0:00:02 > 0:00:05Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:05 > 0:00:12All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:12 > 0:00:18Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people, trying to protect and care for them around the clock.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:35 > 0:00:42Today on Animal 24:7, the bruising battle to rein in and rescue a frightened foal.
0:00:42 > 0:00:48We need to get this foal into a place of safety where it can be properly looked after.
0:00:48 > 0:00:54A heathland fire sparks a mercy mission to save some of Britain's rarest wildlife.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59They're completely unaware of what's going on, disorientated.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02They're suffering every anxiety you can think of.
0:01:02 > 0:01:08And the hi-tech tools being used to track down the country's cruelty offenders.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Often we don't have the evidence that an offence has been committed.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15CCTV puts a completely different spin on that.
0:01:20 > 0:01:26Horses are very popular pets, but keeping them requires a major commitment of time and money.
0:01:26 > 0:01:33Sadly, here in the UK, the number of abandoned horses is increasing every year with hundreds reported.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37So, of course, when a wild horse gives birth,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40another unwanted animal is added to that number.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Hatfield in Hertfordshire.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55This field is home to a group of horses, most of which are well looked after,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59but the RSPCA has been concerned for a mother and its foal,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03both of which had no owner and were struggling to cope.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08The mother has been removed and now officers have returned to round up the foal.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Inspector Mel Fisher has ten years' experience dealing with horses.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18She and her colleagues have made one aborted attempt to rescue the foal,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22so now she knows today's operation will be a real challenge.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Because the foal is very wild, we weren't able to catch the foal initially.
0:02:27 > 0:02:33We took the mother for her own safety and welfare. She was very sick. But we can't leave the foal here.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36No-one has claimed the mother.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42The people who use this field and own the other horses state that the foal doesn't belong to them,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46so we need to make sure that this foal is cared for and monitored.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51If it's not owned by anybody, it's in its best interest if we take it to a place of safety.
0:02:51 > 0:02:57Mel's colleague Pete Warne knows that removing this foal today is essential.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03Nobody is responsible for it. It might be able to wander round the field, eat grass and get some water,
0:03:03 > 0:03:08but if it gets sick or whatever, it becomes our responsibility in a way.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Because we've removed one, we're responsible for the other.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Police community support officer Karen Broad is here to help.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21This is her field of expertise.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26I will basically just talk to it quietly and gently and get it to gain my trust.
0:03:26 > 0:03:32My colleagues keep calling it horse-whispering. I'm not so sure. I'm not a horse whisperer.
0:03:32 > 0:03:38In my pocket, I'm laden with carrots. I will try and entice it to gain my confidence.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43But despite being armed with goodies, Karen knows this won't be easy.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48My worry today for this little foal is because it's never been handled,
0:03:48 > 0:03:54it's been handled perhaps never, it's going to be extremely frightened and nervous,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58then the other problem is once I've got hold of it,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03it is likely to either try and run off or it will rear and buck all over the place,
0:04:03 > 0:04:10so we're going to have to be extremely careful and it's going to be a very long, slow process.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15In I go, into the lion's den.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20As Karen attempts to befriend the foal,
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Mel and Pete are trying to distract the other horses who clearly aren't as nervous.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31We'll try and keep everybody calm in the field and hopefully, Karen can work her magic, fingers crossed.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35It's a bit of a juggling act to try and keep them away from Karen
0:04:35 > 0:04:38without stressing out the little foal,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42so yeah, I think we might run out of carrots!
0:04:42 > 0:04:44But we'll have to see.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48As Karen predicted, this isn't going to be a straightforward job.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52No, it just keeps pulling faces at me.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55She tries the sneaky approach.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00I'm just trying to use this one to work my way down towards it.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04The team is very anxious about this foal.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09The problem is, any attempt by Karen to get near ends with it shying away.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16So it's looking like Plan A isn't working.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21So can you get close to it all?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23It'll come close to you,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27but as soon as you try and get eye contact with the pony,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30it turns around and walks away.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34So far, trying to rein in the foal has proved a frustrating process.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38It wants to come, but it's just so timid
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and apparently, it was born in here,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44so that won't help because it means it's never been handled.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47It wasn't handled to be dumped in here either.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51So it appears they'll need to resort to Plan B.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57We need to get this foal off this land and into a place of safety where it can be properly looked after.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01If we can't manage to approach it enough to put a head collar on it,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05we might have to use the tranquilliser rifle to dart it
0:06:05 > 0:06:10and that will sedate it and hopefully we can pop a collar on it and lead it into the horse box.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14It seems like sedation is the only option.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Are we calling it a day?
0:06:17 > 0:06:19I've managed to stroke its bottom,
0:06:19 > 0:06:25but as soon as it realised I'd got a finger on it, it was off.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31I don't think I'll ever get near enough to its head. I think you'll get close enough to dart it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:37That's not a problem. It's how it will react to being stung on the bottom and where it goes.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Vet Anna Turk has been on stand-by and arrives with the sedative.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51- That's enough for a 400-kilo horse. He'll only be about 300 kilos. - Oh, he's having a little roll!
0:06:51 > 0:06:53The dosage is all-important.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58We need enough because getting that on to a box...
0:06:58 > 0:07:04- It's going to be a problem. - You'll practically have to knock it out to get it on a box anyway.- Yeah.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08For the team, this is very much a last resort,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11but they need to remove this foal today.
0:07:11 > 0:07:18There's just no other way. We can't even get close enough to get a syringe and hand-administer the drug,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22so this is going to be the only way we'll be able to catch the foal
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and it's just going to be a small injection to its bottom.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Hopefully, once it's been startled by the actual dart going in,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33it won't feel much and the sedative works really quickly.
0:07:33 > 0:07:39The vet's supplied the drugs and this is the RSPCA dart rifle equipment that we use.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44It takes about 20 minutes once the drug has been injected,
0:07:44 > 0:07:49then hopefully, it'll be nice and quiet, nice and calm, nicely sedated,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52enough for us to be able to go and put a head collar on it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:59With uncertainty over how the foal will react to the dart and the sedation,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03the team knows this might not be a straightforward process.
0:08:09 > 0:08:15Still to come, tension rises as the team aims to sedate the foal.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- Easy, fellas. Easy, fellas. - Well done, Mel, brilliant!
0:08:20 > 0:08:25And the tactics helping to tackle some of Britain's worst acts of animal cruelty.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28I imagine he wasn't aware there was a camera in that lift.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36Heathlands are home to some of Britain's most rare and precious wildlife.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42They're the perfect habitat for reptiles, mammals and ground-nesting birds.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47But one of the biggest threats to the wealth of wildlife that lives there is fire,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51so when a huge blaze took hold of a heathland in southern England,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54it triggered a rescue operation like no other.
0:09:02 > 0:09:08Poole in Dorset. On the outskirts of the town, the biggest blaze in decades is ripping through a heath.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17200 fire-fighters are battling to stop the flames from engulfing nearby homes.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21But another tragedy is also unfolding.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27This 500-acre heath is a site of special scientific interest
0:09:27 > 0:09:31and a habitat for some of Britain's rarest species of wildlife.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38And sadly, much of that wildlife has now been decimated.
0:09:48 > 0:09:54It's five days after the fire which destroyed around a third of the heath.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Where there was once glorious green,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59now black dominates.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07Volunteers have come from all parts of the country to help save any animals
0:10:07 > 0:10:10which have just managed to survive.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Steve Davis of Dorset Wildlife Trust is in charge.
0:10:15 > 0:10:21We went through lots of emotions last week when we watched the fire brigade trying to tackle this thing.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27We've worked on here for years and years and we knew what was being engulfed in it.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30And you really did feel down just watching it.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It's been raining all weekend and today,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38but when you walk on there, you get the acrid smell of the smoke catching the back of your throat,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40just walking across this wilderness.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Stephen and his team have been here every day since the fire
0:10:45 > 0:10:49and so far, they've recovered around 110 animals
0:10:49 > 0:10:52which managed to take refuge underground from the flames.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Many of the animals they've picked up are clearly pregnant.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03That's emphasised to the rescuers how important their efforts are.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09Today, the team is back again to look for any signs of life in the devastated area.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Britain's heathlands have got international importance.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17It has so many rare species that cannot survive anywhere else.
0:11:17 > 0:11:23When they're emerging into black, they're easy to spot and buzzards and gulls are picking them off,
0:11:23 > 0:11:30so we'll go out there over the next few days to rescue these things and transfer them to the unburnt heath.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36All six species of British reptile can be found at Upton Heath,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40including the adder, the only venomous snake native to the UK.
0:11:40 > 0:11:46Some of the adders out there are very small and easily confused with small grass snakes or smooth snakes,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50so no picking up any snakes at all - I'll do that rescue.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Across the charred remains of heathland,
0:11:53 > 0:11:59volunteer Andy Fale is handling a snake, but this one is not likely to hurt him.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03Well, we've got a dead smooth snake here, unfortunately,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05one of the casualties.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08We thought we might find a few of these.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13It looks to me like this one has actually survived the fire and then has perished.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18The reptiles that have survived are emerging into barren surroundings.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21The volunteers only have so much time.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25We're here for the live ones. We think there's a lot more out here.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29It's a bit of a race against time. We've got only this week, really.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Beyond that, I don't expect to find anything.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37It's not just reptiles that are being killed by the fire.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44We've found several animals that were caught by the fire - rabbits...
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Unfortunately, we've even found a couple of deer.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Finding a fawn was probably our darkest point.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58Ground-nesting birds have also suffered, including the rare nightjar.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04Nightjars have literally just arrived back from Africa, a massive flight all on their own.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07They've come back here to nest for the summer.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11The nightjar's reaction to danger is not to fly or flee in any way.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14They depend on their camouflage.
0:13:14 > 0:13:20If they feel threatened at any time, they hunker down and keep still because the danger will pass.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25We were hoping all day on Thursday, as we were watching the fire progress,
0:13:25 > 0:13:30to see some nightjars flying and getting out of the way. We didn't see any.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35That just reinforces that these things did literally perish
0:13:35 > 0:13:41because their defence doesn't take into consideration fire.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48But despite the low points...
0:13:48 > 0:13:54- There we go.- ..the team take heart every time they find an animal that has survived the blaze.
0:13:54 > 0:14:00A lovely little common lizard. It's in remarkably good condition, considering what it's been through.
0:14:00 > 0:14:06It will have been underground and it's only now felt able to come back up and try and find cover.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11It's always really good to see something and to be able to rescue it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16And I'm sure if he could speak, he'd thank me if he knew what I was doing.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21It's a long way for Steve to find a suitable release site for this lizard.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26And as volunteers fan out over the heath, others are making similar discoveries.
0:14:26 > 0:14:32This is a common lizard I found on this heavily burnt-up bit, sitting there feeling sorry for itself.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37It's lost its tail. It looks like it might have been burnt off, but it's survived,
0:14:37 > 0:14:42so this one is going to go back on to the little bit of heath that's still remaining
0:14:42 > 0:14:46and hopefully survive and have some more baby lizards.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Sifting through what's left of the lost habitat, the volunteers need to be extra-vigilant
0:14:51 > 0:14:56as the area is a breeding ground for our only venomous snake - the adder.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00And that's exactly what Steve is receiving an urgent call about.
0:15:06 > 0:15:12Still to come, Steve dices with the danger posed by a feisty survivor.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17Because it's poisonous, I'm in a difficult situation trying to recover that,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19but we'll see how we get on.
0:15:19 > 0:15:25And tension rises as the team struggles to bring a foal under control.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Easy, easy. Easy, easy, easy!
0:15:31 > 0:15:36The RSPCA are in the front-line when it comes to tackling animal cruelty.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Last year, they investigated nearly 160,000 cases,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45resulting in over 2,400 prosecutions.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Often the tip-off comes from members of the public,
0:15:49 > 0:15:54but now officers have a new tool to catch some culprits red-handed,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58leaving them nowhere to hide - CCTV.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04'Salford, Greater Manchester, and inside this tower block,
0:16:04 > 0:16:09'Maddox, a defenceless puppy, falls victim to a brutal and cowardly attack...
0:16:11 > 0:16:15'..which is too shocking to be shown on television.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20'It's a vicious and sustained assault from the one person who is supposed to care for him.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23'A split second after we froze these pictures,
0:16:23 > 0:16:29'the dog was subjected to continuous kicking and punching, lasting a full three minutes.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34'Trapped inside the lift, Maddox couldn't escape the violence.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39'With nobody else in sight, the drunken owner thought he would escape justice.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44'But someone was watching.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54'The whole incident, which is one of the most disturbing we've ever featured on Animal 24:7,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58'had been captured on camera and the RSPCA was alerted.'
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Hi.- Hi. Nice to see you.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03'Chief Inspector Cathy Hyde picked up the case.'
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- Extraordinary brutality!- And it's just walking obediently on the lead.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10He looks very worse for wear.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13'With ten years' experience as an RSPCA inspector,
0:17:13 > 0:17:18'Cathy has dealt with a huge range of cases of animal abuse.'
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Is the dog doing anything? It's not trying to bite him.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26No, the lead is static. There's nothing happening down there.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29'She's used to picking up the pieces,
0:17:29 > 0:17:33'so seeing this assault unfold before her eyes was new and alarming.'
0:17:33 > 0:17:38This was one of the first times I was involved in CCTV being used as evidence,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41so that was very shocking for me, the first time.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47My key thing was that dog needed to come away from that situation immediately.
0:17:47 > 0:17:53'With this level of violence, Cathy didn't know if Maddox would be alive when she reached him.'
0:17:53 > 0:17:58I've seen it on the screen, but this is the scene of the crime.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01What were you and your team thinking as you got here?
0:18:01 > 0:18:04The most important thing for us was to get the dog away.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Having seen the brutality of the attack on it, I wasn't prepared to leave here
0:18:09 > 0:18:13without the dog coming into our care to get it to a vet and checked out.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18'Inside the lobby, six cameras captured the whole ugly incident from every angle.'
0:18:18 > 0:18:22So you had every step of this guy's way tracked.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25We did from the moment he came into the building.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- The first one we pick him up on is this camera here.- Right.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34And you see him kick the dog for no apparent reason.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40This is the lift that the incident took place in.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45- This is the camera?- Yes. I can only imagine he wasn't aware it was in that lift.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50- It's like being beaten up in a box, isn't it?- It is.- There's nowhere for him to escape the blows.
0:18:50 > 0:18:56You can't see the dog, so the dog is obviously making itself as small as possible in the corner
0:18:56 > 0:18:59to try and avoid the brutality of the attack.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03'The attack continued all the way to the 13th floor.'
0:19:03 > 0:19:09Animals do understand right from wrong, but this dog is probably thinking, "What have I done?"
0:19:09 > 0:19:11There's no disobedience from this dog.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16'Maddox survived, but his injuries were not immediately obvious.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'Without CCTV evidence, Cathy knew she would have had to walk away.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23'Happily, she rescued the defenceless puppy
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'and the owner received a three-month jail sentence.'
0:19:26 > 0:19:30He got, most importantly, a life ban from keeping any animal.
0:19:30 > 0:19:36The main purpose we prosecute is to deprive people of animals they've abused or neglected
0:19:36 > 0:19:42and also to ensure they don't get the opportunity to do that to another animal in the future.
0:19:42 > 0:19:48'Since Maddox was rescued, CCTV control rooms like the one that helped save him
0:19:48 > 0:19:52'have become a key tool for the RSPCA.'
0:19:52 > 0:19:57This is an impressive array of screens, but unblinking eyes like these now look out
0:19:57 > 0:19:59over many of our towns and cities,
0:19:59 > 0:20:05and sadly, Maddox isn't the only animal cruelty case that the RSPCA have caught on camera.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10Recently, the number of camera-led prosecutions has rocketed.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Who can forget this shocking case?
0:20:12 > 0:20:17If it wasn't for CCTV, the poor cat could have died in the wheelie bin.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22Instead, it was saved and the offender was successfully prosecuted.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27And it's not just CCTV cameras catching out the culprits.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Mobile phone evidence is also increasingly common.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It's how this thug was brought to justice.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39Cathy has found camera evidence has become a powerful weapon in the fight against animal cruelty.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44It's so, so important because we get a lot of allegations of dog-beating
0:20:44 > 0:20:49and sometimes it's somebody has heard something or seen something.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54It can come down to one word against another. In a lot of circumstances, it's not enough.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00We don't have the evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that an offence has been committed.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05Sometimes we have to walk away. CCTV puts a completely different spin on that.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12'If it wasn't for security cameras, Maddox might still be trapped with his abusive owner.
0:21:13 > 0:21:19'But today, he's happy, healthy and re-homed with new owner Liam Jones.'
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- Hi there.- Hi, Liam. How are you doing? Is this Maddox?- Yes.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- Come and say hello.- How's he doing? - He's doing good.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31'It's hard to believe that this is the same dog I saw cowering in that lift.'
0:21:31 > 0:21:37- How does he look to you, Cathy? - He looks fabulous. I've not seen him for about 18 months.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39What I notice most is his personality.
0:21:39 > 0:21:45Although when we picked him up, he wasn't specifically underweight or anything like that,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49he was very subdued and nervous, but he's a different dog.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53He's really keen and excited and obviously, very happy.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'He certainly is and it's great to see.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'Hopefully, Maddox can now look forward to a much happier future.'
0:22:00 > 0:22:04There was a very violent beginning to this story, but a joyful ending.
0:22:04 > 0:22:10Absolutely. Look at him now - he's very happy, very fit, very settled in his new life.
0:22:10 > 0:22:16Without the evidence of the CCTV, he would have remained in that very threatening and violent situation,
0:22:16 > 0:22:21probably for years, and that may have resulted in him coming to much worse injury,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23but to see Maddox as he is now,
0:22:23 > 0:22:30happy, fit, healthy in a very safe home is so satisfying and gives you such a boost.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44Now we return to Hertfordshire and the RSPCA's attempts to rescue a foal.
0:22:44 > 0:22:50They've already removed his mum from the field and found her to be in a very poor condition
0:22:50 > 0:22:56and because no-one has claimed ownership of the two horses, they need to take the foal as well,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58but this is much more tricky.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05This foal was born in this field.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09He has never been handled and now nobody is caring for him.
0:23:12 > 0:23:18RSPCA Inspector Mel Fisher and her team are anxious to take him with them today,
0:23:18 > 0:23:23but he is extremely nervous around people and the only way they can lead him away
0:23:23 > 0:23:26is to sedate him with a tranquilliser dart.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30We've got the drugs in the top half of the dart. It's a gas-powered dart.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35I need to be able to insert some pressure into the end of the dart,
0:23:35 > 0:23:40then we put the fluffy, pink pom-pom on the end, so we can find it if it does fall out,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44but these are barbed darts, so it should stay in the foal.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49It's always a risk. You're administering a drug and drugs have side-effects.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55I've darted ponies before. I don't see it being a problem, though it is quite a large field.
0:23:55 > 0:24:02They react to being stung initially by the dart going in and as this foal is a bit of an unknown entity,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06we don't know what the reaction is to the dart entering the skin.
0:24:06 > 0:24:12Unfortunately, there is just no way we can move the foal into a more restricted area,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14so we'll just have to play it by ear.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Mel's colleague Pete Warne is here to help.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23Even once the foal is sedated, moving him to the horse box could be difficult.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28I'll let the foal get used to being in the field, then we'll take a shot and...
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- See what happens.- Yeah.- No worries.
0:24:35 > 0:24:41Mel gets as close to the foal as possible and she's ready to take aim.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42Ready?
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Come here, sweets.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49- DART IS FIRED - Easy, fellas.- Well done, Mel. Brilliant!
0:24:49 > 0:24:51It's a perfect shot
0:24:51 > 0:24:55and the foal doesn't appear to be overly traumatised.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57That went really well.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It didn't react quite as excited as I thought it might.
0:25:01 > 0:25:08The team's plan is to give the foal as little sedative as possible to relax it and bring it under control.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13But after 20 minutes, it's clear the horse still needs more.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15He'll have to have another one.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20We erred on the side of caution. We don't want to give a foal too much sedative.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24We've approached the foal and it's still quite lively,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28and we can't get the required head collar on in order to load it,
0:25:28 > 0:25:34so with discussion with the vet, we've decided to give it a further slight sedative.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37We'll go back in and we'll pop another dart in.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41For a second time, Mel hits the target,
0:25:41 > 0:25:46but once again, they'll need to be patient to see whether the drugs take effect.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51The horse is starting to look sleepy, so we're going to try and get a head collar on it,
0:25:51 > 0:25:56but it's still going to be a "slowly, gently, gently" affair.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00As it turns out, one more dart isn't enough.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04The team have had to be patient and very cautious.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Eventually, they're ready to try and put a collar on him.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Good boy.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16But the frightened foal is still showing plenty of spirit.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Easy, easy. Easy, easy, easy. Easy!
0:26:22 > 0:26:26This may all be for his own good, but he doesn't understand that.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Whoa, whoa!
0:26:28 > 0:26:33He's just not used to being around people.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37OK, sideways, if that makes it any easier...
0:26:37 > 0:26:40At last, they have him under control.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- Good boy!- Who's a good lad? Come on.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Just about.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51- It's OK.- It's all right. - Come on.- It's OK.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54It's taken over six hours,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57but the foal is finally loaded on to the trailer.
0:26:57 > 0:27:03It is a relief that we've finally got him in the box. It's not over until we've got him in the stable.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Hopefully, he'll travel OK. He seems quiet now that he's confined,
0:27:07 > 0:27:12but at one stage, I was wondering if we were going to be able to get him this far.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16It's now a two-hour trip to the stables
0:27:16 > 0:27:20and despite how confusing it must have been for him,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23the foal doesn't seem to be disturbed by the journey.
0:27:23 > 0:27:29He's doing really well. Because we had to give him sedative, we were worried how he'd travel,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34but he seems to have travelled OK, so we're keeping it nice and gentle as we get him out.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39The sedative's worn off somewhat, so he's going to be quite frightened.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46We don't want him injuring himself while we try and get him out into the box.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51The foal might be frightened, but this is the best place for him.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53It's the stables we use quite regularly
0:27:53 > 0:27:59and they are brilliant at bringing on underweight foals and ponies.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Nobody has ever cared for him and because he's been sedated,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06it's vital a vet checks him over straight away.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Now we've got him close up, we see his feet need attention,
0:28:10 > 0:28:16he's underweight and his coat is very woolly and matted, which is why they've called him Womble,
0:28:16 > 0:28:20so Womble is going to need a lot more care.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24It's made us feel even more justified in having him removed from the field
0:28:24 > 0:28:28because if he had stayed where he was, his feet would have worsened,
0:28:28 > 0:28:34his weight would have dropped further, so I'm really pleased we've managed to get him out when we have.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40So Womble can look forward to some long overdue TLC as he finds his feet
0:28:40 > 0:28:42in his first ever stable.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45It's nice to see him all settled in.
0:28:45 > 0:28:51Obviously, it's going to take a lot of work to get him used to being handled and interacted with,
0:28:51 > 0:28:56but at least he's in a nice, safe place, we know someone's going to be looking after him.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Yeah, it's been a good end to a very long day.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13Still to come, the farrier braces himself for the hazards of handling a wild horse.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16I've broken a rib from being kicked
0:29:16 > 0:29:20and I've broken my foot twice from a horse just startling.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Earlier, we saw how fire destroyed a large part
0:29:26 > 0:29:30of one of Britain's most important wildlife conservation areas.
0:29:30 > 0:29:37Around 200 fire-fighters were called to tackle the blaze at Upton Heath near Poole in Dorset.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42The fire wiped out hundreds of rare birds, lizards and snakes,
0:29:42 > 0:29:47but now a dedicated team of wildlife experts and volunteers are embarked
0:29:47 > 0:29:51on a desperate mission to save as many survivors as possible.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02It's hard to believe, but just days ago,
0:30:02 > 0:30:07this 500-acre heathland was a thriving haven for some of Britain's rarest wildlife.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Now, after the fire,
0:30:11 > 0:30:16around a third of Upton Heath has been reduced to a wasteland.
0:30:16 > 0:30:22For people like Steve Davis from Dorset Wildlife Trust, the blaze has proved a devastating blow.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28These heathlands have got international importance. We've worked on it for years and years.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34We went through all sorts of emotions when we watched the fire brigade trying to tackle this thing.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40To save themselves from the flames, Steve believes many animals burrowed under ground.
0:30:40 > 0:30:48Now, five days on, the priority for Steve and his team of volunteers is to rescue them as they resurface.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54It's always good to see something and to be able to rescue it.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57I'm sure if he could speak, he'd thank me.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01This prized heathland is one of the few places in the country
0:31:01 > 0:31:06where it is possible to find every species of British reptile.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09And volunteer Andy Fale has found the most dangerous.
0:31:10 > 0:31:16I found a live adder, amazingly. In amongst all this black, it was still surviving.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20Due to the risk of being bitten,
0:31:20 > 0:31:25only Steve has the necessary experience to safely handle Britain's only venomous snake.
0:31:25 > 0:31:31It's been 30 years since the last person died in this country as the result of an adder bite,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33but he knows he needs to be careful.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38It's a difficult position. There's a lot of tangled roots and things.
0:31:38 > 0:31:44Because it's poisonous, we are in a difficult situation with trying to recover that, but we'll see.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48It's only a small adder, but typically, they're the most aggressive.
0:31:53 > 0:31:59To try to protect itself, the adder releases a fluid as a defence mechanism.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06If Steve were to be bitten, he'd need urgent medical attention.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13OK, this is an adult female adder and also very, very feisty.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Understandably, it's frustrated, angry and frightened.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20I think I'll release this one as soon as I possibly can.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24But well spotted. Thanks, guys. That's just what we need to do.
0:32:24 > 0:32:30That's the most feisty one of the lot. The ones we're picking up are quite aggressive and feisty.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34That's to be expected. They're completely unaware of what's going on.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38They're suffering every anxiety that you can think of.
0:32:38 > 0:32:45They found this snake in the heart of the burned site, so Steve faces a long walk with the angry adder.
0:32:45 > 0:32:51He chooses her release point carefully, making sure it's a south-facing bank.
0:32:51 > 0:32:56On a sunny day, this would be perfect for her to come out early, do a bit of basking,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59get her body temperature up, ready to go hunting.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04She's got everything she needs here - a slope, she's got cover, she's got food.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07What more could a snake want?
0:33:07 > 0:33:11The fire has been especially devastating because it hit
0:33:11 > 0:33:15during the peak of the bird and reptile breeding season.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18It seems they've saved this adder just in time.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21I strongly suspect she's pregnant,
0:33:21 > 0:33:26so it's a nice thought to rescue not just one adder, but all its young as well.
0:33:26 > 0:33:32Every cloud has a silver lining and this is the silver lining for this one and for the people who found it.
0:33:32 > 0:33:38With every single snake and lizard they release, the volunteers know they are making a difference.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42Just knowing that we can help, really.
0:33:42 > 0:33:48There's not much we can do, but it's been amazing, the amount of people that have shown up.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50There he goes, look.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51That's him.
0:33:51 > 0:33:59And the thing is, if we've saved one, they will go on to reproduce and it means we've saved many in the end.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06We'll probably be here again tomorrow and so on,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09as long as we can keep finding a few reptiles.
0:34:10 > 0:34:15The heath itself will eventually re-generate,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18but for the rescuers, what makes this even harder to bear
0:34:18 > 0:34:23is that the police believe the fire was started deliberately.
0:34:28 > 0:34:35By the end of the eight-day rescue mission, Steve and his team had saved around 560 animals,
0:34:35 > 0:34:40and given fresh hope to the future of this precious wildlife haven.
0:34:40 > 0:34:46What's really lifted us is people responding to our call to arms to give us a hand,
0:34:46 > 0:34:50let's get something rescued, and for those people to come out in this weather,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53just to help a reptile,
0:34:53 > 0:34:57has been, yeah, heart-lifting, that's what I'd say.
0:35:06 > 0:35:12Finally, back to the story of Womble, the foal who was abandoned in a field in Hertfordshire.
0:35:12 > 0:35:18With no owner and having never been handled, the RSPCA was facing the difficult task of rescuing him.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22Womble's name came from his scruffy appearance,
0:35:22 > 0:35:26so now the team caring for him must smarten him up.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34For the past month, Womble has been settling in to stable life.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40Until coming here, he had had no human contact and was terrified of people.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Easy, easy. Easy, easy, easy.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- It's all right.- It's OK.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48After a dramatic day rescuing him,
0:35:48 > 0:35:53RSPCA Inspector Mel Fisher is back to check on Womble.
0:35:54 > 0:36:00The people here have been fantastic in trying to get him used to being handled and being round humans.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06Now he's at the stage where we can start looking at treating him and getting him ship-shape,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09so we can think about re-homing him at a later date.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13But before they consider that, Womble needs a complete makeover
0:36:13 > 0:36:16and his overgrown hooves are the biggest concern.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22I'm here today to assist the vet and the farrier, so that we can sort his feet out,
0:36:22 > 0:36:26sort his coat out cos he's still a bit tatty, hence the name Womble.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30Hopefully, we can get him a "mani" and a "pedi" and get him sorted out
0:36:30 > 0:36:33and just see how he goes, really, with the interaction.
0:36:34 > 0:36:40Womble is a bit tamer these days, but for the farrier to work on his feet,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42he needs to be sedated again.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Although Womble is only small,
0:36:45 > 0:36:50he's only a young colt, he's probably a year at best, he's very muscular.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55If he's kicking whilst the farrier's got his leg, the farrier could get very badly injured.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00It is a big risk, so the sedation is definitely worthwhile doing.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05Farrier Alex Rowley is experienced in treating nervous horses.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09He can break your arm, yeah.
0:37:09 > 0:37:15I've broken a rib from being kicked and I've broken my foot twice from a horse just startling.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20I've been kicked in the stomach before with no shoe and that hurt a lot.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26The dart gun won't be required today. Vet Christine Jones will sedate Womble.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28We've got two ways of sedating him.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32One's into the vein and one's into the muscle.
0:37:32 > 0:37:38The "in the muscle" takes a bit longer, but it will be a lot easier to do on a really anxious horse,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41so we'll go into the muscle, wait 15 minutes.
0:37:41 > 0:37:47He'll probably be sedated enough, but if he isn't, we can top him up into the vein for the farrier.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55Womble has developed some confidence around the team here at the stables...
0:37:56 > 0:38:01..but for Christine, approaching him with a sedative is a delicate matter.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Who's a good boy?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09A bit of food bribery could be required.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11But Womble is as sharp as ever.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17Ssh, ssh, ssh. It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Eventually, Christine is able to administer the sedative.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28And it soon seems to be working.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Womble's actually reacted to the sedation really well.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36He's now nice and snoozy, head on the floor,
0:38:36 > 0:38:42and that's exactly how we want him for the farrier, so he doesn't get really worried and stressed.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49This seems an ideal opportunity for routine antibiotic and tetanus injections.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Good boy.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56As we've seen before though, Womble's never too keen on an afternoon nap.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02But Christine thinks he's ready for his pedicure.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08- If there's any sharp noise or sudden movement...- He doesn't like it.- Then he calms down, so you'll be fine.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Time for Alex to start work.
0:39:14 > 0:39:19- WHISTLES - I think he might need a bit more. Good lad.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24But he realises immediately this won't be a walk in the paddock.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Womble is showing plenty of spirit despite the sedation.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30He's all right.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33He's just scared. He's absolutely petrified.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38He's never been handled before, so he thinks someone wants to kill him.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42As long as you keep close... With his feathers, I can hold on to them.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Finally, Alex is up and running.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49I don't think he's ever been touched.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53No. We had to dart him to get him out of the field in the first place.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56He's never had anyone pick his feet up or anything.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59I mean, how are they looking?
0:39:59 > 0:40:04- They're all right. They're long, but there's no harm done as such.- Good.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09It's just a case of chopping the long bits off. Yeah, there's no real problem.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Just tidy him up a bit, really.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Womble continues to be a petulant patient.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20But Alex is able to finish the job.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26There you go.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Clever boy. You've got your dancing shoes on now.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36So that's the dancing feet taken care of.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40And with Womble still a bit sleepy...
0:40:40 > 0:40:45- Good boy! - ..Mel and the team take the chance to work on his matted coat.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48I'm trying to break up the big clumps.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51I'm at the salon!
0:40:51 > 0:40:54But Mel knows time is tight for Womble's makeover.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57He's starting to perk up a bit,
0:40:57 > 0:41:02so we're just monitoring to make sure that he doesn't kick or get too stressed.
0:41:02 > 0:41:08We're against the clock to see how much we can get done on him before he starts getting really perky.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13The beauty therapy is almost over.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15You're doing brilliant.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18There's even a spot of furniture polish.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26Don't you look fancy-pants?
0:41:28 > 0:41:32But there's no slouching on the sofa for the new-look Womble.
0:41:34 > 0:41:40Once sedation wears off, it's time for his trimmed feet to go wombling free.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46Just seeing him now in the daylight out of the stable, you can just see what a transformation!
0:41:46 > 0:41:50His feet are good, he's put on a little bit of weight.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52And his coat's coming right.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56Yeah, it's little steps, but it's really good news.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01Womble has come a long way since that battle to rescue him a month ago.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06To see him as he was in the field, I couldn't do this in the field.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11The guys here have done a brilliant job getting him used to being handled by humans
0:42:11 > 0:42:14and realising we're not all scary and nasty.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18It shouldn't be long before he has a new home.
0:42:18 > 0:42:24I'm really pleased. He's come on so well from how he has been to how he is now.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Yeah, I'm chuffed to bits. I couldn't ask for better.
0:42:34 > 0:42:40If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:40 > 0:42:45there are dedicated professionals out there who will answer your call around the clock.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd