0:00:05 > 0:00:08This is Winston who at 38 years old
0:00:08 > 0:00:10is one of the oldest rhino in the country.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Although it looks like he's enjoying the quiet life
0:00:13 > 0:00:17the keepers have plans to make him a father for the very first time.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Yes, apparently, it's 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'll find out whether romance is in the air on today's programme.
0:00:51 > 0:00:52Today, on Animal Park, we're going
0:00:52 > 0:00:56deep in the African bush to get close to a pair of wild rhinos.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00One false move and they'll charge.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05While back at Longleat, their rhinos are getting pretty frisky.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08This might make a few cars move.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10And how do you measure a cat
0:01:10 > 0:01:15with paws the size of a frisbee apart from very carefully?
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Wow! Look at those teeth.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Most animals have a one-track mind.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Apart from just eating
0:01:26 > 0:01:30they generally put a great deal of effort into making babies.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39And no-one spends more time thinking about reproduction than Ian Turner,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41the deputy head warden.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45He's desperate to have a baby.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50To be precise a beautiful, bouncing baby rhino.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55After all it's now been almost four years since Ian went to South Africa
0:01:55 > 0:02:00to fetch their three new rhinos Anjanu, the male,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and Rosina and Marashi, the females.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07They're gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, really good. Better than I thought.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10At the time they were too young to start breeding
0:02:10 > 0:02:15but Ian had his eyes on the prize right from the start.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19In two years we should have two young uns. There's nothing to say we shouldn't.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Twelve months later Ian hadn't lost his focus.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26I'm hoping down the line we're going to have two baby rhinos.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31And another year on he was starting to sound like a broken record.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Hopefully the young ones will start mating this year,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36they've got to the right age and two years down
0:02:36 > 0:02:40the line there's no reason why we shouldn't have baby rhinos.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44The three youngsters are now old enough to be sexually mature
0:02:44 > 0:02:46but so far...nothing.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49So recently the keepers have been arranging
0:02:49 > 0:02:54to put just Anjanu and Rosina out together, like on a romantic date
0:02:54 > 0:02:58away from the others and, this morning, Ian's excited.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00They haven't actually done anything yet
0:03:00 > 0:03:05but at least they are now getting to know each other a little better.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09# How deep is your love? How deep is your love... #
0:03:09 > 0:03:11They're showing encouraging signs.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14They're playing about and he's getting interested.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19I'll be surprised if there's not mating this year and disappointed.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22This is all good signs, they're sword fighting
0:03:22 > 0:03:26and putting the head on the back and mounting, sort of.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29That's all good stuff we wanna see.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33But there's one particular behaviour that usually
0:03:33 > 0:03:35indicates things are about to get steamy.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It's when they've finished their sword fighting
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and one of them decides he's going to run off.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- The other will start chasing. Here they go.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Now there's over three tonnes of rampant rhino
0:03:46 > 0:03:49charging around the park at 30mph.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51This could be dangerous.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53This'll make a few cars move.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57# Je t'aime Je t'aime
0:03:57 > 0:03:59# Oui, je t'aime... #
0:04:02 > 0:04:05But a moment later something goes wrong.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Anjanu and Rosina have abruptly gone off the boil
0:04:12 > 0:04:16and suddenly got interested in a nice patch of grass.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Could it be that they're still just too young?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Luckily this pair isn't the only couple Ian's got hope for.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28There's also the other young female, Marashi,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and the park's older male, Winston.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37He is somewhat elderly
0:04:37 > 0:04:41but the vet has checked him out and reckons he's up to the job.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44So Ian can still dream.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47My biggest wish for something to happen on the park this year
0:04:47 > 0:04:50would be for Winston to mate with one of the females
0:04:50 > 0:04:53and Anjanu to mate with the other one. That'd be my wish list.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55If I really went berserk they could have twins
0:04:55 > 0:04:57and we'd look after them all.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00That's a bit of wishful thinking, that is.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04In the 31 years I've been here I don't think we've ever had twins.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06We've had lots of baby rhinos born.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08They are cute when they're born.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's no wonder Ian's so broody after what happened
0:05:13 > 0:05:17on his trip to Kenya last year. He had the chance to get
0:05:17 > 0:05:21really close to a couple of orphaned baby black rhino.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Ian was over the moon.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Thank you very much.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32You can see how boisterous they can get.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35When they want food and it's finished, that's
0:05:35 > 0:05:40when it starts getting a bit out of hand but absolutely gorgeous.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46So after that experience Ian redoubled his efforts
0:05:46 > 0:05:49to have one of his very own.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55Now he's got keeper, Kevin Nibbs, taking samples of Marashi's dung
0:05:55 > 0:05:59in order to figure out when she'll be most likely to conceive.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03They test for all the female hormones
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and when we get the results back we'll plot it on a graph.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10So what we're looking for is for each peak to be 30-35 days
0:06:10 > 0:06:13which is when the rhinos come into season,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16it takes 35 days to come into the next season.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21At the moment we can see that it is about...
0:06:21 > 0:06:23That one was about six weeks.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27That's a little bit...a little bit too long, really.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30What we need to do is try and make an average of her cycles
0:06:30 > 0:06:33at the moment and then we'll go from that average.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Then we'll put the bull out with her around that sort of time.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Once they've established the pattern,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42they'll arrange a romantic rendezvous with Winston.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46However, in rhino years, Marashi's a teenager
0:06:46 > 0:06:51while Winston, let's face it, got his bus pass some time ago.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54So will their little tryst be a hot date or a damp squib?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57We'll find out later on.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Recently Longleat House hasn't been looking its best.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13When the roof began to develop several leaks it was clear that
0:07:13 > 0:07:19the time had come to sort it out. The trouble is - that roof is huge.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21It's almost the size of a football pitch.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25This isn't a film set, although it looks like one.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29We're actually on the roof of Longleat House where this massive
0:07:29 > 0:07:31restoration project is under way.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35It's believed that this is the largest scaffolding structure
0:07:35 > 0:07:39ever erected on a residential building here in the UK.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41In fact, there's enough piping to reach
0:07:41 > 0:07:43the summit of Everest three times.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46We're going to be meeting some of the people who are
0:07:46 > 0:07:48undertaking this enormous task.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50So I'm off to meet one of the stonemasons.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53And if you follow me... We've got a very tall cameraman
0:07:53 > 0:07:57so just duck down, good, good. Come this way with me.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I'm going to meet James Knot who is working with the lead.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Is it all right to step on here, James?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I feel really bad stepping on your work.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Come down here and meet you.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12This must be one of the biggest jobs you've ever undertaken, isn't it?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15It's one of the biggest jobs our company's ever undertaken, yeah.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- Really?- For a full 12 months, yeah.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Wow. I mean, as far as the lead is concerned,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23it sounds like an obvious question but what does it actually do?
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- Why use lead?- It's quite a durable material, it's long-lasting.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29This'll last about 100 years.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Really?- So it's very durable and hard wearing.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- This is the waterproofing for the roof, is it?- Yes, it is.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39Can I see how skilful your job is by having a go at it?
0:08:39 > 0:08:42So, basically, you're taking the lead over.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I literally just wallop, do I, with that?
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Yeah, you're taking it over very slowly from the bottom over the row.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52You're trying to curve it over the row.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54If I wallop it like that.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- Yeah, that's it.- It's not easy.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00You must have very big biceps.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Well, I'm not sure I'm going to be a huge amount of help but I'm
0:09:04 > 0:09:07going to carry on bashing here. See how Ben's getting on.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Like that?
0:09:09 > 0:09:13As well as the leading there's a huge amount of stonework to be done
0:09:13 > 0:09:17and that falls to one of the stonemasons, Sean Clarke. Hi, Sean.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- Hi, Ben.- So what's your role, what are you working on now?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Currently I'm working on replacing one of the hounds
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- that overlook the courtyard here. - Where are you working on it?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Just round the other side of the roof, so if we go there.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31- I'll follow you.- OK, thank you.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36So presumably these are old and new?
0:09:36 > 0:09:37That's correct, yes.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41This has been started from scratch by yourself, has it?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Yes, yes. One block of stone to this now.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47One block of stone... so what's it actually made from?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50This is a type of bath stone.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Just how tough is it, can you do that with hand tools?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Yeah, definitely, it's not that hard.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- You're still working on this, are you?- Yes, I am.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- Can I have a little watch of you at work?- Sure.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09How long does it take to get from your one solid slab to this point?
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- That's 10 days work.- 10 days work? - Yeah.- How many hours a day?
0:10:13 > 0:10:14Nine hours a day.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17So there's another...
0:10:17 > 0:10:19day, maybe a little bit longer.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I kind of feel cheeky even asking but is there any chance
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- that I can try?- Feel free. Yeah.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Maybe I won't try on the leg or anything. Where? On this side here?
0:10:28 > 0:10:32- Yeah.- So, literally... - Hold it here.- Hold it here.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- Then just whack the mallet?- Yeah.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- Do you trust me? - Yeah, sure, no worries.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41OK...
0:10:41 > 0:10:42Oh, yeah, there we go.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Literally that's what you'll do for nine hours a day, carving away...
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Yeah.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50..until you get the shape.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- It's quite satisfying isn't it? - Yeah, it's all right, isn't it?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- It beats working for a living.- Yeah.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59I might hang up my presenter's gloves. Thank you very much.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00You're welcome.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09The safari park's African connections run deep
0:11:09 > 0:11:13because, of course, that's where so many of the animals come from
0:11:13 > 0:11:15and, in the past, many of the keepers
0:11:15 > 0:11:21have had the opportunity to travel south to that vast, wild continent.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28This year it's the turn
0:11:28 > 0:11:32of Bev Allen, Michelle Stevens, Ryan Hockley and Keith Harris.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35They've flown into the Mkomazi game reserve in Tanzania
0:11:35 > 0:11:41to learn more about their animals and to help with conservation projects.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46In our last programme we followed the action as Keith and Ryan joined in an
0:11:46 > 0:11:51operation to help return a whole pack of African hunting dogs to the wild.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Now we're going to catch up with Bev
0:11:57 > 0:12:02and she's going on a wildlife hunt but the animal she's after doesn't
0:12:02 > 0:12:06have big teeth, isn't likely to charge and couldn't outrun anything.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Bev is looking for one of Tanzania's rarest creatures,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13the Pancake tortoise.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Back home she helps look after four Pancake tortoises.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It's a threatened species which has some unusual habits.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Out here Bev's hoping to discover detailed information about
0:12:26 > 0:12:30their native environment in order to improve their Longleat environment.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33This is quite an ideal area where I'd think you'd find
0:12:33 > 0:12:37a Pancake tortoise cos you've got these rocks where they'd
0:12:37 > 0:12:39hide underneath in the crevices.
0:12:39 > 0:12:45There's lots of different plants as well. Loads of grasses.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49It's very warm actually here and if you feel the rocks they're actually
0:12:49 > 0:12:53quite warm as well so, of course, Pancake tortoises they need the heat
0:12:53 > 0:12:57to survive and keep them going cos the sun will actually
0:12:57 > 0:13:01shine down on their shell, warms them up and off they go.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05So I'd imagine you would sort of see them on the stones just warming up
0:13:05 > 0:13:07and, of course, when it gets too hot, they can go into
0:13:07 > 0:13:10the little holes, the little crevices here
0:13:10 > 0:13:11and get away from the sunlight
0:13:11 > 0:13:15and also to get away from predators cos it's quite open around
0:13:15 > 0:13:17so you'd probably get predators coming up
0:13:17 > 0:13:21that may attack them, so they can usually go in and lock themselves
0:13:21 > 0:13:24into their crevices where they'd be nice and safe.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27They expand their shell and with their claws they
0:13:27 > 0:13:30hold on inside the crevices so nothing can pull them out.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35As a threatened species, Pancake tortoises are very rare
0:13:35 > 0:13:38but they have been spotted amongst these rocks before
0:13:38 > 0:13:41so it's worth having a good look.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44In our enclosure at Pets' Corner it's quite a small enclosure, we're
0:13:44 > 0:13:47hoping to make it a bit bigger, and also the greenery,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50the different like grasses and plants I think it would be
0:13:50 > 0:13:53a really good idea if we could get some more greenery
0:13:53 > 0:13:55for them which would be brilliant.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58What I'd like to do now is take some
0:13:58 > 0:14:03photos to take back to Pets' Corner and show Darren and Joe the pictures
0:14:03 > 0:14:06so we can hopefully get some ideas for our enclosure.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Of course, one of the advantages of a digital camera
0:14:10 > 0:14:12is you can send photos by email.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17So, in fact, the pictures could be back at Pets' Corner long before Bev.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Unfortunately, there's no sign of any tortoises out here today.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25On the other hand, there's no sign of anything else.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28I was bit worried putting my hands in the crevices
0:14:28 > 0:14:30and around the plants cos I hear
0:14:30 > 0:14:34there's a lot of snakes around and scorpions which are very nasty.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38I'll keep coming out and hopefully I might find one. Fingers crossed.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41We'll catch up with Bev later to see if she gets lucky
0:14:41 > 0:14:43on the great tortoise hunt.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57Back in Pets' Corner it's a lot easier to find the wildlife.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02This is Harriet, the barn owl and I'm with keeper Val McGruther
0:15:02 > 0:15:04to give her an MOT, a once over, isn't it?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07That's right. We're gonna weigh her, have a little look
0:15:07 > 0:15:09at her and see that she's looking OK.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12A little while ago she was actually sitting on eggs
0:15:12 > 0:15:15which proved to be infertile so there was no young in there at all.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18We're just keeping a general check on her, really,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20making sure she's back to normal.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23What's the first thing you'll do when you're giving her a check?
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- What do you look for? - As with lots of animals you look
0:15:26 > 0:15:29at their eyes, to see if they're nice and bright which hers are.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31We're looking at her... Oh!
0:15:31 > 0:15:32..wing feathers.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34A perfect display right on cue.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Yeah, lovely wing feathers, all nice and smart.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41She's cleaned herself up now, she's had a bath.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Talons, of course, got to be nice and sharp.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47They look incredibly sharp, which is why you wear that glove.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48Exactly, yeah.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Although she's quite happy sat on a hand, it would still make
0:15:51 > 0:15:53pin pricks in your hand.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56So, how old do you think Harriet is, do you know?
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Yeah, she's 10.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00She's 10 and what is the life expectancy of an owl?
0:16:00 > 0:16:05- Well, in the wild it would only be like two to three, average.- Right.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- In captivity it can be 20-25 years. - Is it that much more?
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- A huge difference. A lot of that is due to people, unfortunately.- Right.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16The first year we lose a lot, anyway, natural causes.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Whoa! Sorry, Ben.- Don't worry.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21There we go, flapping in the face there. Yeah,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24but the rest of it is down to us and the way we live today, really.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- Right.- You know, roads...
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- a lot of barn owls get killed on the roads.- Do they?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32They're quartering backwards and forwards, looking for food.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Of course and food being mice and little rodents, presumably.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Small rodents would be their favourite.
0:16:39 > 0:16:4195% of their diet would be small rodents.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- OK.- Having said that, they will eat other things
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- if that's not available.- What next?
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Right, if you would like to put this T-stand on...
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- This is for the weighing? - Yeah, we put the stand on first.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54OK. We'll pop this on...
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- That's it. Then press the button. - And press the button.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Oh, I understand so we get the weight of this.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Otherwise you'd er...
0:17:01 > 0:17:04That's it, it's come up to nought now. It's on grammes, isn't it?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Yeah. Can I take this off?
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- No, no, leave that on. That's what she goes on.- OK.- There we go.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Why do we need to weigh her?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Just to check that she's eating properly
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and also because she's had eggs in her just checking that
0:17:18 > 0:17:19she hasn't got one retained in her.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22And you'd be able to identify that if she'd...
0:17:22 > 0:17:24With the weight, yeah. If she had the weight.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Also, you'd go on behaviour.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29You know if she was being very lethargic,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31not eating, all this sort of thing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34There's lot of ways of telling but weighing is one.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41- So we've got there 300 and... - ..79 grammes.- 379 grammes.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42So you're happy with that weight?
0:17:42 > 0:17:49Yes, I am. While barn owls tend to be a little lighter, she...
0:17:49 > 0:17:54she sort of averages 380 to 400, so that's not bad at all.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56And there is the possibility then that she could
0:17:56 > 0:17:58lay more eggs and eventually...
0:17:58 > 0:18:01It is possible, she has laid eggs in the past
0:18:01 > 0:18:03but none of them have been fertile.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07- Right.- She does live here will Ollie, he's around here somewhere.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Ollie's just hiding up in the corner there.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- Unfortunately she's not terribly fond of him.- Oh, really.- Yes.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15OK. But happy with her once over?
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- Yes I think so, she's looking very perky and everything.- She is.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Well back to normal now, so I think that's really good.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24She looks beautiful. Val thank you very much.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- You're very welcome. - Thank you, Harriet.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39It's been over two decades since they last had a baby rhino at Longleat
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and deputy head warden, Ian Turner, is getting broody.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47While he's been doing everything possible
0:18:47 > 0:18:49to get his four white rhino to breed,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51down at Paignton Zoo in Devon
0:18:51 > 0:18:54they've had a bit more luck with their black rhino.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59Recently 12 year-old female, Sita, had a little daughter, Zuri.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Today Ian's taken a trip down to Paignton to meet their
0:19:03 > 0:19:08curator of mammals, Neil Bemmant, to see if he can pick up a few tips.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Zuri's was the first rhino birth in Britain
0:19:12 > 0:19:16to be covered by a live webcam.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Obviously it allowed us, and several of us, to stand in an adjacent
0:19:20 > 0:19:23building to see what was going on without having to be in there,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26maybe putting Sita off with our presence.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31But things started to go wrong after the birth.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Four hours later the baby still hadn't been
0:19:33 > 0:19:35able to get up and suckle from mum.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38For keepers, Lucy McKenna and Louise Manning,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41it was an emotional rollercoaster.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44It really was agonising, wasn't it?
0:19:44 > 0:19:47One minute we were all happy and the baby was born and everyone
0:19:47 > 0:19:50was cheering and celebrating and the next minute, "Oh no."
0:19:50 > 0:19:53We were starting to think then, everybody was getting worried.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Everyone looking at each other, "What shall we do?"
0:19:56 > 0:19:59You could see her really struggling but her legs kept
0:19:59 > 0:20:01slipping away from her all the time.
0:20:01 > 0:20:07The keepers had no choice but to go in and help the baby to stand.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Luckily after that shaky start,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12everything went well for mother and daughter.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Now Zuri is three months old.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21You can see she's absolutely gorgeous.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24All that stress and worry floats to the back of your mind, doesn't it?
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Yeah. She's really sturdy and seems to be
0:20:26 > 0:20:29going from strength to strength.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Ian's supposed to be here on a fact finding mission
0:20:32 > 0:20:35but that doesn't mean he can't spend time,
0:20:35 > 0:20:40like everyone else, just doting on the little angel.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52They're a massive animal but they can be quite friendly.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56They were saying the baby ones, even though they're that size, they're
0:20:56 > 0:21:00really, really cute but they're just an absolutely marvellous animal.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04I mean these just puts it onto the reasons why we want baby rhinos.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08When you look at that little one, that's everyone's dream to have a
0:21:08 > 0:21:12baby rhino and hopefully that's what Longleat will get in 16 months time.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Of course, that all depends on
0:21:14 > 0:21:20something special happening back at Longleat and now all the indications
0:21:20 > 0:21:23are that the young, Marashi, should soon be in the mood for love.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27The question is, will dear old Winston be able to cope
0:21:27 > 0:21:31with a tonne and a half of red hot rhino!
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Keeper Michelle Stevens doesn't usually have much
0:21:44 > 0:21:46to do with the rhinos at Longleat.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51She works with the animals that live in and around the lake but, today,
0:21:51 > 0:21:56Michelle is at the other end of the world deep in the wilds of Africa.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01And, within the Mkomazi game reserve there's a special rhino sanctuary
0:22:01 > 0:22:05that covers 45 square kilometres of dense bush.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10Now Michelle has been given a rare opportunity to join the rangers
0:22:10 > 0:22:13as they go on one of their regular monitoring patrols.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17She's come to meet operations manager, Elisaria.
0:22:17 > 0:22:25We have eight black rhino, six adults and two calves.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29The sanctuary is enclosed by 31 miles of electrified wire
0:22:29 > 0:22:33strung between 10,000 fence posts.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37That might seem a little over the top for just eight animals but these
0:22:37 > 0:22:40rhino are incredibly precious.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45In 1970 there was 65,000 black rhino in Africa.
0:22:45 > 0:22:52By 1992 over 95% of the population had been killed by poachers
0:22:52 > 0:22:54just to support the illegal trade in rhino horn.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58On the black market the horns of a single rhino
0:22:58 > 0:23:02can fetch many times the yearly wage of the average Tanzanian.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Of course, the black rhino isn't exactly defenceless.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10They can weigh up to a tonne and a half,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15can run at 35 miles per hour and are fiercely territorial and aggressive.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18So, before she can go out looking for one
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Michelle needs to learn what to do if she gets charged.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Always rhinos go straight through.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27OK, that's good to know.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31What you have to do is change direction.
0:23:31 > 0:23:37For training purposes, ranger Samu is being the territorial male.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46He's a scary rhino.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Hopefully we won't have to do that.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- Thank you anyway, just in case.- OK.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57With the training complete,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Michelle and Elisaria can begin tracking.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03The rhino could be anywhere in the dense bush
0:24:03 > 0:24:05so they must look for the smallest clues.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Is there anything in here that the rhinos like to eat,
0:24:09 > 0:24:14- any particular plant that you know they'd eat?- Yes.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17They eat this one. Definitely.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19They're bashed by a rhino.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23How long does it take you to learn all of these signs?
0:24:23 > 0:24:28If you follow the rhino and you see what they like to eat
0:24:28 > 0:24:33and after eat you can come and see how it's looking.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35How it looks then you learn for next time, yeah.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Then you learn for next time, yeah.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Heading ever deeper into the bush, they discover another clue.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51This is amazing, this is like the first rhino print I've ever seen.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53- Yeah.- They look quite fresh, are they fresh?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- Yes, it's fresh.- Is that two sets?
0:24:56 > 0:24:58It's two. Two.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03And, you know, the nail track is different for female.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- So what do you think this is?- This is two females.- That's brilliant.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10OK, so now we've spotted these tracks, where do we go from here?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Where do you think is the best place where we can hopefully find them?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I know a small valley here they like very much
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- so I hope we can find them there. - Is that where we're heading, is it?
0:25:21 > 0:25:24- Yeah.- OK.- They hide in there. So let us walk.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29We'll be back out in the bush later when Michelle finally gets close
0:25:29 > 0:25:33to a pair of very nervous black rhino.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Earlier we were with Bev Allen as she went in search of one of
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Tanzania's rarest residents, the Pancake tortoise.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50Although she hasn't found any yet, she has discovered a lot about
0:25:50 > 0:25:53the environment they live in and that could help the keepers
0:25:53 > 0:25:57back at Longleat to better look after their Pancake tortoises.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I'm up at Pets' Corner with keeper, Jo Hawthorn
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and these magnificent tortoises.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06They are very beautiful but they are quite flat, Jo.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11They're absolutely stunning, aren't they?
0:26:11 > 0:26:14So, why are you in there and the tortoises out here?
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Right, OK, if you turn around now and look at these pictures.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Oh, wow, this is beautiful.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23She sent me an email and she's been out there where these are
0:26:23 > 0:26:27- from and this is the home of these Pancake tortoises.- Oh, fantastic.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- So I've blown them up...- Right, so you're recreating it all here.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- Oh my goodness, that's fantastic. - I'm must finishing putting this up.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38This is actually a copy in the background here.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43We've got our own here at Longleat but obviously not quite the same.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- It's gonna look fantastic.- It just makes such a difference, you know.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Hopefully they'll feel more at home now.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It's raining and cold here in England...
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- But they're having this lovely, African backdrop.- Yeah.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Presumably it's quite important when you're keeping
0:26:57 > 0:27:01exotic animals like this to have as natural environment as possible.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Definitely, yeah, definitely. You want them to act
0:27:04 > 0:27:09and breed naturally. Everything that you can do, it's not just kind of
0:27:09 > 0:27:13the temperature, it's things that would be in their surrounding.
0:27:13 > 0:27:14You know, plants it just helps...
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Gives the right atmosphere.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19And the visitors as well, so it's really important.
0:27:19 > 0:27:20What about plants and things,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23what sort of vegetation would they have around?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Mainly... not so dissimilar to some
0:27:25 > 0:27:29of our Mediterranean tortoises, lots of weedy grass, grass mainly.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- So these things that you've got down here.- Yeah.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37Shall I give you that. These are kind of things that would be in the area?
0:27:37 > 0:27:40They are, that's right. We've got a red baron here.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44- Right.- That grows really tall, very bushy, obviously
0:27:44 > 0:27:47can do without lots of water. This is the kind of thing
0:27:47 > 0:27:50you'd actually find up in these kind of altitudes.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Are these are long lived?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Tortoises can live 50 or even 100 years, can't they?
0:27:55 > 0:27:58That's right. I mean the predation rate of these,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01when they're very small, they're literally like a 50p piece.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05- Right.- You know, is very high.- Yeah.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10- Certainly, I mean, these'll go on for about 25 years.- Right.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Nothing like as long as your other ones.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16We're nearly there now, how's that looking? Yep, good OK.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19I'll give you Yuri back.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21- OK.- Let you come out.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- There you go.- There we go.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25- Shall I put her on there? - There you are, sweetheart.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26There you go, girl.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Right, so I'm just gonna come out and have a look. Oh, final touch.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- Are you ready?- Yes.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Oh, fantastic.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Jo, it looks brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Look at that.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47- Doesn't it look good? - It's like a little corner of Africa.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49I'm so pleased, really pleased.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52- Fantastic.- It looks fantastic. - It really does.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55- Well done, Jo, thank you very much. - Thanks.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02Back in Tanzania, Bev Allen is still hoping to find a real life
0:29:02 > 0:29:05pancake tortoise in the wild.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08She's had no luck so far but now,
0:29:08 > 0:29:12on a drive through the bush, she's spotted something else.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16I've found a tortoise, our first tortoise in Tanzania,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19a Leopard tortoise I do believe.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23It's in really good condition, actually, which is brilliant.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25I think it could be a female.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28The shell underneath usually has a bit more of a dip.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30This is quite straight.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Usually the females are bigger than the males as well.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37We don't have any Leopard tortoises at Longleat,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39we have Pancake tortoises
0:29:39 > 0:29:43which I was hoping to see one at least here because
0:29:43 > 0:29:44they do come from around here.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46It's just brilliant to see one of these.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49But at least I've been a tortoise now which is great.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I've never seen a tortoise in the wild,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55only in captivity back at Pets' Corner.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59This is brilliant, especially when we were just driving along
0:29:59 > 0:30:01and there it was walking along the road.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04It's brilliant. It's quite a big one actually.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06It's hard to actually tell the age of a tortoise.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09I mean, the shell's in very good condition.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Some people say like counting the rings on the shell, you know,
0:30:12 > 0:30:18you can tell the age but it's not an accurate way of telling, really.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21And, of course, this is a perfect area for tortoises
0:30:21 > 0:30:25to run around and get away from predators in the bushes as well.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29And, as you can see cos it's very warm, quite active as well.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Back in Wiltshire, old Winston is about to have his first date alone
0:30:48 > 0:30:54with young Marashi. It's up to keeper Kevin Nibbs to play Cupid.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57He's been monitoring the state of Marashi's hormones
0:30:57 > 0:31:00and reckons if she's going to get pregnant, today's the day.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Kevin's let her out in the yard first
0:31:03 > 0:31:07while Winston's still inside and she does seem very interested.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11We've just introduced Marashi to Winston through the bars so that
0:31:11 > 0:31:14they know who's coming out really more than anything.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18She's in high spirits. She's making lots of vocalisations which is good.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21They're letting each other know that they're there.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23She's a bit anxious, cos she's out here on her own.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Normally she comes out with Rosina, the other female,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29but today we need to do it one-on-one,
0:31:29 > 0:31:30so she's out here on her own for now.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32She's probably a little bit anxious
0:31:32 > 0:31:35and she's wondering what's going on, really.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41It looks like Marashi is ready for love but what about Winston?
0:31:41 > 0:31:45At 38 years old, he's a real rhino pensioner
0:31:45 > 0:31:48though the vet has declared him fit for duty.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Though in terms of behaviour, anything could happen.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55If Winston really was aggressive towards Marashi,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58he could do a lot of damage. He's a big, massive rhino.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02He weighs two and a half tons and she's maybe a ton and a half,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04so he could really do a lot of damage to her.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07He could knock her down. We don't really want that to happen.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10If we had to split the rhinos up from fighting we'd have a couple
0:32:10 > 0:32:13of fire extinguishers to let off so the noise
0:32:13 > 0:32:16would distract the rhinos and then we'd move our tractors
0:32:16 > 0:32:19in between them as a barrier and that should defuse the situation.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24The tractors are escorting them down to the park,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27ready for their big date.
0:32:27 > 0:32:28They've kept the other rhinos in
0:32:28 > 0:32:31so the couple can have a little privacy.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36Now to find out - will Marashi fall for the older type
0:32:36 > 0:32:40and will this turn out to be Winston's finest hour?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44That's her on the right.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47She's flirting. Oh, but this isn't good.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49In rhino romance
0:32:49 > 0:32:54the boy is supposed to start playing rough and acting like the tough guy.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58So maybe Winston just isn't that interested.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Though Marashi's not going to leave him alone.
0:33:01 > 0:33:07- # What can I do to make you love me? - What can I do to make you love me?
0:33:07 > 0:33:13- # What can I do to make you care? - What can I do to make you care?
0:33:13 > 0:33:17# What can I say to make you feel this
0:33:17 > 0:33:20# What can I do to make you love me?
0:33:20 > 0:33:25- # What can I do to get you there? - What can I do to make you care? #
0:33:25 > 0:33:30With Winston, he's not a big rough old bloke that we think he is,
0:33:30 > 0:33:31he's quite a gentle old soul
0:33:31 > 0:33:34and I think he's going to take his time with this.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38I think we're putting pressure on the rhinos ourselves.
0:33:38 > 0:33:39We know we want baby rhinos,
0:33:39 > 0:33:43but they'll produce them when they're good and ready really.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45We can't influence that very much.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Back in his office,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Ian Turner has been reviewing some of the footage of the other couple
0:33:50 > 0:33:54to see if they're any closer to the desired goal.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56But no joy yet.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Ian's trying to be patient.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01After all it's still early days.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03They're just coming to the right age
0:34:03 > 0:34:08so hopefully, 15, 16 months down the line,
0:34:08 > 0:34:12there will be the patter of large tiny feet.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16So for now we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21Hopefully it won't be too long before Ian's dreams come true.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33How on earth do you measure a tiger?
0:34:33 > 0:34:36That's been the challenge for the keepers since these
0:34:36 > 0:34:38three youngsters arrived at Longleat.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Coming up to two years old they're growing fast and can put on
0:34:42 > 0:34:44up to three kilograms a month.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47That's the same weight as your average domestic cat.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52It's essential that their growth is monitored to spot any abnormalities,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55but since these are the most dangerous cats in the world,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57just how is this done?
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Well, I'm about to find out.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01I've come up to the tiger house
0:35:01 > 0:35:05to help out with a rather worrying task.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06Tiger measuring.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Keeper Bob Trollope is here.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- Morning, Bob.- Morning, Ben. - Is this for real?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13We're actually going to measure a tiger somehow today?
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Well, attempt to. As you can see it's not something that you
0:35:17 > 0:35:21can go in with and get proper measurements, that's for sure.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24What do you want to do then? You want to basically...
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Basically just get her to stand up and see how far she can stretch and
0:35:28 > 0:35:31then we'll just see what measurements we can get.
0:35:31 > 0:35:36- So who have we got here?- This is Sundari, one of our new ones,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39which is one of the livelier ones, as you can see!
0:35:39 > 0:35:41She's amazing, isn't she?
0:35:41 > 0:35:45And literally you're going to entice her up using some of that meat?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- I'll keep her up here, Ben.- OK.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50If you see if her paws come up against there,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53if you're very careful, you can get a rough measure.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57A rough measurement. OK. Let's see how we go, I won't go too close.
0:35:57 > 0:35:58Come on, my darling.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00We've got...
0:36:00 > 0:36:07OK, I estimate about 17 centimetres for one of her paws,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10but that's only a rough estimate. Can I have a quick go?
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- Yeah.- Do you mind me? I'll do a swap.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15OK. There you go.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- Just hold it out.- Yeah.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Wow, look at those teeth!
0:36:19 > 0:36:22If you're tall enough Ben, if we can dangle it from here.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25See if she'll go right up to the top.
0:36:25 > 0:36:26Up there. Sundari, look.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29Look, up here. It's up here, Sundari.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31Maybe she has to follow it up.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Look, here we go. Up we go.
0:36:33 > 0:36:38- That's it.- Wow, so basically we know that she can stretch
0:36:38 > 0:36:40right up to the top of this cage.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42And you think of it, that wasn't a full stretch.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Do you want to occupy her with that and I'll...
0:36:44 > 0:36:48- You can measure the cage.- I'll measure the cage from top to bottom.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Hup, hup. Good girl.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Yeah, you have that bit.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57We've got 207 centimetres or so.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02Although she's already over two metres long, since she's just a cub,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Sundari still has a way to go.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10Fully-grown tigers like Kadoo can reach over three metres.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Look at these claws as well.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16In fact, shall we see if you can estimate a claw size.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18I've got it here. I've got it here.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22- Let's see if we can get a claw. - Here you go.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27Now that's...well, just the actual sheath of the claw,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29that is four centimetres.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Four centimetres, wow.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34You wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of that?
0:37:34 > 0:37:37- No. Definitely not.- Bob, thank you for letting me help you
0:37:37 > 0:37:41with one of the most unusual tasks I've ever done. Here you go.
0:37:42 > 0:37:48Wow. I tell you what, it's not every day you get to measure a tiger!
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Back in Tanzania,
0:37:54 > 0:37:59Michelle and Elisaria have picked up the trail off two black rhinos.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03A sighting by one of the rangers has helped them narrow down the search
0:38:03 > 0:38:06and they're now getting very close.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09To keep the rhino safe
0:38:09 > 0:38:14it's vital for the rangers to make a regular visual check on all of them.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Because the bush in this region is so dense
0:38:17 > 0:38:19the only way to do that is to track them down
0:38:19 > 0:38:24and get really close and that can be very dangerous.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29Tracks. There are fresh tracks.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35With the rhinos just a few metres away,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38two expert trackers scout ahead.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42What we're going to do is wait here a second until we get the OK
0:38:42 > 0:38:46to go up through because obviously it's a dangerous situation.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50It's really exciting to know there's a rhino over there,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52tantalisingly close.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Suddenly the rhino are spooked and charge off into the bush.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08We just missed them.
0:39:08 > 0:39:14They ran away but this is the fresh, where they sleep there.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16This is fresh.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23Even though we didn't quite get to see them,
0:39:23 > 0:39:29knowing that we're this close is pretty cool
0:39:29 > 0:39:33and in this thick bush it's really difficult to see them anyway.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38So yes, the whole experience of just going after them
0:39:38 > 0:39:41and tracking them is just a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46What we want to do is to see them every day but it's very difficult.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50- Almost impossible, isn't it? - But we try the best we can.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53At Longleat our animals are so easy to find
0:39:53 > 0:39:57but to go out and track them
0:39:57 > 0:40:02and to have that reward when you do finally see some, or like now,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05the rhino was here literally not even five minutes ago,
0:40:05 > 0:40:07that's pretty special, an amazing experience.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09I feel really privileged to be able to do this.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13It's something you do every day, it's something I've never had
0:40:13 > 0:40:15the chance to do before, probably won't again,
0:40:15 > 0:40:18so it's really, really special. I'll treasure it.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24When you think that now in all the vast wilderness of Africa
0:40:24 > 0:40:28there are less than 3,500 black rhino,
0:40:28 > 0:40:30to have got within just a few metres of one
0:40:30 > 0:40:33is actually pretty good going.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44Back at Longleat, their rhinos may have failed on the romantic front
0:40:44 > 0:40:47but it's a different story with the ostriches.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54In fact they're up there with Romeo and Juliet,
0:40:54 > 0:40:56or Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01But unlike those star-crossed lovers, Trevor and Honey are
0:41:01 > 0:41:04still living their happy-ever-after ending,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06even after three years together.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09It looks like she hasn't lost that loving feeling
0:41:09 > 0:41:14and frankly my dear, he DOES give a damn.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Kate and I are out in the East Africa reserve
0:41:16 > 0:41:20with head of section Andy Hayton and Honey, the ostrich.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Now Andy, she's obviously sitting on a nest here, isn't she?
0:41:23 > 0:41:26- Yeah.- Any idea how many eggs there are under her?
0:41:26 > 0:41:29About 17 or 18 eggs under there at the last count.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Wow! That sounds like an amazing number.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34We've done really well and it's all down to those two.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37They're just such dedicated parents.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40- They're really good.- Andy, we've got just over here Trevor has taken
0:41:40 > 0:41:44even more active interest in us. Is this something you want to be
0:41:44 > 0:41:47aware of now cos we don't want to stress them out, do we?
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Yeah. It's just that dedicated parents thing. Trev sees us
0:41:50 > 0:41:54over here, she's vulnerable at the moment, laid there on the nest,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58so Trev's here to protect her and his interests, which are his eggs.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01It seems very strange Andy, that she's lying there
0:42:01 > 0:42:04with her head so flat. You'd think she'd have her head up
0:42:04 > 0:42:07and be looking around for potential predators.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10That's an ostrich burying its head in the sand. That's where it came from.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- Wow, of course! - She makes a low profile.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16If you were actually, you see all the long grass, I've cut
0:42:16 > 0:42:19some of the grass short but if she was in the longish grass,
0:42:19 > 0:42:22she sits like that, nobody can see her.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25She's less vulnerable basically. It looks like a pile of feathers.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28A really good defence mechanism is stay still.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Thanks, Andy. I know you'll keep us up to date with any developments
0:42:31 > 0:42:35as they happen but that's all we've got time for on today's programme.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43What will the monkeys think when we stuff all their fruit trifles
0:42:43 > 0:42:45into a tree trunk?
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Up in wolf wood, Frieda is pregnant
0:42:48 > 0:42:54but will her pups be born safe indoors or out in a flooded den?
0:42:54 > 0:42:56And back in Africa
0:42:56 > 0:42:59an orphaned hyena must be drugged in order to return her to the wild.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04But then something goes very wrong.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:23 > 0:43:26E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk