0:00:02 > 0:00:06Last year, a pride of lions here was given 24-hour access to their large outdoor enclosure.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Now, the lions are settling in really well, but the keepers have no idea what they get up to at night.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14In the wild, of course, lions would be very active after dark, but
0:00:14 > 0:00:18in captivity, will they prowl around or will they stay tucked up in bed?
0:00:18 > 0:00:21So, on today's programme, for the very first time,
0:00:21 > 0:00:26the keepers are going to have night vision cameras to find out
0:00:26 > 0:00:32what this lot get up to and do the lions really sleep tonight?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- Go on, girls.- Go on.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Also on today's show...
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Keeper Ian risks life and limb for the killer shot of Africa's
0:00:49 > 0:00:51deadliest animal.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54They wake up in the morning grumpy and they go to bed grumpy.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Jean meets Animal Adventure's strangest resident.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Wow! He's just completely turned into a little ball!
0:01:02 > 0:01:04How amazing is that?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And what happens when an animal wants to explore outside
0:01:07 > 0:01:11- their enclosure? - I've got cars coming in,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15so he knows that he's got a perfect opportunity. And there goes Dave.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Since our return to the park last summer,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31we've been following the progress of Anne the elephant.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35She has three keepers and it's been their job to rehabilitate her
0:01:35 > 0:01:38after a long life in the circus.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43When she arrived, Anne could barely lift her trunk above her head,
0:01:43 > 0:01:47but thanks to daily games devised by her keepers, all that has changed.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55Today, Jean is catching up with keepers Luke, Ross
0:01:55 > 0:01:58and Kev to find out about their latest invention,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02which should deliver her a special treat today.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06- Hi, guys.- Hi, Jean.- How are you? - We're good.- What are you doing here?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08I know you guys are always coming up with new games for her,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- so what's this?- This is an enrichment that we call popcorn.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Basically, it's a steel tube, we've cooked some popcorn up for her,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19and hopefully when we let Anne in, she can blow through the bottom and shower herself with it,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23or she can put her trunk up and suck it through the top. So it's just a way of enriching her, feeding her,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27in a different way. Elephants naturally browse anyway, they put their trunk in the air, and because
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Anne has spent a lot of time in her life just eating off the floor,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34a lot of the muscles kind of went a little bit weak in her trunk.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- And now we've exercised it, she's getting really good use of it. - Excellent. That's great to see.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42The plan is, feed the popcorn through the top and then
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Anne's trunk is going to come and blow the popcorn through,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- so how much air does that take? - It takes quite a lot.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51- An elephant, when it sneezes, can actually knock out a dog. It's that powerful.- Wow!
0:02:51 > 0:02:54- So she's got a lot of volume in her lungs.- That's amazing.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58- Hopefully, we're going to see that work perfectly.- Absolutely, yeah.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10It's lovely to see her again. Come on over, Anne.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Always at her own pace.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22- Moseying on over. How does she usually explore things? - Usually, it's with the trunk.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27- Their trunk is their main piece of equipment.- Nice to see you.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30The trunk does everything - smell, grab, pull, push.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32And I can see those little fingers on the end.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35She's an Asian elephant, so she just has the one,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37whereas the Africans tend to have two. You can see she's got one.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42- I can see that right there. - It's sort of like a little lip. - Hi, Anne. We've got a treat for you.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46We've got a treat for you, Anne. So, what will make her decide whether she goes up high or
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- down low? - I think she'll get as much as she can from the top and then she
0:03:50 > 0:03:53knows there's more in there that she can't reach.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Then she'll figure out about blowing the bottom, probably remember,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58- as she goes up.- Up she goes.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01And that's great, because she swung right up there,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- so she's using muscles inside the trunk.- Yeah, exactly.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Even though she's not using the device as intended yet,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11we'd like her to blow from the bottom, it is lovely to see her be
0:04:11 > 0:04:15able to get that trunk up there and use the control to get what she can.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Oh, she's enjoying that popcorn. She got a right good handful of popcorn there and then again,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23just swung her trunk straight back up to get more. So that's great.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Yeah, it's a big win for us three when we see her being able to
0:04:26 > 0:04:30control her trunk so high and for such a period of time.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32So it's a muscle that you really trained.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Yeah, we just put things in place to promote her to just put that
0:04:36 > 0:04:37exercise in cos she's an old girl.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40If she can get away with not exercising, she will.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43She's doing well. And she's so intelligent.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47To remember that game, first of all, remember how it works.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50An elephant never forgets and we like to make things as fun as
0:04:50 > 0:04:54possible, so there's a memory of it, so hopefully all our devices,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57she'll remember how to play it cos it was fun for her.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I can hear something being blown down the tube there.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02What's she doing?
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Well, she's blowing through the top cos now she's reached what
0:05:04 > 0:05:08she can, so she's blowing down to bounce it off the mesh and up.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13- Oh, very clever. - Which works to a certain extent.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18She's pushing a lot of air down there.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21I've got some popcorn and some elephant snot on the end of my hand as well.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25- She's so precise and controlled in her movements as well.- Yeah, she is.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28What we really want to see her doing is getting that trunk
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- underneath and blowing some popcorn up in the air.- Yeah.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And we'll stay here all day if we have to.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Fortunately, the wait wasn't too long and our cameras were
0:05:38 > 0:05:41perfectly placed to capture the action.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Yeah, nice.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53Well done, Anne.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58- BEN:- Anne is constantly amazing her keepers, and enrichment
0:05:58 > 0:06:01devices like these are really improving her wellbeing.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07But on the other side of the park,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11there's another character who is just well annoying.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15I would describe Dave as being mischievous,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19at times a complete pain in the behind.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23I think he's a very cheeky chappie. Very intelligent individual.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27He can be a little bit of a tricky character, actually, at the moment.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29It's causing us a few issues here and there.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Dave is being particularly persistent,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34in terms of being a naughty chap.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So it's reaching the point where we do need to try and address it in some kind of way.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40So, who is Dave?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43He's not a wayward keeper...
0:06:43 > 0:06:47but, in fact, one of the thousand or so animals that live at the park.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51This is Dave.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54He's one of the park's Canadian timber wolves.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58In the wild, these iconic animals have seemingly endless stamina...
0:07:00 > 0:07:03..hunting and roaming across hundreds of miles of territory,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06surviving in complex pack structures.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11There are just three at the park currently and they
0:07:11 > 0:07:13enjoy 24-hour access to their large enclosure.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19But this small pack has a black sheep. And that's Dave.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Here's Dave, just running along the road right now.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Rachel is one of the keepers responsible for maintaining
0:07:27 > 0:07:32order in Wolf Wood. She knows Dave better than most.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Dave is brilliant. They're each characters,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39but it's just Dave is the star up here, I would say.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41He will test you.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44He loves to play games with you at certain points where
0:07:44 > 0:07:48he just makes you try and make that one mistake and he's just got you.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Dave's latest campaign is proving particularly problematic for Rachel.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59Like clockwork, at 3pm, naturally inquisitive Dave tries to explore
0:07:59 > 0:08:04the area outside his enclosure and thinks he's found a way to do it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Dave waits for cars to come into the section to make his move.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10He waits for his opportunity, he's so intelligent,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12he knows it's going to happen.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14If there's a gap, he's going to take it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19But this is no laughing matter.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23The timber wolf enclosure is located at the southernmost tip of
0:08:23 > 0:08:27the safari park, close to the lions.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Metal fences and strips of
0:08:33 > 0:08:36no man's land called a safety lock separate these predators.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41A skilfully manned system allows thousands of cars to pass
0:08:41 > 0:08:43through on the busiest days.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Lock five to second section patrol.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Is it possible to get a guard up here?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I've got a couple of lions playing around.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54It's safe for now,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58but Tilly thinks Dave's getting a bit too close for comfort.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It's very important that he doesn't get actually into the lock system.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Dave in himself is dangerous,
0:09:04 > 0:09:09but he will rile up the other animals and, worse-case scenario,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12you can have them all converging on the same area,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14all getting very angry.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Very, very serious.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It's three o'clock in the wolf enclosure and Rachel is
0:09:20 > 0:09:22preparing herself for Dave's daily wander.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28As you can see, Dave is up, he's about.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30He's got the other two following him.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34You can just see by Dave's posture at the moment that he's like,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36"I'm thinking about it."
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Cheeky Dave's been biding his time until the park gets busy.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I've got cars now coming into the section.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48So he knows that he's got a perfect opportunity.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51And this is where the fun begins, of trying to make sure you
0:09:51 > 0:09:57reverse back to create no space whatsoever for Dave to sneak down.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I could drive at him,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04but he may sort of, like, make me make a mistake, like so.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Getting in the wrong gear. Exactly what Dave's waiting for.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Just a constant, like, game of chess, and as soon as I can,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I will be trying to get him out of this little fence cos I'm
0:10:17 > 0:10:20holding up traffic at the moment. Yes, Dave. I can see you.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23And don't bat your eyelids at me cos you're not getting past. Please.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Keep going.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Drive.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32And then, hopefully, guide him out.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38He's again still adamant that he's getting down. Ooh.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42It's not good.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43I don't like this, Dave.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Don't want to keep doing this.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51See, and then you've got members of the public and again,
0:10:51 > 0:10:57I cannot manoeuvre cos I've got people...and Dave knows.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02And I'm going to hit the fence, and there goes Dave.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04He's going down in between the cars because
0:11:04 > 0:11:06he knows that I can't stop him.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Dave has left his enclosure and entered the lock.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19It's still a safe area, but it's one step closer to the lions.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25With Rachel watching his back, Declan heads out on foot to
0:11:25 > 0:11:27carefully coax Dave back into Wolf Wood.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Hold up a little bit, wait for him to get on the road.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32I'm going to be driving across,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34so that I don't stop him going that way.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And the only way he's going to go is up in through the slip fence,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41so I'm just going to hold off and do it like so.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42And chase him.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47By working together, they get Dave home.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52But one thing is for certain, Rachel and the team must come up with
0:11:52 > 0:11:55a strategy to try and encourage him to stay there.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05At the beginning of the week, we saw how a fatal disease,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09avian malaria, devastated the penguin colony.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Treating the disease claimed even more lives.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Of a colony of 34 birds, just seven survived.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19We've lost so many birds. It's so devastating.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23The penguin keepers, they've hatched these birds out of eggs and
0:12:23 > 0:12:25they're dying in their arms.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Keepers worked around the clock to nurse the remaining penguins
0:12:30 > 0:12:33back to good health.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And, with help from other collections,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38new birds started to arrive.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43And the park is rebuilding the colony with old faces and
0:12:43 > 0:12:45some new ones.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I'm here with keeper Lucy. Lucy, we've got some penguins around us.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- Yeah.- We've got some food. - Yeah, this is Pumpkin here. - Hello, Pumpkin.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54She's always one of the first to come over. So you can hand feed her.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57There you go. How are they all doing now? How are they integrating?
0:12:57 > 0:13:01They're doing brilliantly. They're not like your average mammal where you need to spend weeks
0:13:01 > 0:13:05introducing, slowly getting them used to each other. They actually prefer the more, the better,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09cos they feel safer in larger groups. In terms of the new ones, they snap at each other, they'll
0:13:09 > 0:13:13shout at each other, tell each other off, but you don't really need to worry about it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15You guys grow very attached. Do you have a favourite?
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- One of my favourites is probably this little one here. This is Princess.- Hello, Princess.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23She's got a little bandage on her foot. She's just hurt her foot and we just have to keep it clean.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28She's one I've known since she was absolutely teeny tiny, so you do get very much attached.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33And what are hopes and aspirations for the future? Presumably that they'll actually find mates?
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Yeah, I would absolutely love for them to start bonding together, start showing
0:13:37 > 0:13:39a little bit of flirtation. The new ones have tried, bless them.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43You can tell which ones they are cos they're the ones hiding at the back a little bit.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47So far, originals aren't having it and they are just snapping at them and telling them to go away.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50We do however have this mated pair left. This is Readily and Peaches.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53They've been mated for quite a while. They're two of our
0:13:53 > 0:13:56originals, so we are hoping they'll start breeding in the future.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00We did have a mated pair join us from the other collection and that
0:14:00 > 0:14:03is Bruno, who is this one with the blue tag with the yellow bead on it.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06He is our very greedy boy. I'm surprised he hasn't run over and
0:14:06 > 0:14:10stolen all the fish already. His missus is quite far at the back.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12In fact, I think that's her waddling towards us right now.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15She's called Mars, and hopefully they'll be very good parents
0:14:15 > 0:14:18because Readily and Peaches haven't been the greatest in the past.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20They do like to leave their eggs unattended every so often.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23And we'd love to have a few more and build our colony up again,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- so it looks a bit busier. - Thank you, Lucy.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Well, after the devastating news from last year, I'm thrilled
0:14:28 > 0:14:32to see that the future for the penguins here is looking so bright.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Lions were the first animal to arrive at the park when it
0:14:40 > 0:14:43opened in 1966.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47They were the key to a potentially dangerous but also pioneering
0:14:47 > 0:14:51plan - semi-wild animals living in a drive through enclosure,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53deep in the Wiltshire countryside.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Last year, we saw how the park was changing to create
0:14:58 > 0:15:02a new super enclosure for its famous lions.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Two and a half kilometres of new fencing was installed at
0:15:06 > 0:15:08a cost of over £500,000.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Lead keeper Caleb oversaw the lion move and
0:15:13 > 0:15:16has been monitoring their behaviour ever since.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19So, it's been roughly seven months since we've moved them across
0:15:19 > 0:15:21into their brand-new enclosure.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24They're still exploring it, to be honest.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26They're still climbing different trees and, yeah,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28they are absolutely loving it.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30They each can find a bit of space in their new enclosure to kind
0:15:30 > 0:15:32of do their own thing,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34so we're seeing a lot of different behaviour in that section
0:15:34 > 0:15:38compared to the other one, so, yeah, absolutely love it.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42At the end of each day, most lions in captivity are put to bed in their
0:15:42 > 0:15:46pens, but out in the wild, they would be highly active after dark.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Instead of being locked in at night,
0:15:51 > 0:15:56these lions now have 24-hour access to a special night-time paddock.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01They constantly explore their enormous daytime enclosure,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05but the keepers have no idea if they venture out of their beds at night.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Very often we hear as we're driving in in the morning or driving home,
0:16:08 > 0:16:13the lions roaring and things, so we kind of want to know what they get up to overnight.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18So, tonight, we're going to set up some cameras into the paddock and, hopefully,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21we're going to learn how much they actually use the paddock and
0:16:21 > 0:16:24what areas they use and just see what they get up to overnight.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Cos it's sort of a burning question that we've always wanted to
0:16:27 > 0:16:30know the answer to, how much and what they do outside.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Come, lions!
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Night vision cameras could also help keepers get
0:16:36 > 0:16:39a better understanding of pride dynamics.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42During the day, the two adult males, Simba and Klaus,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45rule over the pride.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46Klaus is last.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49So this is our big male. He's 210 kilos.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52He normally is the last one in.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55He just waits for the others to go in to make sure that they're
0:16:55 > 0:16:58all in and if there is any threat, he's to deal with it outside.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00At night, when their instincts are heightened,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03this behaviour could be even more extreme.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07With all the lions secured in their house,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Caleb and Eloise can start rigging the enclosure with cameras,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14which they hope will also survive the night.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17The cameras are going to be protected slightly because
0:17:17 > 0:17:19they're in a metal box.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22But you never know what the lions are going to do, do you?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Hopefully, we get something good, but...fingers crossed.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43It's morning, and Caleb and Eloise have come in early to find
0:17:43 > 0:17:47out if their cameras survived and if the lions left their beds.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It's pitch black in the lion enclosure and only with
0:17:53 > 0:17:55infrared cameras can we see.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58But not so for the lions.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02So we've got all the lions running out.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Their eyes appear to be glowing because of
0:18:04 > 0:18:06a layer of tissue at the back of the eye
0:18:06 > 0:18:09which helps reflect all available light,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12giving them superior night vision over us humans.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Enzi's there, just staring directly at us.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21It is quite daunting to see a lion's face at night cos their eyes
0:18:21 > 0:18:23are so illuminated.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Also clear is another clever lion adaptation.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40The reason lions have those white patches under their eyes is to
0:18:40 > 0:18:43reflect light back into their eyes so they can see even better
0:18:43 > 0:18:46at night-time. So when she's night-time hunting, the pray probably won't be
0:18:46 > 0:18:49able to see her because their vision's not as good.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Whereas she'll be able to see everything a lot clearer.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55It's typically the lionesses that do the hunting in the pride,
0:18:55 > 0:19:00- while the role of the male is to protect.- That looks like Klaus.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Klaus in the pouring rain outside.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06And true to form, as the biggest lion in the park,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Klaus lets everybody know who is in charge tonight.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13HE ROARS
0:19:13 > 0:19:16A lion's roar can be heard up to five miles away,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20telling any potential rivals to keep out.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22HE ROARS
0:19:22 > 0:19:25He's definitely the most dominant thing around the park.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Definitely, yeah. It's nice to see him bellow,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30see his whole body moving as he's roaring into it.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- It's great.- It's great to see.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34- Could watch these guys all day. - Yeah.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- And all night. - And all night now, yeah.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Just as they would be in the wild,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43these lions are incredibly active after dark.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It means the keepers have a whole new challenge.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50They now need to totally rethink how they enrich the lives of the
0:19:50 > 0:19:55lions, not just in daylight hours, but 24 hours a day.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59This is absolutely fantastic. The footage we've captured is brilliant.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00We know what they're doing.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03But we have a plan to try and get them more active overnight,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06so we're going to put some enrichment out,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08increase that activity and also see how they behave around feed
0:20:08 > 0:20:11overnight too, cos during the day, we know what they're capable of,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14we know what they do, so by putting some enrichment in overnight,
0:20:14 > 0:20:18we might see a completely different hierarchy, we might see some different behaviour,
0:20:18 > 0:20:23so we'll put something in for them to play with and then hopefully we'll get some results back.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Behind the magnificent Longleat House sits Animal Adventure.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Home to 52 different weird and wonderful species,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42as Jean has been finding out.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43When threatened,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47some animals employ the most remarkable defence strategies.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51And one of the more unusual ones comes from an animal just down here.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56This is a southern three-banded armadillo and his name is Hansel.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00So, Emily, show me what happens when you pick Hansel up.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03- He should...- Wow!
0:21:03 > 0:21:06He's just completely turned into a little ball!
0:21:07 > 0:21:11How amazing is that? What a fabulous structure!
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- He's in there. Tell me about this. - So, the shell's made up of keratin,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- which is exactly the same as our hair and our nails.- Yes.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- So it's a really solid, solid shell. - It is solid. It's quite hard.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25These guys will curl up into a complete ball and nothing's going to get in there.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28No, nothing's going to penetrate this and, obviously,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- this is something they do as a defence mechanism.- Yeah.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34What kind of animals would be preying on them?
0:21:34 > 0:21:37So, in the wild, it's going to be big cats, like jaguars.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- I can't see even a jaguar penetrating him.- No.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45- I mean, he's very protected. - It would be really, really tough. - Tell me a bit more about his design.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48So, he's got these really, really huge claws.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- Yes, I can see those there. So, is he a digger?- He is a digger.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52He does like to dig around.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54What kind of things is he digging around for?
0:21:54 > 0:21:56In the wild, these guys would eat lots of bugs and things
0:21:56 > 0:22:00like that, so lots of things that are under the ground. These guys have an amazing sense of smell,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03so they can smell things from really far away.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06How does he know when it's safe to come out again?
0:22:06 > 0:22:07It is their amazing hearing.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10He'd be able to hear when there's nothing around.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14So he'll wait for a while and then eventually, he'll uncurl,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17ever so slowly. Double check and then off he goes.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Emily, this is one of the most amazing coats of armour I've
0:22:20 > 0:22:22ever seen. It's just like a jigsaw.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Everything just fits together in this really perfect, impenetrable
0:22:26 > 0:22:29ball, but I do wonder, does this get in the way of him walking around?
0:22:29 > 0:22:31No. Not at all.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- Can I put him down? I'd love to see him walking.- Yeah.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38- If I go up this end, hopefully he'll run to you.- OK.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Come on, Hansel.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45Faster than I thought!
0:22:54 > 0:22:55What an amazing little animal.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58We see some huge predators in this park,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00but that was a perfect little ball of defence.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06With over 100 species of animal, there's
0:23:06 > 0:23:10no shortage of characters in this park, but every now and then,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13there's one animal in particular that stands out from the rest
0:23:13 > 0:23:15of the pack.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Earlier, we met Dave, the Canadian timber wolf.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24His daily attempts to head beyond the bounds of his enclosure
0:23:24 > 0:23:26are tormenting his keepers.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Rachel and her team have come up with an ingenious plan to try
0:23:30 > 0:23:34and deter Dave from going near the gates.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37We're going to use his nose and sense of smell to see if we can
0:23:37 > 0:23:40deter him from that by giving him a smell that he doesn't like that he's
0:23:40 > 0:23:44going to associate with the fence and he will go, "You know what?
0:23:44 > 0:23:47"I don't like that area any more, I'm going to avoid it."
0:23:47 > 0:23:51In this experiment, Rachel's going to present Dave with smells that
0:23:51 > 0:23:56she hopes will act as a deterrent - menthol oil and chilli powder.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Wolves have an incredible sense of smell,
0:23:58 > 0:24:02capable of picking up an odour over two miles away.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05The smells won't harm the wolves at all, but they may deter them.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Let's take them in and go and see what Dave does with them.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Three o'clock is fast approaching,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Dave's preferred time to head for the gates.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16It's now a race against time
0:24:16 > 0:24:20to prevent yet another of Dave's escapades.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24The question is, will Rachel's deterrent actually work?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29So, we're going to get our two, fingers crossed,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33horrible smelling ones. I'm going to put them out first,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36keeping an eye on Dave at the same time.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42We're just waiting for the boys...
0:24:42 > 0:24:44to see what they do.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47It's no surprise that first on the scene is Dave.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Dave's the bravest. He's going in. He's going to have a look.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54What is it? Is it safe to do so?
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Dave's having a good sniff of chilli powder, making him sneeze.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Not 100% sure of that one.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07But, no, doesn't like the old... Just saw his face then.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10A bit of a reaction to that one.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Dave's sort of like, "No, don't like 'em, going away."
0:25:14 > 0:25:16With Dave beating a retreat,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19it seems Rachel may have found her suitable smell.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25With the next wave of cars on their way and the gates about to open,
0:25:25 > 0:25:26she must act fast.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Dave's heading this way. I'm heading back into the slip fence.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Going to get the menthol liquid out
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and deter Dave from heading down, hopefully.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Now for the other side.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Got to be really quick. Bus is coming.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58If this test works, the keepers will devise a more permanent solution.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06By creating a temporary virtual blockade with the oil,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09it should be immediately clear if it works or not.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15As cars head into the enclosure, will Dave head down to the gates?
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Dave got up and he was heading this way,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21but he's now gone the opposite way.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25He's just decided that he didn't want to come our way and he's
0:26:25 > 0:26:29gone back to the others, as far away as possible from the slip fence.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I'm taking it as a win for myself.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Absolutely happy with that. Brilliant.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53Since it was built in 2013, Ray Bay has bread many thornback rays,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57which is good news because they're an endangered species native
0:26:57 > 0:26:59to the British Isles.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Now, if, like me, you've ever found one of these washed up on
0:27:03 > 0:27:05a UK beach, you may wonder what it is.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06Well, I can tell you now
0:27:06 > 0:27:10it's called a mermaid's purse, and this is an egg sack that belongs
0:27:10 > 0:27:14to several species of shark and also ray found in British waters.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Now, I'm here with keeper Christopher to find out
0:27:17 > 0:27:22a little bit more about these. So, these belong to ray. Is that right?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Yes, ray or skate.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28Ray eggs are very similar, skates are also kind of this.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30This is from the thornback ray.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Thornback rays is the ones that we have here. That's a few hours old.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38- OK.- It was laid in this pool over here by one of our large females.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42So, first of all, why do you separate the egg sacs from there into here?
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Just so that we can monitor them, keep an eye on them,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49and then because the little babies will probably be
0:27:49 > 0:27:53- a bit too vulnerable in there with the big ones.- OK.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Now, you say you monitor them. How can you see what's going on inside?
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- They're very dark. - They're very dark, so here I've got a torch and basically,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04if you grab one, and you light the torch underneath...
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Yeah, there we go.- ..you can see... - We can see the silhouette.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12There is the sort of...where the main organs are and then sometimes,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14you can see it in very great detail.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16How long is it then until these hatch?
0:28:16 > 0:28:20- How long do they need for gestation? - Between four and eight months.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23And they're going to grow into pretty sizeable ray.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26- How big will they grow?- Between a metre and a metre and a half.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28The female's a tiny bit bigger.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30They take quite a long time to mature,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33about eight years, they're sexually mature.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36They're so beautiful, they're so peaceful, they're so gentle,
0:28:36 > 0:28:41- and they're really lovely. - If someone finds one of these on the beach, what should they do with it?
0:28:41 > 0:28:45See if there is a little ray forming inside and if there is, you could put it back in the water,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48but usually it means that it's an empty case.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Christopher, thank you so much. There you go.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Next time you find a mermaid's purse on the beach,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55you'll know exactly what it is.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08With 147 different species and over 1,000 mouths to feed,
0:29:08 > 0:29:12what the animals eat can vary as much as the species themselves.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Jean is in the Batcave for the afternoon feed up.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23- Hi, Perry.- Hello.- Wow! I can hear these bats making lots of noise.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26- SQUEAKING - What types of bats are they?
0:29:26 > 0:29:28These are Egyptian fruit bats in here. We've got 42 boys.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Why do you only have boys in here?
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Well, it's like a retirement home for them.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35They're all getting on a little bit. They've come from other zoos.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37And they're not endangered. So we don't need to breed them
0:29:37 > 0:29:40and they get along a lot better in single sex groups.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43I know that bats are frugivores and they can eat up to half of
0:29:43 > 0:29:46the equivalent of their body weight every day,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48so you must be continuously feeding them.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52Yeah, they eat a lot of fruit and they need all that energy to
0:29:52 > 0:29:55help them sustain flight, as flying does take a lot of energy.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58So, what kind of things do they like to eat? What's their favourites?
0:29:58 > 0:30:03Their favourites are bananas and mangos, but we're going to try something a bit different today.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05Figs, plums and strawberries, so
0:30:05 > 0:30:07it's going to be interesting to see how they react.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Should we do a little taste test, make them fruit kebabs?
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- Would that go down well? - Let's do it.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15So are these some of the fruits that they would eat in the wild?
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Figs, definitely.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Apricot as well, dates. They're not actually very fussy.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24So we have figs here, plums here, and strawberries.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Which ones do you think they're going to go for?
0:30:27 > 0:30:30I think figs. I don't think they're going to like strawberries.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32And I'm not sure about plums.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36We'll soon see. Plenty of food down here, guys.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40BATS SQUEAK
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Think he's sniffing out this strawberry.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48Well, we've been joined by a couple more now and the figs and
0:30:48 > 0:30:50strawberries seem to be popular.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- Yeah.- He's just sniffing this out, thinking about trying a fig. Oh!- No.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58- Changed his mind. - That's one he doesn't like.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00This little guy is loving these strawberries,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02but you weren't expecting that.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06I was not expecting this at all, but he's really enjoying that.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08When they're eating so much fruit,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10there must be a bit of a mess in here.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Yeah, it's a constant clean-up job in here.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14They produce guano,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17which is actually a really important fertiliser.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It's actually used in some gunpowder as well,
0:31:19 > 0:31:20so it's really special stuff.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23So when you clean it up in here, can you make use of it?
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Yeah, it's just used as fertiliser. It goes on fields.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29What's he going to go for?
0:31:29 > 0:31:31So he could be sniffing out this food,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34deciding whether to go for strawberries or plum,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38and there you go, he's gone for the strawberries again.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40So that's why you do these taste tests, isn't it?
0:31:40 > 0:31:42To find out which fruits they prefer.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Exactly, and it's teaching us as well.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Which is always good when it comes to working with animals.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50Well, Perry, I think your taste test has been
0:31:50 > 0:31:56a success because we all found out that bats love strawberries.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03The park is home to many species that are deadly to humans.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08But what many visitors don't realise
0:32:08 > 0:32:11is that the most dangerous animals here
0:32:11 > 0:32:13are the two hippos,
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Spot and Sonya.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Despite weighing over a tonne and a half each,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21these sisters are surprisingly fast and incredibly aggressive.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26In their native Africa, the hippo is responsible for more human
0:32:26 > 0:32:28fatalities than any other animal.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Our pair came here from Uganda in 1976.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Since then, everyone has kept well away.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Until now.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Today, keeper and animal park veteran Ian Turner is going
0:32:47 > 0:32:50to try and photograph them like never before.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53He's taken great shots of most of the animals on the park.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56But there's one photo he still hasn't got.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Each winter, the hippos build a giant mud wallow.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05They do it because mud helps stop their skin from drying out.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06But for as long as anyone can remember,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09they make their wallow deep in the bushes.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12But this year, it's out in the open.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16I've been here over four years and this is the first time I can
0:33:16 > 0:33:18remember where we'll be able to see them clearly.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21So this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23never to be seen again.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Normally, it's the place we can't see or get to.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29You know they're there, cos you can just see the tops of them.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31And you can usually see a bit of steam coming off of them.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34But normally, it's right tucked away.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Having such a good vantage point is a rare opportunity.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46But once inside the hippo enclosure, it's safety first.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Ian parks as close to the boat as he can.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54One of the things about hippos - they look big and fat,
0:33:54 > 0:33:55but they're fast.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58They can probably run 30mph.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Which is faster than I can run, I'm afraid.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Ian wastes no time getting to the safety of the boat.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09When he does get on deck, the view doesn't disappoint.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16They're really good.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19She's just getting up now, look.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Where we're looking now, you've got the two hippos,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30perfect little mud wallow that they make themselves.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34Normally, it's in the willow trees, so we can't see them.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37So to see them in the mud wallow like this is absolutely fantastic.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40And I'm pretty sure I've got some cracking shots already.
0:34:43 > 0:34:44Normally, in the summertime,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46they'll spend most of their time in the lake.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49But in winter time, they spend a lot of time in the mud wallow.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51And in the cold weather, it keeps them nice and warm.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54So they will literally be covered from head to foot in mud.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55At the moment, where they are now,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57they've not buried themselves really deep.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01They're just laying on the top cos it's a really mild day today.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I think they know we're in this boat, cos they can hear our voices.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07They've done a bit of ear flicking and looking round and the hippo
0:35:07 > 0:35:10has got up and changed position to get in a more comfy position.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12So they know we're in here.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17Hippos don't appreciate any invasion of their personal space.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19If Ian was in a different spot,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22he would almost certainly come under attack.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25They're the most dangerous animal in Africa. Very territorial.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27So this area is their area.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30So they're very dominant. Definitely not to be trusted.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34What hippos tend to do when they get frightened or aggressive,
0:35:34 > 0:35:36they'll charge towards water, and they won't go round us,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39they'll go straight through us.
0:35:39 > 0:35:40So these two girls,
0:35:40 > 0:35:43they wake up in the morning grumpy and they go to bed grumpy.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46As a hippo should be. A grumpy hippo.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51But today, these two grumpy animals have made Ian extremely happy.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54It's over four years I've been waiting to get
0:35:54 > 0:35:56a really good shot of the hippos in the mud.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59And this is... They're right in the
0:35:59 > 0:36:03middle of the open in this mud wallow. So, yeah, first for me.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Always amazing, always amazing, these animals.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Earlier, using special cameras, we were able to see for the
0:36:17 > 0:36:21first time if the lions use their outdoor enclosure at night.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31After seeing how naturally nocturnal the big cats are, senior keeper
0:36:31 > 0:36:35Caleb has come up with a plan to keep the lions entertained
0:36:35 > 0:36:37well into the early hours.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43He's made a massive meaty treat for the lions.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45But first, he must get it out of its container.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58So we've created a massive ice lolly pop for the lions.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01It's got two toys frozen into it,
0:37:01 > 0:37:03and it's also got meat and other different things in there as
0:37:03 > 0:37:06well to try and focus the lions' attention. And, obviously, with
0:37:06 > 0:37:08it being ice, hopefully it won't melt too fast and it should
0:37:08 > 0:37:12keep them in the same spot for hopefully six or seven hours.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18With all the enrichment in place, night begins to fall on the park.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Yeah, as you can see, it's getting quite dark,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24so it is imperative that we get out before it gets pitch black as well.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27The animals are extremely dangerous at night and their behaviour
0:37:27 > 0:37:30completely changes, so to get through the rest of the
0:37:30 > 0:37:33reserve safely and out, we've got to time it just right.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Come in.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37- ON RADIO:- The lions are on their way out.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52As the sun rises on another day, it's time to review the footage.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Last time, there was clear evidence Klaus ruled the pride despite
0:37:57 > 0:38:00there being another male, Simba, in the group.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02HE ROARS
0:38:02 > 0:38:05During a feed, this should be even more clear.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09I'm hoping to see some individual behaviour from some of the
0:38:09 > 0:38:11characters that I'd expect during the day,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13that we see them feed,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but also behaviours from some of the others that we don't see feed,
0:38:16 > 0:38:20and just piece together a better understanding of the pride.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23At night, we would struggle to see anything.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27But this is what's happening under cover of darkness.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Oh, here comes Simba.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33The lionesses are digging in, but surprisingly, it's Simba,
0:38:33 > 0:38:37the less dominant male, who's the first male to investigate.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Oh, Jazeera just got... Yeah, just got it from Simba then.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48ROARING
0:38:52 > 0:38:54- Wow, that's incredible. Did you see her jump?- Yeah.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00While Simba has laid claim to the lollypop, Klaus,
0:39:00 > 0:39:04who is normally dominant, is keeping his distance.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06It is interesting to see just Simba left,
0:39:06 > 0:39:10cos you'd expect Klaus to be, you know, just as involved if not...
0:39:10 > 0:39:12He's slightly bigger than Simba as well.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18It's just incredible how much of a space he's cleared around him.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22They must all respect Simba quite a lot. That's what it goes to show.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25SNARLING
0:39:25 > 0:39:28- Oh, Klaus is...- There he is.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32SNARLING
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Oh, that's a big fight between the two boys.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Simba...
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- Oh.- Oh, yeah.- Simba's definitely...
0:39:42 > 0:39:45He's actually hugging over the top of the whole ice block.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47He's just like, "No, you can't have it. This is mine."
0:39:47 > 0:39:50He uses his whole body to guard it from all the other lions.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52That is incredible.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56Klaus is kind of a bit confused, how he hasn't got what he wanted,
0:39:56 > 0:39:58cos he normally gets what he wants.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Viewing the lions out of normal hours has given
0:40:02 > 0:40:05a totally different dimension to pride dynamics.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08It's interesting to see how they are when we're not there.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12I honestly didn't expect Simba to be as controlling over it.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16There was so many interactions between all the animals and
0:40:16 > 0:40:19so much interaction around the ice block that I could watch it
0:40:19 > 0:40:22ten times and still keep learning new things about individuals.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24As we were watching it, we've learnt
0:40:24 > 0:40:27a lot from it and it's given us ideas for the future as well.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38It's almost time to end the show.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Ooh, this is a treat, to get this close to them, isn't it?
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- It is a bit of a treat.- Hello.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45But before we do, I'm catching up with an old friend.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Now, there's one zebra that I am particularly fond of and her
0:40:51 > 0:40:57name is Steph. And she has been here since I first started filming
0:40:57 > 0:40:59in 1999, and she's still here.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- Isn't she, Dan?- She is, yeah. Steph's still here.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04But what age would she be now?
0:41:04 > 0:41:05Steph's 24.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08They wouldn't live that long in the wild, would they?
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Probably not, due to natural predators and stuff, you know.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15- I think our oldest one we've had here before was 30 years old.- Wow.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19- OK, so she's not the most vintage zebra you've ever had.- Not here, no.
0:41:21 > 0:41:22Now that she is a bit older,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25is there sort of particular care that you have to take?
0:41:25 > 0:41:26Yeah, so, as with most older animals...
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Actually, this is Nola and this is Steph on your right,
0:41:29 > 0:41:31so, Steph, come over and say hello.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Hello, Steph. Can I see if she'll take some nuts from me?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Yeah, of course you can. Just hold on tight.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38- Good girl. - She's quite keen for them.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43So on that is some medication which is for arthritis.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46OK, so she's getting a little bit creaky in her old age, is she?
0:41:46 > 0:41:48- Yeah, yeah.- Hello, Steph.
0:41:48 > 0:41:49She's a bit slower than the rest.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Other than that, she's perfectly healthy.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53She looks incredibly well.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56- And she hasn't got any grey. - No, no grey.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59And she's had a number of foals over the years, hasn't she?
0:41:59 > 0:42:02She has had a lot of foals, yes. She's still got some here now.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04We've got Kabibi, who's her daughter,
0:42:04 > 0:42:06and she's had foals as well, so she's got grandchildren as well.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09So she's got grandchildren here.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13As she is, you know, one of the great matriarchs of the park...
0:42:13 > 0:42:17- She's one of our favourites.- Do you think she'll live out her days here?
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Yeah, yeah, as long as she's in good condition and good health,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23then she'll be here for forever.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Well, Dan, it's always a real pleasure and
0:42:25 > 0:42:27a real treat to be this close to them.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- You're very welcome.- Thank you. Thank you very much.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Well, sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme,
0:42:32 > 0:42:35but here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41It's the annual weigh-in for these mighty giants.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43But how do you weigh a rhino?
0:42:45 > 0:42:49I don't think he's too happy about having his weight taken today.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53We discover the lengths keepers go to when they step in to raise
0:42:53 > 0:42:55the animal orphans.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59This isn't just a nine to five job, being a zookeeper, that's for sure.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03And the vital TB testing continues across the park.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05But what will be the outcome?
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Obviously, we're hoping for a clear result and that TB's not an issue.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10That's the hope.