0:41:46 > 0:41:49'and the vets can continue their vital work.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54'Eileen and her team came to the farm knowing they faced an uphill battle.'
0:41:54 > 0:41:59OK, we've had some anxious moments, but all in all,
0:41:59 > 0:42:01they've really come out of it very well.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03'Once the horses have recovered,
0:42:03 > 0:42:07'the team hope to reduce the herd's number by re-homing half of them.'
0:42:09 > 0:42:11What's really impressed me about today
0:42:11 > 0:42:15is the sheer bulk of this operation, the number of horses,
0:42:15 > 0:42:18the power of them in the race, and the consequent danger.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25By the end of the mission, all 103 horses had been assessed
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and treated. It's been a huge operation
0:42:28 > 0:42:33but most importantly, a very successful one too.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:42 > 0:42:47remember, there are dedicated professionals who will answer your call right around the clock.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd