0:00:05 > 0:00:09This is Winston, who at 38 years old is one of the oldest rhinos in the country.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Although it looks as if he is enjoying a quiet life,
0:00:12 > 0:00:17the keepers have plans to make him a father for the very first time.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Yes, apparently it is never too late for a rhino to find love.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23The keepers have set up a date for him
0:00:23 > 0:00:27and we will find out whether romance is in the air on today's programme!
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Coming up - will the precious new arrivals break the deadly curse of meerkat mountain?
0:00:54 > 0:01:02In pursuit of love - three tonnes of randy rhino go on the rampage.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04This might make a few cars move!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08And Bev takes her chances with killer snakes and scorpions
0:01:08 > 0:01:13as she hunts for the elusive pancake tortoise.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21But first, most animals have a one-track mind.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Apart from eating, they generally put a great deal of effort into making babies.
0:01:31 > 0:01:37And no-one spends more time thinking about reproduction than Ian Turner, the deputy head warden.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41He is desperate to have a baby.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46To be precise, a beautiful bouncing baby rhino.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51After all, it has now been almost four years since Ian went to
0:01:51 > 0:01:54South Africa to fetch their three new rhinos. Unjanu, the male,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57and Roseena and Marashi, the females.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00They are absolutely gorgeous.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Really good. Better than I thought.
0:02:03 > 0:02:11At the time, they were too young to start breeding but Ian had his eyes on the prize from the start.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Two years down the line, we should have two young ones.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14There is nothing to say we shouldn't do.
0:02:14 > 0:02:1812 months later, Ian hadn't lost his focus.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20I am hoping down the line we will have two baby rhinos.
0:02:20 > 0:02:26And another year on, he was starting to sound like a broken record.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Hopefully, the young ones will start mating this year
0:02:30 > 0:02:32because they have got to the right age and then two years
0:02:32 > 0:02:36down the lines, there is no reason why we shouldn't have baby rhinos.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42The three youngsters are now old enough to be sexually mature but so far nothing.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48So recently, the keepers have been arranging to put Unjanu and Roseena out together,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51like on a romantic date, away from the others.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54And this morning, Ian's excited.
0:02:54 > 0:03:02They haven't actually done anything yet but at least they are getting to know each other a little better.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03# How deep is you love
0:03:03 > 0:03:05# Is your love... #
0:03:05 > 0:03:07They are showing encouraging signs,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09playing about and he is getting interested.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12# Cos we're living in a world of... #
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I would be very surprised if there is not mating this year and disappointed.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21This is all good signs, the sword fighting, putting their head on the back and mounting.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23That is all good stuff.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26# ..to you and me... #
0:03:26 > 0:03:32But there is one particular behaviour which usually indicates things are about to get steamy.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36It is when they finished the sword fighting and he decides he will run off.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38The other starts chasing.
0:03:38 > 0:03:45Now, there is over three tonnes of rampant rhino to charging around the park at 30mph.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47This could be dangerous.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51This might make a few cars move.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53# Je t'aime
0:03:53 > 0:03:55# Oui, je t'aime
0:03:55 > 0:03:58# Moi non plus... #
0:03:58 > 0:04:01But a moment later, something goes wrong.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04RECORD SCRATCHES AND MUSIC STOPS
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Unjanu and Roseena have
0:04:06 > 0:04:12abruptly gone off the boil and suddenly got interested in a nice patch of grass.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17Could it be they are still too young?
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Luckily, this pair isn't the only couple Ian has hope for.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24There is also the other young female, ??
0:04:24 > 0:04:27and the park's older male, Winston.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30MUSIC: Steptoe And Son Theme
0:04:31 > 0:04:37He is somewhat elderly but the vet has checked him out and reckons he is up to the job.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So, Ian can still dream.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45My biggest wish would be for Winston to mate with one of the females.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49That would be my wish list.
0:04:49 > 0:04:56If they went berserk, they could have twins. That is a bit of wishful thinking.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00In the 31 years I have been here, we've never had twins.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04We have had lots of baby rhinos born and they are cute.
0:05:05 > 0:05:11It's no wonder Ian is so broody after what happened on his trip to Kenya last year.
0:05:11 > 0:05:19He had the chance to get really close to a couple of orphaned baby black rhino. Ian was over the moon.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Thank you very much.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30You could see how boisterous they get and when they want food and
0:05:30 > 0:05:36it's finished that is when it gets out of hand. Absolutely gorgeous.
0:05:38 > 0:05:45So, after that experience, Ian redoubled his efforts to have one of his very own.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Now, he has got the keeper, Kevin, taking samples of
0:05:50 > 0:05:55dung in order to figure out when she will be most likely to conceive.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58They test for the female hormones
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and we get the results back and plot it on a graph.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05We are looking for each peak to be 30 - 35 days,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09which is when the rhinos come into season.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12It takes 35 days to come into the next season.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17At the moment, we can see that it is about...
0:06:17 > 0:06:19that was about six weeks.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21That is a little bit
0:06:21 > 0:06:23too long, really.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28We need to try and make an average of her cycles and go from
0:06:28 > 0:06:32the average and put the bull out with her around that sort of time.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38Once they've established the pattern, they will arrange a romantic rendezvous with Winston.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40However, in rhino years, Marashi
0:06:40 > 0:06:47is a teenager while Winston, let's face it, got his bus pass some time ago.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50So will their tryst be a hot date or a damp squib?
0:06:50 > 0:06:53We will find out later on.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05Unlike the rhino area, pets corner is a prolific place for births.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14But one area that hasn't enjoyed much success is the ill-fated meerkat mountain.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Following the much-loved meerkat's progress has often been a tale of
0:07:20 > 0:07:27tragedy with the babies dying a few weeks after being born.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Only this year, keeper John Reynolds lost several to
0:07:30 > 0:07:35a mysterious disease, leaving a dark cloud hanging over meerkat mountain.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But, things could be looking up.
0:07:40 > 0:07:46I'm down at meerkat mountain where there has been some really exciting news. The meerkats have had pups.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49So, this is what the meerkats live.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52This is their burrow inside the mountain.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- And where are the pups? - The pups are down here.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Dad is looking after them.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00There are some underneath the tubes.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05I can see a little tail sticking out. That is dad...
0:08:05 > 0:08:08That's dad looking after them. Mum is behind him there.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11They are extraordinary.
0:08:11 > 0:08:17- Remind me how many pups are there. - Five pups born about four or five days ago now.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20And they are still obviously
0:08:20 > 0:08:26in that fragile state where the parents are being protective.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Yeah, they are very protective parents, looking after them and making sure they are all all right.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36There is always one babysitting, making sure they are OK.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Every so often she will come over and feed them. The dad is
0:08:41 > 0:08:44watching them and making sure none get into trouble.
0:08:44 > 0:08:50That extraordinary noise going on, is that because of the pups or are meerkats always vocal like that?
0:08:50 > 0:08:53When they are babies they make as much noise as possible.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56You will walk in in the morning and know they are born because of the noise.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58It's just amazing.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01How long will they be suckling, taking milk
0:09:01 > 0:09:05- from the mother? - Probably suckle for about a month and they will wean on solid food.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08They will carry on suckling after that but it doesn't take long
0:09:08 > 0:09:11after they are weaned until they are fully weaned.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Have they got all the same stripes and colourings as a fully grown meerkat?
0:09:17 > 0:09:18No, they're very pale right now.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23- It is only when they get - to nine or ten weeks they get their stripes and markings.
0:09:23 > 0:09:31Just extraordinary. It must be really exciting for you to see this addition to your collection.
0:09:31 > 0:09:38It really is absolutely incredible for us. It has taken us a long time to get them breeding.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Now they are trying to get their colony up, it is really good for us.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Bearing in mind these pups are just a few days old, how long
0:09:45 > 0:09:48before they can venture out into meerkat mountain?
0:09:48 > 0:09:54Normally, it will be about three weeks or so, they will come out, not go too far away from the tunnel.
0:09:54 > 0:10:00There will be some one watching them, one of the adults to make sure they are all right.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03As they get braver and braver they will go further and further out.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It doesn't take much to make them scarper back to the tunnel again.
0:10:06 > 0:10:13I bet. Eventually they will have the run of the place and feel very at home.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18With these special new births, everyone now has their fingers
0:10:18 > 0:10:25crossed that meerkat mountain's run of bad luck may finally be at an end.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34The safari park's African connections run deep -
0:10:34 > 0:10:38that's where so many of the animals here come from.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44In the past, many of the keepers have had the opportunity to travel south to that vast wild continent.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57This year, it is the turn of Bev Allen, Michelle Stephens, Ryan Hockley and Keith Harris.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00They have flown into the game reserve in Tanzania
0:11:00 > 0:11:06to learn more about their animals and help with conservation projects.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09In our last programme, we followed the action as
0:11:09 > 0:11:16Keith and Ryan joined in an operation to help return a pack of African hunting dogs to the wild.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24Now, we are going to catch up with Bev and she is going on a wildlife hunt
0:11:24 > 0:11:31but the animal she's after doesn't have big teeth, is unlikely to charge and couldn't outrun anything.
0:11:31 > 0:11:38Bev is looking for one of Tanzania's rarest creatures - the pancake tortoise.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Back home, she helps look after four pancake tortoises.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46It is a threatened species which has some unusual habits.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Out here, Bev is hoping to discover detailed information about their
0:11:51 > 0:11:56native environment in order to improve their Longleat environment.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59This is an ideal area you would find a pancake tortoise
0:11:59 > 0:12:04because you have these rocks where they would hide in the crevices.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08There are lots of different plants as well.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13If you feel the rocks, they are quite warm so pancake tortoises need
0:12:13 > 0:12:17the heat to survive and keep them going because
0:12:17 > 0:12:22the sun will shine on their shell, warms them up and off they go.
0:12:22 > 0:12:30You would see them on the stones warming up and when it gets too hot they can go into the holes and
0:12:30 > 0:12:35get away from the sunlight and also to get away from predators because it is quite open.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38You probably get predators coming up
0:12:38 > 0:12:41that may attack them.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44They can lock themselves in the crevices where they would be safe.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47They expand their shell and with their claws
0:12:47 > 0:12:51they hold on inside the crevices so nothing can pull them out.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56As a threatened species, pancake tortoises are very rare
0:12:56 > 0:12:58but they have been spotted amongst these rocks before.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01So, it is worth having a good look.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04In our enclosure at Pet's Corner it is a small enclosure.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10We are hoping to make it bigger and the greenery and different grasses and plants...
0:13:10 > 0:13:15It would be a really good idea if we can get more greenery in there for them, which would be brilliant.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20I would like to take some photos I can take back
0:13:20 > 0:13:25to Pet's Corner and show Darren and Joe the pictures so we can
0:13:25 > 0:13:27get some ideas for our enclosure.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Of course, one of the advantages of a digital camera
0:13:30 > 0:13:38is you can send photos by e-mail so in fact the pictures could be back at Pet's Corner long before Bev.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Unfortunately, there is no sign of any tortoises out here today.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46On the other hand, there is no sign of anything else.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50I was worried putting my hands in the crevices because I hear
0:13:50 > 0:13:54there are lots of snakes around and scorpions, which are very nasty.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59But I will keep coming out and hopefully might find one, fingers crossed.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04We will catch up with Bev later to see if she gets lucky on the great tortoise hunt.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21It's been over two decades since they last had a baby rhino at Longleat,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25and deputy head warden Ian Turner is getting broody.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32And while he's been doing everything possible to get his four white rhino to breed, down at
0:14:32 > 0:14:38Paignton Zoo in Devon, they've had a bit more luck with their black rhino.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Recently, 12-year-old female, Sita, had a little daughter, Zuri.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Today, Ian is taking a trip down to Paignton, to meet
0:14:47 > 0:14:52their curator of mammals, Neil Bemment, and see if he can pick up a few tips.
0:14:52 > 0:14:58Zuri's was the first rhino birth in Britain to be covered by a live webcam.
0:14:58 > 0:15:04It several of us to actually stand in an adjacent building and see
0:15:04 > 0:15:10what was going on without actually having to be there as she...maybe putting Sita off with our presence.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13But things started to go wrong after the birth.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19Four hours later, the baby still hadn't been able to get up and suckle from Mum.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24For keepers Lucy McKenna and Louise Manning, it was an emotional roller-coaster.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27It really was agonising, wasn't it?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30One minute we were all happy and the baby was born, and everyone
0:15:30 > 0:15:35was cheering and celebrating and the next minute, "Oh, no, what now?"
0:15:35 > 0:15:38We were starting to think everyone was getting worried and everyone...
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Everyone looking at each other, what shall we do?
0:15:40 > 0:15:45You could see her really struggling, but her legs kept slipping away from her all the time.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50The keepers had no choice but to go in and help the baby to stand.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55Luckily, after that shaky start, everything went well for mother and daughter.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59And now Zuri is three months old.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04You can see, she's absolutely gorgeous.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07All that stress and worry floats to the back of your mind.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11She's really sturdy and seems to be going from strength to strength.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Ian is supposed to be here on a fact-finding mission,
0:16:16 > 0:16:22but that doesn't mean he can't spend time like everyone else, just doting on the little angel.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34They're a massive animal.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36They can be quite friendly.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40The babies, even though they're that size, they're really, really cute,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44but they're just an absolutely marvellous animal.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47This just puts it on to the reasons why we want baby rhinos.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Cos you look at that little one, that's everybody's dream, to have
0:16:51 > 0:16:55a baby rhino, and hopefully that's what we'll get in 16 months' time.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00Of course, that all depends on something special happening back at Longleat.
0:17:00 > 0:17:06And now, all the indications are that young Marashi should soon be in the mood for love.
0:17:06 > 0:17:13The question is, will dear old Winston be able to cope with a tonne and a half of red hot rhino?
0:17:24 > 0:17:30Earlier, Bev Allen went in search of the rare pancake tortoise in their native Tanzania.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Although she didn't find any, she did discover a lot about their environment
0:17:33 > 0:17:38and sent the photos back to Longleat for the pancake tortoises there.
0:17:38 > 0:17:44I'm up at Pet's Corner with keeper, Jo Hawthorne, and these magnificent tortoises.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48They're very beautiful, but they are quite flat, Jo.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53They're absolutely stunning, aren't they?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Why are you in there and the tortoise is out here?
0:17:55 > 0:18:00- If you turn around now and look at these pictures... - Oh, wow! This is beautiful.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04She sent the an e-mail and she's been out there where these are
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- from, and this is the home of these pancake tortoises.- Oh, fantastic.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11So, I've blown them up and put them...
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- So, you're recreating it all here. - Yes.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Oh, my goodness. That's fantastic!
0:18:15 > 0:18:17I'm just finishing putting this up.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20This is actually a copy in the background here.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- We've got our own here at Longleat, but obviously not quite the same. - That's going to look fantastic.
0:18:25 > 0:18:31It's made such a difference, you know, and hopefully they'll feel more at home now.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35It's raining and cold here in England and I just...
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Having this lovely African backdrop! Presumably, it's quite important when you're keeping exotic animals
0:18:39 > 0:18:44like this to have as natural an environment for them as possible.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50Definitely. It you want them to obviously act, breed naturally, everything you can do, it's not just
0:18:50 > 0:18:56the temperature, it's things that would be in their surroundings, so, plants, it just helps...
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- Gives the right atmosphere. - Yes. And the visitors as well, so it's really important.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04What about plants and things? What sort of vegetation would they have around?
0:19:04 > 0:19:10Mainly, not dissimilar to some of our Mediterranean tortoises, lots of weedy grass, mainly.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14These things that you've down here, shall I give you that?
0:19:14 > 0:19:19- We have a red baron here.- Right. - That grows really tall, very bushy.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24This is the kind of thing you'd actually find up in these kind of altitudes.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Are these as long-lived? Tortoises can live 50, even 100 years.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Obviously, the predation rate of these when they're very small,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38they're literally like a 50p piece, it's very high.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Certainly, these have gone for about 25 years.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45- Right.- Nothing like as long as your other ones.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49OK. I'll give you Yuri back.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Let you come out.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- There you go. Shall I put her on there?- There you are, sweetheart.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57There you go, girl.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59I'm going to come out and have a look. Final touch.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- Are you ready?!- Yes!
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Fantastic!
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Jo, it looks brilliant!
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Absolutely brilliant! Look at that!
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- It's like a little corner of Africa. - I'm so pleased.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14Well done. Thank you very much.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Meanwhile, on the other side of the park, old Winston is about to have
0:20:25 > 0:20:30his first date alone with young Marashi.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32It's up to keeper, Kevin Knibbs to play Cupid.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36He's been monitoring the state of Marashi's hormones and
0:20:36 > 0:20:40reckons if she's going to get pregnant, today is the day.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Kevin has let her out in the yard first while Winston is still inside.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48She does seem very interested.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50We're just introducing Marashi to Winston through the bars,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53so that they know who's coming out really, more than anything.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56She's in high spirits by the look of it. She's making lots of localisations, which is good.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59They're just letting each other know that they're there, really.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02She's a little bit anxious because she's out here on her own.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Normally she comes out with the other female.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08But today, we need to do it one-on-one,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12so she's out here on her own for now, so she's probably a little bit anxious.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14And she's wondering what's going on, really.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19It looks like Marashi's ready for love, but what about Winston?
0:21:19 > 0:21:23At 38 years old, he's a real rhino pensioner,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27but the vet has declared him fit for duty,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30although in terms of behaviour, anything could happen.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36If Winston really was aggressive towards her, he could do a lot of damage. He's a big, massive rhino.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38He weighs two-and-a-half tonnes.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43She's maybe a tonne and a half, so, he could really do a lot of damage to her.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46He could knock her down, and we don't really want that to happen.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50If we had to split the rhinos up from fighting, we'd have a couple of people with fire extinguishers
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and they let them off, so the noise would distract the rhinos
0:21:52 > 0:21:58and then we could move our tractors in between them as a barrier and that should defuse the situation.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06The tractors are escorting them down to the park, ready for their big date.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11They kept the other rhinos in, so the couple can have a little privacy.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16Now to find out, will Marashi fall for the older type?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And will this turn out to be Winston's finest hour?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22That's her on the right.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26She's flirting, but this isn't good.
0:22:26 > 0:22:33In rhino romance, the boy is supposed to start playing rough and acting like the tough guy.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37So, maybe Winston just isn't that interested.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Though she's not going to leave him alone.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44# What can I do to make you love me?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46# To make you love me
0:22:46 > 0:22:50# What can I do to make you care?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52# To make you care
0:22:52 > 0:22:57# What can I say to make you feel this?
0:22:57 > 0:22:58# To make you feel this
0:22:58 > 0:23:04# What can I do to get you there... #
0:23:04 > 0:23:10With Winston, he's not a big rough old brute that we think he is, he's quite a gentle old soul,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13and I think he's going to take his time with this.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18I think we're putting pressure on the rhinos ourselves, because we want baby rhinos.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22But they'll produce them when they're good and ready, really.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24We can't influence that very much.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Back in his office, Ian Turner has been reviewing some footage of the
0:23:28 > 0:23:32other couple to see if they're any closer to the desired goal.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34But no joy yet.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Ian is trying to be patient.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39After all, it's still early days.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45They're just coming to the right age, so hopefully,
0:23:45 > 0:23:5115, 16 months down the line, we could be... the patter of large tiny feet.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55So, for now, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Hopefully, though, it'll won't be too long before Ian's dreams come true.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Back in Tanzania, Bev Allen has been searching high and low
0:24:13 > 0:24:18for one of their rarest residents, the pancake tortoise.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23She's had no luck, but now on a drive through the bush, she's spotted something else.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28I found a tortoise. Our first tortoise in Tanzania.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31A leopard tortoise, I do believe.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34It's in really good condition, actually, which is brilliant.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36I think it could be a female.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39The shell underneath, you just have a bit more of a dip.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41This is quite straight.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Usually, the females are bigger than the males as well.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49We don't have any leopard tortoises at Longleat.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52We had pancake tortoises, which we were hoping,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55well I was hoping to see one at least here, cos they do come from here,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57but it's just brilliant to see one of these.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00At least I'd seen a tortoise now, which is great.
0:25:00 > 0:25:07I've never seen a tortoise in the wild, only in captivity, back at Pet's Corner, so this is brilliant,
0:25:07 > 0:25:12especially when you're just driving along and there it sort of was, walking along the road.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15That's brilliant. It's quite a big one, actually.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's hard to tell an age of a tortoise.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23The shell's in very good condition. Some people say, like counting the rings on the shell,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27you can tell the age, but it's not actually an accurate way of telling, really.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34And of course, this is a perfect area for tortoises to sort of run around,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37get away from the predators in the bushes as well,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40and as you can see, because it's very warm, quite active as well.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Back at Longleat, some animals that have been around
0:25:53 > 0:25:56for centuries are the herds of deer, living in the surrounding parkland.
0:25:56 > 0:26:03In recent times, all sorts of other animals have moved in, but the deer are still here.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Kate and I've joined head of section Tim Yeo out in the deer paddock here
0:26:07 > 0:26:11with some of these magnificent looking fallows.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16They're looking in such good form, Tim, with their antlers, their coats are looking radiant.
0:26:16 > 0:26:23That's right, Ben, I mean this really is fallow peak condition time, it really is.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28They'll start very shortly to thicken their necks.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30They'll put a lot of weight into the neck, in preparation for the rut,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33which comes in the autumn, about September or October.
0:26:33 > 0:26:39This is quite an unusual sight, I suppose, to see males
0:26:39 > 0:26:43in full antler, but actually quite peaceful and not fighting.
0:26:43 > 0:26:49Presumably, that all changes once the testosterone levels come up and they start thinking about the girls?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Exactly, Kate, you've got it.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57Certainly. As soon as they start to clean their antlers,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02there'll be a lot of bickering going on and they will not tolerate this sort of close company here.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06What happens? Tell us about what goes on during the rut?
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Bucks very close to each other will have rutting stands, dotted around.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14- And they will display and will fight off...- So it's like their own little territories?- Exactly.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- Just, just...- Just like me!
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- I was gonna say! - And they'll be fighting for females,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- they'll be trying to attract females over to them?- Exactly.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29They're strutting around, they've already fought in some cases.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34Some cases they're just...the mere presence of them is enough to intimidate
0:27:34 > 0:27:36a younger animal.
0:27:36 > 0:27:42But they'll attract the does and the does will decide who they go to?
0:27:42 > 0:27:47They've got the pick of an enormous number of bucks, and they'll walk up to...
0:27:47 > 0:27:50I challenge you, Tim, to rut over Kate!
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Yes, I think the two of you should take a stand!
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Tim, thank you very much indeed. Sadly that's all we have time for on today's programme.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02But here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05One of Britain's rarest and wisest birds gets in a flap.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12Lionesses Jazeera and Malika both need an operation, but getting them on their
0:28:12 > 0:28:14own proves a real challenge.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16The one we don't want has gone through.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23And back in Africa, an orphaned hyena must be drugged in order to return her to the wild.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27But then, something goes horribly wrong.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Why isn't she waking up?
0:28:29 > 0:28:34Join us when the drama continues on the next Animal Park.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:38 > 0:28:41E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk