0:00:04 > 0:00:07Today, we're loading up the feed truck
0:00:07 > 0:00:11because the three new tigers here are about to get a meat feast.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14And four keepers from Longleat are heading over to Tanzania
0:00:14 > 0:00:17to work with a living legend of conservation.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20All that and more on today's programme.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46Coming up - the keepers in Africa are put to the ultimate test
0:00:46 > 0:00:50as they fight to save the lives of some critically endangered wild dogs.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Meanwhile, the wolves in Wolf Wood have had a tough time of late,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58so how are the new cubs faring now?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And does your cat ever scratch your furniture?
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Well, that's nothing compared to what this lot can do!
0:01:10 > 0:01:13But now, four keepers are about to set out
0:01:13 > 0:01:15on the adventure of a lifetime.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Ryan Hockley from the giraffery,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Bev Allen who works in Pets' Corner
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and Michelle Stevens who helps look after the lake animals
0:01:24 > 0:01:25are going on a mission,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29led by the safari park's head warden, Keith Harris.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31They're going to Africa.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34It's very nice that the keepers can actually go over
0:01:34 > 0:01:37and see things in the wild and how things actually are.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41We deal with captive animals and they react different.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42You can get to know them.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46It would be very good for the staff to see things in the wild,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48see how they live,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51see how they struggle for life sometimes.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53In some ways, the staff and animals are pampered here.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56But in the wild, every day is a struggle,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59so it would be good for them to see that.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04And this is where they're headed -
0:02:04 > 0:02:08the Mkomazi game reserve in Tanzania,
0:02:08 > 0:02:111,600 square miles of pure wilderness.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14The Longleat keepers aren't coming here just to go on safari.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18They'll be working on wildlife projects
0:02:18 > 0:02:22alongside the renowned conservationist Tony Fitzjohn,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24known to one and all as Fitz.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Fitz has played a major role
0:02:26 > 0:02:29in preventing the local elephant populations
0:02:29 > 0:02:31from being wiped out by poachers.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35He's built a sanctuary for the critically endangered black rhino.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38And he's running a captive breeding programme
0:02:38 > 0:02:41to preserve the desperately rare African hunting dog.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45He also cleared a runway and learned to fly
0:02:45 > 0:02:47in order to track animals from the air.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'I'm really looking forward to them coming here.'
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Longleat, I mean... it was one of the first,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57and I understand you've got some people
0:02:57 > 0:03:00that have been there for decades coming out.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04It would be lovely to meet them and see what they have to say,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05and their call on it.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But I just know it's going to be great
0:03:08 > 0:03:12because all animal people that I meet are good people. Yeah.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Fitz got his training as a conservationist from the best.
0:03:21 > 0:03:2540 years ago, he was the apprentice of George Adamson,
0:03:25 > 0:03:31the man made famous by the book and Oscar-winning film Born Free.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Adamson was one of the founding fathers of wildlife conservation,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37working from his camp in Kenya.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44He was the man, George. He was just...
0:03:44 > 0:03:49When I saw George and got to know him over a few days, I thought,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51you know, I want some of that.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Fitz became involved in the work Adamson was doing
0:03:54 > 0:03:57to care for rescued and orphan lions,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00return them to the wild and then protect them from hunters.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05He gave me the chance to be anything I wanted to be.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09There we were, sharing the lives of these incredible predators,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13once again, with their big MGM reputation.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16In fact, the lion in the MGM thing is yawning, he's not roaring.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Did you know that?
0:04:17 > 0:04:21It was extraordinary. They were just such an integral part of us.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It's like saying, "How do you feel about your kids?"
0:04:24 > 0:04:28They're great, I love them dearly and they're part of me.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But it took a wild lion to remind Fitz
0:04:31 > 0:04:35exactly how dangerous these animals really are.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I'd just come back from a supplies trip and I got out
0:04:38 > 0:04:41to say hello to the lions and they jump on my shoulder
0:04:41 > 0:04:43to say hello and rub heads.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45No-one saw this lion coming out of the bush.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49He came for me, probably as the biggest threat.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51He whacked me across the head,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54a bit like Mike Tyson with six-inch nails in his fist.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I stuffed my fist in his mouth
0:04:57 > 0:05:00and he started to bite harder on my head.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02He sort of took a big chunk, all this muscle
0:05:02 > 0:05:05out of my neck and shoulder and sort of ate it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09You become this sort of silent spectator of your own death.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10I went down that tunnel.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13There's nothing in the end of it. It just went black.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19George came running out, he shouted at this lion.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21The lion dropped me and ran off about 40, 50 yards,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24and then crouched and growled at George
0:05:24 > 0:05:25who didn't stop running,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28just with a stick in his hand, just going for him.
0:05:28 > 0:05:34It was enough bluff, bless him, just to see the lion off.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36And I said, "George, am I dying?"
0:05:36 > 0:05:38And George said,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40"You probably are but we'll have a look at you first."
0:05:40 > 0:05:47It was a close call, but after weeks in hospital, Fitz pulled through.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50George Adamson died in 1989 and Fitz move to Mkomazi
0:05:50 > 0:05:54to continue his conservation work.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Now, four keepers from Longleat are in the air.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01We'll be back in Tanzania later when they arrive.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Luckily, the big cats of Longleat have never managed to savage anyone.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But that doesn't mean they wouldn't.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18The three young tigers who arrived just a few months ago
0:06:18 > 0:06:22are particularly feisty and unpredictable.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The keepers need to keep their wits about them,
0:06:25 > 0:06:26especially at feeding time.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Kate and I are out in the feed truck, in the tiger enclosure
0:06:30 > 0:06:32with deputy head warden Ian Turner
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and we are about to feed the new tigers.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Look, look, look! One of them's absolutely chasing the truck, Ian.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- That's Sundari. That's the braver one.- Right.
0:06:41 > 0:06:42Now this is a first.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46They are used to being fed in a completely different way from this.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50We fed them inside for the last nine months for the quarantine.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53This is a good sign, because this is going to simulate
0:06:53 > 0:06:56what they would do in the wild, which is chase prey.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59When are we going to start to feed them, Ian?
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- You can chuck one bit out now. - You do the first.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Let's see if she goes for it.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- Down the hatch.- Oi! Round the back.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- What was she doing? - She's trying to go for the tyres.
0:07:09 > 0:07:10Hey!
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Now she's realised that there's meat there, look.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- The other one's coming over, so that's a good sign.- There we go.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26Now she is coming back towards us to have a look.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27She's on a chase again.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- We need to move off, presumably. - So she's the really inquisitive one?
0:07:29 > 0:07:33She's the one in the house who was always the confident one,
0:07:33 > 0:07:34who'd come up to the bars.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36I wouldn't say friendly,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39but she would come over and was, not aggressive to the bars,
0:07:39 > 0:07:40she's more mischievous.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Interesting that there's all that delicious meat there,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46yet she's more interested in the tractor.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49How often will you feed like this?
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Because they're getting quite a lot of meat,
0:07:51 > 0:07:52quite big chunks and two each.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Probably about three times a week.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56She's going for the tyre again.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Oi! Behave yourself!
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Otherwise you'll be put on starvation rations.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Rubber tyres aren't tasty!
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Out of curiosity, could those teeth penetrate our tyres?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- Oh, easy.- We could break down in here?- Definitely.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13We'd have to go out on a flat.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16She's still there, she's still going for it.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18She's determined to get that tyre.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21The patrol man's coming in here, chasing her off. There she goes.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24She's absolutely determined to get at us.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29She does look like this glorious, playful kitten.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Unfortunately, an absolutely lethal one
0:08:31 > 0:08:33as far as our tyres are concerned!
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I'm quite pleased we're in this cage.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I'm still worried about those tyres. Let's hope we get out of here.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44Ian, thank you very, very much for a great experience.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Sundari, carry on playing.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Meanwhile, almost 5,000 miles away at the other end of the world,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05four keepers from Longleat are just coming into land
0:09:05 > 0:09:08on a dirt strip deep in the African bush.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14They will be spending a week in the Mkomazi game reserve
0:09:14 > 0:09:17to learn more about the animals they care for
0:09:17 > 0:09:21and help with some ground-breaking conservation projects.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Their host is the legendary conservationist Tony Fitzjohn,
0:09:26 > 0:09:27known as Fitz.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Since I was a kid, I've heard about Longleat. I've never been.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32But, welcome to the Mkomazi.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35We're looking forward to showing you what goes on here
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and looking forward to hearing from you guys.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42For many years, Longleat has supported the work
0:09:42 > 0:09:47of a British-based conservation charity called The Tusk Trust,
0:09:47 > 0:09:48an organisation that's done much
0:09:48 > 0:09:52to help save endangered African wildlife.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56And there's certainly been a lot to do here in Mkomazi.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01When Fitz first arrived, poachers had almost wiped out the wildlife.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05The elephant population was in a very bad way.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07The elephant count before I came was 11 individuals,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11so the elephants had gone from 4,000 to 11 individuals
0:10:11 > 0:10:13in five, six, seven years.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16There was this massive slaughter of the elephants.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It all happened in the incredibly short period of time
0:10:20 > 0:10:21that I've been in Africa.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Fitz has taken every opportunity to boost the numbers.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28When a zoo here closed a few years ago,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31he managed to rehabilitate their elephant
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and then return her to the wild.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Ever since, she's been a frequent visitor
0:10:36 > 0:10:38to the game reserve's headquarters.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42I'd like you to meet someone rather special to us.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Now, the workshop doesn't really seem the place to do it
0:10:46 > 0:10:49but come down and have a look anyway.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57Meet Nina, the zoo elephant, the ex-zoo elephant and her baby.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00So close!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Nina has adapted quite well to life in the wild.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Her baby is a little boy called Johnny.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- How old is the calf, Fitz? - Nearly four.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- Cool. He looks really healthy. - He does, doesn't he?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20She was locked up in a place that wasn't much bigger
0:11:20 > 0:11:22than where the machines are here.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26She was right next to a main road and that was home.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30And here she is, behaving like a completely wild elephant,
0:11:30 > 0:11:31making all the right moves.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34They're incomparable with anything else.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38You know, lions are basically your house cat, zebra are horses,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40all the rest of it, but there's nothing,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43nothing that can sort of stand up with an elephant.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I agree with you totally, but I have known a few lions
0:11:47 > 0:11:51that might take offence at that remark of yours about house cats.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55I'm really sad that I don't have a couple around at the moment!
0:11:57 > 0:12:00That was an amazing experience and it's the best thing,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03for me to, sort of, be allowed into their world.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They're coming here, which means they are comfortable here
0:12:06 > 0:12:09and they're allowing me to stand and watch them.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12It's a real privilege to be able to do that.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I've never been to Africa before. It's quite moving.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18I don't know if I'll get to experience it again.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23So, I'm really pleased. It's just wonderful.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26If I didn't see anything else for the rest of my time here,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30I would be happy, because it's wonderful to see her doing so well.
0:12:34 > 0:12:40From just 11 elephants in the reserve when Fitz came to Mkomazi,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42now there are almost 1,000.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48We'll be back in Africa later when the keepers take a walk
0:12:48 > 0:12:49on the wild side.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01A few months ago, the population of Wolf Wood grew
0:13:01 > 0:13:03when some pups were born.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Having brought a huge piece of meat for them to get their teeth into,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14keeper Stuart Sears and I
0:13:14 > 0:13:17have come to check up on how they're getting on.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Good. You can see them starting to sniff,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25but definitely looking a little bit kind of, "Get out of my way!"
0:13:25 > 0:13:28And what sort of stage are they at now?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30They're pretty much self-sufficient.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32They're still suckling now and again.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35OK. I can see a cub trotting into the sunshine,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38just coming in behind the rest of the pack.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Who's going to be in first? Would it usually be
0:13:40 > 0:13:43one of the dominant males that will come in first?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Mostly, we have found recently,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- it would be Frida that'll come in first.- So the mum?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49The mum has been coming in first.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Whereas, the pubs are growing now, it all changes again.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56OK, Stuart, pups seem to be coming in almost first.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- It looks that way today, doesn't it? - It does.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01They're very wary of that piece of meat.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I'm slightly offended after all that effort.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07They should be in there, ripping it apart!
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Who's gone in first?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Someone's been brave.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15This is interesting, the pups coming right up now going,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18"Oh good, they've done the first bit of ripping."
0:14:18 > 0:14:23My word, you really see a bit of competition there.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Oh, it is great to see them, Stuart,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29looking so well and clearly thriving
0:14:29 > 0:14:32amongst the pack. Congratulations on your latest wolves,
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- they're just gorgeous. - Thank you very much.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49Back in Tanzania, a tricky and dangerous mission is about to start.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51One of the most endangered species in the world
0:14:51 > 0:14:54is the African hunting dog.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57They once roamed in packs across most of the Continent.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Now, they are on the very brink of extinction.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05To try to save the species,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Fitz began a captive breeding programme
0:15:07 > 0:15:09in the Mkomazi game reserve.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12He now has six enclosures called bomas
0:15:12 > 0:15:15that house nearly 70 hunting dogs.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Today, he's about to take the first vital step
0:15:18 > 0:15:22towards returning a whole pack back to the wild.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26We're going to dart this group of nine male dogs
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and move them to this new holding compound
0:15:28 > 0:15:31that we have on the Kenyan border.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33We have too many so I have to start moving them.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35We've just got permission, which is great.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Longleat's head warden, Keith Harris, is going to help.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42He's had lots of experience moving wild animals,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45though he's never done anything quite like this.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47It's quite nerve-racking.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51You've got to sedate them so there's the worries of sedation.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54I think we're planning on flying them down.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58It's going to be quite interesting, I think.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00It's conservation at work.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03If we can be a little part of that, and it is a little part,
0:16:03 > 0:16:05that's what really appeals to me.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Just being able to put something back.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Wild dogs or hunting dogs
0:16:10 > 0:16:13are in one way Africa's most successful predator.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18Lions make a killing in only about every five chases they begin.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23But when these guys start running, the prey doesn't stand a chance.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27These dogs, they just go and go and go. They can run forever.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Eventually, the prey gives up and they pull it down.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32They just rip at everything
0:16:32 > 0:16:36until there's absolutely nothing left whatsoever.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Being such efficient hunters has given them an evil reputation
0:16:40 > 0:16:43and so they've been massacred by people.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46They say in the whole of Africa up there's 3,000 left.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48They are very, very rare.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51They have this incredibly undeserved reputation.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56They've never, ever been known to harm a human being, ever. Ever.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02To save them from extinction, Fitz plans to release packs
0:17:02 > 0:17:05into protected areas in Tanzania and Kenya.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07But just moving them is a high-risk operation.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Fitz and Keith will use anaesthetic darts
0:17:10 > 0:17:12to put them to sleep for about an hour.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Just enough time to load them into a plane
0:17:14 > 0:17:17and fly them to the release camp, 40 miles away.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23So, once these darts start flying, the clock starts ticking.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30The darts are pressurised
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and the anaesthetic is supposed to be injected on impact.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40It's not going in. That one's not going in either.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Even that one didn't go, Keith. I just don't know what's happening.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52We're losing pressure. I think it's just because the darts are so old.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56The more stressed the dogs get, the more difficult it is too dart them.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02With 30 years' experience of sedating animals to draw on,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Keith won't lose his head now.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07At the moment, we're out in the field.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09We're not doing a clinical trial.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11It's a job that got to be done and you've got to get on with it.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Whatever happens, you have to work round it.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23At last, the darts start working and the drugs can begin to take effect.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24It's quite something.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28All the noise just now, it's actually a bit peaceful.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I think we've got to try and move them before they start coming round.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35It's a race against time.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39But the danger of the dogs waking up is not the only deadline.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Get them in the car and down the airstrip.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43We're gonna move fast.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47The anaesthetic drug has a dangerous side effect.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51It can cause animals to lose control of their body temperature.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54And now, the heat of the day is building up.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57It's over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01If they get too hot, the dogs will die.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Meanwhile, 40 miles away on the Kenyan border,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Longleat keeper Ryan Hockley and ranger Semu
0:19:09 > 0:19:12have arrived on the landing strip, ready to receive the dogs.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16It's a stressful time for everyone but the dogs in particular.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Obviously, you've only got a certain amount of time
0:19:19 > 0:19:21to travel them while they're still under.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24You obviously don't want them to wake up in transit.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27The last thing the dog knew, he fell asleep in his home
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and today he wakes up in the back of a plane.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32That's got to be quite a shock for an animal,
0:19:32 > 0:19:37It's very, very important that everything runs to the minute.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41The flight to the release compound should take less than ten minutes,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45but what state will the dogs be in when they arrive?
0:19:45 > 0:19:47We'll be back shortly to find out.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08Also hailing from the African plains but born in the English countryside
0:20:08 > 0:20:13are five new stunning baby eland and Ben's heading over to meet them.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18There's been some very exciting news up in the new area
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and I've joined deputy head of section Kevin Nibbs
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- to come and see some baby eland. - Baby eland, yep.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Four females and a male, so we've got five.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Five, that is fantastic news for Longleat, isn't it?
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Definitely, the females are our future breeding stock,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33but the little male, he'll be fantastic
0:20:33 > 0:20:36for breeding all round the country or even Europe.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Really exciting for you.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39So what sort of age are they all?
0:20:39 > 0:20:42The youngest is only just under a week old.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- He's about five days old. - And which one is that?
0:20:45 > 0:20:47He's the smallest one.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49In that pack of four over there?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- Yes.- They just looked incredible.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54So roughly what ages are we dealing with over there?
0:20:54 > 0:20:55The oldest is about a month old.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58So it ranges from a month-old to maybe three weeks, two weeks,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00one week, and then a couple of days.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It's a nice little range.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04They'll just hang around together, the five of them
0:21:04 > 0:21:05as a group of babies.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- So it's nice to see them together.- Have they got names yet?
0:21:08 > 0:21:12They have. The oldest one is called Fern after a beautiful TV presenter.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16The youngest one is the male, we've called him Irwin,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19in honour of Steve Irwin who died recently.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21It's a tribute to him. We're chuffed with him.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25We've got one called Sarah, one called Holly and one called Eva.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- So there's still not a Ben?- Not yet.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- I'll have to come back another year, won't I?- Yep!
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Kevin, I can't help but notice all the camels in the background.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- Could they potentially be a hazard? - There's a chance, yeah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38With anything bigger than the babies,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41that they could get trodden on or roughed up in play
0:21:41 > 0:21:43but they're quick on their feet.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47From a couple of hours, they can get up and run around really quickly.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49The other thing they do is they play dead.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51In the first 24-48 hours, they'll play dead.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54If something comes up, they'll just lay completely still.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- Normally, they'll get left alone. - Fantastic.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Well, Kevin, thank you very much.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01A huge success story for the safari park.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16Back in Tanzania, Longleat keeper Ryan Hockley and ranger Semu
0:22:16 > 0:22:18are anxiously waiting
0:22:18 > 0:22:21for the African hunting dogs on Fitz's plane to land.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24It's a hot and tense wait...
0:22:24 > 0:22:27but finally, they arrive.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Here he is.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37But the race against time is far from over.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42They won't know if the dogs are all still breathing
0:22:42 > 0:22:45until after they take them out of the boxes
0:22:45 > 0:22:47inside the holding compound.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50There's always a risk when you're sedating any animal,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53whether it's a wild dog or a domestic dog.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55The heat is not going to help us,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58because they can very quickly overheat.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00So we want to move as quickly as we can.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05The holding compound is a quarter of a mile away.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Let's just get them out...
0:23:11 > 0:23:13There's not a second to lose.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Apart from anything else, they could start to wake up at any moment.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It's now midday, and incredibly hot.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23As they are taken out, the dogs are put in the shade
0:23:23 > 0:23:26to give them the best chance of survival.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41This is the last one.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43They are all still breathing.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46For me, this is like "phew",
0:23:46 > 0:23:51because I've waited so long to get them, to start moving them.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54The pack will stay here in the compound for one month
0:23:54 > 0:23:58while they acclimatise to their new surroundings.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Then, they will be released into thousands of square miles
0:24:01 > 0:24:05of protected bushland, where they can hunt and breed in safety.
0:24:05 > 0:24:10I would love to be a wild dog here. There's a lot of game out there.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13It's a wonderful place for a dog to be.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16There's no tourist camps. It's just perfect for them.
0:24:16 > 0:24:23I think these dogs are at a critical stage of their evolutionary history.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26I think if we don't help them now, they will disappear.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35- Here they come.- Yeah. Even the little ones.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43This one's coming round, nicely.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49That one, see, she's up now.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Steadier than the others were at the same time.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57They've all come round really nicely.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01They're beautiful little things, aren't they? Aren't they wonderful?
0:25:01 > 0:25:03It's not until you get this close
0:25:03 > 0:25:05that you realise how delicate they are.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Everything I knew as a kid was, "They're a ferocious pack,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13"the most successful hunter." But extremely delicate.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18It's been an interesting day for Ryan and Keith.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Animal moves in Wiltshire are nothing like this.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Being able to be part of a release programme...
0:25:30 > 0:25:36we talk about it a lot in Longleat, in captivity.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38But a lot of the time it's talk.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42We try to do our bit, obviously, but coming out here now
0:25:42 > 0:25:45and being part of a scheme to put these dogs back out there,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I think, is absolutely wonderful.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51And I'm actually very privileged to have been able to have done it,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54so I'm going to go home with a lot of memories on this trip.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Last year, we helped put up some giant cat toys
0:26:18 > 0:26:20for the Longleat lions
0:26:20 > 0:26:24but it didn't take long for them to rip them to shreds.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27So, earlier in this year's series,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31I helped put up some bigger, stronger toys.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Now Kate and I have come back up to the lion enclosure
0:26:35 > 0:26:38with keeper Craig Faggeter to see what they've made of them.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41They've done a pretty good job, Craig.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- Pretty much finished them off. - They did.- This is marine rope.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Ships ply the world with this and they've shredded it.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51- They've just pulled it apart. - Unbelievable. Look at that!
0:26:51 > 0:26:54This, Kate, because you didn't necessarily see it
0:26:54 > 0:26:56in its former glory, was a swing.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Just down this way, we had a big ball
0:27:02 > 0:27:05that seems to have totally gone. Is there anything left?
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- Is this the remains? - That is the remains of the ball.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Was there one lion in particular
0:27:13 > 0:27:17that you think did most of this damage or was it team work?
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Mainly team work. The little ones mainly.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Kabir, he didn't pay it much attention.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26He just sat in the background? This is gone as well!
0:27:26 > 0:27:30This is actually remains of one of the balls.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37That is... Joking apart, and it's quite funny,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39but can you imagine if this was you?
0:27:39 > 0:27:43It really shows you how powerful they are, doesn't it?
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Last year, when we put them up,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49we thought we had to build them even stronger this time, which we did.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51And no difference at all.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55- No, Fogle, you're hopeless. - Next year, they'll be this big!
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Craig, thank you very much indeed.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01We'll have to think of something new for the lions next year.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06But here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:28:07 > 0:28:13In pursuit of love, three tonnes of randy rhino goes on the rampage.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15This might make a few cars move.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Will the new arrivals break the deadly curse of Meerkat Mountain?
0:28:23 > 0:28:27And Bev takes her chances with killer snakes and scorpions
0:28:27 > 0:28:32as she hunts for the elusive pancake tortoise.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35All that and more next time on Animal Park.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:46 > 0:28:49E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk