0:00:02 > 0:00:05They can race at up to 30 miles an hour and their sharp tusks
0:00:05 > 0:00:08can shred anything or anyone they don't like to pieces.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13Yes, and Vlad, Genghis and Attila are new to Longleat and the keepers
0:00:13 > 0:00:16are hoping they'll make a good impression.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19The warthogs have arrived on Animal Park.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Also on today's show,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46we know Trevor as the perfect dad,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50but someone's been ruffling his feathers and he's not happy.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Don't you kick that truck.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55I'll be helping to put up new toys for the lions,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58proving they're just big pussy cats.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00And a Far East food fad
0:01:00 > 0:01:05or a fiendish plot to make the otters work harder?
0:01:11 > 0:01:13But first, a few months ago
0:01:13 > 0:01:15three brothers arrived at Longleat
0:01:15 > 0:01:19to begin a reign of terror in the East Africa reserve.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Their names, Vlad the Impaler,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38They're warthogs, the first ones they've ever had here.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41The keeper in charge of them is Andy Hayton
0:01:41 > 0:01:43and he's still getting to know the brothers.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Already he's found their names are not completely silly.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49When we got hold of them we did think,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Oh, yes, pigs with big teeth kind of thing.
0:01:52 > 0:01:53We weren't quite that blase,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56we knew they were aggressive, we had read up on them.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00We've learnt very, very quickly that these guys go from flat calm
0:02:00 > 0:02:04to absolutely freaking and running around at a thousand miles an hour
0:02:04 > 0:02:05in the bat of an eye.
0:02:05 > 0:02:11And full speed is flying and they can be three or four feet off the ground.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Pigs can't jump, these guys can.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17You don't get any warning when they're going to get frightened
0:02:17 > 0:02:20or going to start kicking off and running around.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23You have to treat them with kid gloves, but they are pretty aggressive.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25They're pretty scary.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27If one of these guys hit you
0:02:27 > 0:02:29it would be like being hit by a steamroller
0:02:29 > 0:02:31at 40 miles an hour, you know?
0:02:31 > 0:02:34I do not want one of these guys to get hold of me, they're scary.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38For now, Vlad, Attila and Genghis are being
0:02:38 > 0:02:40kept in a paddock by themselves
0:02:40 > 0:02:44until Andy can assess just how wild and dangerous they really are.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47We haven't got anything else here like them.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50You say warthog to somebody, they know exactly what you mean.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55You know, they're characters and three boys are something else.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58When you're in there with them in the morning and you go and check them
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and they come over the hill and are stood there looking at you,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04there's stuff going on in their heads
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and they're so ugly that they're cute.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11In Africa, where they come from, warthogs are omnivorous.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13You name it, they'll eat it.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16In turn, they're a favourite foodstuff for lions
0:03:16 > 0:03:19and because of that warthogs have evolved
0:03:19 > 0:03:21an unusual posture for grazing.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24They've thick pads, on their knees so they graze on their knees.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Plus, if they were to bow their head down a lot to eat,
0:03:27 > 0:03:32predators would be able to take a shot at them a lot easier.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33But as they go on their knees
0:03:33 > 0:03:36they keep their head up so their vision's better.
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Come on, boys!
0:03:37 > 0:03:38They were about a year old
0:03:38 > 0:03:41when they came here from Colchester zoo.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Keeper Ryan Hockley
0:03:43 > 0:03:48has noticed they've calmed down a lot since they first arrived.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51They're getting there, much better than they were to start with,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54but it's just been a matter of them settling in
0:03:54 > 0:03:57to their area and just giving them time to settle down.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02I don't think they'll ever be any, sort of, physical contact,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05you know, we'll never be patting them or anything like that,
0:04:05 > 0:04:06I don't think.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10They have their little squabbles in the day but, like I say, it's pretty
0:04:10 > 0:04:14good natured, but at the end of the day, they are definitely a trio.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Ryan and Andy are still getting to know the terrible trio and later on
0:04:20 > 0:04:24we'll join them to find out what Vlad, Attila and Genghis
0:04:24 > 0:04:26get up to when no-one's looking.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38These lions may be ferocious killers
0:04:38 > 0:04:40who'd rip your throat out as soon as look at you,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43but they also like nothing more than a good play.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47So last year, we helped put up some giant cat toys
0:04:47 > 0:04:52and it was fantastic to see how much they enjoyed the apparatus.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Unfortunately, it didn't take the lions long
0:04:55 > 0:04:56to tear the lot to shreds,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00though they might have lasted longer if they'd been a little bigger.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Over there are some very keen lions.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I'm out in the lion enclosure with a very unusual toy
0:05:09 > 0:05:13and I've come to catch up with keeper Bob Trollope.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14- Hi, Bob.- Hiya, Ben.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- A lion toy.- Yes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Mark two, cos we have done this before haven't we in years past?
0:05:20 > 0:05:21We have.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24And they absolutely love this sort of stimulation.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26We've got a few new designs as you can see.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- OK, so here, presumably this is a swing.- Based on a swingy type thing.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32We've obviously added extras.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35You wouldn't find that on your normal playground.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39I've noticed the rope here is solid. That is a thick rope, isn't it?
0:05:39 > 0:05:41This is thicker than we have used in the past.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43- OK.- Several reasons for that.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48Because lions have got sharp teeth and they do tend to eat it, so yes.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52OK. So where are we going to put this enormous ball?
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- We're going to hang it round this log over here.- OK.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58So it can swing and they can dangle on it and pull it about.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04- This is basically, genuinely to keep them busy and occupied.- Yeah.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06And it's not just for show, is it?
0:06:06 > 0:06:09No. This is... They've got each other to play with.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12But we do try to stimulate them with other things
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- and this, toys are...- Yeah, perfect.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- ..Something that we can... - Craig's helping us.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- Morning.- Morning, Ben. - Pass that up and over.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I think we're going to have to wrap this round a few times.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Shall we put that through there?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Through there and pull that back tight.- Yeah.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31If we let that down we can probably tighten that up around.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34So, just remind me which pride this is.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- This is Kabir's pride.- Right.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38One of the reasons we do it in this pride
0:06:38 > 0:06:40is because there's a lot of youngsters.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43And they do, if we go over that way a little bit.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45We'll have to send this over, Craig, if you get that.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47We'll have to send it round a few times
0:06:47 > 0:06:50until we get it to the to the right sort of height.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52So this is Kabir's pride and, of course,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54there's some youngsters in with them now.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Who, last year, could barely even reach.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59They were too small last year to play with
0:06:59 > 0:07:03some of the toys that we had so this is
0:07:03 > 0:07:06- going to be really new to them.- Yeah.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08- You know, they played with the remains.- Yeah.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Because lions, as we know, are...
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Now, let's see this, if we go round.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- I reckon that, will that swing? - I think...
0:07:16 > 0:07:18I think they can do a lot with that.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21If we go up any higher it'll be too close to it.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23I think that's a pretty good level.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- Looks just right.- Do you think? - Brilliant.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Will those youngsters come out here first of all
0:07:28 > 0:07:29and just jump on it?
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Cos walking in, they were all looking at me from behind the...
0:07:33 > 0:07:34They're quite keen.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35You can see them.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Youngsters will definitely play with this.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40I like to think Kabir will come over and investigate.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42OK. Well, shall we get in?
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Yes.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Join us later in the programme
0:07:48 > 0:07:52when we'll find out what Kabir's pride make of their new toys.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54OK, take her away, Craig.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Earlier in the series
0:08:08 > 0:08:12we saw what happened when Sour, the nanny goat, had triplets.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Unfortunately, she just couldn't cope with three
0:08:15 > 0:08:18and so rejected the smallest one.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21The kid would certainly have died if senior warden Bev Evans
0:08:21 > 0:08:26hadn't intervened and for a while there it was still touch and go.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32But the baby did survive,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35was named Bubble and has been bottle-fed ever since.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40But that was just the start of this years Pygmy goat birthing season
0:08:40 > 0:08:44so Kate's gone to meet Bev and catch up with developments.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46There seems, Bev, suddenly to be thousands of them.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Yes, we've got quite a lot at the moment. We've got about 21.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- Right.- We had a prosperous year on breeding, we had nine kids born.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58Oh, that's fantastic because although you would think that
0:08:58 > 0:09:02goats could breed easily Pygmy goats are quite difficult to breed,
0:09:02 > 0:09:03- is that right?- They can be.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Obviously, they conceive quite well,
0:09:05 > 0:09:10but they do have, the breed does have quite a high still born
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and immortality rate with the youngsters,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16so it can be quite a difficult birth for them cos they are so small.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17And all of them doing well?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20All the parents doing the things that they should do?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Kind of. We do have two hand reared females.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- Right.- Basically, two of our girls had triplets.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31One didn't have enough milk so we took one of the females off
0:09:31 > 0:09:33and the other one abandoned one of the little ones.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Oh, really? So thought that, because quite often with sheep
0:09:37 > 0:09:40they'll take a third away and give it to another mother.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42- Yeah.- So why did you hand rear?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Why didn't you give it to one of the other adults?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47We didn't have one really who could take one on.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- They all had enough of their own. - Right.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54So we were able to have to hand rear from powdered milk instead.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56So which two need feeding
0:09:56 > 0:10:00and how on Earth do you manage to feed them and not all the others?
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- There are two as you can see that...- These two.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04..the two keenest. This is Dora.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05And this is Bubble.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Bubble was the one who was kind of abandoned by her mum Sour.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10We don't really know why,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14she just was, so we had to intervene quite dramatically.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Well, now I heard that really you were key in saving Bubble's life.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20I mean she wasn't going to make it.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Yes, Andy and I kept an eye on her
0:10:22 > 0:10:25throughout the day, but she went downhill.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30She got a little bit cold and generally she was
0:10:30 > 0:10:32on death's door to be perfectly blunt.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36But we just kept rubbing her with a towel, things like that,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38syringed some colostrum which we milked off Sour,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42and just tried to keep her spirits up.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46It didn't take too long, a few hours, until she was stood up on her own.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Shall we try giving them some food now and see what they want to do?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I haven't hand fed a goat before.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Lambs, yes, goats, no. - This is Bubble.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Bubble has a less milk - she's a bit smaller.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58OK, so is there a knack to it?
0:10:58 > 0:11:02If you just head it towards her mouth and then just lift up slightly,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05she, kind of, does the rest but she's incredibly strong for her size.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Look at her.- As you can see.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Crikey, it must be quite hard being a mother goat, actually.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14They really do, sort of, push to get the milk out don't they?
0:11:14 > 0:11:15Yeah, and as you see
0:11:15 > 0:11:19it doesn't take very long for them to actually drink most of the milk.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22They're absolutely adorable.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27It must be very rewarding for you to get them to this stage,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29get them to the stage where they can almost go off
0:11:29 > 0:11:31and be independent.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35They've done very well. We haven't had any problems with them at all,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38so it's been really, really good.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40You're getting all over your head.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42That's it. Crikey.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Absolutely done and dusted, Bubble.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46You can keep sucking on that,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48but I don't think you're going to find any more.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Well, Bev, they're a complete credit to you. Very, very well done.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54You're not going to give up, are you, little one?
0:11:54 > 0:11:58And we look forward to seeing her out and grazing on the grass
0:11:58 > 0:12:01very, very soon. Well done you two.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Aren't you brilliant? Yes.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Vlad the Impaler, Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan
0:12:12 > 0:12:17are the first ever warthogs to grace the grounds of the park.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20In the early days, they charged around like monsters,
0:12:20 > 0:12:25but in recent weeks they seem to have calmed down a bit.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30The keepers are still getting to know them and Andy Hayton is keen
0:12:30 > 0:12:31to find out what they co
0:12:31 > 0:12:35when no-one's looking, after dark in the warthog house.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Can you turn that infrared lamp on, mate.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42This is the camera
0:12:42 > 0:12:45that's wired up to a hard drive infrared camera so we should
0:12:45 > 0:12:48be able to see when they come in, how many come in,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50where they lie down.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52The more we learn about the animals we look after,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54the better we can do for them.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Some mornings you come in and this place is absolutely trashed
0:12:58 > 0:13:01so, yeah, I think there are a few parties now and again. Must be.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04In the wild, warthogs sleep in burrows.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09Usually, it's one they've taken over from whoever actually dug it,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11often some poor aardvark.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16But for Vlad, Attila and Genghis does sundown mean party time?
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Early next morning,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24the brothers are outside in their paddock as usual
0:13:24 > 0:13:29while Andy and keeper Ryan Hockley rendezvous at the house
0:13:29 > 0:13:31to see what the spy camera has recorded.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32There's only one at the moment,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34but I think this is about ten o'clock.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37We put their food actually in the pen next door
0:13:37 > 0:13:39so they may have come in and eaten.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41We hadn't seen that and this is when
0:13:41 > 0:13:44they're coming in and settling down for the night.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47You tell in the morning, if the bed's been laid in or not
0:13:47 > 0:13:50because they're normally, I think, we've heard they
0:13:50 > 0:13:52actually huddle together to keep warm.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55So that will be quite interesting if we can see this,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57see if they do do it at night.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Spinning on an hour it looks like bedtime.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04This guy down here is really pulling it around.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06- Pulling hay?- Yeah, yeah.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- It's almost like they're nestling.- Yeah.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Nice to see all three of them in there.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18- Mmm.- So that we know that nobody gets pushed out or anything.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20There settling down there.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23See them going backwards a lot into these corners.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It's almost like they're backing into a...
0:14:25 > 0:14:27A burrow. Yeah, yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29They're eating a lot of straw.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Really filling up on the straw.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37But if they eat their bedding how are they going to keep warm?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41They'll huddle together like this to keep warm,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44because they find it hard to regulate their body temperature.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46But there is only two here.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- Mmm, yeah.- Unless the other one is tucked right down in the corner
0:14:50 > 0:14:53or they're laid on top of him. I don't know where he is.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Possibly one of them is out there, staying awake, standing guard.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- Yeah. Sort of like a sentry almost. - Lots of animals will do it.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05One will stay awake watching the rest of the group sleep
0:15:05 > 0:15:07and so maybe these guys do it too.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It's always fascinating, really, to see your animals at night.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Things you've worked with for donkeys years during the day,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16they seem completely different at night.
0:15:16 > 0:15:17It's a very strange thing.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21It's hard to put your finger on it, but it's quite weird.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24They look quite cute when they're asleep.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Like most things.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I wouldn't like to go and wake them up.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32We knew they were coming in because, like I said,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34the bed has been disturbed
0:15:34 > 0:15:35and food disappears.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39But it's nice to see animals, when we're not here it's their place
0:15:39 > 0:15:43in the middle of the night and very rarely do we see
0:15:43 > 0:15:46what's going on here then so it's quite intriguing.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50With Vlad, Attila and Genghis looking peaceful
0:15:50 > 0:15:54you almost wonder if they got the names wrong.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57How about Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail?
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Or maybe not.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Earlier on, I helped keeper Bob Trollope
0:16:16 > 0:16:21put out some cat toys for the lions and now it's time to release them.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- So, Bob, we've got all of the rope out there.- Yeah.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28It's all looking good. So are we ready to let the lions out?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Yeah, I'll just give Craig a shout.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Can you let them out now, Craig, please.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36And any idea which... here they come.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Which one might come first?
0:16:38 > 0:16:39So who is that?
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- That is Jazeera.- Right.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43And then you got the small ones.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- Yeah.- Last year's youngsters.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47So they like the swing, look, straight away.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Straight away. That's it.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Wow, look at the power of that.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55So they're not nervous about new things, are they?
0:16:55 > 0:16:56No, there's curiosity
0:16:56 > 0:17:00and straight away one of them gets on the top and starts chewing.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02And it's almost like it's coordinated,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06that a few have gone up to the top and the rest are down at the bottom.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08And using their mouths and claws,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12are they feeling it or are they playing with it still?
0:17:12 > 0:17:16That's, everything that they would use if that with a prey animal.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- Biting, clawing.- Here they go for the middle one.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- That's it.- Who's that playing now?
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- That is Jazeera again.- Jazeera? OK.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26She seems to be the one that investigates them first. Then...
0:17:26 > 0:17:29And there's a lot of weight on that so obviously...
0:17:29 > 0:17:34She's weighing in the region of about 150lbs and that's taking that easily.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Look at those teeth going into it and the claws.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Hopefully they haven't spotted the ball yet.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41They haven't, it's my favourite.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42But as soon as they do, well,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45you see a lot of them want to go up the top and play.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Is that partly because,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49there's smell from us when we were putting them up?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Yeah, we've been clambering all over the top of them and there's,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57actually there's vegetable oil soaked into the rope as well.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- OK.- So that will be wafting around as well.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03And they put that on there to actually keep the rope supple.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- Yeah.- So it's easier to work.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Well, it's such a fantastic sight
0:18:07 > 0:18:10just seeing them all playing like little household cats.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Yeah, and that will keep them going for hours and hours and hours
0:18:13 > 0:18:17- and it's only when they chew through the rope that...- Yeah.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19You know, they become defunct.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21And that's the big debate, you know,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25how long are these realistically going to last.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28What will be the first thing to give way?
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Probably that one that Jazzie's playing on.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36But the thing is, you know, you've got to use rope that is degradable.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Yes.- You know?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41If they're biting it then they'll get bits off them.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44If that was nylon rope then that could do all sorts of damage.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- Now we've got going over to the ball, who is that?- Luna.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49So Luna's going over to test out.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53- Oh, it's moving.- Not really quite sure what to make of that.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55She might need a bit of backup.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57I was going to say, all the others are busy with the swing.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Look, look, look! That's so cool.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04That's so cool!
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Look, then we've got a little bit more confidence
0:19:07 > 0:19:11with the ball with Luna although she would like some backup perhaps.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- I think, as soon as they realise there's another toy...- Yeah.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Then they'll play with that as well.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19They get hours of enjoyment with that swing.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21It's almost as if they're trying to take them down.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Look on top of the tree stump there,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27they're tearing at the rope that we tied around the top.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30It doesn't take that long. They remember from last time
0:19:30 > 0:19:34that if I chew this then that falls off and we can run around with it.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- And they loved running around with the rope.- They did.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40That's not a worry for you because it's all safe, it's biodegradable.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42It's all safe, yeah. That will break down,
0:19:42 > 0:19:46and any little bits that are left on the ground will rot and, you know,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49that's ultimately what we want. If you were using nylon,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53that would stay there for years and years and years, you know,
0:19:53 > 0:19:54but this all rots down to nothing.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Fantastic.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Well, Bob, thank you for letting me help you,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05and I think we have some very, very contented lions.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Up in the East Africa reserve, there's a new project under way.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Andy Hayton came up with a great plan to build a water hole
0:20:23 > 0:20:25for all the animals to enjoy,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29and he persuaded construction worker John Myles to help out.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33But there's one major problem that neither of them anticipated.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39He's over seven foot tall, can run over 40 miles per hour
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and, at over 100 kilos, could trample you to death in seconds.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46And we know him as Trevor.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Like most ostriches, Trevor would fight to the death
0:20:53 > 0:20:54to protect his territory,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57so when John started invading Trevor's patch,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01it really ruffled his feathers...
0:21:01 > 0:21:04and Andy's seen the tensions rise.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Every time John arrives, it's absolute mayhem.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Trev can be extremely aggressive. We just all ignore him.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15John can't possibly ignore Trev when Trev starts.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Trev can spot John a mile off.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20John could be walking along a perimeter fence,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23and Trevor will spot him and run up there and try and get him.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Now Trev has fixed his beady eye on John,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31it's made his work down at the water hole almost impossible.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Whether it's me or the truck I don't know,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38but...he certainly doesn't like it when we arrive...
0:21:38 > 0:21:39- or when- I- arrive, actually -
0:21:39 > 0:21:42not any of the other guys, it's only me, really.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46When he's sort of throwing his wobbly, it can be quite scary,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49cos when you get close to him, he is quite a big bird.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Unfortunately for John,
0:21:51 > 0:21:56today he has to head into Trevor's territory for a site survey.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Since ostriches have eyeballs measuring a full two inches across,
0:22:00 > 0:22:05it's no surprise that within seconds, Trevor's spotted his prey.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09'First his little war dance to warn us off that...
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- HE LAUGHS:- '..we're on his patch - I think that's what it is.'
0:22:13 > 0:22:15"Don't you kick that truck!"
0:22:15 > 0:22:18"Trev, we can talk about this."
0:22:18 > 0:22:23I think it makes us all love Trev just actually a little bit more,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25cos he really winds John up.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29It doesn't take long for Trevor to show just who's lord of this manor.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32But with John seen off for another day,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35will this water hole ever get finished?
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Well, that depends on Trevor.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45I'm up at Pet's Corner with keeper Rob Savin and, of course,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48the otter family, who are looking extremely hungry.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52- Have you been starving them?- I don't think we've been starving them.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54They always look like they're starving.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57They like to make people believe that they've never been fed before,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- a bit like my family cat.- We've got Romeo and Rosie right here.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03They're the brave ones, they're coming right up.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06They're not too bothered about all the equipment,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09they're just looking at our selection of goodies here.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12I'm going to lift this up, cos it's rather impressive, Rob.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It looks like some sort of rather elaborate Japanese dinner.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Yes, I'm sure they don't mind what extravagance we've gone to here,
0:23:19 > 0:23:20they just want the bit in the middle,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22but we've got a couple here already...
0:23:22 > 0:23:26These king prawns we're gonna stuff into these bamboo tubes here.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Right.- And the idea is, because the otters are so excellent
0:23:29 > 0:23:32at getting things out of holes and gaps,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35we're just trying to use their noses and get their paws into here,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38and the trickier it is for them to get these out of the middle,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41the better. So they can smell it but can't quite get to it -
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- gives them enrichment.- You're making them work for their food.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- It's a real treat for them. - OK. I have a horrible feeling...
0:23:47 > 0:23:50They're desperate to go for it, so if you want to...
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I knew you were going to make me do some. Is there a technique to this?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Fold it out a little bit and stuff it in there.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57OK. In it goes. So I mean...
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Obviously, otters aren't going to get
0:24:00 > 0:24:03beautifully presented king prawns in bamboo tubes in the wild.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- No.- So what does this mimic?
0:24:05 > 0:24:09It mimics them getting things out... They would eat a lot of shelled food.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- Right.- So they'd eat crayfish, they'd eat crabs, they'd eat...
0:24:13 > 0:24:17They'd also eat things like frogs and all sorts of weird and bizarre stuff.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20They're not particularly big fish eaters, but some of their food,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24they prefer shallow, marshy grasses, logs and rocks
0:24:24 > 0:24:27- where they can get their paws in... - Can I just point out...
0:24:27 > 0:24:30the prawn's too big for the bamboo.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32I'd stuff that one the other way round.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33Maybe I'll have better luck,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37but if you want to throw one in to see if they'll catch directly.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40- So throw it onto the rocks? - See if one will take it, actually.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- See if mum or dad there will just catch it.- There we go.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- Oh, not too bad. - Not too bad. There we go.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48They'll probably both try, there might be bickering.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- They might share it. No. - The paws are straight in there.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53- Here we are, Romeo. - Romeo's given up to Rosie there,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55he's gonna try it there.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58You can see the paw's in, and it can make it very, very tricky.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It's not always the easiest thing to get,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02so it will keep them busy for a long time.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05It might take them a while, but they'll find a way to get it out...
0:25:05 > 0:25:07It looks like Rosie has been successful.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- It didn't taken her too long. - Romeo is being a bit thick.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Come on, let's see if any of the young ones will do this.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- See? It wasn't me. - No, it wasn't you.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19I'll tell you what, we'll give them an easy one. We'll bung that in.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22I'm not sure the other ones... We've got a few more interested.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26They've realised that food's coming in, so let's chuck them a few more
0:25:26 > 0:25:28- and see how they go. - Now, as a family,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30would they hunt together? Would they...
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Yeah, they basically work as a group.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36These otters are one of the few social otters in the world.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Most of the otters are solitary. But these ones will work as a team,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42and... I mean, I've seen programmes
0:25:42 > 0:25:45with them chasing off crocodiles as a unit, you know.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- Really?- This croc's trying to have a go at them,
0:25:47 > 0:25:51and as a unit, they're protecting the whole family by working together.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54This thing gives up and runs away, d'you know what I mean?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- That's amazing!- They always work as a team.- Come on!
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Come and see these. Come on.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Well, I think it's been a huge success, Rob.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Certainly with the more experienced otters,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05they're the ones that hang about.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08The young ones would learn from the older ones, presumably?
0:26:08 > 0:26:09They'd get the idea eventually,
0:26:09 > 0:26:14and certainly our two oldest children are already getting a lot more brave
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and a lot more adventurous as it is.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Well, we'll chuck these last two in. Here you go, guys.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Enjoy those lovely prawns, and...
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- Rob, thank you very much indeed. - You're very welcome. Thank you.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29A fascinating view of how dextrous an otter can be. Thank you.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Kate and I have come out to the new area
0:26:37 > 0:26:40with deputy head of section Kevin Nibbs
0:26:40 > 0:26:42to see how the Bactrian camels are doing.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Judging by this... Not too disturbed
0:26:45 > 0:26:47by this particularly cold weather we've got right now.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49No, not at all, not at all.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Usually, you see him with a big chuggy jacket on.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- This is the summer coat, presumably? - Exactly, yeah,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58they've lost all their hair now sort of for summer.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I was just going to say, this is not a summer coat.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04No, exactly. I mean, we know that they're tough animals.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07In the wild, they live in really difficult conditions, don't they?
0:27:07 > 0:27:11You can find them in the Gobi desert where it gets really cold at night,
0:27:11 > 0:27:12- minus 40 sometimes.- Wow.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14They can withstand really cold temperatures.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- Presumably that's with their coats. - With the coat.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19So how are they coping now with summer coats
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- in quite cold and very wet weather? - It's not very nice for them.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Occasionally, if it's really wet,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27we'll put them indoors for the evening.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It's the wet they don't like. They don't like getting wet,
0:27:30 > 0:27:34cos they don't dry out very well. It's like a big soggy towel on them.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- They're wet and miserable. - The cold winds are not a problem
0:27:37 > 0:27:39cos they deal with much chillier conditions?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42No, and they've got the third eyelid as well to block anything
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- blowing into their eyes. - You need third eyelids.- We do!
0:27:45 > 0:27:48We're being sprayed by straw from Khan here.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Well, Kev, I hope that they manage to survive
0:27:51 > 0:27:53this very inclement summer we're having.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Thank you very much indeed. - I don't know if we are.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Or we're going to get eaten by camels - one or the other.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04but here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07'I go picking for probably
0:28:07 > 0:28:09'the world's most dangerous tortoise food.'
0:28:09 > 0:28:14We find out if Andy Hayton's African watering hole
0:28:14 > 0:28:15is a hit with the giraffes.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Plus there's a life and death drama when babies are born
0:28:20 > 0:28:22on Meerkat Mountain.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26So don't miss the next Animal Park.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:47 > 0:28:48E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk