0:00:29 > 0:00:33Hello and welcome to Animal Park. I'm Ben Fogle.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37And I'm Kate Humble and we're on the grand staircase here at Longleat House.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42Last year over 300,000 visitors came to visit the ancestral home
0:00:42 > 0:00:46of the Marquess of Bath and to see the fabulous treasures it contains.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50We'll bring you stories from the house, the safari park and the estate in the series.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Here's what's on today's programme.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Mum goes ballistic
0:00:56 > 0:00:58when it's time to give the youngest cub her injections.
0:01:00 > 0:01:07Down in Pets Corner the otters have had babies, and Darren is bursting to spread the news.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11You can tell by the grin. It means I've won the lottery or there's something better.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15But it's a different story for Babs, the elderly rhino.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17She's taken a turn for the worse.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21She's lost a lot of strength in her back legs.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25So much so that she collapses, does that frequently.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29That's got to be pretty painful and pretty distressing for her.
0:01:31 > 0:01:38But now we're going up to the lion house where last month Luna gave birth to three cubs.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46Sadly, two of them were found dead within the first couple of days.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51It's not unusual. In the wild only one in five cubs survive
0:01:51 > 0:01:55into adulthood and this was Luna's first litter.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59But she still has one.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03It's a little girl and this was always the strongest cub.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08She's now six weeks old, and keeper Bob Trollope is delighted with her progress.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15As you can see, cubby, which we haven't got a name for yet,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18is, er, getting bigger.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Mum's as grumpy as ever.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Which is really good, because that is what you want her to be doing.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29You want her to see us off every time we come in.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Which is really good, she is doing everything
0:02:32 > 0:02:35we would expect her to do.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37CUB MEWLS
0:02:37 > 0:02:40She is getting fond of her voice a little bit more now.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45To tell you the truth, to start with she was a little bit slow
0:02:45 > 0:02:46on the uptake.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52When we were moving them from pen to pen, just so we could tidy up,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55she has this problem with following Mum.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56She doesn't want to do it.
0:02:56 > 0:03:02On a few occasions we've had to go in there and pick her up and put her in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Which is fine when they're small,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09but when they start to get a bit more adventurous
0:03:09 > 0:03:13and their teeth and claws are getting a bit sharper, it's not so nice.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18It may not be nice, but today it's got to be done.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23The time has come for the cub to be given the first round of her inoculations.
0:03:23 > 0:03:29Just like our domestic cats, these lions need protection against a number of killer diseases.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Vet Duncan Williams is here to give the injection, while Craig Faggeter
0:03:33 > 0:03:38is the keeper who's been volunteered to go in first. He knows what to do.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Basically you just go in there, don't hesitate, and just grab it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45And you just make sure you don't get your hands caught.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Hands away from the sharp end!
0:03:47 > 0:03:48CUB MEWLS
0:03:48 > 0:03:52CUB GRUNTS
0:03:53 > 0:03:56They can turn on you quite quickly.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00You must make sure you've got a good grip - if not you'll get hurt.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Now Duncan can give the injection.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07This one's for cat flu, which is particularly dangerous to the very young.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11We will have to repeat it in a couple of weeks' time,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14just the same as you do with an ordinary kitten,
0:04:14 > 0:04:16so that it boosts their immunity.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20The cub also needs a dose of worming solution.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24The cub doesn't seem too upset, but Mum is furious!
0:04:26 > 0:04:34However, the whole operation is over in less than a minute, so Luna can be let back with her baby in no time.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Brian Kent, the keeper in charge, is very happy with how she's behaved.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Luna's a very good mum, yeah. Doing everything well, looking after the cub brilliantly.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46No problem.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49She's bound to be stressed because you split her up from her cub.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54So it's going to be like that. But we do it as quick as we can.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58At the moment, the whole family is being kept separately
0:04:58 > 0:05:00but in adjacent pens.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03With the cub so young it could be dangerous to let Kabir,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06the father, get too close.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Brian reckons this arrangement is fine with him.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Dad is a bit of a wuss, I think.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Cub comes running up and he'll run off.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I don't know why, but I don't know.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Typical male, I suppose.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29On the other side of Kabir is the other female of his pride,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Yendi, who is Luna's sister.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36She also has a new cub, though this one is two months older.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42She's another girl and has been named Malaika - which means angel in Swahili.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Soon the time will come to unite the whole family,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50though Bob knows that could be a difficult day.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Really and truly, the first time they go out
0:05:53 > 0:05:58is the worst time for us because you don't know what's going to happen.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04There's always that possibility that they might get in a bit of a scuffle, or whatever, and get hurt.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08That's always the worst time.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Once they have been out for a few times and they know their little escape routes
0:06:12 > 0:06:16and where they have got to run to, they'll be fine.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20It's all part of the learning process, isn't it?
0:06:20 > 0:06:25I should imagine Mum, Luna, will be very good at protecting.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Later in the series we'll be there to see what happens
0:06:28 > 0:06:32when the family meet for the first time out in the open.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37But for now Bob is in no rush for his new babies to grow up too fast.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41This is great fun, yeah. I love coming in here and just watching the cubs.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47And to have a nice little family unit, this is a new pride starting.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49What we set out to do.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Kabir has come in, he's done his stuff, he's proven himself.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55KABIR ROARS
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Let's hope we can have many more cubs.
0:07:04 > 0:07:10It's been a number of years since Longleat's herd of pygmy goats had any kids.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13The problem is that there's no red-blooded male here.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17So a few months ago arrangements were made to borrow a billy.
0:07:23 > 0:07:29His name was Jonjo, he came from Glamorgan and he's every inch a stud.
0:07:30 > 0:07:37After two short weeks of unbridled passion it was time for Jonjo to move on to pastures new.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45Now I've come to meet senior keeper Bev Evans to find out about the consequences.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50So, obviously, you're looking for distended bellies, which a few of them, especially that one...
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Yes, Ali is slightly, yeah, round.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Are there any other signs that you can have a look for?
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Change in behaviour, eating more, quietening down a little bit more.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03The udder teats get a little bit more enlarged, that kind of thing.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05So are they all girls in here?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08No, we've seven girls, but we've our three boys as well.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Poppadom just here, Charlie and Cracker just behind us.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14- This one behind us. - They're castrated males.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18About six years ago we decided to stop breeding here at Longleat
0:08:18 > 0:08:20just because our numbers were getting too much.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23But since then we've decided, we've only got 10,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28and they are getting older, so we'll just increase the numbers a bit.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Potentially, how many could each goat have if they were pregnant?
0:08:32 > 0:08:37Normally it's a single one, but twins is not uncommon and sometimes triplets as well.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41So say, we've got seven females, we could have 14 kids here.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Which, added to the 10 you've already got could bring you up to 24, or so.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- That's a lot of pygmy goats! - It's a lot of goats!
0:08:49 > 0:08:53And, I have to ask you about the colours, obviously there's complete mix here.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56We've got white ones, darker ones and speckled ones,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- will you have a complete variety of colours again?- We hope so.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02The billy goat, Jonjo, he's a tri-coloured and hopefully
0:09:02 > 0:09:06genetically, he'll throw us a few colours. Yeah, definitely.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10So, if you haven't done this for six years, is this a whole new thing for you?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Yeah, sure, it is. But I'm hoping it will go fine.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18They normally have a very good natural birth.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21In the past, you know, emergency caesareans are needed,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23just because of their small frame, really.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28We've tried to do is keep their weight off so the baby's quite small, so it should go fine.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Will you have to adapt their diet at all?
0:09:31 > 0:09:36Will you have to do things when we find out if they really are pregnant or not?
0:09:36 > 0:09:40We will hopefully find out soon if they are really pregnant or not
0:09:40 > 0:09:44and up their diet just before. Some concentrated nuts and things
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and also certainly afterwards when they are lactating as well.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51- What is the gestation period for a goat?- Five months, so not long at all.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55D'you think there's any likelihood that you may have to hand-rear any?
0:09:55 > 0:10:00If one has triplets we might have to supplement the third baby.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05- Possibly, but we would like not to, to be honest. - Leave it natural.- Very true.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Fingers crossed it all goes well and we'll keep you posted on the progress of the pygmy goats.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Last year in Pets Corner,
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Romeo was brought in as a mate for Rosie the Asian short-clawed otter.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Now something wonderful has happened
0:10:29 > 0:10:33and the keeper in charge, Darren Beasley, is over the moon.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Some great news at Pets Corner, you can tell by the cheesy grin, can't you?
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Either I've won the lottery or there's something even better.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44After, I don't know, over 30 years of waiting
0:10:44 > 0:10:47we've at last got some baby otters again in Pets Corner.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Mum and Dad have poked their heads out, I bet you can't see.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54They've just come out to see, they've heard a voice. This is great news,
0:10:54 > 0:11:00because what's happening, little Romeo's been taking the food to Mum.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05She's been looking after the babies - nursing them, giving them milk - and now, I'm so excited,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07they've started coming out for some food,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11which means that the babies are hopefully developing nicely
0:11:11 > 0:11:13and they feel brave enough to leave them.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Despite Darren's excitement,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19the truth is that no-one has actually seen the otter pups yet.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22They don't even know how many there are.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Otters are born blind, and the parents keep them
0:11:25 > 0:11:29safely tucked away inside the den for the first few weeks of life.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33The keepers mustn't disturb the babies,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35because if they're contaminated with human scents,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39it could cause the parents to abandon or even kill the pups.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44So Rob Savin needs to be very careful when he cleans the house.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46We think there might be three
0:11:46 > 0:11:50because it's just really an educated guess.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54They're supposed to have between two and six young.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57It has been known for them to have seven at one time.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00But it's normal for them to have three or four.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08In the hope of getting a first peek at the new babies,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Darren strapped his camcorder to a beam over-looking the den.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16He turned it on, and then left it to record to the end of the tape.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22It's a hit-and-miss method, and the red colour is from the heat lamp that keeps the place cosy.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26The problem is, we don't want to go in there and disturb them because they're so precious.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31We don't want Mum and Dad running off and leaving them and not giving them any milk.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32This is a big breakthrough.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36We've waited 30 years to have baby otters here again.
0:12:36 > 0:12:43I'm so proud and chuffed that it's happened, but I would love to know how many are down in there.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48Not a great deal of movement going on. We might have to let the camera carry on running and put it in.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51But I'll have to watch it on fast forward because
0:12:51 > 0:12:58four hours of a board and a nice warm night house is not exactly prime-time evening viewing for me!
0:13:00 > 0:13:05In fact, Darren's spy camera never did catch any sneak previews
0:13:05 > 0:13:07and everyone just had to wait.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09We'll be back later when Rosie and Romeo
0:13:09 > 0:13:15are ready to show us the first baby otters at Longleat in over 30 years.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27While Longleat is famous for its exotic species,
0:13:27 > 0:13:31there are also plenty of more familiar animals here.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33The estate includes a number of working farms,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37and for centuries the open parkland has been grazed by sheep.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Right now the farmers are getting ready for the lambing season.
0:13:43 > 0:13:49We're out in the park with sheep farmers Simon Baggs and Steve Crossman and you've gathered
0:13:49 > 0:13:51all the sheep in here, Simon, what's the plan?
0:13:51 > 0:13:55The plan is, we're going to take the triplets out and take them back down
0:13:55 > 0:13:59to the other farm and leave the singles and the twins here.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01But they're all adults, what d'you mean triplets?
0:14:01 > 0:14:06We had them scanned in January and the triplets are marked green
0:14:06 > 0:14:11on their backs, the twins are blue and the singles are red.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16So these are all expectant ewes, you know exactly what's in all of them.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So, what do we need to do now to help?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21If Steve and Ben go down the bottom...
0:14:21 > 0:14:26- OK.- ..to the other pen and bring them up, we'll sort them out.- OK.- So we're going to basically herd them.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- Yeah, bring them back up. - Go and be like a sheepdog!
0:14:29 > 0:14:32OK. So, Steve, presumably we're going to use
0:14:32 > 0:14:37all of the different gates that are here to shuffle them through.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42- Yeah. We'll go through into this gate.- OK, have you any idea how many? A couple of hundred?
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- I'd say there's a couple of hundred at least. - OK, they've all been scanned,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50That basically involves...? It's like a woman that's pregnant, is it?
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Exactly the same as an ultrascan.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57They come in, they've got a specialist crate set up that they run through.
0:14:57 > 0:15:04The chap sits in there and he scans the sheep and he then marks them according to what's inside them.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07So that's the colours, the sheep that have triplets are coloured...
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- Green. Blue is twins and red are singles.- Right.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Presumably they're expecting relatively soon.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- We don't want to put them under stress, we'll walk round nice and quiet.- Yeah.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22And then hopefully that gate will be up there nicely and we'll just....
0:15:22 > 0:15:26The others will be waiting to separate them.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- All we've got to do is quietly move up behind them.- Right. - And make sure they go up in.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31Fantastic.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- OK, Simon, so this one's going back out into the park. - In the park.- And that one.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41All the reds and blues go out there, because the blues are the twins and the reds are the singles.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46OK, so why is it only the triplets that you're taking out? Oh, here's a green coming!
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Yeah.- Sorry, I've got to change the gate quickly!- And back again. And again.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- Cos that one's a black and and that one's not in lamb.- OK.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55- So basically.... - It's quite stressful.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Yeah, basically we are bringing them in, the triplets, because obviously
0:15:59 > 0:16:05we lamb outside so it's better to have them in so we can foster on to ewes that have only got one.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11OK, so you won't allow one sheep to look after three. There's a green.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14You can do, but it's better, you know, if you've got some singles
0:16:14 > 0:16:19- it's better to let the ewe have another lamb and have twins on her. - Right.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And presumably it's better for the lambs, too, is it?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- That's right, because the ewe's only got two udders.- Oh, really?- Yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31- So it's better to... Hang on. - That's a blue.- It's better....
0:16:31 > 0:16:33There's a green coming, green coming!
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Go on, ah! Well caught!
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- Go on, go on.- That's it, well done. - Yeah.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Can't see any more greens.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44- Here's one coming now.- OK.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47That's it. Here you go.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51- That's the lot.- That's the lot.- Wow.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59Good bit of sorting, so now all we've got to do is load them into the trailer...
0:16:59 > 0:17:04- Yeah, into the trailer and take them to the other farm.- Simon, thank you very much for letting us help.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- Good job, Steve and Ben.- Thank you.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Thank you for filtering them through and let's hope that the lambing season goes very well.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Thank you very much. - Thanks very much.- Thanks.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19While for many of the animals of Longleat, new life is on the way,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21for others, it's a different story.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Babs the white rhino is getting on.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34In fact, at 37 she's one of the oldest rhinos in the country.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38The years have caught up with her, and as well as suffering from
0:17:38 > 0:17:42an uncomfortable skin complaint, she's also plagued by arthritis.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46It's getting worse and is now causing great pain.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Vet Duncan Williams has been monitoring her condition
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and what he saw a couple of weeks ago was not encouraging.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Is she going to come and say hello?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57There you go, darling.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01She doesn't look very steady at all, she looks very weak.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03- It's when she turns.- Yeah.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06When she twists, certainly in the middle of the week,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10she was actually collapsing, she was actually, bang, hitting the deck.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14We're doing everything we can, nursing her through it, aren't we?
0:18:14 > 0:18:17We're not, you know... We're making life as comfortable as possible.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Supplement her, prevent the arthritis from becoming too serious,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24just keeping a close eye on her.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30It's been a long road for Babs.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35She was born in 1969 out in the open bush of South Africa.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38She came to Britain as a youngster and arrived here at Longleat
0:18:38 > 0:18:4113 years ago.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47She was always even-tempered and good-natured,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51so in recent times when the three new youngsters arrived from Africa,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55she fell in to the role of protective grandma to help them settle in
0:18:55 > 0:19:02But the most unique thing about Babs is how much she enjoys contact with her keepers.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07For deputy head warden Ian Turner that's something really special.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09You're feeling old, aren't you, sweetheart?
0:19:09 > 0:19:13That's the trouble. She's got tender bits on her skin, see?
0:19:13 > 0:19:19It's just where she's getting a bit of a senior citizen. Age is coming in, I'm afraid.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Normally all this sort of stuff, you see... She is flinching there, aren't you?
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Normally as soon as you call her she will come over,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30there's a couple of days where she's not bothered to.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34That's the signs that keepers look for, which the vet can't see.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40He can see if she's looking ill by the signs of illness. But it's when she's not being her normal self.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47But now Babs has taken a turn for the worse.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52Today Duncan the vet was called and he's found her condition badly deteriorated.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55She just basically hasn't been herself.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57She's been very dull, very slow.
0:19:57 > 0:20:04Her skin - she's got lots of multiple infections, but the main thing we've found is she's lost
0:20:04 > 0:20:08a lot of strength in her back legs, so much so that she kind of collapses.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13She does that frequently, especially if she's turning sharp.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17It's the sort of thing - we can't let her go on and on because
0:20:17 > 0:20:21we don't want to come in and find her collapsed totally and suffering.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24There's now only one way to free Babs from pain.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Duncan has just left head warden Keith Harris.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30They had a very difficult decision to make.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35It's at the stage where it's difficult to walk and she's struggles to get up in the morning.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38So she can't go out with the other rhinos,
0:20:38 > 0:20:43and you can see she gets upset when the others go out without her.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49And we've been able to control the pain up till now, but we don't feel
0:20:49 > 0:20:55that we can keep doing this because the pain seems to be outstripping the painkillers.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Each day, through the keepers, we've been monitoring her closely, and then
0:20:59 > 0:21:03on Duncan's visits, we've been again watching her closely,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07and we've just had a meeting together.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12I think it's collectively thought that really she's had enough now.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17We've had to take the decision to euthanase her today.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26At the end the day, we can't treat old age, I'm afraid - it comes to us all.
0:21:26 > 0:21:32So, I think one of the biggest criteria we try to take is quality of life.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37We could be selfish and keep her going for our wants and needs,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40and we have to try and banish those thoughts.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44And it is very hard but I think, at the end the day,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48you know, we can say that we have given her a very good life.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Duncan has been the safari park vet for eight years,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and in that time, he's made many visits to the rhino house.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Today will be the last call he will make on Babs.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Earlier this week, I popped in and she had two massive grazes on her flank,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12where I think she had fallen in the night - fallen against the bars.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16That has got to be pretty painful and pretty distressing for her.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20The bottom line is we don't want her to suffer, and that is why we've made the decision.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25So now, to carry out that decision, Babs will be sedated with a dart.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30Then Duncan will be able to administer a painless overdose of anaesthetic.
0:22:30 > 0:22:38Well, the main danger really is using the Immobilon because it is very dangerous to humans.
0:22:38 > 0:22:45Rhino skin is, in parts, almost two inches thick, and it is very difficult to inject and dart.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48We should have no trouble getting it into her with a dart gun -
0:22:48 > 0:22:52it will be powerful enough to fire through, but we just need a very long needle.
0:22:54 > 0:23:00But the hardest job falls to Tim Yeo, the keeper in charge of the rhinos.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03He has been caring for Babs for the last 13 years.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09Now he must fire the sedative dart that will send her off to sleep.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11It's not a very nice thing to be doing, but it's...
0:23:11 > 0:23:16but it's, um... You know, it's got to be done, I think.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19You have got to go and do something positively,
0:23:19 > 0:23:24and as professionally as you can. But you don't want to do it, you know.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26You don't want to do this at all.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31However much you as a person dislike - this is the worst bit of the job.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35The team can't put it off any longer.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37They must do what is best for Babs.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40We'll be back in the rhino house a little later on.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Of all the world's mammals almost half of the species are nocturnal.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Bats for example, come out mainly at night.
0:24:10 > 0:24:16So, to keep Longleat's 15 Egyptian fruit bats happy, they live in an artificial cave that's usually nice
0:24:16 > 0:24:21and dark, except when it's time for us to do some work in there.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26- I've come down to the bat cave with an important delivery for keeper Jo Hawthorne. Hi, Jo.- Hi, Ben.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- Now, you're doing an experiment with the bats, is that right?- I am.
0:24:29 > 0:24:37I'm doing an experiment as part of my coursework at college to identify exactly which foods bats prefer.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39And the simplest way to do that is to put it up?
0:24:39 > 0:24:44- It is. Exactly. On here we've got all their favourite food.- Right.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Which is a mixture of apples...
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Cantaloupe melon, we've got banana...
0:24:49 > 0:24:51- Just slide them on here? - Just slide them on the hooks.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54So, what's your course - what does it involve?
0:24:54 > 0:24:59It's basically coursework over two years,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03studying different species. And of course bats are my favourites.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06I know! You have a bit of a weakness, don't you?
0:25:06 > 0:25:12- I do. So any excuse to do anything on the bat side, that's what I've been doing.- Do we just leave this here?
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Yes, we leave that here and we need to actually pull it up a little bit.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18OK. Shall I do that?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- Yeah, if you keep going...- Yeah. - Keep going.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Yes, about there. That's fine.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28- OK. I noticed there was actually a big piece of melon there.- A lovely piece here of honeydew melon.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Ooh, I have a weakness for honeydew! Where are we going to put that?
0:25:32 > 0:25:35If we go and put it on the platform over here...
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Right. Shall I take that? - Yeah, you can take that.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42Then, hopefully, we have some very keen members that actually prefer this to anything else.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- Just on here?- Put it here, yes.- OK.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- And the idea is... - We'll just let them do their thing.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52Step back, and hopefully the ones that have got this passion for it will come down and have a feed.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56So they're obviously hanging back a little bit.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- Are we scaring them off?- No, they'll take a while. There you go.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03They're just waiting to see if we've finished hanging it up.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05You can see the tongue - the one with the little face.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09That's for extracting nectar in the wild. They use their tongue.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14- They've got very sweet little faces! - They are, they're lovely. They really are gorgeous.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16They are the nicest-looking of all the bats.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's why they're called flying foxes -
0:26:19 > 0:26:23they are foxy with the long nose and muzzle. Little round eyes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26And these incredible wings. That bat's using its wing
0:26:26 > 0:26:28to clasp onto that fruit.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30They've got two hooks on the fore bit of their wing,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and you can see that they're really rather long.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- They'll use those for climbing. - Right.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39And for attaching on precarious positions like that.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- They don't mind eating together, do they?- No, no. Not at all.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47It is a bit of who gets to the canteen first and helps themselves.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50It's great. Oh, look, we've got one over here now.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54- Ah, there you go. - Look at how he's holding his wing around the whole thing.
0:26:54 > 0:27:01Yes, once they've found something they really like, it is mine, you know. You see his ears going.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03They're moving all over the place.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Listening out for all the other sounds.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Bat's rely on hearing more than anything so he's listening for the others
0:27:09 > 0:27:12to see if they're coming to get his piece of melon.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17No matter what they're doing, hanging up, eating, feeding, wherever they are, their ears are going constantly.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- Absolutely fascinating. Jo, thank you very much.- That's all right.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23We'll leave them to their fruit salad.
0:27:31 > 0:27:38For over four centuries, Lord Bath's family has been filling Longleat House with all kinds of treasure.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43Amongst the lavish trappings of great wealth there's fine art, and exquisite antiques.
0:27:43 > 0:27:48Many of these are not only priceless, but also quite extraordinary.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54When we left Longleat last year, this display case was empty, waiting for its display.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I'm here with Claire Mound, head guide at Longleat.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59It is a magnificent display, Claire.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02- Isn't it wonderful?- It really is. Tell me about these pieces.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06These pieces were made for Augustus the Strong of Saxony,
0:28:06 > 0:28:10and they were part of a big menagerie that Meissen made -
0:28:10 > 0:28:13big animals for his menagerie, and these are just a few of them.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16So Meissen was a sort of master porcelain...
0:28:16 > 0:28:22They were the first factory that could make white porcelain in Europe.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Augustus actually wanted the man who was doing it to make gold,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28but he managed to come up with white porcelain instead.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31And they're white, very dramatic, but they're cracked
0:28:31 > 0:28:37because they hadn't mastered the art of firing huge pieces, so they're not because we dropped them!
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Wow. They are huge. What on earth would you have done with them?
0:28:41 > 0:28:45You usually get nice little bits of porcelain and put them on a mantelpiece,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47but there's no way you could get one of those on.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48Possibly not in this house.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53No, we used to display them until quite recently in the very long room upstairs, the saloon.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58Then a few years ago they were put away, and they've been out of sight for some years.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Now we've got them on display here.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05- They cause a few problems, I gather, because they are so heavy. - They are very heavy.
0:29:05 > 0:29:11Fortunately they tested the shelves for weight before they started, because...
0:29:11 > 0:29:14They put big sacks of sand on them and the shelves bent.
0:29:14 > 0:29:19So if they hadn't tested them, this lot would have just... Oh, it doesn't bear thinking about!
0:29:19 > 0:29:22We are now, we hope, reasonably safe.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Well, it's great to see them here.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27They are absolutely magnificent.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Although I have to say, the elephant -
0:29:29 > 0:29:31a little odd anatomy.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34A little strange - rather short legs.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38And a strange sort of watering can for a trunk.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Yes, you could use him for dual purpose.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45- Claire, thank you.- Thank you, Kate. - We've lots more coming on the programme.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Up in Wolf Wood, the cubs born last year are getting big.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53We'll find out if they're now eating with the grown-ups.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Keelan the python is a living mystery.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01He hasn't eaten a thing in over a year.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05And we'll be there for the historic moment when Romeo
0:30:05 > 0:30:09and Rosie finally bring their new babies out for the very first time.
0:30:14 > 0:30:21But now we're going back to the rhino house, where the time has come to do what everyone has been dreading.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Babs has been suffering terribly from arthritis.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29She's in pain, she can't go out, and now she keeps falling over.
0:30:29 > 0:30:36There's nothing more that vet Duncan Williams can do, so the decision has been taken to put Babs to sleep.
0:30:36 > 0:30:42As the head keeper for the rhinos it's up to Tim Yeo to fire the sedative dart.
0:30:50 > 0:30:58Once the sedative has taken effect, Duncan will administer an overdose of anaesthetic that will stop her heart.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Tim covers her eyes to keep her calm.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15After 13 years, this is the last thing he can do for her.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19And a moment later, Babs is asleep.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Duncan has the anaesthetics ready.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24It will all be over in just a few seconds.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26Here, Ade, just hold these two.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42It's a peaceful end to her suffering.
0:31:42 > 0:31:49Staff from all over the park have silently slipped in to pay their last respects.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Her breathing stopped when we put in the third injection.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55I'm, just making sure there's no heartbeat.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57I think it's safe to say that she's...
0:31:57 > 0:32:00she's no longer with us.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07This is probably the worst part of the whole job.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11The only thing you can think in the back of your mind is it's for her own good.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16You still don't want to do it because we've looked after her for 13 years.
0:32:16 > 0:32:17She's 37 years old.
0:32:17 > 0:32:23She was in so much pain, and the thing is with Babs, she likes company.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26She liked to be stroked and she was finding that a pain.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Every time you touched her, she was flinching and jumping.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34She wasn't happy and you've got to put that at the back of your mind and think what's best for her.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00A lot's gone on the last few seasons up in Wolf Wood.
0:33:02 > 0:33:08In a well-structured wolf pack, it's only the alpha male and the alpha female who are supposed to breed.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13But, for two years, a power struggle raged to determine who would be the top dog,
0:33:13 > 0:33:19and it was only after that issue was finally resolved that the pack became stable enough to raise young.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25There were eight cubs last year, born in a den dug under a tree.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29We enjoyed watching their progress through spring and summer.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36But now, as they approach adulthood, what's happened to status quo?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Pack behaviour is most clear when there's food about.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43I'm out in the wolf enclosure,
0:33:43 > 0:33:47with keeper Bob Trollope, and it's feed time, as you can probably gather.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- Where shall I put this, Bob? - Just up here a bit, Kate.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54I think that'll be fine just there.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56- About there?- Yeah.- OK.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00So they get a whole carcass, rather than chunks?
0:34:00 > 0:34:03They do. It's all to do with the structure of feed.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- Right.- So the pack can maintain that structure.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09- OK. So we need to get back in now, do we?- We do, yes.- Right.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Let them come towards us.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14And the van - we'll pull this back a little bit, will we?
0:34:14 > 0:34:19- We'll pull away a little bit and then we can stop and watch them.- OK.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Now, looking at them,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25you can't really tell which were last year's cubs.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28No, it's very difficult. They grow so quickly.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30- They're about 10 months old now. - Yes.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32All right, Craig.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Really big, proper wolf pack, isn't it?
0:34:35 > 0:34:38It is, yeah.
0:34:38 > 0:34:39- So...- All right, mate!
0:34:39 > 0:34:42..when they come in to feed...
0:34:42 > 0:34:44No-one's come in yet.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47..you'd expect the dominant male in first?
0:34:47 > 0:34:52Well, you'd expect so, but often Zeva, the omega animal does get in there first.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57- So the omega animal is the lowest in the pack.- Yes, the very lowest.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02I sometimes think she gets in there quickly to get as much as she can before she gets chased off.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05- Right.- But then the dominant animals will come in.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07There she is, just walking by it.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- She's the one with the floppy ear? - Yup.- Yeah, OK.- Just having a sniff.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15They always seem to check it out before they go in there, just in case it suddenly jumps up,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18- fights with them or runs off.- Right.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20- Because they didn't kill it... - No, no.
0:35:20 > 0:35:27- Just to be careful.- So, when you're watching, how has the dynamic changed in the pack
0:35:27 > 0:35:33since the cubs came along, and obviously now are, to all intents and purposes, adults?
0:35:33 > 0:35:38Well, it's changed a bit because they've had to integrate into the older pack.
0:35:38 > 0:35:43- Right.- So they've had to find their place.- Yes. - And you do get a bit of squabbling.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48You'll notice in a minute, when they all get tucked in, there'll be a lot of noise.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50A lot of biting, a lot of scrapping.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53But it's intimidation, more than anything.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57- The dominant male last year was...? - Two Tips.- Two Tips.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59Yes, and he still is the alpha male.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Right, OK. And how can you tell that?
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Can you tell that from looking at the feed?
0:36:05 > 0:36:11Quite often in a huddle like that, you can tell - look for the tails.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14If the tail's high, then that's quite a high-ranking animal.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18You can see his tail's right up compared to the others.
0:36:18 > 0:36:24And also, he will go over and intimidate them - he'll jump on them, stand over the top of them...
0:36:24 > 0:36:27- Right. - And if he's doing his job properly,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31- then they will submit to him - they will cower.- Right, OK.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36And the way that the pack works is that there is always one dominant male and one dominant female?
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Yes, always. And then it works down the ladder to the lowest.
0:36:40 > 0:36:46Right. Last year, Freda was your top female dog...
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Yes.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53Again, is there a sign of change this year, or do you think she's still hanging in there?
0:36:53 > 0:36:55- No, she's still top dog.- Right.
0:36:55 > 0:37:01We've come out of their breeding season when they've been mating. She's been doing everything right.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06She's been intimidating the other females, like Zeva, of breeding age,
0:37:06 > 0:37:11and she's been going round now - if there's any interest by the males in these other ones,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16she's getting in there and she's actually, you know, laying down the law.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20"Go away. If you're going to breed, you're going to breed with me," sort of thing.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Absolutely. I mean, this is a great opportunity, presumably,
0:37:24 > 0:37:29for you to really study any changing dynamics within the pack.
0:37:29 > 0:37:36The ideal time is on feed-up because you actually see them all in one go, and also to see how well they are.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Absolutely, absolutely. Presumably, if a wolf isn't feeding...
0:37:39 > 0:37:44I mean, you can see if they're injured or limping at this particular...
0:37:44 > 0:37:45Yes, very true.
0:37:45 > 0:37:51We know that those two youngsters are subordinates, so they won't come in
0:37:51 > 0:37:53- until we're right out of the way. - Yes.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57They all get something to eat. It doesn't mean that they're going to starve.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02But in the hierarchy of things, you know, they're not willing to go in there yet.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07It's fantastic to see them. It's amazing that they're all tussling over one small bit.
0:38:07 > 0:38:13Zeva, clever girl - she may be the omega dog, but here she is with a whole bit to herself!
0:38:13 > 0:38:15Great. Well, Bob, thank you very much indeed.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17It's great to see them flourishing.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26It's been over 30 years since there were last otter pups in Pets Corner.
0:38:26 > 0:38:31Then, seven weeks ago, Rosie gave birth deep inside her den.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35And there the babies stayed, hidden away, until now.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40This is the very first footage, taken by the keepers,
0:38:40 > 0:38:44when Rosie and Romeo brought their new family out of the den
0:38:44 > 0:38:46for the very first time.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51The head of Pets Corner, Darren Beasley is delighted.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52We've seen them at last.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55I know exactly how many there are.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58In here behind me, there are two baby otters.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02Look at the mess... They've put all the shavings in the water bowl, it's disgusting!
0:39:02 > 0:39:04They're two very playful otters as well.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06They look very healthy.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09They're like perfect little miniatures of Mum and Dad.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11They've got pink noses, just like Mum.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14I don't know if they're boys or girls, I'm just getting excited.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18But they're just so wonderful, and they look really healthy.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20So we know there's two.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24I've had a bit of a rummage - I know there's no brothers or sisters
0:39:24 > 0:39:27squashed or anything horrible under there, so it's all gone well.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32Two babies born, two babies being reared, perfectly healthy and one happy keeper.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42But it was a week before the proud parents went completely public
0:39:42 > 0:39:45and brought their babies all the way into the outdoor enclosure.
0:39:45 > 0:39:51Luckily, keeper Rob Savin was there with his camcorder to get these shots.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56Mum and Dad were doing their job. Mum was dragging them by the neck, it looked a bit brutal!
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Mum was dragging them by the neck, bringing them out.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02And they were having a little explore.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07We were here for hours, just in amazement, really, it was fantastic.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09And then she dragged them back in again!
0:40:09 > 0:40:14It was almost like,- "You've had your time outside now children, time to go in!"
0:40:14 > 0:40:18And they went back in again, but since then, they've been able
0:40:18 > 0:40:24to leap up themselves, we've helped them out a little bit, and they've been coming out as and when.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37These are Asian short-clawed otters - one of the few species of otter
0:40:37 > 0:40:40that will naturally live in extended family groups.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45So, there's no reason why the youngsters shouldn't stay here indefinitely.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49Although both pups appear to be growing normally, Darren has spotted a problem.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52It could be serious.
0:40:52 > 0:40:58We've got a little bit of concern about one of our two brand spanking new baby otters.
0:40:58 > 0:41:03We've been delighted to see them out over the last couple of days, but when you look really close at them,
0:41:03 > 0:41:08the back end of one of the babies, where the bottom joins the tail,
0:41:08 > 0:41:12there's quite a bit of hair loss, or parting of the hair.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16It might be nothing, but I think it's worth the vet having a look -
0:41:16 > 0:41:20certainly, all the keepers have had a look, and we all agree it doesn't look right.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24It could be Mum over grooming. It could be an over-attentive mum.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28I've seen her, she grabs them by the back of the neck, and off she goes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Perhaps she picked it up by the back end by mistake.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34But it could be a tick or a parasite, an internal parasite.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37It could be something annoying the baby down there.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39We've got to investigate.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43We've waited so long, we wanna get it right, we don't want it to go wrong now.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48We might be new parents, worrying about something that is nothing, really.
0:41:48 > 0:41:53But I think it's best to get a second opinion. We'll get the vet, and let him have a look.
0:41:54 > 0:41:55They may be in captivity,
0:41:55 > 0:42:00but the otters are kept as though they're wild, so it will be difficult to get a closer look.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03They are not tame animals. They are in fact very, very dangerous.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08Their teeth and their bite is designed for going through shell and bone, so it is very powerful.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11They could do a human being a lot of damage.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15There is the safety of the keepers, but with the babies, if we handle them now,
0:42:15 > 0:42:19it might ruin it all our good work, it might be that they'll smell of humans
0:42:19 > 0:42:21that Mum and Dad will get distressed or upset.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27It might even be that they accept humans too much, and become very tame. We don't want any of that.
0:42:27 > 0:42:34Like every animal, if need must, it doesn't matter if it's a rhinoceros or an otter, or a little cockroach,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38sometimes you do have to handle them. And we have the system in place
0:42:38 > 0:42:41that we will grab them and handle them if we have to.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48We'll be back when the vet arrives to find out if Darren is being over-protective,
0:42:48 > 0:42:52or if the little pup's problem is something far more serious.
0:43:00 > 0:43:05Elsewhere in Pets Corner is a creature with a rather surprising problem.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08In fact, it's amazing he's still alive.
0:43:08 > 0:43:14This is Keelan, the royal python, and he hasn't eaten a single thing in over a year!
0:43:14 > 0:43:17I'm with Sarah Clayson, we're in the hot house at Pets Corner.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20Sarah, is this normal behaviour for a royal python?
0:43:20 > 0:43:23It can happen quite often, actually, yeah.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Especially cos he was donated to us by someone,
0:43:26 > 0:43:31and when they first get into a new environment, they can take time to adjust to it...
0:43:31 > 0:43:35- And it was a year ago, was it, that he came?- It was roughly about a year ago now, yeah.
0:43:35 > 0:43:41So, it is almost like extreme homesickness, where you just haven't adapted to your new environment?
0:43:41 > 0:43:45Yeah, basically, he's getting used to the new kind of heat,
0:43:45 > 0:43:49and the new lighting, and he was in with a new group of snakes as well.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52So all those factors contribute to the fact
0:43:52 > 0:43:54that he was just a little bit put off of his food.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58And then, it does take a while to get back into it.
0:43:58 > 0:44:03It amazes me that a snake can actually survive for that long without food.
0:44:03 > 0:44:08Actually, the royal pythons only have to eat once a week.
0:44:08 > 0:44:09They don't eat that often at all.
0:44:09 > 0:44:15Because they don't need to eat that often... We do, because we have to burn food to keep ourselves warm.
0:44:15 > 0:44:20Snakes are cold-blooded, so they move around their environment to heat themselves up.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23They don't actually have to have food that often.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26If you've got a large snake, they can actually afford to lose
0:44:26 > 0:44:28a bit of body fat that they've stored.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31It's when they are a bit smaller that it is a bit worrying,
0:44:31 > 0:44:35because obviously, they haven't got the reserves there to use up.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38Of course. Now, has he got his appetite back?
0:44:38 > 0:44:44He has, yeah, we offered him some food as we normally do every week, about three weeks ago,
0:44:44 > 0:44:51and what happened was, he struck for the food, but actually missed, and got one of our keeper's hands.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53- He bit someone?- Yeah.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56- Did he draw blood?- A little bit. I don't think he meant it, though.
0:44:56 > 0:45:01Basically, royals are really non-aggressive snakes, they are very laid-back and very docile.
0:45:01 > 0:45:07And the keeper put the food down and tried to move him back into his tank, cos he was coming out of it.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11He got a bit confused. He sensed the heat from the hand, and movement.
0:45:11 > 0:45:15They haven't got great eyesight. He just went and caught her hand.
0:45:15 > 0:45:20- You really think it was just an accident, do you?- I do. I don't think it was calculated at all!
0:45:20 > 0:45:25But perhaps that was what kind of instigated the return of his appetite?
0:45:25 > 0:45:30It could very well have done. But I think the fact that he struck for it
0:45:30 > 0:45:33in the first place meant that he was ready to have some food.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36So, if you really do think he was an accident, can I...?
0:45:36 > 0:45:41Yeah, you can, yeah. He's quite good. He's just wrapped himself into a little ball, so...
0:45:41 > 0:45:45I am sort of used to your snakes here in Pets Corner, but...
0:45:45 > 0:45:48there is something a little bit unnerving about them even now.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50A lot of people share that thought.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54I think, basically, snakes and other animals -
0:45:54 > 0:45:59a lot of them only bite if they feel threatened or afraid.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02Because royals are very laid back, and they don't mind being handled,
0:46:02 > 0:46:07they have really got no need to bite unless they are really provoked.
0:46:07 > 0:46:12They don't tend to bite anything that's too big for them to eat because it's just a waste of energy.
0:46:12 > 0:46:18And I think I'm probably just a little bit too large for Keelan to eat me.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20Absolutely fascinating.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23- Sarah, shall I pass him back to you? - You want me to take him?
0:46:23 > 0:46:27You are quite sweet, really, I suppose - in a snaky sort of way!
0:46:27 > 0:46:31- Yeah, he's all right, actually, this one.- Sarah, thank you very much. - That's all right.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41It's been a couple of days since Babs had to be put to sleep.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Up at the rhino house, the routine has to go on, though everyone
0:46:44 > 0:46:49is finding it hard to adjust to the fact that she's no longer here.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51In the house, she was always...
0:46:51 > 0:46:54She took up the whole pen, she was quite a large rhino.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56And now, it's a big empty space.
0:46:56 > 0:47:02I was just doing their feeds and I was looking for Babs' food bucket, thinking, "What are you doing?"
0:47:02 > 0:47:08If something kicked off, Babs was pretty quiet, she would calm it down pretty quick.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10She wouldn't let the others go too far.
0:47:10 > 0:47:15It'll take time for it to sink in and realise she won't be there when you open the door.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18You could never replace Babs, no, you can't replace her.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23She's had an extremely good innings.
0:47:23 > 0:47:29In the wild, between 15 and 20, they say, is a good age for a rhino.
0:47:29 > 0:47:31Cos they live quite a rough life out and about.
0:47:31 > 0:47:37She's done exceptionally well, so we're very pleased on that front, that she's had a good, long...
0:47:38 > 0:47:42on the whole, a very good life here at Longleat.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45But this isn't the end of everything in the rhino house.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48For Ian Turner, it's time to look forward.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52What we've got to do now is put our minds on to something in the future.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56Focus on something different so that it cheers us up, in a way.
0:47:56 > 0:48:01And now, the outlook is that hopefully, the young ones will start mating this year -
0:48:01 > 0:48:05because they're at the right age, and two years down the line,
0:48:05 > 0:48:07there's no reason why we shouldn't have baby rhinos.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26Amongst the treasures of Longleat House there are many precious objects of historical interest.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30In fact, almost every item has a story to tell.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35I'm in the Great Hall with house steward Ken Windess,
0:48:35 > 0:48:38and we're looking at this absolutely magnificent table.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42- Ken, it's the most extraordinary piece of furniture.- It certainly is.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44It's a shuffle board table.
0:48:44 > 0:48:48- They used to play the old game of shove ha'penny on it.- Right...
0:48:48 > 0:48:51- It's 33ft long.- Wow!
0:48:51 > 0:48:54Originally the planks were one, from one end to the other.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57So, there would have been no joins in the planks at all?
0:48:57 > 0:49:02No joins at all. There are joins now because, over the years, it has been repaired, etc etc.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04Why was it important not to have any joins?
0:49:04 > 0:49:10Obviously, if you hit the coin, it needed to go as far as possible, which was the object of the game.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12- OK...- If there was a join,
0:49:12 > 0:49:16it would have jumped the coin or stopped it and ruined the game.
0:49:16 > 0:49:21- So, that was one tree, top-to-bottom? - Yes, it came from the estate. It was built from estate timber.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24- What sort of wood? - It is oak wood.- Right.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28It was built in the hall because it was too long to get through the doors.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31I was going to say. How on earth could you have got it in?
0:49:31 > 0:49:33- So, it was built in here?- Yeah.
0:49:33 > 0:49:37Presumably, it is a permanent fixture. You could never get it out.
0:49:37 > 0:49:42We are stuck with it being there, which is a good thing because it means that it gets preserved.
0:49:42 > 0:49:47Absolutely. And the design, looking down at these parts here,
0:49:47 > 0:49:52I would have thought looking at it, that it was a banqueting table, not a games table.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56- Does this give it away, this design? - It does. If you sat at it,
0:49:56 > 0:50:00you couldn't get your knees underneath because of the rails.
0:50:00 > 0:50:06These arches are actually an addition, they were put in probably 200 years ago, but the actual...
0:50:06 > 0:50:12- A bit modern, then! - That's right, but the legs and the rails themselves are original.
0:50:12 > 0:50:17It's just an amazing piece of craftsmanship as well, isn't it?
0:50:17 > 0:50:20- It certainly is.- And these here...
0:50:20 > 0:50:25These were the actual coins. They were not coins you would have spent,
0:50:25 > 0:50:27they were actually made for the game.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31- Sort of like posh tiddlywinks! - If you like, yeah!
0:50:31 > 0:50:33- But they are silver.- Yeah.
0:50:33 > 0:50:38And you can see, underneath, they are actually made aerodynamic.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42So the rim is the only part that actually touches the table.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45- So they could skim like a hovercraft.- That's right, yeah.
0:50:45 > 0:50:50You've seen games at the fair, you can play that hover across the table top.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54You can see they are numbered. This one has a different number.
0:50:54 > 0:50:59Also, there are different designs, so that each player knew which piece was theirs.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02- Did you flick them like tiddlywinks or...?- I can show you here.
0:51:02 > 0:51:07- You would place them on the end of the table here.- Yeah.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09- And you would have hit the coin. - Yeah.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13- And that would have projected a coin up the table.- Can I have a quick go?
0:51:13 > 0:51:15I'm afraid not, no.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17- Too valuable?- It is, yeah.- All right.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21- It's very tempting, I must admit! - It is, isn't it?
0:51:21 > 0:51:26But, no, the object of the game was to get the coin as far as it could possibly go.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31- Right.- Without it actually falling off the table.- I can imagine it being quite an addictive game.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34Yes, a lot of money was lost and won on it.
0:51:34 > 0:51:38People would bet on it, it would be like playing poker or something like that?
0:51:38 > 0:51:43- I do believe that Henry VIII was into it.- Oh, really?
0:51:43 > 0:51:49- So it was very much a kind of aristocratic game?- Yeah.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52I think there was a law brought out to stop the playing of it
0:51:52 > 0:51:57because a lot of people spent too much time playing it, rather than working.
0:51:57 > 0:52:02I can see why. I'm desperate to have a go. You're gonna have to take me out of here, Ken, before I do.
0:52:02 > 0:52:06- Thank you very, very much indeed. That is fascinating.- You're welcome.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11OTTER'S BIRDLIKE CHIRRING
0:52:12 > 0:52:17Back in Pets Corner, one of the two baby otters has a mysterious problem.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19The pup is losing hair from the base of its tail,
0:52:19 > 0:52:24so now Darren Beasley has called in the vet, Duncan Williams, to take a look.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30- How safe is it to pick them up? - Not really, no.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33- They're quite feisty.- Are they?
0:52:33 > 0:52:35- You haven't handled them? - No, not at all.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40It looks like the outer hair loss, to be honest, has just been
0:52:40 > 0:52:47over-groomed or rubbed on something. But it's weird because it's localised - just at the back end -
0:52:47 > 0:52:50and that we don't see them do it.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54Catching and handling the baby would be extremely stressful for the youngster,
0:52:54 > 0:52:57and Duncan doesn't want to rush in to drastic action.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01The first remedy to try is the simplest...
0:53:01 > 0:53:04- When they're out next time, is it possible to clean it all?- Yeah.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07If we can do that. Give it a really good clean out.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11So, a little later, when the family is out,
0:53:11 > 0:53:17Bev Allen moves in for a spring clean to get rid of anything that might be irritating the baby's skin.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20It's important to keep this nice and clean.
0:53:20 > 0:53:27Just in case - if they had lice, or fleas or anything like that, we have to disinfect it out.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31Bev's been watching the youngsters closely,
0:53:31 > 0:53:34and the baby's skin problem hasn't affected its behaviour at all.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37It'll come out with Mum and Dad.
0:53:37 > 0:53:42Usually talk for food, to us, then once they've had enough, they go back in.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45When they want to come back out again, they go back out.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49They're getting quite mobile. They haven't been in the water, we've still to wait for that.
0:53:54 > 0:54:00A couple of days later, it looks like the spring clean may well have done the trick.
0:54:00 > 0:54:05We've basically been monitoring the tail now for several days.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09And we had all the hair loss at the base of the tail.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13And we were going to grab the poor little baby and do skin scrapes and things.
0:54:13 > 0:54:18And in fact, it's got no worse, which is all good news.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21The baby's looking very healthy, eating, following Mum and Dad,
0:54:21 > 0:54:23doing everything the other baby does.
0:54:23 > 0:54:29And we now actually think it's probably just a scruffy baby.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33They've got to be the most wonderful animals on the planet - always active, so cute.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Hello. Have you come to say hello?
0:54:36 > 0:54:39Hello! How are you?
0:55:00 > 0:55:04Kate and I have come down to Pets Corner with keeper Rob Savin to meet
0:55:04 > 0:55:07three of Longleat's seven parrots. Who have we got here?
0:55:07 > 0:55:12We've got Jake with you, I've got cheeky Archie on my shoulder, and we've got Mathilda with Kate there.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15The one-legged Mathilda. She's showing off.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17I mean, is that...?
0:55:17 > 0:55:21- They do a sort of performance here, don't they?- They do, yeah.
0:55:21 > 0:55:27- They are known for being incredibly intelligent, is that right?- Very intelligent. They like to show off.
0:55:27 > 0:55:28They've all got characters.
0:55:28 > 0:55:34This one is particularly cheeky, and naughty. He likes to get into everything and break everything.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38Mathilda is a bit of a boffin. She's very intelligent bird.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41She's particularly quiet. I mean, parrots are very noisy,
0:55:41 > 0:55:44but as far as a parrot goes, she's one of the quiet ones!
0:55:44 > 0:55:49- And this one?- Jake? He's very thoughtful, intelligent. I think they're all very intelligent.
0:55:49 > 0:55:54They've just got different characters. And they do different things within the show.
0:55:54 > 0:55:58Mathilda was showing off. I don't know if she'll give a little wave...
0:55:58 > 0:55:59Aw...
0:55:59 > 0:56:01- Does he say anything?- He does.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05They can all copy and mimic different noises, and it can be actions as well.
0:56:05 > 0:56:09They mimic all sorts of things. Archie has a nice hello, I don't know if we'll hear it...
0:56:09 > 0:56:13- Hello!- Oh, he has. - Sometimes we get a chuckle.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15- Ha-ha-ha...- Ha-ha-ha.- Good boy!
0:56:15 > 0:56:20There we go. Mathilda? Well, not really anything vocal, we might get a little wave.
0:56:20 > 0:56:22Try another wave, Mathilda.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25- Good girl, there we go.- And Jake? He's just very intelligent.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28- He's got a nice goodbye. Are you going to try?- Bye-bye.
0:56:28 > 0:56:32- Very well timed, Jake. - Well done, Jake.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34They are brilliant. Rob, thank you very much.
0:56:34 > 0:56:38- You're welcome. - On Jake's goodbye, that is all we've got time for.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40Here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:56:40 > 0:56:46His real mother rejected him, so this little baby wallaby needs round-the-clock care,
0:56:46 > 0:56:50and a substitute pouch.
0:56:50 > 0:56:55Samba the gorilla is in her twilight years, and now she's fallen dangerously ill.
0:56:55 > 0:57:01And Lord Bath dishes the dirt on his great, great, great, great, great grandfather.
0:57:01 > 0:57:05It's a tragic tale of skulduggery, murder, and a ghost with a broken heart.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08So don't miss the next Animal Park.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006
0:57:44 > 0:57:47E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk
0:57:47 > 0:57:48Goodbye.