0:00:04 > 0:00:06It's a tense day in Tiger territory
0:00:06 > 0:00:09because one of the oldest and most loved animals in the park
0:00:09 > 0:00:11is due for an operation.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Kadu has a severely ingrown claw
0:00:13 > 0:00:16which needs to be operated on immediately.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It's an operation she's had before, but at 22 years old,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22the risks from the anaesthetic are greater than ever.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25We'll be bringing you all of the news on today's show.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Also coming up today - there are some new arrivals at the park,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55but these have got faces that surely only a mother could love.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59And we find out why deputy head warden, Ian Turner,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02also assumes the role of park paparazzo.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But the big news today is in tiger territory.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14A few months ago three young sisters arrived from France,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17and while they might have grabbed the headlines,
0:01:17 > 0:01:22in no way have they replaced Longleat's most loved tiger, dear Kadu.
0:01:22 > 0:01:28Tigers in the wild would rarely live over 15 years, so at 22,
0:01:28 > 0:01:34Kadu's doing remarkably well, but as she's aged, her health has faltered.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36I've come up to the Tiger House
0:01:36 > 0:01:39to meet up with deputy head of section, Bob Trollope.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Bob, I gather that there's some not great news
0:01:42 > 0:01:44about Kadu this morning?
0:01:44 > 0:01:47No, I was in here earlier on and I was giving her some chunks,
0:01:47 > 0:01:49and I got her to stand up just to check her nails,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and there's one grown into the pad again.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57This isn't the first time that Kadu has suffered from this problem.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Three years ago, she had to be put under anaesthetic
0:02:00 > 0:02:02in order to sort it out.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Oh, this is really deeply embedded. That's real nasty.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I was there when it all went horribly wrong.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Is she breathing?
0:02:12 > 0:02:15She isn't breathing, is she?
0:02:15 > 0:02:20Kadu had a bad reaction to the drug and she stopped breathing.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Right, just keep doing that every five seconds, all right?
0:02:24 > 0:02:30Luckily, she did survive, but you can see why it's such a worry now.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Why are these claws going into the pads?
0:02:33 > 0:02:37What it is, cos she's so old now, she's not scratching on things.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39We've got logs in there for her to do it,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42but she doesn't scratch on there as a younger tiger would,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46and clean the shoes off, and they're not getting any shorter -
0:02:46 > 0:02:47they're just growing.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Unfortunately, because she's old, she doesn't bother,
0:02:50 > 0:02:51and they just grow into the pad.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Duncan, the vet, is preparing outside.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Is he going to have to go down the general anaesthetic route again?
0:02:57 > 0:02:59I think so, cos from what I can see,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03you want to be able to get to it properly and trim it up.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07Now, she is 22 years old, she doesn't have a great history
0:03:07 > 0:03:11under general anaesthetic, she worried us all sick last time.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14The thing we're all worried about now,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17is the fact she's getting older now
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and she isn't in the best of health.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23She's got problems with her kidneys,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25so it's going to be a bit of a problem.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28We keep our fingers crossed, we honestly do.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Well, we are going to stay up at the Tiger House today
0:03:32 > 0:03:35and we will be following the progress of Kadu's operation,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and of course we'll bring you any news as soon as we get it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54With almost 750,000 visitors every year,
0:03:54 > 0:03:59Longleat is home to some of the country's most photographed animals.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05And the person who's taken more pictures than anyone else
0:04:05 > 0:04:08is the safari park's deputy head warden, Ian Turner.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11He's got thousands and thousands.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I've been doing photography since about 15,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and since I've been at Longleat, I've been here 32 years,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21it's been a hobby, which has now grown into part of the job,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and now it's a quite big part of the job.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Taking photographs is probably what I love best.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I'm very, very lucky to be able to do
0:04:28 > 0:04:30what I love doing as part of a job.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33I think it's excitement of actually taking the picture,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37having the skill to realise that the bird is going to fly off
0:04:37 > 0:04:40or the animal's going to do this, or waiting for the big yawn,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42and at getting that photograph.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44You can tell, once you've pressed the button,
0:04:44 > 0:04:49if it's worked or not straightaway, and that's the exciting bit.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53With so many pictures going back so far,
0:04:53 > 0:04:55there are some extraordinary shots here,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57amongst them, some of Ian himself.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02We've got 30 years of coverage of the whole safari park here.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Babies being born and whatever.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07We just keep records of what's going on in the park.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Ian has now officially assumed the role of park paparazzo,
0:05:11 > 0:05:16covering everything from glossy publicity shots for the brochure,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20to individual ID photos for all the tortoises.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- Yep, superb.- That's brilliant, yeah.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25But this morning, he's out to shoot zebras.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33I'm gonna get left-hand side, right-hand side, front and back.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37If a zebra goes away, it's got to have, like, a passport photograph.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40In the days gone by, the vet used to have to fill out this form here.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It's an outline of a horse, and what the vet's got to do,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46he's got to put all the black-and-white stripes here
0:05:46 > 0:05:47cos no two zebras look the same.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50It's got to be exactly right, so he can look at that picture
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and see that he's getting the right zebra.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54And to draw all these lines exactly right
0:05:54 > 0:05:58would take absolutely hours cos most vets are not good drawers.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So, obviously a good set off photos is a much better idea.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07If only Ian could get them to pose nicely and say "cheese".
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The hiccup comes is if the zebras don't stay still,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14cos they don't always do what they're supposed to do.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18And there's one shot, but, you see, that's the first shot gone
0:06:18 > 0:06:19and he's going off.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22So we've got to wait to see where he's going to go to.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24You know what they say - "never work with animals."
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- There he is. Just right. - CAMERA CLICKS
0:06:28 > 0:06:31You've got to be quick cos the click makes them jump away.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35That's the other side. All we need now is the head-on shot.
0:06:35 > 0:06:41In wildlife photography, patience is not just a virtue, it's essential.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Wherever you seem to be, you seem to get bottom shots,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46so getting a picture of a bottom's never any trouble.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49If you do get a head shot, their head's to the floor,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51so you've got wait till they lift it up.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55And a lot of times they look round to either side for predators,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59but you need them to be looking straight at you.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00I can pick up signs.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02It's like when they're eating,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05you can tell when they're going to lift their head up,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07so you can be ready for that second.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10He's looking straight at us. Yeah, well, that's that ready. Done.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14One zebra in the bag. And that went reasonably well.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Sometimes, I've spent a lot longer. That's one.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20We've got two more to do. All we need to do now is move around.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22We'll be back with Ian, later,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25when he goes after something with much bigger teeth.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Back up at the Tiger House, safari park vet, Duncan Williams,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46is standing by to administer Kadu's sedative for her operation.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Duncan, about three years ago,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52I was with you when you operated on her before to remove this claw.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54The big worry with Kadu
0:07:54 > 0:07:57is that she doesn't ever react well to general anaesthetic.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Yeah. I think the problem was when she was actually very ill,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05because her claw was infected where it had been growing in.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07The pad was infected.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10And this time we're doing it a bit earlier.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13She's nice and healthy, she's eating well, she's not sick,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and also because of her age, we haven't given her a lot...
0:08:16 > 0:08:19We've reduced the dose of the anaesthetic quite a bit.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Is it literary just a matter of clipping the claw,
0:08:22 > 0:08:23making sure the wound's clean?
0:08:23 > 0:08:25I want to take a blood sample,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27cos we're worried about kidney function.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28She's lost a lot of weight,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32she's on medication which reduces her blood pressure
0:08:32 > 0:08:35so that she can absorb more protein out of the bloodstream
0:08:35 > 0:08:36when it goes through her kidneys,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38and I want to see what her levels are at.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42She's 22 years old.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I hate to say it, but could things go wrong?
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Well, possibly things could go wrong,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51but if we reduce the time of the anaesthesia as much as possible,
0:08:51 > 0:08:53she's not gonna become dehydrated.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55I mean, if it was a long procedure,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- we'd put her on fluids and give her stuff like that.- Right.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00But it's going to be as quick as possible.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Hopefully she'll be back up on her feet within an hour, I would hope.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09Great. Duncan, we'll let you carry on, and we will keep you posted.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23Out in the safari park,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26it's been a bit of a rough year for the keepers
0:09:26 > 0:09:29who look after the animals down by Half Mile Lake.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34It's now been a while since their treasured female gorilla Samba died,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39and the mourning period has been very difficult for all the staff,
0:09:39 > 0:09:44but particularly head of section, Mark Tye.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47They were definitely in need of some good news,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and it may have finally arrived,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52courtesy of these pink-backed pelicans.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Ben has gone to get the latest.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- Hi, Mark. - Hi, Ben.- So, what's the news?
0:10:00 > 0:10:02The news is, Ben, brilliant.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03We have now five pelican eggs,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07pink-backed pelican eggs, in the incubators. Brilliant!
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Look at the smile on your face. I mean, that says it all, really.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I'm really pleased, cos we had no success last year at all,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18and the last time we had any was the year previous.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21And we did successfully rear three chicks out of that batch.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25And we've learnt an awful lot with different things we've tried,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27so we're really hopeful these little babies
0:10:27 > 0:10:29are going to do something for us this year.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I really haven't seen you looking so excited for a long time.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Now, first of all, why are they in incubators here?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Mainly because the parents are not very good
0:10:38 > 0:10:40at looking after them themselves.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- OK.- We've left them with eggs in the past, and they've fought over them,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48kicked them off the nests, stood on them, broken them.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And because they are such a valuable commodity to us,
0:10:52 > 0:10:57we take them away and do them ourselves, cos it's a lot safer.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Basically, an incubator keeps it at the right temperature,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02moves them around slightly.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Yeah, it keeps them at the correct temperature, the humidity level,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09and they get turned automatically,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12so it is pretty much put them in, forget about them.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15And are you monitoring them? Are you keeping an eye on them?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Yeah, we do a lot of monitoring, we weigh them every day,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23and also we measure the vein growth, which is the external blood supply
0:11:23 > 0:11:26spreading around the inside of the shell.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28And we take all these,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30so that we know we're doing everything correctly.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32And I've got lots of graphs
0:11:32 > 0:11:35from good and bad eggs so I know when we're going right.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39OK. So, how on earth can you look at the veins within the egg?
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Well, the easiest way is we candle them with this candling lamp,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and we hold the egg in front of the light.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48And so it shines a light into the egg and you can then look in.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Can we look at it now, then? - We have to turn the light off.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54OK. Can I have a quick look at the egg, as well. Could I see that?
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I won't touch it just cos I don't want to break it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58So it's almost like a goose egg size.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00I actually thought it might be a bit larger.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Yeah, it's slightly smaller than a goose egg, really.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Very chalky, chalky shell.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- So first thing you look at, is what the shell looks like.- Yeah.
0:12:10 > 0:12:16From my experience, that's a really nice quality egg shell, you know?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18That one there is not so good,
0:12:18 > 0:12:23a bit calcified, a bit lumpy, but this is a nice quality egg.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- OK, so I turn the light off, do I? - Yeah.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27OK, there we go, a bit dark,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- and then you're going to hold that up to the lamp.- Yeah.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34- What are you looking for, then? - I'm looking for these veins here.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I can see them there, the red veins.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- Yeah, quite thick, and you can see this big shadow here.- Yes.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43You might be able to see it move. There's a pretty good picture.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45You should see it moving.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48That is the embryo, developing embryo, inside the egg.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Isn't that incredible?! Now, what's that up at the top of the egg?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I can see a sort of area, a much lighter area.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55That is the air cell.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57And when you first get the egg,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00it's just a tiny little bubble at the end,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03but as the egg progresses through the incubation period,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05the air cell gets larger.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08And just before the chick is due to hatch,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12it breaks through into the air cell and breathes with its own lungs.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15And then, a day after it's done that,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19it breaks a hole through the shell to get more oxygen in,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22so it can breathe, and then it chips its way all the way round,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- and hopefully pops out.- Wow!
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- Shall I turn the light back on?- Yep.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30So, basically, how much longer do you estimate that egg will take
0:13:30 > 0:13:33before potentially it hatches?
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Well, he's on day 15 at the moment,
0:13:35 > 0:13:40- so he's got about another 13 days to go.- Right. So, 28 days...
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Between 28 and 30 days normally. Well, Mark, listen, best of luck.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46And, of course, we'll have our fingers crossed that this year
0:13:46 > 0:13:49we'll see some new pelicans here at Longleat.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57Meanwhile, out in the park, Ian Turner and his camera
0:13:57 > 0:14:01are out on the prowl for some great shots of lion country.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04We're in Kabir's pride.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I'm going to try and take some photographs
0:14:07 > 0:14:10of the two dominant females and the older females.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14I've done a similar thing to the second section, Charlie's pride,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and it's sort of an idiot sheet for new members of staff,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19so they can recognise them when they see them.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23This is the one I've done for Charlie's pride.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26And it's literally just a small write-up about the animal
0:14:26 > 0:14:28and then, obviously, a photograph,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31so new members of staff can have this in their vehicle with them,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35and they look at this as they're watching the lions at the same time.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36And it makes the job more interesting
0:14:36 > 0:14:39if they know the names of the lions they're looking at.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42As you can see, if I wanted to take the male,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44it'd be no trouble whatsoever.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46And, obviously, I don't need to take a picture of the male,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49cos if they can't distinguish between the male
0:14:49 > 0:14:51and the female, they shouldn't be here.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52One of the ones I want is just here,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56but she's got her head down just licking off that bit of meat.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59What I need to do is just wait for her to lift her head up.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It's the facial marks you need more than anything else.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04The other reason to keep a record
0:15:04 > 0:15:07is because some animals are constantly changing.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Kabir's pride, for example, is full of youngsters.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14I just need them to turn. She's looking at me.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18I reckon that's the one.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Once he's got the shots, Ian heads back to his office
0:15:22 > 0:15:26to put them on his computer and print off the best ones.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Well, hopefully, we've got four different lionesses here.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34As you can see, three of them look completely different.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Those two are very similar.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Luckily, big cat keeper, Bob, is on hand
0:15:40 > 0:15:43to help Ian identify exactly who is who.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45- Hi, Bob.- Hiya.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We've got some pictures here.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- Right.- Have a look and tell me if you recognise who's who.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53That's Malaika.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- Those two are the same.- Right.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59And that's Luna.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02You're missing Jasira.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05That's her. That's Jasi.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08So, we need to print off another one of those, then.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10And how do you know those two are the same?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12The easiest thing is the nose.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Oh, right, the little bit on the end of the nose?
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Dots on her nose. On there.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- Hers is quite pale.- That's clear.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Look at Luna. She's got a lot of dots and darker.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24So, in some ways, that's a good way
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- of spotting the difference, by the noses?- Yeah.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30All we've got to do is get them copied together,
0:16:30 > 0:16:31and that's that done.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- Thanks for that then, Bob. - That's quite all right.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38So far, we've seen the photographs Ian takes for business.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43We'll catch up with him later for the pictures he takes for pleasure.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Back up at the Tiger House, Kadu is ready for her operation.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56But time is of the essence.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00She's only been given the low dose of anaesthetic,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02so won't be under sedation for long.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06The drug has just taken effect, so the team must work fast.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10This is the high-tech way of checking that she's asleep.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Just tap her on the head with a broom handle!
0:17:14 > 0:17:16I think we can crack on, then.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Are you happy for us to come in, Duncan?- Yeah.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- Thank you.- Just make sure she's fully asleep.- OK.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Do you want me to take that, Brian?
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Do you want to go there so me and Chris can do the blood?
0:17:35 > 0:17:39OK, so Duncan's just having a look here.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42This is the problem one, look.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46- It has grown.- Use that swab, Chris.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- Cor, that's nasty. - Is it in there deep?
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- Do they have a quick...?- Yeah, they have, us can't really see them now.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57I've just taken quite a chunk.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It's come out.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01There it is.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04It's just starting to get a bit infected. That's pretty bad.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08It's amazing she wasn't showing more signs of that.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11I know, she hadn't really been lame.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16I want to try and take as much as possible off.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19And will you clip all the others while you're here?
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Yeah. That one hasn't got a claw. That's totally lost.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25Right. Is that a sign of old age?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I dunno, really. I think she's probably lost that
0:18:28 > 0:18:31through the years at some stage or another.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33They're astonishingly thick.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36These look like the things you would use to trim horse's hooves.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Yeah, that's what they are.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45I think you can just about see the quick in that one.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Oh, just a little bit, yeah.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52We can see her teeth while we're here.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Quite worn down. She is an old cat.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57She's not got a lot of them missing there.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02Premolars. That canine's been missing for years. Incisors.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03These canines are all right.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05That's right.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09I might just give her the Antisedan now.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14- And that's the thing that will bring her round, is it?- Yeah.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20Cos I'm pretty sure we've got enough time
0:19:20 > 0:19:23to get the blood sample and get out!
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I'm going to give her antibiotics, as well.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28This is a long-acting penicillin
0:19:28 > 0:19:31to help clear up the infection in her pad.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35She's just starting to show a few twitches and stuff.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39She's blinking. I think we probably need to leave her alone soon.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I've got a nice collection of darts and matted hair.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- Do you want a toenail, Bob? - Oh, thank you.- As a souvenir.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I'll treasure that for the rest of my days.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Well, we will be keeping a close eye on Kadu
0:19:49 > 0:19:51for the rest of the day,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and hope that we will be able to come back and see her
0:19:54 > 0:19:58when she comes round. But Bob, Brian, thank you very much indeed.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Kadu, sleep it off and we look forward to seeing you later.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08It's the end of Ian Turner's working day.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10But, before he heads home,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13he takes his camera for a final lap of the park.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Because even after working here for over 30 years,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19there's always something new to capture.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22This is a great opportunity.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Just as you're driving round, we've just got a wolf pop out.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27They've been born a few weeks ago
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and they don't come out very often.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30Just as we are coming out,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33there's just one over by the tree there.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35You've just got to take the opportunity when you can.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37They'll just go to ground again,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39you won't see them for two weeks or more.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43This is just a great time to take shots.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- Come on, then! - HE WHISTLES
0:20:58 > 0:21:01One of the things we do is taking shots of babies,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04and if you can see in the distance down there,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07that little stripy thing is a baby tapir.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10And what Mum does is, she hides it up in this pen.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13So for two days, I'd come down on the trot
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and not been hidden so well.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17But I can't take a photograph if I can't see it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20HE WHISTLES
0:21:20 > 0:21:23It's being patient and waiting for something to happen.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I've got some shots of it today. This is quite nice.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29We'll put it on to our website so people can see
0:21:29 > 0:21:32we've got a new baby tapir and they can come and visit.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Unlike fellow tiger Kadu,
0:21:34 > 0:21:39the three young sister tigers have huge amounts of energy,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42providing great photo opportunities for Ian.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44We're in the tiger section at the moment.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48They're brand new, they've literally just come out of quarantine.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51This is my favourite section to take photographs.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Cos they're so lively, you get some action shots.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Climbing the trees, moving about.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04She's looking round now.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07That's the sort of thing you've got to watch out for.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10You study the tiger, so you actually watch what the tiger's doing,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12when its ears are pricked up,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14so you're ready for if it's going to run off,
0:22:14 > 0:22:15and what it's going to do.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19So, you just got to be alert all the time of what's going on.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23This is quite good of her here.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26You've got the tree as a background for her head.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29If I was being really fussy now, what I would like her to do is yawn.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38And, some days, you just get lucky.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40That's quite a nice one.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41That's half an hour sitting here,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and I've managed to get one good shot. That's good.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48This is probably my favourite part of the whole job.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57I will definitely never be bored taking photographs, that's for sure.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Earlier, I caught up with Mark Tye,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20who is incubating eggs from the pink-backed pelicans.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23These are notoriously difficult to care for,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25but we were all hoping they'd hatch.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31The incubation period is now over, and there's some great news.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Four of the eggs hatched successfully,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38leaving Mark with his hands full.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41We're feeding currently every three hours,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44between eight in the morning and eight at night.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52We're feeding them on whole trout and whole sprats.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57It's quite alarming how many they'll pack away in one go.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59They can hold an awful lot.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02If you look at their neck, it's extremely elastic.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05As you can see, there's a whole sprat in that neck there.
0:24:05 > 0:24:10They're gaining weight by between 10 and 15% every day,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12so that's quite a growth.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16When you consider that this bird here is 11 days old,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and this one's 18 days old,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23there's quite a vast difference in size, isn't there?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25As you can imagine,
0:24:25 > 0:24:33to come from that to that in 18 days is a pretty phenomenal growth rate.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36But they've still got a lot of growing to do.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39These adult birds have a wingspan of up to two metres,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42making them one of the world's largest flying birds.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44With such prehistoric looks,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48it's no surprise that pelicans have lived on earth for millions of years.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51But the destruction of their nesting sites in Africa
0:24:51 > 0:24:55now threatens their existence.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58They're just all really important to us,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and really important to the captive population.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Obviously, it means no birds get taken from the wild.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07These birds live an extremely long time,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09anything between 30 and 40 years.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12So there's an awful lot, provided they grow up to maturity,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16there's an awful lot of breeding that can come from these birds
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and continue to keep the captive population going.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22While they may not be the prettiest of babies,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26for Mark, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28And the safe arrival of these pelicans
0:25:28 > 0:25:32- is one of the best parts of his job. - This is what we like doing.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36You know, it's a very positive thing for us all to do.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37This is new life,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41and this is what we have to hopefully nurture up to adulthood.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44But I can't stand smelling of fish.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48And believe you me, when you hand rear pelicans,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50you just stink of fish permanently.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54No matter how many times you wash your hands, you stink!
0:25:54 > 0:25:58And there's nothing worse than going out to the pub in the evening,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02after you've had a shower and washed your hands five times,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and still getting a waft of sprat.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Earlier we were all extremely worried,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18as Kadu had to undergo an operation to remove an ingrown claw.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22We've come up to see keeper Bob Trollope and Kadu. Look at this!
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Oh, Bob. She's completely come round. That's fantastic.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Yep, she's completely around.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31She's been out having a fuss before you came over.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Oh, really? So, is she fully up on her feet and moving around?
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Yeah, she's much more agile than she was.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41There's been no kind of bad effects after the anaesthetic?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44No, no. She was a bit wobbly, which is understandable.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47But I think she's looking forward to something to eat now.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50- That's fantastic news. - So, a really quick recovery?
0:26:50 > 0:26:54I know you were worried, she's how old? 23, 22?
0:26:54 > 0:26:57She's 22, yeah. So, we're happy that she come round reasonably quick.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I wonder if she'll come over and see.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01What do you think? Come on, Bob.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04You're the tiger whisperer here. See if you can get her over here.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Is this something that would happen often out in the wild,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10that they might get something like that, an ingrowing claw?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13No, because they wouldn't live this long out in the wild.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It's probably age related because of her arthritis.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19She doesn't like scratching on the trees
0:27:19 > 0:27:22or the wood that we put in with her, and they're not being cleaned.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25So, it's just age, I'm afraid.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29It's great news that she has come round. Look at that.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It's hard to believe that they are,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35you know, big, very dangerous cats, when you see her like that.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36I know we were all very worried, Bob,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39but we are delighted that she has made such a good recovery.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46But here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53This man is known for working with African legend George Adamson
0:27:53 > 0:27:54and the Born Free lions.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Now, he's come to Longleat.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59But what will he make of their pride?
0:28:01 > 0:28:04It's strange not to be able to sort of go in there
0:28:04 > 0:28:08and play with them, and stuff, which is what I always do.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Up at the feeding station,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14the monkeys are getting a trifle picky about their food.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19And, there's a disaster in the great house
0:28:19 > 0:28:23as one of the ceilings has started to show signs of collapse.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27So, don't miss the next Animal Park.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:35 > 0:28:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk