0:00:29 > 0:00:32Hello and welcome to Animal Park.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- I'm Ben Fogle.- And I'm Kate Humble,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38and we're here with one of Longleat's newest arrivals.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42This tiny little thing is a baby tapir, the fifth calf
0:00:42 > 0:00:45born to proud parents, Jessie and Jethro.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Isn't he the most adorable thing?
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I can't get over how sweet he is and as you can see he's still got
0:00:50 > 0:00:53all his spots and stripes that all tapirs are born with.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58This is to help camouflage them in the wild and protect them from any would be predators.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01It's extremely tempting to stay here with him all day
0:01:01 > 0:01:06but we've got lots of other animals coming up on today's programme, haven't we Jess?
0:01:10 > 0:01:12The time has come for Sianna the sea lion pup
0:01:12 > 0:01:15to leave Mum and start her further education.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20In the Great Hall I'll see 10,000-year-old proof
0:01:20 > 0:01:23that giants once roamed this land.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30And I'll be helping to install some disabled access ramps
0:01:30 > 0:01:33because the tigers aren't as young as they used to be.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41But first, viewers of a squeamish disposition should look away now.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50On the plains of Africa, vultures feast on a fresh carcass. It's not a pretty sight.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54There are few creatures with so grim a reputation,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57many people think of them as the harbingers of doom,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01the ghoulish scavengers that feed on death...
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and that's one reason why Longleat got themselves
0:02:04 > 0:02:07a whole flock of African white-backed vultures,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11to show people just how wonderful these birds really are.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16Last year they came from Holland and have recently been released
0:02:16 > 0:02:17into their brand new aviary.
0:02:17 > 0:02:23It's a massive space, one of the largest in Britain with all mod cons
0:02:23 > 0:02:27but it still needs one more thing to make it feel like home.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31I'm up in the vulture aviary with Head of Section, Mark Tye,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33and we're going to do a spot of nest building today.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- Yes, we're going to attempt to. - So what have we got in the bag?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- Mixture of some evergreen.- Yep.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42And some lime twigs that we get off the gardeners down the bottom.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45They cut the trees every year so we take all the sticks.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49we're going to make a nest for the vultures, which sounds strange.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52I don't think of vultures as nesting birds.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Well, they do obviously build a nest to lay their egg in,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58but unfortunately there's not enough material in the exhibit for them
0:02:58 > 0:03:00so we have to bring it in.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03OK. Now we've got Andy Hayton in there - hi, Andy -
0:03:03 > 0:03:05- and Andy's going to lift us up basically.- Yep.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09- So are we going up to that level up there?- About three metres.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12OK, so I'll get in
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and we're basically going to build the nest in these platforms, are we?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Yeah, that's right.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20You know, we put these boxes up for them
0:03:20 > 0:03:25and we're going to put some nesting material in for the birds.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27OK and how many of these do you have around?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- We've got four around the exhibit. - Four of these platforms.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Right, how much? That's about right, isn't it?
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Great. So is it just a case of getting it all out now?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39We'll put this evergreen on the bottom
0:03:39 > 0:03:42cos it'll provide a bit of cover from underneath,
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- from draughts and stuff. - Right, a bit of insulation.- Yep.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49If we're building this nest, breeding is a real possibility then?
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Yeah, yes, we're quite surprised because we thought
0:03:52 > 0:03:57- it would take longer for the birds to settle into the enclosure.- Right.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00We've seen some of them on the ground pulling out the grasses
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and offering it to the females as nesting materials.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Oh, really? So you've seen them actually looking for materials
0:04:08 > 0:04:10to build a nest like this?
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Yes. So we thought it's only helpful for them
0:04:12 > 0:04:15if we could put this up to start with. It may give them
0:04:15 > 0:04:17a bit more of a spur to get on with it.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21This must be a fantastic sign for you, cos they haven't been here long.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25No, I mean I was not expecting anything until next year.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It may be prove to be too late for this year -
0:04:28 > 0:04:31I mean, their incubation period is 56 days.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- Is it?- And bearing in mind even if they lay in the next few weeks,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36that would be the end of May,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39you'd look at the end of July for the chick to hatch
0:04:39 > 0:04:41and then four months before the chick...
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Which is pretty late in the year, really.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46The chick would take about four months to be fully grown
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and leave the nest so that would be November time,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51so may be too late this year.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55It must be a good sign that they are going through the motions even?
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Absolutely. And the fact that within a few months
0:04:58 > 0:05:01they look like they're going to lay eggs or possibly lay eggs is great.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Really exciting. So how soon do you anticipate
0:05:04 > 0:05:08they'll come over and start adjusting and moving the furniture?
0:05:08 > 0:05:12That's the unknown really, we don't know how long it will take them.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16They've been on these platforms, so they're quite safe and happy with those,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20whether they do anything with the sticks, we'll have to see.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Well, thank you very much for letting me help you,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25fingers crossed and we'll keep you posted
0:05:25 > 0:05:27on the progress of the vultures throughout the series.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34The seven Californian sea lions that live in Half Mile Lake
0:05:34 > 0:05:37are among Longleat's most reliable parents.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40There's usually a new pup or two every spring
0:05:40 > 0:05:43but where they choose to have them has been a problem.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48A few years ago, Ozzy gave birth on board one of the tour boats.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49And then there was the time
0:05:49 > 0:05:53when they decided that the landing stage on Gorilla Island
0:05:53 > 0:05:57would make a good nursery which made it rather difficult
0:05:57 > 0:06:00to get into the house so after that, work began
0:06:00 > 0:06:03to build the sea lions their very own beach.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08It was to be an engineering marvel constructed of steel and concrete
0:06:08 > 0:06:12along with plenty of rock specially sourced from a local quarry.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Deputy Head Warden Ian Turner kept a close eye on construction.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25We are at the sea lion beach. I know it doesn't look like a beach,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28a few things have slightly changed.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34We've done a concrete base which actually slopes down into the water.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37These two blokes you see behind me have been working their butts off,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40moving rocks about because they've got to be so big
0:06:40 > 0:06:44that sea lions can't move them but big enough that they can be handled.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48You know, we've had crow bars and wedging them so it's been good fun.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54When it was finished, the sea lions took to it straight away.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Amongst the first to give birth on the beach was 12-year-old Celia.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Her pup was named Seanna.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Now it's almost a year later and Sianna has grown well.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11She's still staying close to Mum and she's not yet fully weaned
0:07:11 > 0:07:15but her carefree youth is about to come to an abrupt end,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18because soon Celia will have a new pup to look after.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Keeper Michelle Stevens will be helping with this difficult transition.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26A pup will actually suckle for about anything up to a year
0:07:26 > 0:07:30and then we'll actually have to take her away
0:07:30 > 0:07:34from the mum and wean her totally away from Celia
0:07:34 > 0:07:38so that she can't suckle or see her mum.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42We do have live fish in the lake so the pup would have experimented
0:07:42 > 0:07:45already catching her own, playing around with it,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49so it's kind of instinctual to catch fish
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but she's just not eatingdead fish at the moment.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54That's something we have to get her on to.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59So as well as the separation from her mother,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Seanna will have to learn to cope with a new diet.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04In the wild, weaning can be more difficult
0:08:04 > 0:08:09because there it's up to the mothers to drive their youngsters away.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Once last year's pup's old enough, she will chase that one off
0:08:13 > 0:08:17and give birth and she'll then need time to bond with her new pup,
0:08:17 > 0:08:22so it's important that Seanna's not lingering around while that happens.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The pup will be taken out of the water, out of the lake
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and then put into the sea-lion holding pen
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and she'll probably be left in there, maybe for a couple of months,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34we'll do some training with her and just get her used to us,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36used to eating dead fish.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42It may seem harsh to split up mother and youngster but it is a natural process.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46In the wild they've got lots of room to get away from the mum,
0:08:46 > 0:08:47the mum will push the baby away.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Here, because even though the lake is actually really large,
0:08:51 > 0:08:53it's half a mile long, it's still enclosed
0:08:53 > 0:08:56so the pup will always go back the mother
0:08:56 > 0:08:58no matter what, really,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01so it's really important that we do take them away,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05get her completely away from Mum so she can't see her, can't smell her
0:09:05 > 0:09:07or communicate with her.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12We'll be back later to see what happens to Seanna
0:09:12 > 0:09:16when she's separated from her mother for the first time in her life.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Longleat House is more than four centuries old.
0:09:24 > 0:09:30It's got well over a hundred rooms and welcomes a quarter of a million visitors each year.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35So the person in charge of looking after it all has a lot on their plate.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39For 14 years, that person was Ken Windas
0:09:39 > 0:09:41but he's just retired as House Steward
0:09:41 > 0:09:43and gone off for a well-earned holiday,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47though he will be coming back in a new role as House Conservator.
0:09:47 > 0:09:53In the meantime, Kate's gone to find out how they're getting on without him.
0:09:53 > 0:09:59- I'm in the house with new House Steward Steve Blithe, how's it going, Steve?- Very well so far.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Yeah, two weeks in the job about?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- One and a half.- Is it, are you counting the days already?
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- And counting, yes, yes. - So I mean obviously you were
0:10:07 > 0:10:11working with Ken Windas, the old House Steward, for many years
0:10:11 > 0:10:15but how does it feel to be in sole charge?
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- Huge responsibility, it is.- I bet.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22You know this house, 425 years old.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Yeah, so many rooms, so many precious things in it.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29I mean what do you do as a sort of day-to-day thing?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31What type of things do you have to do?
0:10:31 > 0:10:35It's the general running of the house really, the overview of the house,
0:10:35 > 0:10:41the planning of the future, what's happening today, the staffing,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43- making sure...- Endless tasks.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Yeah.- Do you have a huge, long list every day of things to tick off?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Yeah, but you never get to the bottom of it.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51As you move down you just add on.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56Now I gather that Ken has left you with a rather large task, which is quite mean of him.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Yeah, he went away on holiday just at the right time but the good news is
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I'm going to wait until he returns before we hang them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07So tell me about these because we are in the Great Hall at the moment.
0:11:07 > 0:11:13- Yep, Great Hall. - And there are already some antlers up, have these been taken down...
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Yeah, they've been down and cleaned. We clean those each winter.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22These needed quite a bit of work doing on them, these are giant fallow deer, Irish elk.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25They are astonishing, absolutely astonishing.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Giant fallow deer don't exist anymore, do they?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31No, these came from Ireland out of the peat bog.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- Oh, right so these are prehistoric ones?- Prehistoric, yep.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37How amazing! I mean they're just immense,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41you can't imagine how any animal could walk around
0:11:41 > 0:11:44with such an enormous weight on their head.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Presumably they weigh as much as they look like they do?
0:11:47 > 0:11:50They do, they do weigh an absolute ton
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and the problem is with them is centralising the weight
0:11:53 > 0:11:57when you try to lift them because all of this weight is out here,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59it just dives at you, just tips forward so...
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- Tips forward.- ..I can only guess the animal itself had a huge rump.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05To sort of weigh it down at the back.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10- To keep the gravity down, yeah. - So what's being done to these now?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13They look in astonishing condition for something that's prehistoric.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Yeah, well, if truth be known it's only the skull
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- and the first part that are real. - Is that right?
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Yes, the rest is plaster and timber.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26So they've reconstructed them.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32They've reconstructed, yeah, and over the years that had cracked and deteriorated,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35sp they've been away, been worked on
0:12:35 > 0:12:39and now they're back in beautiful condition, ready to be re-hung.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41That is amazing. Absolutely fantastic.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46So how on earth are you, even if you manage to get Ken back -
0:12:46 > 0:12:49He won't mind me pointing out he's a little shorter than you.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54- Just a bit.- How's he going to help you get them back up onto the walls?
0:12:54 > 0:12:58OK, well this one in particular lives just over there, over that sconce
0:12:58 > 0:13:02and our plan of action is we've got a company coming in,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05they're going to build us a scaffold tower that's mobile
0:13:05 > 0:13:09which has an arm with a winch on it.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14So we winch it up, we can swing the arm around, get it in position.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Our problem then is just this weight thing, to tilt the weight.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20How do you actually physically attach it to the wall?
0:13:20 > 0:13:25- You can't just put up a picture tack.- Those two hooks up there are ready to receive it
0:13:25 > 0:13:28but also we are going to put another safety wire on there,
0:13:28 > 0:13:33so when Ken comes back his first job will be to drill through the panel,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36put another couple of eyes on the wall for a safety back up.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Belt and braces really.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39Steve, very good luck.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, I can't wait to see these back up
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- because they are magnificent. - OK, thank you.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Thanks, Steve.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57As you approach your golden years, there comes a time when you find
0:13:57 > 0:14:00that your walk is a little stiffer than it used to be.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04When practicing your pounce just isn't that interesting anymore
0:14:04 > 0:14:07and even the thought of a high-speed chase
0:14:07 > 0:14:10is enough to make you want to go inside for a lie down.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Sonar and Gadoo have reached that time in their lives,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17they're almost the older tigers in Britain,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20so now they need a little extra help.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I'm up in the tiger enclosure with Head of Section, Brian Kent
0:14:26 > 0:14:28and Deputy, Bob Trollope.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Brian, what are we actually doing here today?
0:14:30 > 0:14:34We're trying to make a little ramp for the tigers to get onto the stand.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37These platforms have been here a long time?
0:14:37 > 0:14:39For many years now, yeah.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43And have you noticed a decrease in the tigers' use of this area.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46They used to use it pretty well but at the moment,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50I think because of their age, you know, arthritic and everything,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52they're finding it hard to get up.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56So we need to do something to encourage them back up.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00OK, so, Bob you're busy marking away there. How exactly is it gonna work?
0:15:00 > 0:15:03We've got this ramp here - anything going to be added to this?
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- Well, we're going to add a mat. - One of these ones over here?
0:15:06 > 0:15:11- And is this purely to make it non-slip?- Well, it is,
0:15:11 > 0:15:16- a double function thing really, help them with their grip obviously.- Yep.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20But also with their nails, because they're having problems
0:15:20 > 0:15:22scratching on the trees and things
0:15:22 > 0:15:25we are actually hoping that they will use this to dig their claws in
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and actually clean the old nail off.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29You know as an aid to it.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- So it's multi-purpose? - Hopefully.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34And we'll have one ramp here and then another going up.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40- Up to the higher level, yeah. - And I noticed this - can we call this a big cat toy?
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Yes, it's a big cat toy, hopefully it will stand the test of time
0:15:43 > 0:15:47and this is just, while they're over here,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49just to give them something else to do.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Why are we trying to encourage them up onto this?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54In the wild would they look for high vantage points?
0:15:54 > 0:15:58They do, obviously because they can look around their territory
0:15:58 > 0:16:02and see any predators or, you know, rivals coming up.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Right, and you know, do you think this is going to work?
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- I suppose that's the... - I think these are.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Yes.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15You think so, possibly, I suppose you really can't second guess
0:16:15 > 0:16:17what the tigers are going to do.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Hanging this bit of rope on as well might encourage them to come over.
0:16:21 > 0:16:22They're naturally inquisitive.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Yeah, so hopefully it will work.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29Fantastic, join us later in the programme when we'll see what they make of our DIY.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Back at Half Mile Lake, Celia the sea lion is expecting a baby.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46So that she can feed and cope with the new pup, her old pup Seanna
0:16:46 > 0:16:50has now been moved into the sea lion holding pen.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54It's only a temporary measure, in a couple of months
0:16:54 > 0:16:57she should be ready to rejoin the others back in the lake.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59As well as looking after the vultures,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Mark Tye is also the keeper in charge of the sea lions.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06He's been getting Seanna used to eating fish.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Some can be fussy, some don't like heads, for example,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13when we wean them and we have to cut the heads off
0:17:13 > 0:17:15and they for some reason won't eat them.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Some don't like tails and we have to chop that off but it's all...
0:17:19 > 0:17:24Initially, you're pampering to their whim just to get them to eat
0:17:24 > 0:17:27but once they're eating and realise that you're the supply of food,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31you can introduce your heads, your tails and everything
0:17:31 > 0:17:33and they will soon pick that up.
0:17:34 > 0:17:40- Good girl.- Seanna has adjusted to an all-fish diet quickly,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44but there's something else Mark needs to get her used to at this stage.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48If she was ever to get sick or have a medical emergency,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51it's something that could save her life.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58The problem is that the sea lions here have the whole lake to swim in,
0:17:58 > 0:18:03so if one wanted to hide, it would be almost impossible to find it
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and with their speed and agility,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09there's just no way that any of them could ever be caught.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13So the question is how to do routine health checks?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17The answer is very simple, train them to co-operate.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Now what we want to introduce is
0:18:19 > 0:18:22a degree of control, if you like,
0:18:22 > 0:18:27and the first thing is to get them to stay in one particular spot,
0:18:27 > 0:18:31which is why we've got the small wooden sort of disc on the floor
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and it's getting her to stay on that particular spot
0:18:34 > 0:18:37for as long as you can get her to stay there,
0:18:37 > 0:18:42and the way we do that it initially they'll stand on it out of curiosity
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and I have a whistle
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and as soon as they touch it for the first time,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51you blow the whistle and instantly give them a piece of fish.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54They soon pick up the fact that when they do something correct,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57the whistle gets blown, they get a piece of fish.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59They are a smart creature and they're also pretty greedy,
0:18:59 > 0:19:03so they soon pick up the fact that the noise means food.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06OK, good girl, well done.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Seanna's doing great, I'm chuffed with her.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13I mean, for two weeks - to get her to stand on that wooden disc in there
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and I have now actually introduced moving her into a pen,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19get her to stand on one in there and bring her back out,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22put her back on the original one and leave without her chasing me out.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I'm pretty chuffed with that, that's good.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Whether that's something that's come down in her genes because her father,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Buster is also a very well-trained sea lion,
0:19:39 > 0:19:44although he chooses now not to bother because he's got a lake to swim in,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46but he's very clever and very clued up
0:19:46 > 0:19:50and you'll probably find that some of that has come down in the genes into her.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54In fact, she's almost too keen to learn.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57We're done sweetheart.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58Seanna, Seanna, we're finished.
0:19:58 > 0:20:05Seanna's doing so well, Mark is hoping to move on to what they call "target training".
0:20:05 > 0:20:08We'll be back to see how that goes later on.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25Earlier on, Head of Section Brian Kent and Deputy, Bob Trollope and I made some DIY amendments
0:20:25 > 0:20:30in the tiger enclosure and now the two tigers are coming along to investigate.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33What do you think they'll make of those adjustments.?
0:20:33 > 0:20:36I think they'll be totally bemused by them, really.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- Hopefully they'll use them.- Hmm-mm.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Because the idea was to make it easier for them to get up.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43To get up onto the platforms.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Look Gadoo's having a good old sniff, so she knows it's there.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Sonar's more interested in us. - Yeah, hopefully she will, no.
0:20:51 > 0:20:52No, she's kind of moving off.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- Sonar is the male, he went wandering off in front of the Land Rover.- And how old is he again?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- He's 20-years-old.- Which is a ripe old age.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Very, very old and you've got Gadoo over by those ropes.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06She's sniffing those ropes at the moment.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10She's 21, so you know, she's extremely old, extremely old.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Are you hoping to kind of breathe some new life into
0:21:14 > 0:21:17them by just encouraging them to play and to be more active?
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Well, hopefully yeah,
0:21:19 > 0:21:25- they are old tigers and Gadoo does have her moments of youthfulness... - Yep.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Whether this will encourage her to do anything I don't know.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33They're both not sure, I mean they're sniffing away, aren't they?
0:21:33 > 0:21:37They know we've been around there and we've been doing things.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41You've got to realise it's all new to them, so they are going to be a little bit cautious and,
0:21:41 > 0:21:45you know, they don't know whether it's going to hurt them or not,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48so they take a little while before they trust it, I suppose.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Now one of the things you were hoping for, Bob,
0:21:51 > 0:21:56was that they'll use the mats to sharpen their claws or to...
0:21:56 > 0:22:01- certainly, like they would do on the trees?- Yeah, well hopefully...
0:22:01 > 0:22:07She's put her foot on it, oh, she's going up there! Oh, that's good.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11- Just test it out.- Just test it out, at least that's a step forward, I suppose.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Absolutely and is that literally just...
0:22:14 > 0:22:18- testing its strength, just seeing what it's all about?- Yeah.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23I don't know if that's a positive thing though that they walked away after.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- That's what she thinks. - Sonar's a bit cautious. He's not too sure about that.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30But he's... They're curious about the big cat toy though?
0:22:30 > 0:22:36They are, as I was saying, it's all new to them so and it's got smells on there
0:22:36 > 0:22:40from us, and obviously the people who
0:22:40 > 0:22:44made the ropes. It's all new smells to them, you know?
0:22:44 > 0:22:50And would they actually kind of scent mark? Do they leave their own smells on things?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52They will eventually, when they're
0:22:52 > 0:22:58used to everything, they will sort of spray on it and make it their own.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I think that's it now.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- That's the end of that.- That's the excitement of the day for them.
0:23:03 > 0:23:10- And for us.- But are you hopeful, perhaps, that given some time they might become more brazen and brave?
0:23:10 > 0:23:15- They may come back later on and perhaps have a go, probably when we're not here.- Yep.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- And you know, if it works, it works. - OK, well...
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Thank you very much, and of we'll follow
0:23:20 > 0:23:24the tigers' progress and see what they make of their cat wraps.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Back at the sea lion holding pen,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Mark Tye is still working on young Seanna's training.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Now he's using a method called target training.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Initially when you first put the target towards them, they
0:23:50 > 0:23:54sniff it, so that's the first they do and as soon as they do that,
0:23:54 > 0:23:55it's whistle, reward.
0:23:55 > 0:24:01Then it's building that up until she'll put her nose on it and again stretching out the time
0:24:01 > 0:24:05before you give the whistle and the reward. Then you can start leading her around,
0:24:05 > 0:24:12she'll follow it about. She's staying still on the log, following the target. I want
0:24:12 > 0:24:19get her to walk behind me and move along, then she'll follow me out the pen, in the pen.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23The aim of this training is so that Seanna will be able to co-operate
0:24:23 > 0:24:29should she need veterinary attention, either routine or in an emergency.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32She seems quite comfortable with lying down.
0:24:32 > 0:24:38It's just now moving...getting to a point where I'm confident and have to try and introduce touch
0:24:38 > 0:24:44and feeling her flippers and running my hand down her back, so that in the future we can actually
0:24:44 > 0:24:48examine her and check for any wounds or problems she may have.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51She just seems to have picked it up quickly
0:24:51 > 0:24:55and she hasn't bitten me yet. That's a pretty good sign.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57In fact, Seanna is one of the best pupils
0:24:57 > 0:25:03Mark's ever had, though she has her good days and her bad days.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08Last time when we came in we were just getting her to stand on the stump in there,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10which she's picked up really well now.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15A little bit dodgy on the coming outside, she wants to keep chasing me out of the gate,
0:25:15 > 0:25:20but that's just a slight problem which can easily be corrected, she'll soon pick that back up.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25She was really good, has gone a little bit bad with it but she'll go back to being good again.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28A sea lion has to be a little bit co-operative
0:25:28 > 0:25:31in its own right to do this. If it doesn't want to, it won't.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35So it's just a case of getting a good bond with her in here,
0:25:35 > 0:25:39moving her back down to the lake in the hippo pen there,
0:25:39 > 0:25:43carrying on with the same regime in there for a while and then releasing
0:25:43 > 0:25:46her back to the lake and then trying to get her back in.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51We'll be back to catch up with Seanna later in the series,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55when it's time for her to join her family out in the wide open lake.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18We're out in the deer park with Head of Section Tim Yeo and the red deer
0:26:18 > 0:26:21that are all gathered around us getting food.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25They need extra food, presumably, at this time of year, do they?
0:26:25 > 0:26:30They certainly do, Kate, yes. Although they're very hardy animals these, completely hardy,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33but we do need to substitute the natural food.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Who's this friendly one that's eating out of my hand here?
0:26:37 > 0:26:41Ben, this is actually O28, we call her O28.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43O28, that's very...genius name.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45They're robotic red deer.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48They do have numbers? Is that how you keep an eye on them?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51She does actually have a tag number and that's where it comes from.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55Looking around at the herd, one thing is very noticeable, you've got
0:26:55 > 0:26:58one male right in the middle there,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02with the most magnificent antlers and then a couple of others with...
0:27:02 > 0:27:08Frankly, it looks like a couple of twigs sticking out of their head. What's going on there, Tim?
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- Very different, isn't it?- Yes.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I mean, Kate, that literally is age, that's all it is.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18They are only youngsters, about two years old, and our herd stag there,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20we're talking six or seven years old.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25It's quite a difference though, quite quickly, I mean, to go from sort of a twig
0:27:25 > 0:27:30at two to a whole beautiful topiary by the time they're six is an impressive difference.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Certainly, and to be honest...I mean there are some two-year-old stags
0:27:34 > 0:27:38- or even yearling stags that produce massive antlers.- Really?
0:27:38 > 0:27:43It's somewhat down to genetics. I mean, it can be... and feed as well, good feed.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47So this one has obviously done well and is hardy as you say, can cope
0:27:47 > 0:27:52- with the bleak conditions and hold on to these magnificent antlers. - He is magnificent.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- He really is. It is. - Fantastic, Tim, thank you very much.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- That's all then?- Sadly, that is all we've got time for on
0:27:58 > 0:28:02today's programme but here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:28:02 > 0:28:09We'll be getting to know the safari park's most decorated new arrival, that little baby tapir.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15There's an army trying to eat Longleat's treasures,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19we'll be reporting on the latest battle in the war on bugs.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22And up in Wolf Wood, everyone's getting
0:28:22 > 0:28:29ready for the next litter of cubs, the pack are getting frisky and the keepers have built a new nursery.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31It looks very cosy.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35We'll have all that and more next time on Animal Park.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd, 2007
0:28:39 > 0:28:42E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk