0:00:32 > 0:00:36Hello, and welcome to a brand-new series of Animal Park.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38- I'm Kate Humble.- And I'm Ben Fogle.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43It's a momentous year here at Longleat, as the safari park is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
0:00:43 > 0:00:50We'll be getting close up, not just to the giraffes but to the 40 other species of animal who live here.
0:00:50 > 0:00:56Telling stories from all parts of the estate both on land and on water.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58And of course we'll be meeting Lord Bath
0:00:58 > 0:01:02and exploring his magnificent house and its extraordinary contents.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Here's what's coming up on today's programme.
0:01:05 > 0:01:12A life and death drama when things go very wrong for Imogen the pregnant giraffe.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15If the giraffe survived, it would be a miracle.
0:01:15 > 0:01:21There's monkey mischief afoot after we hide their breakfast.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24That one's sliding down a pole!
0:01:24 > 0:01:27They are just fantastic to watch, aren't they?
0:01:27 > 0:01:33And the vet may soon have to face a difficult decision about Babs, the elderly rhino.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38Well, Babs is looking her age. She's not looking great at all.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43But first, we're going up to Lion Country where there's been a dramatic development.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54Last year new blood arrived at Longleat - Kabir the Barbary lion.
0:01:54 > 0:02:01He was brought from Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent to try to establish a new pride.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06The hope was that this would, in time, become a real family with cubs to raise.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Kabir's intended mates were a couple of young sisters - Lunar and Yendi.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18They settled down straight away, and it seemed to be a match made in heaven.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23In fact, encouraging behaviour was soon spotted.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25But would it lead to anything?
0:02:25 > 0:02:27We just had to wait and see.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Now keeper Brian Kent has some wonderful news.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35We've got a lion cub born.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38So it's really exciting, cos it's Kabir's...
0:02:38 > 0:02:45There's a new lion here and has been here seven months, so he's produced some goods.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49The new cub is a little girl.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56She's Yendi's first baby, and that's a worry, because sometimes
0:02:56 > 0:02:59new lion mothers don't seem to know how to look after their young.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04But so far, Yendi has been doing all the right things.
0:03:04 > 0:03:10Basically, just caring for her and licking her, making sure she's clean.
0:03:10 > 0:03:17The cub's now seven weeks-old, so she's still on milk and also starting to eat food as well.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18So she's doing well.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23And hopefully her sister, on the other side, is due as well for some cubs.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I thought she was going to have them last week, but no such luck.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Just a matter of waiting at the moment.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36While her sister Yendi had one cub, Lunar is looking large.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39They think she may be carrying more.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Lions usually have between two and four at a time.
0:03:43 > 0:03:49But lions are secretive and only have their cubs when they're alone, usually the middle of the night.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52It's a rare event that's almost never been seen.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55So we've called in Andy Milk.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01He's a specialist cameraman who's had a lot of experience finding ways to film the unfilmable.
0:04:01 > 0:04:07We're hoping he'll help us to witness the miracle of birth for the very first time.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12Well, I've just fitted the brackets up and got all that ready.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Just now doing the final connection.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Hopefully it's in the right place
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and we're not going to be obscured by the wire on the cage.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24We've installed everything outside
0:04:24 > 0:04:27and there's actually nothing in the cage at all
0:04:27 > 0:04:31so the lion can't get to it, can't touch anything.
0:04:31 > 0:04:38- It's all quite safe.- The spy camera works like a CCTV system, so it won't disturb Lunar at all.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43And it can get pictures in complete darkness by using infrared lamps.
0:04:43 > 0:04:50Infra-red is just basically light of a different wavelength to what the human eye can respond to.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I don't think a lion will see it,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56although they're not that concerned about light at all, so it wouldn't matter.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01But if we were to come in at night, the picture on here would be fine,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05but we wouldn't be able to see anything in the cage itself.
0:05:05 > 0:05:11The system can record continuously for up to ten hours, so as night approaches, it's turned on.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16We'll be back later to find out if our spy camera really can capture
0:05:16 > 0:05:21these precious moments, the very first minutes of life.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The lion house isn't the only place that's been blessed with new arrivals.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32There are a number of others elsewhere at Longleat.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38But not all of them have been born here. Some have come from other animal parks and zoos.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I'm here in Pets Corner with head of section Darren Beasley,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45who's set me a task to try and find his latest addition to the area.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Darren, how on earth am I supposed to find it?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50I'll give you a clue - we're heading in the right direction
0:05:50 > 0:05:54and it's a freezing cold day today and this animal likes it warm.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56OK. So, presumably it's somewhere around here.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03It's not as easy as that, though. There's basking spots of nearly 100 degrees in there in places.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Can you see it?
0:06:05 > 0:06:06No, is it...?
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Come round and actually look through the door.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Let's see if we can...
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Can you see it?
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- Feel the heat.- Yeah, I can. - It's one of my favourite animals.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18Am I still very cold over here?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Yeah. You have to lean in and have a look. It's not venomous.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24It's obviously very small, isn't it?
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I can't see anything!
0:06:26 > 0:06:28There you are, Ben, have a look under here in these rocks.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31This animal loves... It's got a special defence.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33It wedges itself in rocks.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- Look in this area.- Can I move the rocks?- Just go very gently.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Are you sure it doesn't bite?
0:06:38 > 0:06:40No, you're fine.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Can you see that?
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- Yeah, I can. Oh, look!- I promise I haven't hid that in there.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47That's where it was?
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Yep. You can gently pick him up.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Why don't you do it, just so I don't...
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- Presumably we have a tortoise here. - It is.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59It's Popadom. And he's a pancake tortoise. Look at that.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Really flat, much flatter than the conventional tortoise.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08Basically, they've found a little niche in life, and that is to defend themselves.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Tortoises have a dome which they soak up the sunshine.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14These guys have developed to be very flat.
0:07:14 > 0:07:21What they do is wedge themselves in tiny cracks and crevices in rocky outcrops in Africa.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Then the big birds of prey and jackals and things have great difficulty getting them out.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27They have this amazing colour.
0:07:27 > 0:07:33If we just put him down, you can see he could almost be a rock already.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- What would predate them out in the wild?- Most of the carnivores.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39They are pretty much bottom of the food chain.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42These guys will eat vegetation, eat the grasses and things.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47But unlike our normal Mediterranean tortoises with big dome shells,
0:07:47 > 0:07:52these have got spaces in between their bones and ligaments,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55so they're actually very soft to touch.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Can I have a quick hold?- Feel that.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02It does. Especially under here, it's very soft, isn't it?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05The best thing is, if they think there's a danger, they run really fast.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Honestly, that is one of the fastest land tortoises anywhere in the world.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I never think of a tortoise as going fast.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Shall we see how fast he might move now?
0:08:13 > 0:08:14Maybe to get away from us.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17No, he's not sprinting, but when they find themselves
0:08:17 > 0:08:21a nice wedge or crevice, they go head-first in.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26People used to think they'd swell their bodies to stop them being pulled out...
0:08:26 > 0:08:29These legs are actually like little anchors,
0:08:29 > 0:08:34and they will turn and twist them and they literally catch...
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- To anchor them in to the spot. - So you can't pull them out.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I'm hoping now in here he'll soon be joined by some more.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I was going to say, are you going to try and find him a girlfriend?
0:08:42 > 0:08:46He is a little boy so we're gonna get him a couple of girlfriends.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Hopefully they'll learn as well.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50We'll give them lots of nooks and crannies to hide in.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52He should perform his natural behaviour.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- He's going straight back! - I think we should leave him to it.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Darren, thank you very much.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12When babies arrive, it's not always good news
0:09:12 > 0:09:16because sometimes the miracle of birth can go horribly wrong.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20Recently, the giraffe house was the scene of dramatic events,
0:09:20 > 0:09:25a life and death struggle that no-one who was there will ever forget.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Imogen is ten years old.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Everyone was pleased for her because after several years of trying,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35she finally managed to carry a baby to term.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38With giraffes, that's 15 months.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43When it looked like her time had come, one of the first there was senior warden Bev Evans.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45It was really exciting when we came in
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and she was starting to go into labour,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50but obviously with that came the complications.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56From really exciting to really worrying in quite a short space of time, actually.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00When Imogen's labour went on for over a day,
0:10:00 > 0:10:06it was clear to Andy Hayton, the keeper in charge of the giraffes, that something was wrong.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Sunday morning, a vet came out, looked at her
0:10:08 > 0:10:12and the decision was taken - we would probably have to pull the calf.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16The calf was badly presented.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18We thought possibly it could have been a breach birth,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21or the head was tilted back so she just couldn't push it out.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Pulling the calf out by hand would be the only way to help,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30but to do that, Imogen would have to be sedated with an anaesthetic.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35And that's always a risky business, as vet Duncan Williams knows.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Anaesthetic-wise, I think giraffes are the most dangerous.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41The literature of reports are, basically,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45one in three anaesthetics with giraffes ended in fatalities.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51But if they didn't do something, Imogen and the baby would certainly die.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Nevertheless, deputy head warden Ian Turner didn't like the odds.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57The last thing you want to do is knock out a giraffe.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02Even worse is knock out a giraffe that's got a baby inside.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05So it was a last resort. We hadn't got any choice in the matter.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09We'd waited until the last minute and it was just fingers crossed from then on.
0:11:13 > 0:11:19A whole team of vets and staff has been urgently summoned to help.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24Nothing like this has ever been done here before, and Ian is concerned to record every detail,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28so he and his keepers are going to film whatever happens.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35The anaesthetic is administered using a syringe on the end of a pole.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Andy's dreading what will happen next.
0:11:40 > 0:11:47When they go, sometimes what they'll do is force themselves into a corner and try to prop themselves up.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52What can happen is they'll flip themselves straight back over
0:11:52 > 0:11:57where they just can't fight any more and are out on their feet, almost, and just collapse.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01The big worry for us is if she goes over straight backwards, she could break her spine.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Um...
0:12:03 > 0:12:08The boxes are all lined out with large bales of hay to soften it as much as we can do.
0:12:08 > 0:12:14The straw on the floor has also been piled up to cushion the impact.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20The next minutes will be critical,
0:12:20 > 0:12:26and we'll be back very soon to find out if Imogen and her baby survive.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34Longleat is home to a troop of over 80 rhesus macaque monkeys.
0:12:34 > 0:12:40The species is found all across Asia, from the tropics right up to the chilly foothills of the Himalayas.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45So they're quite happy to live outside in Wiltshire all year round,
0:12:45 > 0:12:50just as long as they've got something to keep them occupied and plenty to eat.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I'm up at Monkey Jungle with keeper Kevin Knibbs,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and we're trying a bit of an experiment this morning, Kev?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Yes. We've come here this morning with the dry food.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03I was looking at this, because don't you usually feed them fruit and vegetables and things?
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Yep, they get the fruit and veg in the afternoons.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07We feed this in the mornings.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- We've got primate pellets here.- OK.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13It's pretty much like Weetabix, muesli, that we have in the mornings.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14It gets them going for the rest of the day.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Is it full of the right vitamins and things that they need?
0:13:17 > 0:13:22These are specially made for primates, so they're perfect.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26We've got little bits of whole maize there, which is just a good filler.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Dog biscuits as well, which is good for their teeth.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32OK. So what's the experiment?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35We've noticed a lot of birds around this time of year.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40They tend to steal all the monkeys' food, so we're feeding them twice as much food as what we need to.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42This winter has been cold.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47We've moved the buffalo out of the jungle, where they needed a bit more shelter.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48We've got a spare shelter here now.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51This is where the buffalo hang out when they want shelter?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53What we've done is put loads of straw in here.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56What we want to do is put the food in the straw and the bedding,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59kick some fresh straw over the top and let the monkeys help themselves.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- So they can forage for it? - Absolutely.- Brilliant idea.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- So shall I just put handfuls out? - Yeah, throw it anywhere you want.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Throw it around in the straw.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13We'll just come up over afterwards and kick some fresh straw over the top so it's hidden.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15OK. So we can literally...
0:14:15 > 0:14:19I suppose hiding it quite well
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- is better for the monkeys, makes them work harder for it.- Exactly.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27It's very good enrichment for them and it's like a natural behaviour.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32In the wild they'd forage through leaf mould and leaf litter, looking for bugs and bits of fruit and veg.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35This is just recreating that, really.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40Lucky monkeys. Obviously, maybe help keep them warm as well!
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Absolutely, yeah. They can have a good play in the straw.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Right. We're nearly done here.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50We'll get out of the way. Shall we kick that over there like that?
0:14:50 > 0:14:51Yep.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56Join us later to see if the monkeys like their new experiment.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Back in the giraffe house, vet Duncan Williams and the team
0:15:07 > 0:15:10have just given Imogen an injection of anaesthetic.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15The trouble is, with giraffes, the anaesthetic itself can be the most dangerous thing.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23I think the big problem is a massive animal,
0:15:23 > 0:15:28when they fall down, you've got the risk of regurgitation of stomach contents -
0:15:28 > 0:15:33it can go up at the oesophagus and get swallowed into the lungs.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36So as quickly as possible, an air tube needs to be inserted
0:15:36 > 0:15:40all the way down that long throat, to the top of the lungs.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44That's the most important thing to do.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47That didn't quite go according to plan.
0:15:47 > 0:15:54Just as we were getting the tube down, she regurgitated, but luckily the tube was just down in time.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57One of the four vets on the team is an anaesthetist
0:15:57 > 0:16:00from Bristol University's veterinary school - Pamela Murison.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04She's responsible for the air tube and life support.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06They're so big!
0:16:06 > 0:16:14I'm used to it anaesthetising large animals, but they're very long with long legs, long necks,
0:16:14 > 0:16:21and you know in the back of your mind all the time that it is such a risky procedure.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27With Imogen anaesthetised, Duncan can start his examination.
0:16:27 > 0:16:33He needs to find out what state the calf is in, and how it's lying, just by feel.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39The ropes are essential for everyone's safety, and it takes a lot of hands to hold them secure.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Ian's called in staff from all over the safari park to help.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46There's 30 odd people around, so if the giraffe kicks,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49somebody's going to end up seriously injured or even worse.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55If they kicked a lion, for instance, it would be dead.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59I've actually been trampled on by a giraffe and it's not really pleasant.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01They've got really big hooves.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03You've got that big swing from a distance,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06and they don't know they're doing it.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11If you imagine a leg going like that back and you're just in the wrong place, it sends you flying.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Not recommended.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Duncan's internal examination has revealed some sad news.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The calf inside is already dead.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27It may have been dead for some time.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Senior warden Bev Evans had been looking forward to having a new baby in the giraffe house.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36It was quite sad to lose the calf.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40The vets and everybody couldn't do anything about that.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42We couldn't have done anything,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46so there's no point worrying too much about that, but, yeah,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50it's such a shame that we lost him, a little boy.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Now all their efforts are concentrated just on trying to save Imogen.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00They have to get the dead calf out, but there's been a complication.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Unfortunately, the drug that we gave her to relax the uterus
0:18:07 > 0:18:11has made her body think that she's stopped being in labour,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14so she's actually closing her cervix down.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20So a cervix that's capable of holding in a baby giraffe
0:18:20 > 0:18:23is obviously quite a strong muscle, so that's closed down.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26What we're trying to do is pull something this big
0:18:26 > 0:18:29out of something that big, which just isn't happening.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33You can see the amount of effort that the guys are putting in trying to pull the calf.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39There was no way that it was going to come,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41because everything had closed down again.
0:18:41 > 0:18:48We did quite a major pull on it and it just wasn't shifting, unfortunately.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57Duncan and the team must come up with a new plan, and fast,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00because now Imogen's life is balanced on a knife-edge.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20I'm back in Monkey Jungle with keeper Kevin Knibbs.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25Earlier we spread food out, hidden in the straw in that shelter.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28The monkeys are just starting to come around, Kev.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30They've obviously...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Do you think they knew what we were up to?
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Do they smell it? How do you think they get the hint that there's food around?
0:19:36 > 0:19:38They're very curious as a species,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41so anything we do, they're always there straight away.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44As soon as they find food they'll make little noises to each other,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47communicating that they've found some food.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52There are monkeys scattered around in the dead wood up there,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55and they are beginning to head over this way.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57They pick up these signals.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59"Oi, there's food over here!"
0:19:59 > 0:20:01This is great.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03This is perfect natural behaviour.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06This big guy at the front is Timmy, our dominant male.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08- He's there straight away.- Right.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09As he would be in the wild.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15Obviously that food, we buried it quite well, and the little maize pellets are tiny.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20How are they finding it? Are they using smell or sight or everything?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Mostly, it's sight. They'll dig through it with their hands.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26If they see something they can eat, they'll put it into their mouth,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30give it a bite and if they can eat it, great, if they can't they'll throw it away.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32They sniff things well.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34They've got a very good sense of smell.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37They're just going to fill up their cheek pouches.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40They get bigger cheeks on them, and off they go.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42It's...
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Look, they're all coming in now, aren't they? It's amazing to see them.
0:20:46 > 0:20:54As you say, this is a new way of feeding them, but it looks entirely natural to them.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58The best thing is, there's no birds stealing their food.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01That's brilliant, that one, sliding down the pole!
0:21:01 > 0:21:04They are just fantastic to watch, aren't they?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08They've blown it. I was going to say I'm quite surprised how calm they all are.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13- There's no fighting, presumably that's because there's enough to go round.- Yeah, definitely.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15They all know their role as well.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Occasionally you get a very brave little one coming in to try and steal some food,
0:21:19 > 0:21:25and that's not acceptable in monkey society, and they get told very quickly it's not acceptable.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27But it is amazing. If you just saw that scene,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30it would be very difficult to tell which one is dominant.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33We've got some very small ones in there,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38and it seems to be they've got the society quite well worked out.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Exactly. The males are the big dominant ones and then the females come after that.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Normally the females rule it. They're very clever.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51They make sure nothing happens, and the males lay back and do their bit.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52MONKEY SQUEAKS
0:21:52 > 0:21:56When you get a squeak like that, is that a warning?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58"Just be careful." Look at that.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00This is Timmy at the front?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03This one's called Maggie, a female.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08She's always on the lookout for people and likes to make faces at people. This is a threat.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10So she's pulling a face at our cameraman?
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Yeah, because we're looking at her - she doesn't like it,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16she's threatening us to stay away from the food.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Do you think now this might be something you repeat?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Do you think this has been a successful experiment?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Yes. I'd like to do this every day, if we can.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Every morning we'll do this until they get bored with it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29If they do, we'll have to think of something else.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Come up with another idea. Kev, thank you very, very much.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34It's just a fantastic sight.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Monkeys everywhere!
0:22:43 > 0:22:46With Imogen's baby not only dead but also hopelessly stuck,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49there's only one way left to try to save her life,
0:22:49 > 0:22:56despite the fact that, as senior keeper Andy Hayton knows, there's little chance of success.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59We're gonna attempt a Caesarean, just to give her a go.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04We can't just decide we're going to put her down and quit here.
0:23:04 > 0:23:10Like I say, even if it doesn't come out
0:23:10 > 0:23:13the right decision or the right outcome that we want,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15we've got to at least try it.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19So we're going to attempt a Caesarean now and see how we go.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25This will be the first Caesarean that's ever been performed on a giraffe at Longleat.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Duncan Williams is the vet in charge of the team.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32We do Caesareans in cattle all the time.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37The actual operation itself is very much similar to a cow.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But it is different... She was lying down.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Cows are normally standing up.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46We don't normally have quite so many people helping.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50I've never done anything like that in a giraffe at all.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Imogen has now been under anaesthetic for over two hours.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57For a giraffe, that's a dangerously long time.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02It's up to Pam Murison, the veterinary anaesthetist, to monitor her condition.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04We were monitoring her blood-pressure, making sure
0:24:04 > 0:24:08that that was within normal range and not too high, not too low.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Also trying to make sure she's adequately anaesthetised,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16so that she is not either very, very deeply anaesthetised,
0:24:16 > 0:24:21which is going to cause problems for her organs
0:24:21 > 0:24:23and reduce the amount of blood getting to them,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25or very, very lightly anaesthetised
0:24:25 > 0:24:29and liable to move or be aware of what's going on.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34Meanwhile, the other three vets are desperately trying to get the dead calf out.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Even deputy head warden Ian Turner is losing hope.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I've never seen a Caesarean on a giraffe.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Literally, if the giraffe survived it would be a miracle.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Here it comes. Towards me.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Go on. It should come now. Pull.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52We've just taken a baby giraffe out of her stomach,
0:24:52 > 0:24:57which, as you know, is a 6ft-odd baby, so that's removed.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01So the actual wound, the stitches, we're talking that sort of size stitching.
0:25:01 > 0:25:07She's got two lots of internal stitching plus the external stitching.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11She's now been under for four hours plus.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Um...
0:25:12 > 0:25:15You want to keep it to the minimum time.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18She's now had all this operation going on,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21going through her. It's going to be touch-and-go
0:25:21 > 0:25:24whether she actually survives this operation anyhow,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26but to go through that time and all this...
0:25:26 > 0:25:29She's been prodded around, poked,
0:25:29 > 0:25:34stitches here and the rigmarole of what's gone on -
0:25:34 > 0:25:36it's quite a traumatic time for her.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40The stitches need to be made very strong, because giraffes
0:25:40 > 0:25:44must always stand up, even when they've got such a massive wound.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49The moment of truth will come when the job is finished and they try to revive Imogen.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52The question is, will she ever wake up again?
0:26:08 > 0:26:13I'm down in Pets Corner with keeper Bev Alan and two very sweet little guinea-pigs.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15They're young. How old are they?
0:26:15 > 0:26:17- About nine weeks old now. Two females.- OK.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20This is Tia and that's Maria.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22I like those names.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Do guinea-pigs of this age take a lot of care?
0:26:24 > 0:26:28They do. You've got to make sure that you feed them the correct diet,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30lots of hay in their diet.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34Also a dry mix as well, and lots of fruit we give ours as well.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37They're obviously very popular pets with children.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Would you recommend them?
0:26:39 > 0:26:42For younger children I recommend guinea-pigs because they're good fun.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Also long-haired, you've got to make sure you groom them often.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- Do you have to run a brush, a comb, through their hair?- We do, yeah.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Haircuts as well now and then.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Wow. They are very sweet, aren't they?
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- They are. - How long will they live for?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58- About four to five years, average.- OK.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Bev, thank you very much.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Don't go away, because here's what's still to come on today's programme.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07We'll find out whether or not Imogen survives.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12Can the meerkats work out how to make an omelette?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14And then up in the great house,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Ben and I take on a challenge to see if we can become Longleat guides in just one day.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I would like to welcome you into the breakfast room.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Please come along, everyone.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33But now we're going back to the lion house, where we've set up a spy camera to try to capture
0:27:33 > 0:27:40a secret and rarely seen event - the moment when a lioness gives birth.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45But Lunar, the lioness in question, is keeping everyone on tenterhooks.
0:27:45 > 0:27:52- Still no cubs.- Keeper Brian Kent has been expecting to find new cubs every morning for the last week.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57She does look very big now, so she's going to have them soon.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59It's just a matter of waiting.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05Four days later, in the dead of night, it finally happened.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10Our spy camera was able to get this unique footage.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Two cubs are out, and here's the third.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Immediately, Lunar starts to clean the baby.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24In all the years they've been looking after the lions,
0:28:24 > 0:28:30this is the first time Brian Kent and Bob Trollope have ever witnessed these precious moments.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32The time limit was getting on a bit.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37It was, "Oh, it'll be next week." Never happened.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Now nature takes its course and eventually, out they come.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43It was great. It was good to see them.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46And to see what I've seen on here now, which is nice.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49All the years I've worked here,
0:28:49 > 0:28:53and to be able to see something that close up is great.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Good detail as well.
0:28:55 > 0:29:02Now in daylight, the camera can get better-quality pictures of the cubs' first few hours.
0:29:02 > 0:29:07It's revealing more natural behaviour that would normally be impossible to observe.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11For example, when Brian and Bob first went into the lion house this morning,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15Lunar was acting quite differently.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16She was very protective of them.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19As soon as we walked in you knew that she'd had them,
0:29:19 > 0:29:24because apart from the noises they were making,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26she was up at the front of the cage
0:29:26 > 0:29:30trying to see us off. When we went in first of all,
0:29:30 > 0:29:35you couldn't quite see how many there was, because she was obviously out there trying to protect them.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38We didn't want to spend an awful lot of time in there.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40It's best just to keep away.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42As long as you've checked them quite twice a day,
0:29:42 > 0:29:48you don't really need to stay there all day, there's just no need because you can make things worse.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51It's better to stay away and let her get on with it.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56It is amazing to see, because quite often when we go in there
0:29:56 > 0:30:00and find the cubs there, they've either been cleaned or have just been born.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05To actually see how quick it is that they go to the nipple
0:30:05 > 0:30:08and how quick it is between each cub being born...
0:30:08 > 0:30:09And how strong they are.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- Yeah, amazing.- You can see them hammering around straight away.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14That's really great to see.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22Lunar's babies are very vulnerable, each weighs little more than a kilo,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24and at this stage they're still blind.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30In the wild, only one in five cubs make it to adulthood,
0:30:30 > 0:30:36and even in captivity the future of these little ones is far from certain.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39You know, you can lose cubs.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Mum may sit on them by accident. It can happen.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48So you've just got to wait and hope things go well.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52You can't do nothing about it. That's how it goes.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55And hopefully she'll do fine.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57See how it goes.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02And of course, we'll be following developments in the Lion House closely.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Later in the series we'll be back to find out
0:31:05 > 0:31:07what happens to the new born cubs.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14As Kate saw earlier with the monkeys,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17the keepers all across Longleat are constantly trying
0:31:17 > 0:31:21to find ways to make life more interesting for the residents.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25It's called enrichment,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28and the idea is to encourage the animals' natural behaviour,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30and to stimulate their senses.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35I'm down at Meerkat Mound with keeper Val McGruther,
0:31:35 > 0:31:36and we're about to feed them.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- But this isn't a normal feed, is that right, Val?- Yes. That's right.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Meerkats will eat all sorts of things, especially in the wild
0:31:43 > 0:31:47it will be invertebrates a lot of the time, maybe scorpions -
0:31:47 > 0:31:50they bite the sting off the tail - small snakes.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54But they also eat eggs. We're having a bit of an 'eggs-periment' here.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Ah, very good! I like that.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Because we've got two unboiled eggs and one hard-boiled egg.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04We're just going to have a look and see which one they break into first,
0:32:04 > 0:32:09see if it does make a difference or whether they like them all the same.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11- I've noticed the...- Yellow mongoose.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14The mongoose. Exactly. They obviously all get along together.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Yes, they do. They get on very well.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22In the evening when we give them their main feed we actually do separate them for feeding.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Just for safety purposes really.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28- Where shall we do this experiment? - If we put them a bit near a rock...
0:32:28 > 0:32:32because what they do is roll the eggs along and perhaps...
0:32:32 > 0:32:36- Yes, you can. - These are the two normal eggs.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Where shall I put them?
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Yeah, that's fine.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43This is the hard-boiled one. Shall I pop it just over there?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Hopefully, we've got to try and attract them over.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49I'll throw a few mealworms there.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51That's the way to a meerkat's heart, is it?
0:32:51 > 0:32:52Yes, that's right.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Come on, then. Meerkats!
0:32:55 > 0:32:57You've got three meerkats here now.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Yes, we do. We've got one male and two females.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03It would be really nice if we heard the patter of tiny feet.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04That would be great.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08Have you any idea which one is likely to come over to the eggs first?
0:33:08 > 0:33:11- It could actually be any of them. - Right.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15Presumably in the wild they would find eggs from nesting birds.
0:33:15 > 0:33:20That's right. Any ground-nesting bird they would go for, the right sort of size.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21Look, here we go.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25- Go on then, have a go. - Having a little feel of it.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28That's the hard-boiled one.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29Go on then, have a dig at it.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37It seems to be digging at the ground around it.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39They will dig around things.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42It's a sort of instinct for them to dig around anyway.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44They could be looking for a stone
0:33:44 > 0:33:48or perhaps just rolling it against something hard.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51This is proving they still have some of their natural instincts?
0:33:51 > 0:33:56- Oh, yes, they do.- Even though... Were these guys born in captivity?
0:33:56 > 0:33:57Yes, they were, yes.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Yet they still know exactly what they should try and do with an egg.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Although having said that, this one just seems to be trying to bury it.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09No, he's not trying to bury it but he's trying to get into it.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15- He's still perplexed. But you think they should actually crack it against the rocks.- They should do.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17We do give them to them...
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- Look, we've got the mongoose creeping in there.- Here we go.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23They're coming to this one now.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26This is all part of your enrichment
0:34:26 > 0:34:29that you like to do here to keep them occupied.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Yes. It is really good to give them different things.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- Oh, he's got it there!- Wow! - That was good!
0:34:36 > 0:34:40We've just worked out the mongoose definitely knows how to do it.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42It's very clever how they knew how to just crack it,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45and they're obviously happy sharing the egg together.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47They are at the moment.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49At the moment! Is that because there's enough...
0:34:49 > 0:34:54Oh, look, the meerkat is, "It's mine, get away."
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Generally speaking, the mongoose will be more aggressive
0:34:57 > 0:34:59when they've got food than the meerkats.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Look, the other mongoose is coming up
0:35:02 > 0:35:05to try and work on the hard-boiled egg.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07This in theory should be easier to get into.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09It should do. Also...
0:35:11 > 0:35:13- There we go. - He's just run off with it.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15I think we call that a thief.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17I think so, a thief in the night.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21- Oh this one, look.- He's got into it. The other meerkat's got into it.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23Would you deem that a success, Val?
0:35:23 > 0:35:25I think so. I think that was really good
0:35:25 > 0:35:30because both the unboiled ones got cracked and eaten.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33The boiled one got whipped away, didn't it?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36That was really good. They got into them and broke them on a stone
0:35:36 > 0:35:38just like we thought they would.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42Thank you very much, Val. I think we have three contented meerkats there.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49The emergency Caesarean to try to save Imogen's life
0:35:49 > 0:35:51has taken three and a half hours.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Her calf was dead inside and it took all the efforts of four vets
0:35:55 > 0:35:59and a whole team of keepers to get it out.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01Now the time has come to try to wake Imogen up,
0:36:01 > 0:36:04and the stress is starting to show.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07It feels like we've been doing this for about a week.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09It has been a long day.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11We've been stood around.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14It's the vets and anaesthetists that have done all the hard work.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16The Caesarean was done,
0:36:16 > 0:36:21unfortunately a dead baby, but we were pretty much sure of that.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Surprisingly, for two days of the calf being dead
0:36:24 > 0:36:26it started to decompose already.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31The big worry is if the calf has decomposed so far,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34that she's infected.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Once we'd finished all the operation,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Duncan had stitched it all back up and got the stitches done
0:36:41 > 0:36:43and cleaned the wound up
0:36:43 > 0:36:47and give it all the antibiotics and stuff, they give it a Revivon.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52What we do is - Andy, Ryan and a couple of others
0:36:52 > 0:36:56stayed in there and we moved out with just Ryan and Andy in there.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59You sit on its neck and wait for it to come round.
0:36:59 > 0:37:06At the last minute, once it's up, you get off its neck and it sits up.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10It's an anxious time for Pam, the veterinary anaesthetist.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12To a certain extent, I think you are relieved
0:37:12 > 0:37:14that one part has gone well,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17but still nervous about the part that still has to go.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22It's not completely finished until she's up standing and well.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26For me particularly, I find that period very nerve-racking,
0:37:26 > 0:37:29because beyond... We've got very little control
0:37:29 > 0:37:33of how she gets up and she could easily injure herself.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48They were expecting Imogen to at least try to stand up
0:37:48 > 0:37:50as soon as she came round.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55Something is wrong, because lying down is unnatural to a giraffe.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59It's dangerous to their health and can lead them to just give up
0:37:59 > 0:38:01and lose the will to live.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04The longer the anaesthetic, the more likely you are
0:38:04 > 0:38:06to have some of the other problems
0:38:06 > 0:38:09associated with anaesthesia in large animals.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11For example, there's pressure on the muscles
0:38:11 > 0:38:13which have been lying in an awkward position
0:38:13 > 0:38:18with 600 kilos of giraffe lying on top of certain areas.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21It's one of these difficult situations -
0:38:21 > 0:38:24how much do you intervene? Do you let her do it herself?
0:38:24 > 0:38:27You always worry that you don't do enough
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and something bad happens and you'll be blaming yourselves.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38But a few minutes later, Imogen finds the strength to sit up.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52And then finally, to try to stand.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10The big step is she didn't die in the operation.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13The next big step is she got up, or woke up and got up.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17If we can... We'll slowly get her eating again.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20It is just tiny little steps all the way.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24It's a miracle that Imogen has come this far,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27but after major surgery on the stable floor,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30infection is a very real danger.
0:39:30 > 0:39:35If she makes it through tonight, tomorrow, and days on after that,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38if she gets to two weeks then we can breathe out.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42We'll return later to find out whether or not Imogen makes it
0:39:42 > 0:39:45through the hours and days ahead.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53But now, up in Longleat House,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57Kate and I are about to face a test that will try us to the limits.
0:39:57 > 0:40:03Every year a quarter of a million visitors enjoy a tour of the magnificent staterooms.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05It's up to the house guides
0:40:05 > 0:40:09to make sure they go away both enlightened and enthralled.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11If you worked in the court of Henry VIII
0:40:11 > 0:40:14you didn't acquire just a few acres of land.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Of the time this gentleman died...
0:40:16 > 0:40:21It's a challenging job, but then, we like a challenge.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Kate and I have come up into the great house here at Longleat
0:40:24 > 0:40:27with guide Sarah Bartlett and head guide Claire Mound
0:40:27 > 0:40:30to learn how to become a guide in just one day.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Claire, how long have you been a guide at Longleat?
0:40:32 > 0:40:34I've been here for 12 years.
0:40:34 > 0:40:41- OK. We are going to try and absorb 12 years' worth of information in just a day.- Possibly.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44OK. We're gonna start in this room. Is that right? You and I.
0:40:44 > 0:40:45You and I are going to start here,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47and Ben and Sarah are going to go next door
0:40:47 > 0:40:49and try and absorb that room.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51OK. We'll get going.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55If somebody wants to be a guide at Longleat, what's the process?
0:40:55 > 0:40:58You start with an interview, we see if we like each other
0:40:58 > 0:41:01and then you start training with other guides
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and you gradually absorb information
0:41:04 > 0:41:07from lots of reference books and lots of hands-on.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10So, how many rooms are open to the public?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13How many rooms do you have to get to know intimately?
0:41:13 > 0:41:16You get to know, we usually say, about a third of the house,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- sort of 16, 17 rooms.- Right. - That will keep you going.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Looking at this room, they're just so packed full of things.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Presumably, the public can ask you about anything.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30They can ask you about anything, but you will probably start
0:41:30 > 0:41:33by telling them that this is the lower family dining room,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36a little bit about their porcelain, the portraits
0:41:36 > 0:41:38and of course the wonderful ceilings.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41So we would get to the ceiling as you say, and it is staggering.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43You can't miss it.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46What sort of information would you give about this?
0:41:46 > 0:41:50Lord Bath's great-grandfather fell in love with Italy.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53He employs a London firm, John Dibblee Crace,
0:41:53 > 0:41:55to put in very dramatic ceilings.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59They're largely copied from the Ducal Palace in Venice.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- Wow.- They were put in in the 1870s and early 1880s.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05So that changes the whole feel of the house.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07It ceases to be Elizabethan inside.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09And becomes more Italian.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12So you said it's Lord Bath's great-grandfather,
0:42:12 > 0:42:16- so which marquess was that? - The fourth Marquess.- OK.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18There's an awful lot to remember.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21- There's a lot to learn, but one or two things in each room.- OK.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23That'll see you through for quite a long way.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I'll carry on swotting up. Go and see how Ben's getting on.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29While Kate learns about the lower dining room,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33I'm in the breakfast room with Sarah. We've got the type of room right.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36What are the features in here that I need to learn about?
0:42:36 > 0:42:39You need to know the table. That's the important feature.
0:42:39 > 0:42:46It was laid out for the opening of the house on 1st April 1949.
0:42:46 > 0:42:51- So, this is as it was laid on that date?- Correct.
0:42:51 > 0:42:52What's the significance of that?
0:42:52 > 0:42:56That is the date that the house opened to the general public.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00That was because Lord Bath's grandfather, Thomas...
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Who's in the portrait above the fireplace.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06That's right. He had died in 1946.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10The family had had to sell vast quantities of the estate
0:43:10 > 0:43:11- to pay the death duties.- OK.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13The table is all original, is it?
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- Is that the original paper from the date?- That's the original.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19- The eggshells are the same?- Probably.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22- Highly probably. Yes. - What else in this room?
0:43:22 > 0:43:26The ceiling strikes me as amazing.
0:43:26 > 0:43:31- The ceiling is 24 carat gold leaf. - Is it really?
0:43:31 > 0:43:34There's so much to take in, isn't there?
0:43:34 > 0:43:37How long have you been guiding for?
0:43:37 > 0:43:39- I've been guiding for four years now.- Right.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43Did you used to take books home, homework, notes and things
0:43:43 > 0:43:45to study for the next day?
0:43:45 > 0:43:49You did, yes. But as you went round the house, you learnt things.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51People asked you questions
0:43:51 > 0:43:54which helps because you have to think what the answer is.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58Eventually you begin to learn it and know the answers.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00Presumably they still catch you out every now and then?
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Every so often you get somebody who asks you something you don't know.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08I think I have a lot to learn. So the ceiling is 24 carat gold.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11- Table 19...- 49.- 49.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13I really do have a lot to take in.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16Join us later when we'll be put through our paces.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26There are five Southern White Rhino at Longleat -
0:44:26 > 0:44:30three youngsters, and two veterans, Winston and Babs.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36Of them, Babs is the oldest.
0:44:36 > 0:44:42She recently turned 37, and for a rhino that's a grand old age.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46Right from when she arrived back in 1993,
0:44:46 > 0:44:48Babs has always been a big character,
0:44:48 > 0:44:52loved for her even temper and friendly nature.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56So when three youngsters came from South Africa a couple of years ago,
0:44:56 > 0:45:00everyone hoped that Babs would take on the role of grandma
0:45:00 > 0:45:01to help them settle in.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04She didn't disappoint.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07But now the years are finally catching up with Babs.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10She's been suffering from arthritis and skin problems,
0:45:10 > 0:45:14and now Deputy Head Warden, Ian Turner is quite worried her.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17You're feeling old, aren't you, sweetheart?
0:45:17 > 0:45:21That's the trouble. She's got tender bits on her skin.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24It's where she's getting a bit...
0:45:24 > 0:45:27Senior citizen age is coming in, I'm afraid.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29Gets to us all, all of us.
0:45:29 > 0:45:35Normally, all this stuff she likes. She's flinching there. Aren't you?
0:45:35 > 0:45:38Normally as soon as you call her, she'll come over.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41There's been a couple of days when she's not bothered to come over.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45That's the signs that keepers look for which the vet can't see.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48You can see if she's looking ill by signs of illness,
0:45:48 > 0:45:51but it's when she's not being her normal self.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56But vet Duncan Williams has been called
0:45:56 > 0:46:02to meet keeper Adie Lanfear to see if anything can be done for Babs.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03Are you gonna come and say hello?
0:46:07 > 0:46:09She's eating well, isn't she?
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Oh, she's got a very good appetite.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14She's a ripe old age as well.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17- There you go, darling. - She doesn't look very steady at all.
0:46:17 > 0:46:18She looks very weak.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21When she turns and twists...
0:46:21 > 0:46:24In the middle of the week she was actually collapsing.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27She was actually - bang, she was hitting the deck.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33Babs is looking her age actually. She's not looking great at all.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36This time of year, it's the middle of winter,
0:46:36 > 0:46:42and you can see her skin is just so crusty and scabby and dry.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44But that's true to all of them.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47They've all got skin problems.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51It tends to go away in the spring when they start wallowing again.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55We're doing everything we can. We're nursing her through it, looking after her as best we can.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57We're making life as comfortable as possible.
0:46:57 > 0:47:02Supplementing her, try and prevent the arthritis becoming too serious.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04Just keeping a close eye on her.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06I think her quality of life's OK.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10She's had a bit of a bad week, but her appetite is excellent still
0:47:10 > 0:47:17so that's a pretty good indicator that she's not too seriously ill.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20Come on, Babs.
0:47:20 > 0:47:21Come on.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27White Rhinos have been known to reach 40 years in captivity,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30but few live past their mid-thirties.
0:47:30 > 0:47:35For now, everyone is doing all they can to relieve Babs' suffering.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41She needs nursing through the winter,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43it's a difficult time for them.
0:47:43 > 0:47:44So she needs the extra care,
0:47:44 > 0:47:47so yeah, we've all got a soft spot for her.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49She's a big character.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54That's the painkiller to take the edge off of things for her.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58Obviously she's got her hay which you see her eating now.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00It's high-fibre, high-fibre nuts.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03There's linseed and barley.
0:48:03 > 0:48:08We also given her some copper salts and some vitamin extracts
0:48:08 > 0:48:11and some supplements.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14There you go, darling.
0:48:14 > 0:48:18But the hard truth is that Babs probably needs more
0:48:18 > 0:48:22than a spoonful of medicine if she's to survive the winter.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28If her quality of life deteriorates much more, the time will come
0:48:28 > 0:48:33when the vet and the keepers will have to face a difficult decision.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37Will it be kinder to keep her going, or to put her to sleep?
0:48:47 > 0:48:51I think my brain's going to explode! Ben and I have spent the entire day
0:48:51 > 0:48:53trying to learn how to be guides at Longleat House.
0:48:53 > 0:48:57There is so much to remember I can't tell you. But now is test time.
0:48:57 > 0:49:01I have a willing group. Please come in.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05I shall tell you about the lower dining room.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08I know that this looks like the most fabulously luxurious room,
0:49:08 > 0:49:11but actually this was the day-to-day dining room.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14The family would have eaten dinner here every day.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Just have a look at this china on the table.
0:49:17 > 0:49:22Every single one of these plates is unique. They're hand-painted.
0:49:22 > 0:49:29They were bought when George III came to visit the house in 1789.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33Each one is absolutely unique.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36Probably not to put in the dishwasher, I would have thought!
0:49:36 > 0:49:41The first thing you notice in this room if you look up
0:49:41 > 0:49:43is the amazing ceiling.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46This ceiling was put in by the fourth Marquess,
0:49:46 > 0:49:50the present Lord Bath's grandfather.
0:49:50 > 0:49:55He loved Italian - the Italian style.
0:49:55 > 0:50:00This ceiling is actually copied from the Ducal Palace in Venice.
0:50:00 > 0:50:04- How do they clean it?- Painstakingly. You know your blusher brushes?
0:50:04 > 0:50:07That's what they do. They'll stand up on ladders and get into the...
0:50:07 > 0:50:11It's so delicate, and obviously it's all gilt.
0:50:11 > 0:50:17They will get in and brush it away literally with blusher brushes.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20It's not something you want to do too often.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22How often do they have to repaint it?
0:50:22 > 0:50:25It's done roughly every ten years or so,
0:50:25 > 0:50:29but because it's kept in very good condition and is cleaned,
0:50:29 > 0:50:33it's kept very well so things do stay preserved
0:50:33 > 0:50:37- in this magnificent state. - It's a good job.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40If you want to go through into this room,
0:50:40 > 0:50:43my colleague Ben will meet you in there.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46What a swot! Follow me in here.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50Now, I would like to welcome you into the breakfast room.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52Please come along, everyone.
0:50:52 > 0:50:53Very impressive.
0:50:53 > 0:50:59Lots of paintings of various Baths along the ceilings,
0:50:59 > 0:51:00all sorts in fact.
0:51:00 > 0:51:08The table is laid still originally from the 1st April 1949,
0:51:08 > 0:51:10believe it or not. All totally original.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13The original newspaper, even the original egg
0:51:13 > 0:51:15that was left there at that time.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19That was when the fourth Marquess, maybe the fifth,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22in the painting above the fireplace passed away.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25There were incredible death duties that had to be paid,
0:51:25 > 0:51:27so the house had to open to the public
0:51:27 > 0:51:30so that you lucky people could have a look around
0:51:30 > 0:51:32and see what went on in here.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Very impressive ceiling.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36In terms of the painting on the ceiling,
0:51:36 > 0:51:40would that have been painted and then set into the ceiling?
0:51:40 > 0:51:46It would very likely have been painted and then put up there, yes.
0:51:46 > 0:51:51Absolutely. And there's a little hidden door below the painting.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54That was incorporated in 1820,
0:51:54 > 0:51:59so that the servants could come along and lay the table.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Any questions from anybody?
0:52:03 > 0:52:05Well, I hope you all enjoyed the room.
0:52:05 > 0:52:09Please join Sarah through this way. Thank you very much for coming.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11I think I did rather well.
0:52:13 > 0:52:14Well done, Ben.
0:52:19 > 0:52:24It's been a month now since Imogen underwent an emergency Caesarean.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26The baby was already dead,
0:52:26 > 0:52:30and no-one really thought that Mum had much chance either.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37But here she is, and she's doing fine.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46We had hardly any infection to speak of.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48In fact it was so little infection
0:52:48 > 0:52:50it's not even really worth mentioning.
0:52:52 > 0:52:53Yeah, she's just fantastic.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56I think, the kind of animal she is,
0:52:56 > 0:52:58she's very, very quiet, very laid back.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01I think that stood well in her stead
0:53:01 > 0:53:05because obviously the stress level from the pain and the darting
0:53:05 > 0:53:06and the hassle was very low.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Obviously she didn't know anything about the op
0:53:09 > 0:53:11because she was completely out,
0:53:11 > 0:53:13but stress will get them in a lot of other ways.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15That didn't affect her.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Yeah, really, really pleased.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23It's unlikely that Imogen will be allowed to get pregnant again -
0:53:23 > 0:53:25the risks are just too high.
0:53:25 > 0:53:30But with her steady nature, she still has an important role to play.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32She's got a great future in the herd
0:53:32 > 0:53:34because she'll be central to a lot of things.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Unfortunately, the one thing she possibly isn't going to do
0:53:37 > 0:53:39is have calves of her own.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42But she's got two sisters here.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45So there are going to be offspring from that family,
0:53:45 > 0:53:48and she can just be everybody's dear old maiden aunt
0:53:48 > 0:53:51being a bit dotty in the corner, I suppose.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58Hello, girls.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00Imogen has been getting a lot of visits
0:54:00 > 0:54:02from all the staff that helped that day.
0:54:02 > 0:54:08It's an experience Head Warden Keith Harris won't forget in a hurry.
0:54:08 > 0:54:13I've been involved with giraffes for 30 years ever since I've been here,
0:54:13 > 0:54:18but we've sedated them for trimming and lameness,
0:54:18 > 0:54:23that type of problem, but never a Caesarean.
0:54:23 > 0:54:29So for it to actually be successful as well
0:54:29 > 0:54:32is quite something, so we're quietly quite chuffed.
0:54:34 > 0:54:39The operation what she went through - 4½ hours under anaesthetic
0:54:39 > 0:54:42and then all that, fantastic.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45An absolute miracle of nature.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47She will recover so well.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49Fantastic it is.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53Makes her extra-special now to have gone through all she's gone through.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55We thought we'd lose her.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57In the bottom of our hearts,
0:54:57 > 0:54:59even though you've got to try these things,
0:54:59 > 0:55:02we thought she was going to die.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22Back up in the house it's time to find out
0:55:22 > 0:55:26who's won the guide's challenge - Ben or me?
0:55:26 > 0:55:28The judge is Head Guide Claire Mounde,
0:55:28 > 0:55:30and I don't know what Ben's been up to,
0:55:30 > 0:55:34but I'm beginning to suspect a hint of bias.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37I think you did brilliantly, Ben. You got your people through.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39- You didn't lose anybody, did you? - I hope not!
0:55:39 > 0:55:41No-one's still hidden under the table.
0:55:41 > 0:55:46Your answered spontaneous questions that I think might have floored you, and you got them right.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49Thank you. It's all sounding very good. What about Kate?
0:55:49 > 0:55:52- Kate did all right, too, didn't you? - I thought I did.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55But you got the grandfathers muddled up a bit.
0:55:55 > 0:55:58I did. There are too many grandfathers in this family.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01There are too many Thomases and Johns and things.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- It was great-grandfather, wasn't it? - It was.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06Otherwise, you were getting there.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09But by a small whisker,
0:56:09 > 0:56:13I think that Ben got slightly better,
0:56:13 > 0:56:16- and we'll give you a badge.- No!
0:56:16 > 0:56:19- It does mean we might ask you to do some work now.- Oh, really?
0:56:19 > 0:56:21- Does that mean bigger groups as well? - Yes.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24I've got 30 small children waiting for you downstairs.
0:56:24 > 0:56:26I'm going to wear that with... What?
0:56:26 > 0:56:29Presumably, how many more rooms do I have to learn about?
0:56:29 > 0:56:32Oh, about 10 more. Yes.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Oh, dear. I have my work cut out. Do you want the badge, Kate?
0:56:35 > 0:56:37No, no, no. See you next year.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40Sadly that's all we've got time for on today's programme.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43But here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48Up in Wolf Wood, the cubs born last year are getting big.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51We'll find out if they're now eating with the grown-ups.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54Back with the lions,
0:56:54 > 0:56:56Mum goes ballistic when it's time
0:56:56 > 0:56:59to give the youngest cub her injections.
0:56:59 > 0:57:04And down in Pets Corner we'll meet two new bouncing babies -
0:57:04 > 0:57:07the first otter cubs born at Longleat in over 30 years.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10So don't miss the next Animal Park.
0:57:42 > 0:57:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd 2006
0:57:46 > 0:57:50E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk