Episode 9

Download Subtitles

Transcript

0:00:30 > 0:00:34Hello and welcome to Animal Park. I'm Ben Fogle.

0:00:34 > 0:00:40And I'm Kate Humble. And we're in Monkey Jungle with the Rhesus Macaque monkeys.

0:00:40 > 0:00:46There are 80 in total - males, females, youngsters and even little babies like this one just here.

0:00:46 > 0:00:51They are among the most entertaining animals at the safari park,

0:00:51 > 0:00:57although you might have to donate a little bit of your car to keep the show on the road!

0:00:57 > 0:01:01We will bring you stories from all over the safari park today.

0:01:01 > 0:01:08Using our secret camera, we discover why rhino dung is like catnip to the lions.

0:01:08 > 0:01:11He's actually rolling in it.

0:01:11 > 0:01:18We'll seek out some of Longleat's native species who have been living right under our noses.

0:01:18 > 0:01:20That's fantastic.

0:01:20 > 0:01:27And our keepers battle it out to determine which is Longleat's ultimate animal.

0:01:32 > 0:01:38But first, earlier this year Barbary lion Kabir fathered two beautiful female cubs -

0:01:38 > 0:01:41Malaika

0:01:41 > 0:01:44and Jasira.

0:01:45 > 0:01:51Over the spring, the cubs have been growing up fast, testing their limits by exploring the enclosure.

0:01:54 > 0:01:58The keepers make the surroundings stimulating for the lions.

0:01:58 > 0:02:04Recently they gave them a new set of ropes to play with, which was a real hit with the cubs.

0:02:06 > 0:02:12The cubs are more than six months old now and they're ready for another new experience.

0:02:14 > 0:02:18I'm out in the lion enclosure with Brian Kent and Bob Trollope,

0:02:18 > 0:02:22who constantly come up with ways of enriching the lions' lives.

0:02:22 > 0:02:26And today, guys, we have a bag of rhino dung. Is that right?

0:02:26 > 0:02:29- Yeah, that's correct.- What for?!

0:02:29 > 0:02:35Basically, it's for enrichment, to come across different smells like they would in the wild.

0:02:35 > 0:02:43- OK.- We've got rhinos in here with them, so we brought some rhino dung to see how they'd react.

0:02:43 > 0:02:49- So, Bob, what do you think they're going to make of it? - The youngsters will be cautious.

0:02:49 > 0:02:54- I'd have thought Luna would be the one who comes up first.- Fantastic.

0:02:54 > 0:02:58We'll see what happens. We're going to take full advantage.

0:02:58 > 0:03:04Just over here is specialist wildlife cameraman Andy.

0:03:04 > 0:03:08- What have we got here, then? - A small remotely-controlled camera.

0:03:08 > 0:03:13- OK.- Being very low on the ground, it's a point of view we don't get.

0:03:13 > 0:03:20So if we spread the rhino dung all around here, we can track a shot all the way round?

0:03:20 > 0:03:26Yeah, follow them all the way round and it'll be a nice low shot that we don't normally see.

0:03:26 > 0:03:32Absolutely. You've carefully camouflaged it to blend in(!)

0:03:32 > 0:03:36I know you've used similar cameras out in Africa.

0:03:36 > 0:03:42- Has it always survived? - Yes, we've not had a problem, but Brian thinks we might have here.

0:03:42 > 0:03:48- The lions are very inquisitive! - We'll leave you to it, Andy, and join you later.

0:03:48 > 0:03:53Guys, do you think this is going to survive the lions of Longleat?

0:03:53 > 0:03:58- No!- No?!- I think they're maybe going to have a little pull on it.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00- It's possible.- Time will tell.

0:04:00 > 0:04:06Join us later in the programme when we see what they make of the dung and our camera!

0:04:18 > 0:04:24Arranged over 250 acres of Wiltshire countryside, the safari park is home

0:04:24 > 0:04:30to more than 50 species of animal from all over the world.

0:04:30 > 0:04:34Each has its own definitive characteristics and adaptations

0:04:34 > 0:04:39evolved over millions of years to fit a particular niche in the wild.

0:04:39 > 0:04:45But which is truly Longleat's ultimate animal.

0:04:45 > 0:04:50We've asked 10 keepers to pick their favourite species.

0:04:50 > 0:04:56They'll go head-to-head as visitors vote for their Pick of the Park.

0:05:00 > 0:05:07The first of our contenders is a real African heavyweight - the mighty hippopotamus.

0:05:07 > 0:05:13Ian Turner reckons they'll devour the competition.

0:05:13 > 0:05:19They can open their jaw to 150 degrees and they literally head butt each other.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22They've got massive teeth about that long.

0:05:22 > 0:05:25They're really powerful animals.

0:05:25 > 0:05:31They spend a lot of time - 18 hours - in water. They're very susceptible to the sun.

0:05:31 > 0:05:37They've got this special liquid that forms on their bodies, like little blood spots,

0:05:37 > 0:05:42and that keeps the skin nice and fresh, like sun tan cream.

0:05:42 > 0:05:49They're grazers. They use their mouth on the short grass and they're like hoovers!

0:05:49 > 0:05:55They hoover it up, but for their size they don't eat very much because they don't do very much.

0:05:55 > 0:05:59They spend 18 hours asleep or in the water doing nothing.

0:05:59 > 0:06:05They may look passive, but they're one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

0:06:07 > 0:06:11In the water, they just disappear and hold their breath for 5 minutes,

0:06:11 > 0:06:14then appear out of nowhere. It's the shock factor.

0:06:14 > 0:06:19More people get killed by hippos than anything to do with lions.

0:06:19 > 0:06:22They're dangerous and powerful.

0:06:25 > 0:06:32At number two, Bob Trollope is backing the Canadian timber wolves as leaders of the pack.

0:06:32 > 0:06:37# I see a bad moon rising

0:06:38 > 0:06:42# I see trouble on the way... #

0:06:42 > 0:06:48They're the largest of the wild canines and weigh in the region of 60-100 pounds.

0:06:48 > 0:06:54Strong jaws. I think their crushing power is about 500lbs per square inch,

0:06:54 > 0:06:58which is incredible. They can reach speeds of 40mph

0:06:58 > 0:07:03and at speed they can do a leap of about 16 feet.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07They should be number one because they have so much mystery.

0:07:07 > 0:07:13You're brought up with the Big Bad Wolf, but they're not. Incredible team players.

0:07:13 > 0:07:17# There's a bad moon on the rise... #

0:07:20 > 0:07:25Next up is a bit more of a slow and steady species,

0:07:25 > 0:07:30but Darren Beasley's passionate that a tortoise should win.

0:07:30 > 0:07:36I've worked with loads of animals in my time - big ones, small ones, hairy ones, ones that bite.

0:07:36 > 0:07:39This is the ultimate animal.

0:07:39 > 0:07:45It's better than anything in the safari park. These guys have been around since before the dinosaurs!

0:07:45 > 0:07:49250 million years! They're still around.

0:07:49 > 0:07:51They've got a shell.

0:07:51 > 0:07:55It's a defence from birds pecking and it's a solar panel -

0:07:55 > 0:07:59it soaks up sunshine, they get warmth and energy from the sun.

0:07:59 > 0:08:04Best thing - they live to be over 100 years old. How do they do it?

0:08:04 > 0:08:08When it gets cold, they go to sleep. Forget winter. Never see winter.

0:08:08 > 0:08:12Go to sleep, cool yourself down, stay in bed.

0:08:12 > 0:08:17Tortoise - fantastic animal. The best animal at Longleat.

0:08:17 > 0:08:23Darren is certainly convincing, but coming up we have seven more contenders.

0:08:23 > 0:08:29Only one will take the title. We'll find out later which is Longleat's ultimate animal!

0:08:36 > 0:08:40Although most visitors come to see the exotic animals,

0:08:40 > 0:08:45Longleat also provides a sanctuary for many native species.

0:08:46 > 0:08:53In the wilder areas of the estate, a host of small creatures live secretly right under our noses.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57These indigenous animals are just as worthy of preservation

0:08:57 > 0:09:02as the lions and tigers, hippos and rhinos,

0:09:02 > 0:09:09but it's hard to know how they're doing, so I've come down to the woods to see what's stirring.

0:09:09 > 0:09:15Thanks, Andy. As you can see, it's a very, very wet, soggy afternoon at Longleat.

0:09:15 > 0:09:20I'm with Mark Satinet, who records mammals for Wiltshire County,

0:09:20 > 0:09:25and Andy Hayton, Head of Section. We don't usually come in here.

0:09:25 > 0:09:31No, this is just one of the wild areas that we've got. It's left undisturbed.

0:09:31 > 0:09:38And Mark is here with a barrel of quite, well, vicious-looking kit!

0:09:38 > 0:09:45The plan is to try to establish what is living in these wild areas of Longleat.

0:09:45 > 0:09:48In terms of small mammals, yes.

0:09:48 > 0:09:56'Mark is Wiltshire's official mammal recorder. His job is to monitor the population of native mammals,

0:09:56 > 0:10:01'so he's trained and licensed in the use of humane traps.'

0:10:01 > 0:10:07They go into the end of the tunnel and when they walk over that the end drops down.

0:10:07 > 0:10:13'After the mammals' condition and location are noted, we'll release them again into the wild.'

0:10:13 > 0:10:18Would this area here be a good place to put a trap?

0:10:18 > 0:10:23Yeah. What you do is look at where small mammals will be.

0:10:23 > 0:10:30Underneath vegetation, next door to small holes, along broken logs.

0:10:30 > 0:10:34That's the kind of places where they'll be feeding.

0:10:34 > 0:10:38At the bottom of tufts of grass or just underneath hazel coppice.

0:10:38 > 0:10:42- Like that.- Ideal. - Let's get a trap set up.

0:10:42 > 0:10:48- What do we need to do?- Right. First, the bag you're carrying has got the hay in it.- OK.

0:10:48 > 0:10:54So we stuff some bedding in. It really is creating a perfect little nest

0:10:54 > 0:10:59for any animal that goes in here, so they're as comfortable as possible.

0:10:59 > 0:11:05That keeps them nice and warm. Then because we'll be getting voles and mice,

0:11:05 > 0:11:10we'll put food in for them. There could be 100 mice just around us,

0:11:10 > 0:11:1320 or so shrew, common shrew,

0:11:13 > 0:11:1615 or 20 pygmy shrew,

0:11:16 > 0:11:20- one or two water shrew... - Probably lots of water shrew!

0:11:20 > 0:11:23There is a stream nearby.

0:11:23 > 0:11:28Great. It'll be a really good surprise to see what's here.

0:11:28 > 0:11:32And it would be very nice if it would stop raining!

0:11:32 > 0:11:37Find out later what we find in the woods of Longleat.

0:11:47 > 0:11:51Now it's back to our competition to find the park's ultimate animal.

0:11:51 > 0:11:5510 keepers have nominated their favourites,

0:11:55 > 0:11:59but the visitors will determine the winner.

0:11:59 > 0:12:03The fourth contender for the title needs no introduction.

0:12:05 > 0:12:11Head of Section Brian Kent thinks his fearsome charges should scare off the competition.

0:12:11 > 0:12:15Longleat lions eat 40 tons of meat per year.

0:12:15 > 0:12:18That's the equivalent of two 9-stone people a day.

0:12:18 > 0:12:23Lions have truly voracious appetites.

0:12:23 > 0:12:27When lions are mating, they do this up to 50 times a day.

0:12:27 > 0:12:30It's pretty good at that as well!

0:12:30 > 0:12:35I think lions are number one because they were here first.

0:12:35 > 0:12:39They were the main attraction everyone came to see.

0:12:39 > 0:12:43They're the biggest, most powerful animal.

0:12:44 > 0:12:50The lions may look hard to beat, but the fifth animal to scuttle into our list

0:12:50 > 0:12:57has a real sting in its tail. Jo Hawthorne thinks scorpions are sensational.

0:12:57 > 0:13:05They've been around for millions of years and are one of the first vertebrates on land.

0:13:05 > 0:13:09When it's underground and needs to know what the season is,

0:13:09 > 0:13:16it can stick its tail out and light sensor cells detect what time of the year it is

0:13:16 > 0:13:18and whether it's light or dark.

0:13:18 > 0:13:24Scorpions may look ugly to us, but they make huge efforts to attract each other.

0:13:24 > 0:13:29They do a mating dance which can last from two hours to two days.

0:13:29 > 0:13:35Us humans, we go out disco dancing - we didn't invent dancing. Scorpions did.

0:13:35 > 0:13:41But it's not just their romantic side Jo loves. It's their family values.

0:13:41 > 0:13:46Fantastic parents. They'll carry up to 50 or 60 live young on their back.

0:13:46 > 0:13:52If one topples off, Mum puts down the claw and up the baby will scuttle.

0:13:52 > 0:13:58They are ultimate animals because of their parent skills, they glow in the dark

0:13:58 > 0:14:01and they're tough and durable.

0:14:04 > 0:14:09They'll have to be tough to stand up to our sixth competitor.

0:14:13 > 0:14:17Andy Hayton is rooting for one of the finest athletes in the park.

0:14:18 > 0:14:24Ostriches can run at over 40mph and cover 23 feet in a single stride.

0:14:24 > 0:14:29A mature ostrich can deliver a kick of up to 500lbs a square inch

0:14:29 > 0:14:33and kill an adult lion with a single blow.

0:14:33 > 0:14:37Ostriches may be long on brawn, but a little short on brains.

0:14:37 > 0:14:43They've got the largest eyeball of any animal - up to two inches across.

0:14:43 > 0:14:48But the sad thing is their brain is smaller than their eyeball.

0:14:48 > 0:14:54Trev should be the ultimate animal. He's the only animal on the series with his own theme tune.

0:14:54 > 0:14:56DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

0:14:59 > 0:15:04Mark Tye is bananas about contender number seven.

0:15:04 > 0:15:09It's his closest relative at the park - the western lowland gorilla.

0:15:09 > 0:15:17They share 98% of the human genes, so they're pretty much on par with us, bar the talking really.

0:15:17 > 0:15:22It's believed a gorilla is about 6-7 times stronger than an average man.

0:15:22 > 0:15:29Pretty impressive for an animal that's similar in size, but just eats fruit and veg and doesn't work out.

0:15:29 > 0:15:34Unlike the ostrich, gorillas have the minds to match their muscle.

0:15:36 > 0:15:41I think they should be the number one animal purely for intelligence alone.

0:15:41 > 0:15:45Some animals you look at and they seem quite cold,

0:15:45 > 0:15:49but with a gorilla it's definitely a working brain

0:15:49 > 0:15:54and they're looking back at you, working you out.

0:15:54 > 0:15:58Coming up, the last three keepers champion their favourites

0:15:58 > 0:16:04and we find out which of our ten animals the visitors think is number one.

0:16:06 > 0:16:13Over in lion country, Kabir's pride are hot on the trail of a brand-new scent.

0:16:13 > 0:16:21Lions have a very keen sense of smell, which they use for hunting and reading territorial markings.

0:16:23 > 0:16:27Any new odour is a trigger for them to investigate.

0:16:27 > 0:16:32I'm in the lion enclosure with Bob Trollope and Brian Kent,

0:16:32 > 0:16:37who spread some rhino dung to see what the lions make of it.

0:16:37 > 0:16:43We've taken advantage of this and our wildlife cameraman Andy set up a little camera

0:16:43 > 0:16:49that he is concentrating on now. Now the lions have come straight up to the dung.

0:16:49 > 0:16:54Amazing how quickly they've moved. And interested in the camera!

0:16:54 > 0:16:59They're smelling our scents as well as the rhino dung.

0:16:59 > 0:17:05- They've got an amazing sense of smell. The youngsters are interested in the rhino dung.- Wow, look!

0:17:05 > 0:17:10Look at Kabir! He's really curious about everything.

0:17:10 > 0:17:14What are they doing to the dung? Eating it?!

0:17:14 > 0:17:19They've got to test if it's palatable for them or not. It's curiosity.

0:17:19 > 0:17:23Amazingly, lions don't just use their nose to smell with.

0:17:23 > 0:17:29They have a special organ in the roof of their mouth that also detects minute traces of scent.

0:17:29 > 0:17:32Kabir's actually rolling in it.

0:17:32 > 0:17:37- Is that much like a dog would want to roll in fox poo?- Very much so.

0:17:37 > 0:17:42It's a new smell to them. They want to get it on.

0:17:42 > 0:17:47If there was another rival male, it would put them off.

0:17:47 > 0:17:52He's being territorial on it! He doesn't want anyone near it.

0:17:52 > 0:17:56- Curiosity killed the cat! - Did you think they would do that?

0:17:56 > 0:18:00No, I thought they'd sniff around, but to actually roll in it...

0:18:03 > 0:18:07'In the wild, lions sometimes use dung to disguise their own smell,

0:18:07 > 0:18:13'which helps them sneak up on their prey.' Is the idea that he wants to mask his real scent

0:18:13 > 0:18:19- with what's around him? - To make him smell even worse than what he already does!

0:18:19 > 0:18:26- Is he pretty smelly anyway? - He does pong a bit! - Are the youngsters copying dad?

0:18:26 > 0:18:28It's just born into them.

0:18:28 > 0:18:33They are copying him, but it's pure curiosity.

0:18:33 > 0:18:37It's totally new, a different smell.

0:18:37 > 0:18:40Oh, he's coming to investigate.

0:18:40 > 0:18:44I wonder if he can hear the camera moving.

0:18:44 > 0:18:50- Oh, look at that!- Well, it was fantastic while it worked!

0:18:50 > 0:18:54Andy, Bob, Brian, thank you very much.

0:18:54 > 0:18:59I think we need to go and rescue that camera before Kabir goes off with it.

0:19:10 > 0:19:14Now it's back to our quest to find the park's ultimate animal.

0:19:16 > 0:19:20Our eighth contender is one of the most endangered species.

0:19:20 > 0:19:24For Kevin Nibbs, the white rhino is a nose ahead of the rest.

0:19:24 > 0:19:31The rhino's horn never stops growing. It's actually matted hair, like ours in our fingernails.

0:19:32 > 0:19:38Despite weighing up to two tons, rhinos are amazingly quick on their feet.

0:19:38 > 0:19:43A rhino can charge at up to 30mph - pretty quick. Quicker than me!

0:19:44 > 0:19:52Coming from the hottest continent in the world, they have also perfected the art of keeping cool.

0:19:54 > 0:19:58Rhinos don't actually sweat. To keep cool, they wallow in mud.

0:20:00 > 0:20:05Number nine in our animal pageant is Sarah's particular passion -

0:20:05 > 0:20:08the powerful royal python.

0:20:08 > 0:20:12Most of their body is actually muscle.

0:20:12 > 0:20:16What they do to kill their food is wrap around it and squeeze.

0:20:16 > 0:20:21That's how they kill their food. They're very strong and powerful.

0:20:21 > 0:20:27One of nature's primary predators, pythons kill their prey and swallow it whole.

0:20:27 > 0:20:31They don't eat that often, so when they do, they eat a large amount.

0:20:31 > 0:20:37They can stretch their mouths open really wide to fit in these big bits of food.

0:20:37 > 0:20:43They eat their food headfirst. I think they're very misunderstood animals.

0:20:43 > 0:20:49They deserve a bit more appreciation because they are fascinating and very interesting creatures.

0:20:49 > 0:20:55And, finally, the 10th in our list of hopefuls is Craig's favourite animal.

0:20:55 > 0:20:59He thinks the tigers should take the title.

0:20:59 > 0:21:03The tiger's teeth, the canines are about four inches long.

0:21:03 > 0:21:07They have about 30 teeth in their mouths.

0:21:09 > 0:21:16Their eyesight is very good. They can actually see six times better than myself or you.

0:21:16 > 0:21:22Their back legs are longer than the front. They're designed for jumping or for an ambush.

0:21:22 > 0:21:29The ultimate animal in my eyes they should be because they are solitary hunters, hunt with stealth,

0:21:29 > 0:21:32and I do prefer to work with tigers.

0:21:34 > 0:21:40But it's not the keepers who decide. It's the visitors to Longleat who will vote for the winner.

0:21:40 > 0:21:46Coming up, we'll find out which species takes the title of Longleat's ultimate animal.

0:21:51 > 0:21:56Now it's time to go down to the woods again to see if our survey of native mammals

0:21:56 > 0:21:59has produced any results.

0:22:00 > 0:22:02Bit of a soggy morning here.

0:22:02 > 0:22:07Last night I came down with Andy Hayton and Mark Satinet

0:22:07 > 0:22:11to set small mammal traps. This is the moment of truth, Mark.

0:22:11 > 0:22:18- Wet weather's not great for small mammals, is it? - Well, they tend to go into cover.

0:22:18 > 0:22:24They might actually be out. You get darker nights, so the owls aren't out there to see them.

0:22:24 > 0:22:26So they could be in the traps.

0:22:26 > 0:22:32- Just to reiterate, if there is something in there, it will be totally unharmed?- Completely, yes.

0:22:32 > 0:22:37The whole idea of this is live trapping.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41- That's the trap part of it. This is like the bedroom.- Right.

0:22:41 > 0:22:46- So it's quite luxurious!- Exactly. They've got bedding, lots of food.

0:22:46 > 0:22:50They can kick back and eat things and wait for morning.

0:22:50 > 0:22:56I'd prefer to be in somewhere like that! Then we put them into a bag,

0:22:56 > 0:23:02so that we can see them. After that, we let them go. It's a safe way to spend the night.

0:23:02 > 0:23:07Want me to hold that? You're quite practised at this.

0:23:07 > 0:23:09And we've got a shrew.

0:23:09 > 0:23:14Oh, how fantastic. They're relatively common, aren't they?

0:23:14 > 0:23:18They're very common. Because they're so small and usually in leaf litter,

0:23:18 > 0:23:24you don't actually see them. You can see the little white tufts around the ears.

0:23:24 > 0:23:27Yeah. And that wonderful nose.

0:23:27 > 0:23:31- Oh, look. That's fantastic. - Really cute.

0:23:31 > 0:23:37This looks like a very plump, healthy little shrew. Obviously they're doing very well.

0:23:37 > 0:23:42- Lots of insects, dead wood and stuff. Wonderful.- Shall we let him go?

0:23:42 > 0:23:44- Certainly.- He's obviously furious!

0:23:44 > 0:23:51- Thank you very much for being an unplanned TV star. - We've got something here as well.

0:23:51 > 0:23:57- This is an amazingly rich area. - Nobody ever comes in here. It's totally untouched.

0:23:57 > 0:24:02Not only do we look after the big stuff, but we have these safe areas

0:24:02 > 0:24:07and we're doing good stuff for British wildlife, like this guy.

0:24:07 > 0:24:12- Look at that!- This is a yellow neck. - Is this a relatively common mammal in Wiltshire?

0:24:12 > 0:24:17- You know them better than anybody. - This is mature woodland.

0:24:17 > 0:24:22- And you get ancient woodland with them.- It's been fantastic.

0:24:22 > 0:24:29- Absolutely wonderful to find out that Longleat has this secret nature reserve.- We know they are about,

0:24:29 > 0:24:33- but to see them and find out what we've got...- Is very good news.

0:24:33 > 0:24:37Mark, Andy, thank you very much. We probably ought to let you go!

0:24:37 > 0:24:42You're furious! A very wild mouse.

0:24:52 > 0:25:00Over 400 animals live in the safari park, but only one can take the title of Longleat's ultimate animal.

0:25:00 > 0:25:08The keepers have had their say. Now it's time to find out which species came top in our poll.

0:25:08 > 0:25:15The visitors have voted. In third place...it's the howling Canadian timber wolves.

0:25:17 > 0:25:21Taking second place by a nose is...

0:25:21 > 0:25:23the white rhino.

0:25:26 > 0:25:30But there can only be one winner in our competition.

0:25:30 > 0:25:33First place goes to...

0:25:33 > 0:25:37the King of the Jungle, the mighty lion!

0:25:39 > 0:25:46There's not a beast on the planet that wants to pick a fight with a lion.

0:25:47 > 0:25:53Our poll says they are the pick of the park, the undisputed holders of the title

0:25:53 > 0:25:56Longleat's Ultimate Animal!

0:26:10 > 0:26:18We're at the East Africa reserve with Deputy Head of Section Ryan Hockley and the pygmy goats.

0:26:18 > 0:26:22We've got the two kids here and you've got one of them.

0:26:22 > 0:26:28- These are a great success story. - We're really proud of them - our first goat kids for several years.

0:26:28 > 0:26:34Whenever you breed, it's a bonus, but when it's the first time for several years, it's more of a plus.

0:26:34 > 0:26:38- He seems to be eating your shirt. - He's enjoying that!

0:26:38 > 0:26:46- Sadly, not all of the pregnancies were successful.- No.- But you must be thrilled with the three you've got.

0:26:46 > 0:26:50Yeah. A lot of these mums were first-timers, but quite an age,

0:26:50 > 0:26:56- which isn't the best odds. - And these guys are healthy?

0:26:56 > 0:27:02As you can see, he's got a lovely tummy to him. Really inquisitive, really strong. All three of them.

0:27:02 > 0:27:07And quite distinct characteristics. All the goats are big characters.

0:27:07 > 0:27:13Frapper here, he's soft as you like. He loves being picked up, stroked, cuddled. He loves attention.

0:27:13 > 0:27:19- Whereas Clara, the fawny-coloured one...- Just behind us there. - She's rather bolshie.

0:27:19 > 0:27:24She doesn't mind approaching you, but only to give you a head butt.

0:27:24 > 0:27:28And Sweep over there, the dark one over at the fence,

0:27:28 > 0:27:32- he's just quite stand-offish. - Quite independent.

0:27:32 > 0:27:36Which upsets me because he was the one I named!

0:27:36 > 0:27:41- Are there any plans to bring the billy goat back?- Definitely, Ben.

0:27:41 > 0:27:45This winter or early next year, we'll go through it all again.

0:27:45 > 0:27:50- Fantastic.- We'll look forward to seeing the results of those.

0:27:50 > 0:27:56Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme. Next time...

0:27:56 > 0:28:03The vultures go into a feeding frenzy. We'll find out what it's like to be the victim.

0:28:05 > 0:28:11The otter pups have finally learnt to swim, but they still like it best in the shallow end.

0:28:11 > 0:28:16And giant cockroaches, monster scorpions and blind mutant fish.

0:28:16 > 0:28:21We'll be getting friendly with the stuff of nightmares.

0:28:21 > 0:28:26That's all coming up on the next Animal Park.

0:28:34 > 0:28:39Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2007

0:28:39 > 0:28:41Email us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk