0:00:02 > 0:00:06The most nerve-racking moment for any cat owner is when their cat ventures through the cat-flap
0:00:06 > 0:00:09and out into the big wide world for the very first time.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13So just imagine how nervous the keepers are as these two beautiful
0:00:13 > 0:00:18rare and endangered cheetah cubs head out into the safari park.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22In a very short time they could be encountering 7,000 cars
0:00:22 > 0:00:26over a weekend, so it's absolutely vital they instinctively know
0:00:26 > 0:00:28what to do to stay out of trouble.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32But no-one knows quite how these bundles of hair,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34teeth and claws are going to react.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Clever girl.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Coming up on today's show,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44more stories from right across the animal kingdom.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Including a medical emergency when keepers find a bat
0:00:50 > 0:00:52with an unexplained injury.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Finding something that isn't then fixable
0:00:55 > 0:00:58might actually mean a different ending for tomorrow for him.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02The whole park pulled together to try and catch
0:01:02 > 0:01:06one of the world's greatest long-distance runners.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08We've got one wolf in the paddock
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and then we've got one just running around.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12One's broken through the line behind us.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Come on then, pop on the scale there.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18And after a jam-packed week of animal antics...
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Oh, who's that?
0:01:20 > 0:01:22..Jean has mastered the art of animal keeping.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25They are going mad for this food. They're loving it!
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Coming up with great enrichment ideas
0:01:41 > 0:01:45for the park's biggest carnivores requires patience,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50creativity and positivity and today the tiger keepers are hoping
0:01:50 > 0:01:54that they will get that all-important balance just right.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01If you go down to the woods today you're sure of a big surprise.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03That is amazing.
0:02:03 > 0:02:09Keepers John and Hannah have dreamed up a giant cat toy for the tigers.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10That's the ticket.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And have roped in the other keepers to help them build it.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16One down, three to go.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19With fire hoses donated by a local fire brigade...
0:02:19 > 0:02:22It's actually looking a lot better than I even thought it would do.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25..and a recycled wooden pallet,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29it is, of course, a tiger sized wobble board.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34The idea of the wobble board is that it will really utilise all their balance skills.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38When they're chasing prey they'll always have to be twisting and turning,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42leaping out of trees in the case of tigers, so this is a really good test of their abilities
0:02:42 > 0:02:44and really gets them honing those skills.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46To entice them on to the board
0:02:46 > 0:02:49the team are suspending a rope ball right above it.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And while they might seem crazy, this type of invention
0:02:53 > 0:02:56is actually something of a tradition here at the park.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Ever since the lions first arrived 50 years ago, the keepers have
0:03:02 > 0:03:06been showing people exactly what these cats are capable of.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Starting with original keeper Mike Lockyer,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12who wanted to demonstrate to the visitors
0:03:12 > 0:03:16just how dangerous they could be should anyone get out of their car.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And then we set up a stunt with a dummy,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26quite realistic looking in a fully dressed coat and everything,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28leaning over his car.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33And then just let the lions find it to see what they do.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40And of course they grabbed the dummy and ran off with it.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42It was really quite dramatic to watch.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Not only did it have the desired effect, but it also gave rise
0:03:47 > 0:03:51to a long line of keeper inventions like this scratching post
0:03:51 > 0:03:56built in 2003 by legendary keeper Bob Trollope.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59If it all goes to pot then it goes to pot and we'll have to go back
0:03:59 > 0:04:01to the drawing board and think of something else.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Unfortunately, no-one had told the lions how to use it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Just coming over and trying to get their teeth in between the coils.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Instead of using it as a scratching post
0:04:12 > 0:04:14they're using it as a gnawing post.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16It's something new in their territory
0:04:16 > 0:04:18that they've got to go and investigate.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20And they tend to be investigating
0:04:20 > 0:04:22with their teeth instead of their claws.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29In 2005 the team tried a similar idea, this time adding a ball.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32But the lions managed to destroy it.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So the 2006 model was somewhat sturdier.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42The reason behind building contraptions like this one
0:04:42 > 0:04:46is all in the name of what keepers call enrichment.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50It's about finding different ways to challenge the animals,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54getting them to stretch their mental muscles,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56as well as keeping them physically active.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Which is exactly what the class of 2017 are attempting today
0:05:02 > 0:05:05with their latest invention.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- Oop!- Oh! Yeah, that's great.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Yeah, this is always a favourite part of the job,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13building practical enrichment items for the animals.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17You can't beat it. When we let the animals back out and hopefully they enjoy it,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21really get a buzz out of it, it gives us a buzz as well.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25With the wobble board finished, there's only one thing for it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Amy, you can let the tigers out.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Ah, there's always this moment of suspense,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35the excitement before the event. Will they react to it?
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Will they not, or will they actually completely destroy it? Who knows?
0:05:38 > 0:05:42We'll find out later what the tigers make of it.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Winter's coming to a close here in the park and the animals are
0:05:57 > 0:05:59getting ready for a new season.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04Some of them, however, take a little longer to get ready than others,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07as Jean is about to find out.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I'm here at Butterfly Kingdom at the start of a new season
0:06:10 > 0:06:13and there's not too many butterflies around, but not to worry,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15because we have some new arrivals, don't we, James?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- Yeah, that is correct. - What are we going to do today?
0:06:17 > 0:06:21So, basically, we've had an order come in of all our pupa,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24so we're basically just going to be sticking them on these sticks
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- so they can emerge properly.- You have to talk me through these,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30because there's some weird and wonderful colours and camouflages here. I mean, I would've just
0:06:30 > 0:06:32thought these were some old, dried-up leaves.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36And that's the idea behind it, so they'll be on a lone stick,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39just sitting there and no animal is going to want to eat a dead leaf.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43It looks like a leaf on the outside, but what's going on on the inside?
0:06:43 > 0:06:44They start off as the caterpillar,
0:06:44 > 0:06:49they moult into this sort of shape, so this is underneath
0:06:49 > 0:06:52the exoskeleton of the caterpillar as it moults.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55So inside this at the moment, everything is changing,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59so their digestive system, their circulatory system,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02respiratory system, everything is completely different.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04They're basically just having a full transformation,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07becoming pretty much a brand-new animal.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Wow. That's pretty amazing to hear what's going on there.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12So we're going to hang some of these up today. How are we going to do that?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- Right. So we're just going to place the stick on here.- OK.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- I'll put a bit of glue just down the middle.- Basically we're going to stick them on?
0:07:19 > 0:07:20Basically stick them on, yeah.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22So pop the glue on and you're in charge of that.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I'll stick them on. So where have these guys come from?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29So these guys have come from sustainable butterfly farms
0:07:29 > 0:07:31in South America
0:07:31 > 0:07:35and it means that these guys aren't harvested from the wild.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- And can we mix species? Can I put some others on here?- Yeah.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42- Let's get this looking colourful. - You go ahead. You go ahead.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44But in the wild, how would they attach themselves?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47In the wild, they'll have a tiny little bit of silk.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49It'll stick itself to a stick or a leaf.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53- So the silk kind of works as an adhesive in the wild.- Yeah.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55So we're going to wait for this to dry,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- but here's one you made earlier. - Yeah.- So what do we do with this?
0:07:58 > 0:08:03- So we just pop them inside our pupa cupboards.- OK. - And just let the magic happen.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07In they go and I can see we've got some beautiful butterflies already here.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Yes, so these are the blue morphos,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13- so these are what were inside these.- Oh, that's amazing.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16So that's what should happen with this little chap here.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20So we just leave them be, we keep the temperature correct,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23we keep the humidity high and they do the rest themselves.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We'd better get them in there, because I'm leaving this door open.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30So, hopefully, a couple of weeks' time we're going to see some beautiful butterflies.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- Fingers crossed.- Just in time for the new season.- Definitely. - So exciting.- It is.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- Can't wait.- It's one of my favourite things.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Earlier, we were with the big cat team as they tried where so many
0:08:48 > 0:08:53before them have failed - to create a successful enrichment device
0:08:53 > 0:08:57tough enough for the big cats, but not just any big cats.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00The tigers.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05They're the strongest and most dangerous of all cats.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07And with a body length of up to two metres,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Amur tigers are the largest subspecies.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16They're built for the kill with an extended muscular body,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19short legs and a long tail.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24But these magnificent creatures were driven almost to the point of extinction.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Prized by big game hunters and poachers, by the 1940s,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31there were fewer than 50 remaining in the wild.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Since then, conservation efforts have seen their numbers
0:09:35 > 0:09:39increase to over 500, but they still remain under threat.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47It's now time for these tigers to meet the wobble board.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48So this is Soundari.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Having recently lost their sister, keepers are hoping this
0:09:51 > 0:09:56enrichment device will help strengthen the bond between Shouri and Soundari.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58So I think Shouri has spotted it,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01but she's a little bit wary and doesn't want to go over.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03You can see they're looking high up,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06they think there's food been put in the trees, so you can see...
0:10:09 > 0:10:11That's Soundari really looking interested.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15You can see Shouri's quite laid-back, you know, she's quite inquisitive.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Soundari's gone straight for the fire hose already,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22so they're actually going onto the board.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26That is typical of Soundari's nature.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Anything new and she just wants to get straight involved,
0:10:29 > 0:10:33whereas, you can see Shouri, she's holding back, she wants to see
0:10:33 > 0:10:37if it's going to hurt Soundari, like, if it's any danger to her.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51You can see she's trying to attack the fire hose again.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57The instinct of, I want to kill. I want to, like, try and kill it.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I mean, you can really see how she's using her back legs just
0:10:59 > 0:11:01to try and pull the actual wobble board.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05I mean, you can imagine how much strength she has in those back legs.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08You can see all those muscles are working.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12It looks like Soundari's going to make a second attempt with the,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15with the board in a minute, possibly.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21One of the things that tigers do is they mark their territory.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24They've got scent glands in their necks, so they especially rub
0:11:24 > 0:11:26their necks across the trees as well.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32So, this is Shouri. She's feeling a little braver. Now that Soundari's
0:11:32 > 0:11:37moved out of the way slightly, it gives her a chance to come over.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39I think she's spotted there's actually, you know,
0:11:39 > 0:11:44there's a toy up there, which she's never seen before, so...
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Oh. Come on. You want to go on there.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52I'm happy that obviously they've seen it, you know, they came straight over.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57A little bit annoyed that they haven't actually cottoned on to the idea of getting onto it first.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Oh, come on, Shouri. You know you want to.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08There goes log cam.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Shouri's taken it down.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14She's just got on there.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17She's got both her legs on there.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19And she's just gone for the ball.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22You can see that she's trying to keep it steady
0:12:22 > 0:12:26so that she can maybe try and get the rest of her body on.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28I don't think she's quite figured out how to do it,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31because it looks like she's going to pull back, but she's
0:12:31 > 0:12:34hit the ball, so I'm really, really happy with that.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38And hopefully, maybe next time, she'll get her full body on there.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Putting a new thing into an enclosure,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50you never know how they're going to react and it's been really
0:12:50 > 0:12:53nice to watch them, because this is brand-new. Just them
0:12:53 > 0:12:57showing interest, like, I honestly thought they'd just ignore it.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59I'm really, really happy. So happy.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09We'll be back later in the year to update you on the wobble board,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13but for now, it's safe to say that today's invention
0:13:13 > 0:13:16has really brought the sisters together.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Living just below the large open spaces of the African safari
0:13:26 > 0:13:32are the park's three Brazilian tapirs, Jessie, Eddie and Tallulah.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Tapirs can be extremely dangerous.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42They have large, sharp teeth and thick muscular bodies,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46but here in the park, thanks to regular contact with their keepers,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48our trio are very friendly.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Ah, you like that, Eddie? Oh, I can see.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55And like nothing more than a good belly scratch.
0:13:55 > 0:14:01Today, Jean is back with them and this time she's helping keeper Jo
0:14:01 > 0:14:04with a new invention designed to test their incredible noses.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- Now, Jo.- Yes.- I know you've got some food here for our tapirs.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09- Yes, we do.- So what should we do?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Right. So we've got the box here with lots of fruit in.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15We've got bananas, cabbage, carrots, which they love.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16- All the things they like.- Yep.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So what special things do the tapirs use to get their food?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21They use their prehensile snout.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23The tapir snout does remind me of an elephant's trunk,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- but they're not used in the same way, are they?- Not exactly, no.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30They mainly use their snout for foraging,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33looking round for food and it's really useful in that way,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37and also as a snorkel, as and when they dive down into water.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- Right. So we've filled up this contraption.- Yes, we have.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42How are we going to see that snout in use?
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Basically we're going to hang it up on the contraption we have here
0:14:45 > 0:14:47and then they'll come in and then reach up and see if they
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- can grab the food out of the box. - So, let's do it.- Right.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53So not only is this good for enrichment,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57we're also going to see how that snout really works in action.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- Yes, we really are. - Come on, Eddie.- Come on, tapirs.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- Just using his snout to sniff it out there.- How's that?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05You can really see that working.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- OK, Jo, so we've got all three of them here.- Yes, we do.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10So we've got Jessie, who's next to us here,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14- and then you've got Tallulah there and Eddie at the end.- And they're quite happy to share their food?
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Yes, they really, really are. - They're not competitive over food?
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Sometimes they can be, but this obviously is all-new,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22so they're probably more interested in what they're doing with the
0:15:22 > 0:15:24enrichment rather than each other at the minute.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25So seeing them close-up,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- I can really see how this is different from an elephant's trunk. - Oh, yes.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31They're kind of getting their noses in there to sniff food out and
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- draw it out more, rather than grabbing it.- Yeah, definitely.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37But what happens when it goes into the mouth?
0:15:37 > 0:15:39- How are the teeth in there? - They're really, really sharp.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42They are quite dangerous normally, but these guys are quite friendly.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45And I seem to remember them liking a little belly rub as well,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- while they eat.- Yeah, they do.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49I am just reminded how unusual they are,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- because they're closely related to rhinos and...- And horses as well.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56- ..horses. Yeah, they've got the little horses' manes here as well. - Yeah.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- You're liking that, aren't you? - They love it.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Oh, Jo, all this feeding has made me hungry.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05- Do you think it's time for lunch? - Yes, definitely is. - Let's leave them to it, come on.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20All week we've been following the progress of our two new
0:16:20 > 0:16:23cheetah cubs, the first to be born here in the park.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28In the wild they face a multitude of threats, from the persecution
0:16:28 > 0:16:33from farmers, predation from other big cats and susceptibility to disease.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37In fact, nearly 70% don't reach the age of three months.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Sadly the park lost one cheetah in the first few days.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47So the breeding programme now relies on Poppy and Winston.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Thankfully they are doing well and from their first taste of meat
0:16:53 > 0:16:56to exploring the great outdoors, the keepers
0:16:56 > 0:17:01and Animal Park have been with them every step of the way.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03It's been stressful every single day because, you know,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07it's always a worry that they might not make it past day one, day two
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and you don't know what could happen, you have no idea what could happen.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Today, team leader Amy is anxiously getting ready for yet another
0:17:16 > 0:17:19milestone in the cubs' lives.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21This is the first day that our cheetah cubs will be
0:17:21 > 0:17:24venturing out into their enclosures.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26They've been in the smaller paddocks,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29so we leave them quite a bit in there to gain their confidence.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33They, I think, will be a bit nervous, they won't be sure exactly.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37It's a big, wide, open space instead of what they're used to.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Whilst in their enclosure, the cubs are safe, but not if they get out.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Living right next-door is one of the park's prides of lions.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Having never had cubs before,
0:17:48 > 0:17:53keepers Amy and John are checking every inch of the perimeter fence.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Just the smallest gap could have disastrous consequences.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Yeah, I think the fence looks fully secure, doesn't it?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01So I don't think we've got the risk of them getting out.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07With the final checks complete, the enclosure is ready for the cubs.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10All Wilma ought to do is sort of come up towards the top of the
0:18:10 > 0:18:12paddock with the cubs.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I don't want Wilma to go out on her own and the cubs sort of get
0:18:14 > 0:18:17scared and don't follow.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19You going to come out?
0:18:20 > 0:18:24The new enclosure is around 20 times larger than what they're used to.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Oh, she's coming.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Wilma is straight out and into the enclosure...
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Mum's run off.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38..but without her cubs.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Will they find the courage to follow her?
0:18:48 > 0:18:52The park is famous for its monkey drive-through,
0:18:52 > 0:18:57where a troop of over 100 rhesus macaques lay in wait for cars
0:18:57 > 0:18:59to enter their enclosure.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Once inside, these persistent primates set to work pulling
0:19:03 > 0:19:07cars to pieces within a matter of minutes and there's nothing
0:19:07 > 0:19:09anyone can do to stop them.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Or is there?
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Jean has gone along to find out.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Since the park has been closed for a couple of months,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21these guys are ready to wreak havoc on the cars that come into
0:19:21 > 0:19:24their enclosure, so it's up to the keepers to come up with ways
0:19:24 > 0:19:27of getting them to put their brains to good use.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- Rosie, how are you going to do that? - OK.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32So you can see behind us we've got a nice lorry of boxes here. They're
0:19:32 > 0:19:35full of all kinds of really exciting things that the monkeys love,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- we're hoping that they're going to want to play with a lot of these.- What have we got in here?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41We've got a big mix. We've got some hay, so that's some stuff
0:19:41 > 0:19:44for them to pull apart, to really tear to pieces, that kind of thing.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And then also, there's veg mainly and then fruit as well, just to excite them even more.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50So hopefully they're going to use their brains to rummage
0:19:50 > 0:19:53around in here, find a treat, rather than wrecking people's car,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55which is what we know they love to do, right?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58They do love to destroy things. They've got really dextrous hands, we love to get them to use
0:19:58 > 0:20:01those as well, so that's why all of these have been sealed really
0:20:01 > 0:20:03nice and tight, so they've actually really got to work for it.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06And obviously, they're really clever, so they love a challenge,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08so we're hoping these will be one for them.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Right, Rosie, let's put some of these boxes out. What's the plan?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Grab a box and we're just going to head over in this direction.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Pop them down, nice and far from the road so they can play with them.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- I notice how they've all gathered already.- Yeah.- They're so cheeky.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23We'll just pop them down anywhere up here.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36So as expected, Rosie, they're going mad for this food,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- they're loving it!- They can smell it and also they love a new toy, it's really good.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Yeah, we're seeing some of them climbing up for the high boxes as well
0:20:43 > 0:20:48- and when they grab the food, they sort of tend to take it off on their own.- Yeah, they're just making sure
0:20:48 > 0:20:51no-one else is going to steal that from them, especially the really good bit, so they're just
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- going to take it off and eat it before anyone can take it from them. - Macaques are so
0:20:55 > 0:20:58intelligent, I'm not surprised that they've risen to this challenge,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but what other challengers have you seen them do?
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Oh, wow. You see all sorts. When they've got the cars in here, they're so clever,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- they can take out parking sensors. - Really?!
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Yeah, all the trim from the top of the car.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10They've even managed once to open someone's top box,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13so they've been into people's clothes and things before,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15because they are just so intelligent, they can really use
0:21:15 > 0:21:18those hands and their mind is just so good, they're good at puzzles.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21I'm happy to say that we're keeping them out of trouble for
0:21:21 > 0:21:22a little while anyway.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Back in cheetah country, Mum Wilma is out in the enclosure.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42All we need now is Poppy and Winston.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Looks like Winston's gone first.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Poppy's looking back towards the house.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53So he's headed out. Here she comes, straight out, so that's great.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58With the whole family in the open for the first time,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01they begin to explore their new surroundings.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04The cubs have actually gone in two completely different directions,
0:22:04 > 0:22:05which is cute.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They're not worried about themselves either, having that
0:22:08 > 0:22:12confidence of going around everywhere together, they've just completely separated.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16She's just stalking along in the grass,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18so she's just kept herself really low
0:22:18 > 0:22:20and she was sort of crawling along.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I've never seen her do that behaviour before, that's really cute.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26They love being up high,
0:22:26 > 0:22:30they love to have a good view of everything that's going on.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's incredible to see them like that.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Just on this mound that we've recently put in for the cubs and
0:22:36 > 0:22:39it's amazing that they've gone on it and they're loving it.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42Oh, hollow tree time.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45They've just gone inside the hollow tree and climbing around.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Playing in the road, that's not something we want them to do!
0:22:52 > 0:22:55With thousands of cars expected in the height of summer,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58the cubs will need to learn the rules of the road.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01If they're on there, we'll just move them off,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03so the more and more times they come out,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06we'll just get them used to the fact that they shouldn't be on the
0:23:06 > 0:23:09road when there are cars about and hopefully they'll respect that.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14It's surprising how quick they already are.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16You don't really think it, they're so small,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18but they are so fast already,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22so it's going to be very nerve-racking, I think, patrolling in here
0:23:22 > 0:23:24for the first time when we do have public go through and
0:23:24 > 0:23:27we've got the gates opening and closing, because they're already
0:23:27 > 0:23:30so fast that they could just shoot off in any direction at any time,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34so we'll just have to plan for that and be aware of that at all times.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38The cubs' first outing in the enclosure has been
0:23:38 > 0:23:42a total success and we'll be back in the summer to see what
0:23:42 > 0:23:46happens when they come face-to-face with the visitors' cars.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Absolutely chuffed with how this has gone today. Couldn't be happier at all.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52The fact that they've been out,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55they've explored nearly every part of the section and just have
0:23:55 > 0:23:59that confidence not to be right next to Mum, just exploring everywhere.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02It's a really positive thing that's happened so far,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04and for us to see it, it's been amazing.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13When the park's not open every day, it gives everybody an opportunity to
0:24:13 > 0:24:18do the jobs that you can't do when there are hundreds of cars around.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23One of those is the annual wolf round up, which is when the keepers
0:24:23 > 0:24:26try to round up the Canadian timber wolves to give them an
0:24:26 > 0:24:28all-important health check.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30You've nearly finished that already.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35But what do you do with an animal that can run 50 miles a day?
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Well, it certainly tests the keepers' stamina.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40Was that nice? Was it?
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Good.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48On a bright sunny morning a couple of months ago,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51inside the wolf enclosure, a pack of keepers have gathered.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54We're having to mobilise the whole park to come and give us
0:24:54 > 0:24:57a hand, cos we have to form a line across their entire enclosure
0:24:57 > 0:24:59and then sort of herd the wolves in,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02but the house is not their favourite place.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Yeah, they're going to play up a little bit, I think.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Keeper Caleb is in charge of organising the troops.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11If you try and keep an equal distance apart.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Obviously, the Canadian timber wolves,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16when they're cornered or when they're threatened or feel
0:25:16 > 0:25:18threatened, they become extremely dangerous,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20but our strength is in numbers cos they don't like people,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22but if you become isolated or something,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24then just get to your next man and just let the wolf run past.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26We don't want to create a situation
0:25:26 > 0:25:27when you're in a stand-off with a wolf.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29But if the wolf starts coming for you,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32put the stick near it and it'll bite the closest thing to it,
0:25:32 > 0:25:33and if it bites the stick,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35just let go and it should run off with it.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39The posse heads into the enclosure.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Some of the park's vehicles will be used to help block off the gaps.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44It's always quite nerve-wracking,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47cos obviously if they start to become isolated or they feel
0:25:47 > 0:25:50threatened then they become a lot more unpredictable and
0:25:50 > 0:25:53a lot harder to try and sort of encourage in.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56The park has just three Canadian timber wolves.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Alf, Vic, and the notorious Dave.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Earlier in the week,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06we saw how Dave has become famous for his bad behaviour...
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Dave, I can see you, and don't bat your eyelids at me
0:26:09 > 0:26:11cos you're not getting past. Please,
0:26:11 > 0:26:12keep going.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14..seeing keepers as his subordinates,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17well below him in the pecking order.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18I don't like this, Dave.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Don't want to keep doing this.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25With the vehicles in position,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27the keepers take their places in the line up.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Hold it. Hold your line.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34The plan is to usher the wolves along the fence line and into
0:26:34 > 0:26:36the wolf house.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38This is the worst one. This is Dave.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It's vital that all the wolves are caught,
0:26:40 > 0:26:42as they must have an annual health check.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- Dave's coming back this way. David!- Hold the line.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46Hey!
0:26:47 > 0:26:51If you just want to push round nice and slowly on the right hand side.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55He's coming straight at us down the middle.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57An early victory.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Vic is first through the gate and into the paddock next to the house.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05OK, thanks, Hannah.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08The team push forward to encourage the other two to follow.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12But Dave's going the wrong way.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16We've got one wolf in the paddock and then we've got one just
0:27:16 > 0:27:19running around. One's broken through the line behind us,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23but we're just trying to position them off towards the fence line.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24We'll go back for Dave.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Caleb decides to focus on Alf for now.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32He's coming round now. Alf's on his way round towards the paddock.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35He's figured out what we want him to do.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Good boy.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Is that two in the house, Hannah?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- ON RADIO:- Got two in the house. We've got Alf and Vic.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46OK, we've got two in.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51- Try him again round the top. - Now just Dave remains at large.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Caleb sends the team back to their starting positions.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57So the plan is to try and encourage him round the fence line
0:27:57 > 0:28:00again and then push him back towards the house.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Time for round two.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05David.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09He's coming up behind you, I think.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12But Dave's giving them the run-around.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14David!
0:28:14 > 0:28:16ALL SHOUT
0:28:17 > 0:28:18Oh, David.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Dave broke through the line again.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26He doesn't want to go in, so we'll just have to play another round
0:28:26 > 0:28:28of safari park versus Dave.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Could it be third time lucky?
0:28:35 > 0:28:39- Dave's showing no sign of giving up.- David!
0:28:39 > 0:28:42The keepers are putting up a determined defensive line.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46But dastardly Dave breaks through once again.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49It becomes a game. Like, this is Dave's territory.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Like, he loves challenges. He loves things like this.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56It's exhausting, chasing a wolf round. Go on, David!
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Wolves are built for stamina.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03Caleb knows they can't outrun him, but can they outsmart him?
0:29:03 > 0:29:06This time, he wants to try a new formation,
0:29:06 > 0:29:11a shorter line with smaller gaps, and hopefully less chance to escape.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Rargh!
0:29:17 > 0:29:19- Rargh!- Hey!- Hey!
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Success!
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Round four and we did it.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28So, yeah, it was good.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30A lot of running around after a wolf.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34The last patient, Dave,
0:29:34 > 0:29:38is in the wolf house just in time for a check-up with Duncan the vet.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Come on, then, Dave.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45There's a good boy. Good boy, well done.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49As well as their annual inoculations,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51this will be one of the few times that Duncan can get close
0:29:51 > 0:29:53enough to carry out a health check.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Good boy.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Wolves often fight to help settle disputes,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03but this can often lead to minor injuries which,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06if left unchecked, could lead to bigger problems.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09You're all done.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10Good boy.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16The wolves are quickly released back into their enclosure.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19I'm really happy with that.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23They were all calm, they all came through. It was just nice...
0:30:23 > 0:30:24Nice to see them.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27And it's also nice that we can get them straight back outside,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31so it's really painless and it's not a massive negative experience,
0:30:31 > 0:30:33cos they've only been in a matter of minutes.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35And then they're straight back outside, so...
0:30:35 > 0:30:37Free for another year, so it's really good.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51Now we're heading out of the park.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54A fruit bat has a small but potentially life-threatening
0:30:54 > 0:30:56condition.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59And keeper Shelly is taking it straight to vet Kate
0:30:59 > 0:31:01for an emergency appointment.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03- Hello.- Hiya. You all right?
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- You've got a little bat for me. - Yes, I have.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09- Lovely, so we've got a wound on it, is that right?- Yes.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11It looks like skin's just come off
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- from the body.- So it's like a flap on the body.- Yeah.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16The skin's actually been removed, it looks like.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- See all the skin has just sort of gone?- Yeah.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25It was during a feed that Shelly first noticed the bat's injury.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28You can see the swelling all the way along the bone,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31but he's almost got this kind of tissue fluid all the way
0:31:31 > 0:31:33round the bone there, so I'm wondering...
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Either he's knocked it, or there might actually be something
0:31:36 > 0:31:38going on in the shoulder joint there that's affecting the drainage.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Yeah.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43He's one of the 42 Egyptian fruit bats who hang out in the
0:31:43 > 0:31:46darkest corner of the park, the Bat Cave.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52These fruit bats rely almost entirely on their wings for
0:31:52 > 0:31:53mobility.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56If Kate finds a bone is fractured, she'd have
0:31:56 > 0:31:58no choice but to put him to sleep.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I think certainly something like x-ray wouldn't be a bad idea, so
0:32:02 > 0:32:05that we can actually have a really good look about what's going on,
0:32:05 > 0:32:09cos all the way along the bone to be affected that much is quite...
0:32:10 > 0:32:13..is quite unusual-looking, there.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15With no obvious diagnosis,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Kate arranges an x-ray for first thing tomorrow morning.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Until then, he'll be kept pain-free back at the park.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31As the keepers return the bat to the park for an uncertain night,
0:32:31 > 0:32:35Kate the vet has concerns about what tomorrow's x-ray might reveal.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Worse case scenario is finding things like fractures or,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41at worst, like little bony tumours and things might be able to
0:32:41 > 0:32:43cause that sort of swelling.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47I suppose finding something that isn't then fixable might
0:32:47 > 0:32:51actually sort of mean a different ending for tomorrow for him.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05There are thought to be around 100 million species of animal on Earth.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09But each year, at least 10,000 go extinct.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12In an effort to halt this terrifying decline,
0:33:12 > 0:33:16parks like Longleat take part in international breeding programmes
0:33:16 > 0:33:21designed to breed babies which could one day return to the wild.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Over in animal adventure,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28keepers Graeme and John are unloading a new arrival from
0:33:28 > 0:33:29a park in the Netherlands.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34It's a bird, but unlike anything you've seen before.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Hello, chappie.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It's a secretary bird,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and they've recently become endangered in the wild.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47It's quite an exciting time for us.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50We've been allocated through the stud book a male, at the moment,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54and he is basically the start of our breeding programme here.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Graeme is what's known as the stud book keeper for secretary birds.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04It's his job to decide which birds mate with which,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07and he knows just how difficult that can be.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11What's really interesting about the secretary birds is there's
0:34:11 > 0:34:15only about 100 individuals in captivity in the zoo community.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19And of that, only about six birds hatched out last year,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21so it's not the strongest of breeding programmes.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23In spite of the odds,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Graeme and his team are doing all they can to save the species.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Obviously, I'm hoping that Graeme's got a female lined up,
0:34:30 > 0:34:31being the stud book keeper.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I'd like to think that he's got a lady friend lined up for him,
0:34:35 > 0:34:39so hopefully it won't be too long and we'll have two secretary birds.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45Well, that was three days ago, and I'm here to meet Graeme. Hi, Graeme.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47- Good morning.- I'd love to see your new arrival.- That's it.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50He's all settling in nicely, so we can head on in and see him,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- if you like.- Let's go and meet him.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- Wow. What do we have here? - So this is a secretary bird.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02- A secretary bird.- Which is a really, really unusual type of bird of prey.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05It's a ground-dwelling species, so normally you'd see them up,
0:35:05 > 0:35:07flying around in the skies.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10But this species spends most of its time in the grasslands of the
0:35:10 > 0:35:13- sort of open savannahs.- Let's go round here and have a better look.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16I mean, it's such an unusual bird, from here.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Kind of looks like a bit of a bird of prey on top of the body
0:35:19 > 0:35:22and then these kind of stork-flamingo legs.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24- It's so unusual.- Yeah, a little bit of an oddity, really,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27but those legs form a special purpose,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29and that's because they're predominantly eating snakes
0:35:29 > 0:35:32in the wild, so obviously snakes do strike and they have venom,
0:35:32 > 0:35:33a lot of the African ones,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36so being nice and tall protects them from that,
0:35:36 > 0:35:40stops the strike hitting his body, but also uses it as a killing tool.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42So if he finds a prey item,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45rather than having to bend down and sort of attack it, he can just stomp
0:35:45 > 0:35:48and stomp and stomp and stomp until it...until it's dead, in essence.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50- That explains...- And then it's a nice easy meal for him.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Yeah, the design is really made for it.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56And tell us more about him in the wild, then. Where's he from?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58So they're from Sub-Saharan Africa.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01Their population in the wild is really fragmented and that's
0:36:01 > 0:36:02because of habitat loss.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04So actually they're now classed as vulnerable,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06which is one of the reasons we really have to sort of get
0:36:06 > 0:36:08them in and breed them in captivity.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11It's really important that we have that fall-back population in
0:36:11 > 0:36:12captivity.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15You are very lucky to have one here and breeding it might be
0:36:15 > 0:36:17something that you work on later.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Yeah, I mean, it's part of what we do here,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23it's what we're setting out to do is to really input back into
0:36:23 > 0:36:25conservation and make sure that we have a nice,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27healthy population in captivity.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31I hear how enthusiastic you are. I think you two have bonded already.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Yeah, he's definitely I think hit me as one of my favourites this
0:36:34 > 0:36:36year so far. Yeah, he's real charmer.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Congratulations. You're lucky to have him,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41and I know that the visitors are going to love him.
0:36:41 > 0:36:42Amazing-looking bird.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52Earlier, we saw how a bat's life was hanging in the balance after
0:36:52 > 0:36:54he had an injured wing.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58A bat without full use of its wings can't survive,
0:36:58 > 0:37:02so the only chance to save him is to get to the bottom of the problem.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05We're trying to make sure that there's no problems with the
0:37:05 > 0:37:08bones, cos that would change how we would manage the bat.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12It's very difficult to stabilise a broken bone,
0:37:12 > 0:37:14and often they don't get on very well at all,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18so unfortunately that would have a lot worse outcome.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21Before they can x-ray the bat, they need to keep it still,
0:37:21 > 0:37:25and that requires a potentially life-threatening anaesthetic.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31So he's just getting a bit of oxygen and anaesthetic gas at the moment.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Yeah, I know. That's a bit odd, isn't it?
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Small animals present a higher risk when it comes to anaesthetic.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43This bat weighs in at 150gm, so the margin for error is miniscule.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48There's a lot less information out there on dosing and safety,
0:37:48 > 0:37:53so we're having to use our knowledge from other animals.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56It makes the monitoring a little bit more difficult and changes can
0:37:56 > 0:37:58happen a lot quicker because they're smaller,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01so they'll metabolise drugs a lot quicker.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04With the bat under anaesthetic, it's a race against time.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07They need to keep it unconscious for as small amount of time as
0:38:07 > 0:38:09possible to avoid any complications.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11We're changing
0:38:11 > 0:38:14his ability to look after himself and for his body functions to
0:38:14 > 0:38:16perform normally, so the stress is
0:38:16 > 0:38:18on us to maintain his body functions.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21X-rays.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28The bat's been unconscious for 20 minutes.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31With the x-rays complete, they now have to try and wake it up.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36He's just becoming more awake now,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39so we've just got him safely in the tail so that he can't flap
0:38:39 > 0:38:43around, become distressed, or cause any further damage to himself.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44With the bat awake,
0:38:44 > 0:38:48it's time to examine the x-rays that will determine its fate.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Despite looking completely alien,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55its anatomy is surprisingly familiar.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58This here is like the wrist. These are like the fingers.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00This is the forearm.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02And the top of the arm here.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06So the wounds that we're looking at are over this side.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09You can see all the grey around each side of the bone.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10That's all the soft tissue,
0:39:10 > 0:39:14and it's certainly looking a bit swollen around that region.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17I'm making sure the bone density looks nice and even.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20I'm looking at the joints to make sure that the bones are
0:39:20 > 0:39:22fitting together nicely, and they look nice and smooth.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26I can't see any fractures of the bone.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Some cancers you are able to see on an x-ray.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32That's something that I'm not worried about in this case.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36With breakages and tumours ruled out,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39the team can breathe a sigh of relief.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42I suspect most likely he's caught himself on something and it's
0:39:42 > 0:39:45just caused a bit of swelling of the soft tissues.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49We're hoping that we can just manage him medically and hopefully
0:39:49 > 0:39:52with time his injuries will heal and he'll be back to normal.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02Last summer, we witnessed the arrival of twin red panda cubs.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05At less than a week old, the cubs were
0:40:05 > 0:40:07no bigger than the palm of my hand.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10And with the help of an infra-red camera,
0:40:10 > 0:40:14we captured intimate moments between mother and cubs.
0:40:15 > 0:40:20Well, it's been nine months since we took those shots, and today, Ben
0:40:20 > 0:40:24is joining keeper Sam to help make a few alterations to their enclosure.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28What are we going to do today, then? What's the plan?
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Well, I've got a little new toy for them,
0:40:30 > 0:40:32so we've got this little platform, covered in some grass and things,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35which is a bit different for them, so we're going to hang it up, cover
0:40:35 > 0:40:38it with some food, and hopefully they'll come over and have a look.
0:40:38 > 0:40:39And this is all about keeping their
0:40:39 > 0:40:41brains and bodies stimulated, is that right?
0:40:41 > 0:40:44Yes, exactly, and these are actually one of our harder animals to enrich.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46They're very, very lazy.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48So we do anything we can to kind of get them a little bit more active.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51- OK, should we get...? - Yes.- Where are we going to put it?
0:40:51 > 0:40:53Maybe just hook it on here, and I'll hook it up this side.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55And what kind of characters have they got?
0:40:55 > 0:40:57You've already said that they're a little bit lazy.
0:40:57 > 0:40:58Dad is a bit more wary.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00He's actually not joining us at the moment.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02But this one right in front of me is one of our cubs,
0:41:02 > 0:41:04- who is...- Have they got names?
0:41:04 > 0:41:06This is Tika, and she is one of the boldest.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09So she'll probably be very interested in what we're doing.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11- I expect she'll be fast over.- And you've put some food down as well.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Yes, so we've got a few little bits of fruit here,
0:41:13 > 0:41:17so we can cover this in a few little bits and hopefully...
0:41:17 > 0:41:18Do they have favourite foods?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Yeah, definitely, so fruit is a real treat,
0:41:20 > 0:41:21which is what we've got today.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23A little bit of pear on there, a little bit of apple.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26- Yeah, there's banana, so we can smoosh that in.- Oh, hello.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27- ..and get it nice and messy. - Hello, Tika.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- Hello, darling.- They are beautiful, and who have we got down here?
0:41:30 > 0:41:33So this is mum that's come straight over for a little bit of pear.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35They're a great little family, they get on really well,
0:41:35 > 0:41:36they all play together,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39all sleep together in a big pile as well, which is really sweet.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41Obviously, you've only got a finite amount of space here,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44so is it about maximising what you can do here?
0:41:44 > 0:41:48- Changing the textures, changing where things are?- Yeah, definitely.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50It's great to provide them with different textures.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53This artificial grass is something they haven't seen before
0:41:53 > 0:41:55and this platform obviously is made to be mobile, so we can change
0:41:55 > 0:41:58it round every day, so it's just a little bit different,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01something to help stimulate them a little bit more.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02Well, Sam, thank you very much.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06Let's leave the red pandas to the new addition to their enclosure.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Sadly, we've reached the end of our
0:42:13 > 0:42:16jam-packed week of Easter entertainment.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20We've had an absolute blast..
0:42:22 > 0:42:24..catching up with friends both new...
0:42:25 > 0:42:29Oh, look at them with their little Mohicans!
0:42:29 > 0:42:30..and old.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32I've got a treat for you.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39And our cameras have got you closer than ever before.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41SNARLING
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Oh, it's been lovely to see the park spring into life for another
0:42:44 > 0:42:45season, hasn't it?
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- It hasn't been bad seeing you, Kate, as well.- Oh, you old softie.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51- We should do it again. - Well, the good news is, Ben, we are.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Our cameras are going to be sticking around and we'll bring you
0:42:53 > 0:42:56a whole load of new stories and new shows in the summer.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59- We might even have some sunshine for you, Kate.- That would be lovely!
0:42:59 > 0:43:03So join us for the next Animal Park.