0:00:02 > 0:00:04Lions are one of the most magnificent
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and powerful animals here at Longleat.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Today, in a unique experiment,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11we're going to be putting that power to the test.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Join us for that later in the show.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Coming up on today's Animal Park...
0:00:39 > 0:01:02they call them the king of beasts, but just how strong
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Of all the animals at Longleat,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14the most famous have got to be the lions.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Thousands of people come to the park
0:01:16 > 0:01:20every year to see these iconic, not to mention powerful, beasts.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Head of section Brian Kent and deputy head Bob Trollope
0:01:26 > 0:01:29have over 55 years experience between them
0:01:29 > 0:01:30of working with big cats
0:01:30 > 0:01:33and in that time,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36have been constantly reminded of their strength and power.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48The lions are incredible animals.
0:01:48 > 0:02:13They are immensely strong.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15But they're incredibly strong.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21In the wild, it's easy to see how lions have built up their reputation
0:02:21 > 0:02:23as the king of the beasts.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27They're formidable animals and being at the top of the food chain,
0:02:27 > 0:02:31nowhere is their power more evident than when they're hunting.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36But here at Longleat, the lions don't get the chance
0:02:36 > 0:02:40to harness their strength and hunt prey in quite the same way.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44So it's important the keepers think of ways to enrich their lives
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and challenge them as they would be in their natural habitat.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51In the past, we've always tried to put indestructible things in there
0:02:51 > 0:02:56for them but, you know, there's all sorts of toys that we've tried.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01They eventually find a way round it and break it, or lose it.
0:03:01 > 0:03:20So this time, they're giving them something serious to play with.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23on everything from aircraft tyres to military vehicles.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26The hi-tech equipment he uses
0:03:26 > 0:03:29shows just how much power these vehicles have.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34So he's adapted it to use on the lions.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35Theoretically,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38we can attach something on the end of this load cell
0:03:38 > 0:03:41which an animal would like to try and pull against.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45If the lions take the bait, Dr Brighton will be able
0:03:45 > 0:03:48to monitor just how powerful these creatures really are.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51But that relies on them co-operating.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56We've never worked with wild animals in this context ever before,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58but if you play with your cat in your living room,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00it enjoys playing with a piece of string.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Presumably, the lion will be the same,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06although I'm no expert on lions.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I'm looking forward to it cos you often wonder how powerful they are.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31So have they been well fed...
0:04:31 > 0:04:34or well starved?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37All depends. This'll be fresh meat for them.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40How old are they?
0:04:40 > 0:04:44You've got four small ones. They're coming up to about a year old.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46And then the two slightly bigger ones.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50They're about 18 months. OK. And then you've got Dad.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54So roughly how much would the various ages weigh, then?
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Well, I can imagine you're looking
0:04:56 > 0:04:59at about 100 pounds for these little ones in weight.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Then with Dad, he could be anything up to
0:05:01 > 0:05:03500 pounds in weight. Is he? OK.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07So you're expecting him to develop a lot more pull than the others?
0:05:07 > 0:05:11I should imagine the little ones are going to be the inquisitive ones.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15OK. The more that they see us doing outside setting up,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17the more inquisitive they'll be.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21The more they'll want to come over and have a play. OK. Hopefully.
0:05:21 > 0:05:38If it works all right in this pride,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41And it's up to you guys which one you think
0:05:41 > 0:05:44is most appropriate, really, for the lions.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49If you break down, we can always tow you out.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51What do you reckon, Bri?
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I reckon the longer one, to be honest, don't you?
0:05:54 > 0:05:58The idea is that the lions will pull on the ropes
0:05:58 > 0:06:00so Dr Brighton can monitor their strength.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03If Kabir comes up, you know, the big male in there,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06then he would grab that,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09no problems. OK. So we'll go for the long rope
0:06:09 > 0:06:12that's the large diameter and then their jaws can get
0:06:12 > 0:06:16a good purchase on it, so that they can create a lot of force.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21While he sets up, Bob and Brian give the pullometer a trial run.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25We won't break it, will we? OK. Go for it, guys.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So as they pull on the rope, you can see the indicator coming up here
0:06:30 > 0:06:54and you can also see the display here.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Now we're just relying on the lions biting it.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Do you think they'll go for it? I think so.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02People have been handling this rope so they've got a scent on there.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03I see and they'll go for that?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Yeah. I should imagine so. Oh, splendid.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10With everything ready to do, Brian and Dr Brighton
0:07:10 > 0:07:13move the pullometer into position and Bob releases the lions.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16But will they be willing participants
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and will the technology survive against full-on lion power?
0:07:31 > 0:07:35The nine Bactrian camels at Longleat are a particularly special herd,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38because in the wild, they're critically endangered.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Originally from Mongolia,
0:07:40 > 0:08:00northern China and Kazakhstan, these tough animals are used to
0:08:00 > 0:08:03who has a rather hairy task for me.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04What are we up to today?
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Well, we're collecting camel fur which you'll find lying about
0:08:09 > 0:08:12on the ground here in the new area.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14It comes off of them in great big clumps
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and not only looks untidy, it can get caught up in the hooves
0:08:17 > 0:08:21of the smaller stock that we have up here.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Loads of it. It's unbelievable.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Can I get out in the absence of the camels?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27We're fine at the moment.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31So, basically, this here
0:08:31 > 0:08:34is what we're collecting and they shed all of this
0:08:34 > 0:08:38in the summer? Yes. Late spring, early summer,
0:08:38 > 0:08:42actually starts coming off. It takes about six or eight weeks
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and they look very untidy, very moth eaten.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48It comes off in great big clumps from the neck
0:08:48 > 0:08:49and sometimes we can actually help
0:08:49 > 0:09:09and assist for those that have got the attitude to let us help.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13I have this image that all your camels are totally bald.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14They are at the moment.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17There's just a little bit left on top of the humps now. Right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21How long will it take for all their hair to start growing back again?
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Well, it starts growing back more or less immediately.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26It is a very slow process, but by the winter,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29they're going to have a full, thick coat again.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32And what sort of uses does this have?
0:09:32 > 0:09:33Actually, in the Gobi desert,
0:09:33 > 0:09:37where these camels would originally populate,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40the shepherds would use them as coats..
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Camelhair coats. Camelhair coats.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Do you think anyone ever uses it locally?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48We have had a local person who we used to sell it to,
0:09:48 > 0:09:49we used to collect it and sell it to.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52They used to turn it into yarn and make jumpers.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Something tells me it would be a very smelly jumper.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57It's going to need to be washed.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Adrian, thank you very much.
0:09:59 > 0:10:20Join us later in the programme when we'll find out
0:10:20 > 0:10:25his hands full trying to give health checks to his Egyptian fruit bats.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27The bats are free to fly around their cave
0:10:27 > 0:10:31and are only ever handled during these health checks.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It's for this reason that Darren's keen to use
0:10:33 > 0:10:36this opportunity for a second purpose.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39We've had an issue with identifying individual animals.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42There's so many bats over there and they all look the same.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47But with 24 bats in the colony, Darren wants to know which is which
0:10:47 > 0:10:51in case any of them have any special requirements.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Today, he's conducting an experiment
0:10:55 > 0:10:57to find out the best way to tell them apart.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00The recognised way of marking bats, actually,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02is a bit like an ear tag.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You put a band on their wing or through their wing.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07We don't really want to do that
0:11:07 > 0:11:09so we've tried various things like coloured markers on their feet
0:11:09 > 0:11:31which they just lick off and clean, so that's a complete failure.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33to use an aluminium split ring.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37There is a risk that the way the bats are designed,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39their feet and their toes go very straight.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42So these might, with a bit of help from the bats,
0:11:42 > 0:11:43just slide straight off.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45So we're hoping that's not going to happen,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49and if it does work, it's going to help us and the keepers
0:11:49 > 0:11:53say, "Red ring bat number one is the one that does such and such."
0:11:53 > 0:11:56As part of our data recording, it would be very helpful.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02Catching the bats to put the rings on is not an easy task.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Egyptian fruit bats use both their eyesight and echo location
0:12:06 > 0:12:10to navigate, making them very tricky to catch.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13But keeper John Ovens believes he has just the tool.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17This is designed by, as you can probably tell, by us keepers.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19It's not the most technical piece of kit.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It was just an old pole with, I think it was a pillowcase
0:12:22 > 0:12:40or something like that, but it does the job.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44It's a little bit of luck. You've got to be very quick.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49It is normally a bit of fun as well. Ready, John? When you're ready.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54No pressure. There's a whole gang up here.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Have you got one? He's there. He's there.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Well done.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02He used his bat abilities and he got away from it.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Now he's got one. Fantastic.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11OK. So, here we are.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Egyptian fruit bat. Beautiful animal.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17And what we're looking for is we're looking for any eye injuries.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20We're looking at teeth.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22They're very long, very strong teeth.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27And this is for puncturing the thick skin of the fruit that they eat.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29The other two things we're looking for -
0:13:29 > 0:13:51if John just gently holds the wings apart - we're looking for any tears.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Having checked the bat is in good health,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56it's time to put on the tag.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00For the first one in the test, Darren is using a plastic ring.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05We've got to try and get a ring on that tiny little piece of foot.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07And what I do
0:14:07 > 0:14:14is I wrap it round the leg like that.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18And that's not pinching the skin. It's just turning round and round.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20This little fella is just about ready to go.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24And the best way to do it, just let him hold on to our fingers
0:14:24 > 0:14:25and away he goes.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30Up with his friends. So we'll record that. Red 36.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Let's just catch another one.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Now that's the easy way cos, obviously,
0:14:40 > 0:15:02they tire out a little bit. Hello, you.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04This says that this one
0:15:04 > 0:15:06has been wearing those teeth down for many years.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Egyptian fruit bats can live for up to 20 years,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but as most of these bats were not born here at Longleat, the only way
0:15:14 > 0:15:19of telling how old they are is by this method of observation.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23On this chap, we're going to put a split aluminium ring.
0:15:23 > 0:15:30So this is purple split aluminium 49. OK. You're in good nick, mate.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I reckon that's the king bat we caught there.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36We'll just gently hold its feet. We'll release him.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41And away he goes. There we go.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50He's tired out cos he's puffed back and forward, but again,
0:15:50 > 0:16:11what we're trying to do is trying to get this done as quickly
0:16:11 > 0:16:13One metal and one plastic.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16That's orange on the right leg and that's
0:16:16 > 0:16:18a split aluminium ring on the left.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Well done. Thank you very much.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27That actually went really successful. The guys were brilliant.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30We caught them as quickly as we possibly could
0:16:30 > 0:16:32and you can hear they've all settled down.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34They're just waiting for the bananas and start eating,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38so 48 hours, they'll be monitoring and if the rings are still on,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40then we've got the task of catching
0:16:40 > 0:16:43everybody up and giving them all different-coloured rings
0:16:43 > 0:16:46and then we've got every single bat in here identified.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But will Darren's trial really work?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52We'll be back later to find out.
0:17:03 > 0:17:23The East Africa reserve is a great place to see
0:17:25 > 0:17:29If you were looking for herd animals in Africa, a good place to start
0:17:29 > 0:17:31is around a water hole like this one.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38It was while on a trip to Kenya that head of section Andy Hayton
0:17:38 > 0:17:42had the idea of bringing an extra slice of Africa to the West Country
0:17:42 > 0:17:45by building a water hole of his very own.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Facing typical British weather, construction commenced.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And it wasn't entirely straightforward.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05But the water hole did finally get completed.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09And now, with the sun shining, Kate has gone up to meet Andy
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and hopefully get a look at his animals.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38We've turned all their water drinkers off now and they actually use this
0:18:38 > 0:18:42as their watering hole, as we envisaged it would be.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And this is about as natural
0:18:44 > 0:18:48an environment as you could give them, presumably. It's fantastic.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Some lucky visitors, they don't spend all their time here,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54but some visitors are going to get a good show when the giraffe come up.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58The giraffe come up around midday. And you get giraffe here drinking.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00You get zebra in the background.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02It's just working exactly how
0:19:02 > 0:19:05we wanted it to work and it's such a good show when they're all here.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Absolutely. And, I mean,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11that is the great draw of water holes in the wild.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16It is one of the great places to see wild animals. Absolutely.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21I mean, all the real classic lodges in Africa are by a water hole
0:19:21 > 0:19:42because that's where all the animals must come cos they've got to drink.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46That is just a fantastic sight.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50Absolutely wonderful. They've now abandoned the water hole.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53I wonder whether there is that instinct, cos of course,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56watering holes are great for predators.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Everybody gravitates to them because the predators know
0:19:58 > 0:20:01that the other animals are going to come there.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04They were quite nervous when we first started using it.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09They were, "Is there a lion hiding behind that tree?" Yeah. Absolutely.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13It was good and it just looks so nice when you have giraffe here.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Yes. Thanks, guys. It really makes it feel like
0:20:17 > 0:20:19a little slice of East Africa, doesn't it?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21It's nice. It really is good.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Like I say, some lucky visitors are going to get
0:20:24 > 0:20:27a really really good photo of...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29It could be East Africa.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30Yeah. If they're really lucky.
0:20:30 > 0:20:53Absolutely. Well, congratulations, cos I know it's been a hard slog
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Ever wondered how powerful a lion is?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Well, keepers Bob and Brian always have. And today,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04for the first time ever on Animal Park,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07they and you are about to find out.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Top engineer Dr James Brighton has brought the latest technology to
0:21:11 > 0:21:15measure just how strong Longleat's famous lions truly are.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Attached to a sensor at the back of this vehicle, is a length of rope
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Every time the rope is tugged, the strength of the pull will
0:21:25 > 0:21:28be recorded on a computer, rigged inside the vehicle.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Bob watches the action from a second vehicle.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36OK, Adam, if you go and let them out and then drive straight out the way.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42The only question, is whether the lions are in a playful mood.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06They're going to try and tie us up with it.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07It looks that way.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Ah, now we've got some competition happening.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13They're actually pulling against each other.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15You've got two youngsters right on the end.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18And you've got Malika halfway along...
0:22:18 > 0:22:22pulling it sideways and all she's doing is tugging them along.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24That shows you the power.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26There's three of them on there now.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It's a tug of war, as such. If that was a carcass,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32then the stronger one would get the bigger bit
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and then the little ones would have to be happy with what was left over.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39But this little one is showing more strength than
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Bob and Brian imagined.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Go on, then. Go on. Heave.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47That's Malika, again.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48She's really digging in.
0:22:48 > 0:22:54She's giving it her all. You know, she's not the biggest of lions,
0:22:54 > 0:23:13even in this pride...
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Almost like taking your lions for a walk, isn't it?
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Malika's been the most determined out of all of them.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21You know, she's hardly been away from it.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25That would show us that she's a potential leader.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28They're enjoying it, especially the youngsters.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32It's a learning curve for them, so it's
0:23:32 > 0:23:35nice to actually see them trying to work something out.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36They're squabbling over it.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41See, there's competition.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44It's healthy within the pride.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Neither one of them is going to give up, straightaway.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50There's the highest reading so far,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53with the two really intent on not letting that rope go.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56We've just got up to nearly two there.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Who knows one thing, though,
0:24:00 > 0:24:25Kabir doesn't take the blindest bit of notice of it.
0:24:25 > 0:24:31So whether he will participate, it will be nice to see.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37But moving into Charlie's pride is easier said than done,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40as the cubs just won't let go of the rope.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42They really don't want to let that go, do they?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45The more I go forward the more I'm going to drag them along.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49She still wants that rope.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57Go on.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13The cubs did well, but Brian's keen to move the test to the next level.
0:25:13 > 0:25:31I think if we move into the next section,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41This is a fantastic new addition to Pets Corner.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43I'm here with keeper Jo Hawthorne
0:25:43 > 0:25:46and this beautiful, beautiful snake.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47What is it, Jo?
0:25:47 > 0:25:48It's a corn snake.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51I'm amazed. I thought corn snakes
0:25:51 > 0:25:52are usually smaller than this.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54They're really colourful
0:25:54 > 0:25:57and they start off like little coloured pencils,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02but he's nine now and although they stay very long and thin,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05they can go up to five or six foot long. He's incredible.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09He's beautiful. And the colours are stunning, aren't they? They are.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Absolutely stunning. Yep.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12He's a he, as you say. He is.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Has he got a name? Yeah. MC.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Which is short for something.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21OK. Come on. What is it? Mischievous corn snake.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23He's always trying to escape.
0:26:23 > 0:26:42Really? So, you know, we'll lock him away.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Get out of everything. Yeah.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48I mean, he's incredibly strong, just holding him.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51He's a constrictor like the pythons that you've got. Right.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53He is, so he's really strong.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55He's mostly muscle. Yeah.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57You can feel round your arm now. Yeah.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Although you're the tree, they really do catch on. Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02He's absolutely gorgeous but to humans,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05presumably, no danger at all?
0:27:05 > 0:27:07They're not normally out in daytime.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10They come out at night, anyway. If you were walking along
0:27:10 > 0:27:12where these hung out, they'll get out of your way.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15They're a very secretive kind of snake.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17They're not harmful in any way to us.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21He's absolutely gorgeous, even if you are mischievous.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Well, Jo, thank you very much for introducing me.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Will you stick around long enough to tell us
0:27:26 > 0:27:29what's on the rest of the programme?
0:27:31 > 0:27:33We've seen how tough the young lions are,
0:27:33 > 0:27:52but what happens when the hardest lion of them all goes on the pull?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's been a little while now since three of them were tagged
0:27:55 > 0:27:59with plastic and metal ankle rings in an attempt to tell them apart.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02And it hasn't taken them long to find out the answer.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07We found the plastic rings a couple of hours after.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10We came up to close up in the evening and they were down
0:28:10 > 0:28:12on the floor exactly next to each other,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15so they'd been roosting up throughout the day.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17They must have come off quickly.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Head of Pets Corner, Darren, has come to get the news.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24What happens, I think...
0:28:24 > 0:28:26John, can I just use your finger?
0:28:26 > 0:28:30There's John's back leg. This has gone round the finger.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33They play with them in their mouth and draw them off that way,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36so they've come off over the toes.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Thanks, John. So, in fact, the aluminium rings that we haven't found
0:28:40 > 0:28:44on the floor, that we're now trying to see that are still on the bat,
0:28:44 > 0:29:02obviously are not pliable enough.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04We can have 30 different colours.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Then we'll have a ringing campaign
0:29:06 > 0:29:08and we'll grab every single bat.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10We'll ring every one with a different colour.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It's going to make life so much easier knowing that
0:29:13 > 0:29:16red, green left leg bat is eating all the banana,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19whereas blue ring right leg bat
0:29:19 > 0:29:23is actually a bit of a kiwi fruit fan and that sort of thing.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26And also, activities are a dominant bat and stuff,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29so having these markings, having these rings on them,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32will help us with our study and our information
0:29:32 > 0:29:34and the more information we have,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37the better we can make it for them.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41So, with one bat successfully tagged, there's just the small
0:29:41 > 0:29:45matter of catching the other 23.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48While Darren and his team get to work,
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Ben has arrived on the other side of Pets Corner.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Earlier on, I collected a whole bag of this fur
0:29:54 > 0:30:13from the camels up in the new area.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16One is, hopefully,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19they might make little trinket mounds out of the camel hair.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21What is a trinket mound?
0:30:21 > 0:30:24It's what degus do to show their dominance in the group
0:30:24 > 0:30:27and it's a pile of twigs, leaves, wood chippings.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30They put in a big pile and they sit on top chirping
0:30:30 > 0:30:33to show that they're the most dominant male in the group.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36So is it almost a kind of, "look at my mound"?
0:30:36 > 0:30:39And a trinket mound cos of the things they put in it. Yeah.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Any object they can find.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43So, why don't we put some down. OK.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45You never know, they might use it.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47So, literally, are we just going to sprinkle this
0:30:47 > 0:30:49down on the ground?
0:30:49 > 0:30:54Would a degu ever come across camel hair in the wild? No, probably not.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Maybe different kinds of hair, but any object they
0:30:57 > 0:31:01would find in the wild, they would use as part of their trinket mound.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02They're from South America?
0:31:02 > 0:31:04South America, up in the mountains.
0:31:04 > 0:31:23That's why we've got the rocks.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25They're very vocal animals.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Judging by this one they love it up there.
0:31:27 > 0:31:32They do. Usually, you'll see them climbing around on the logs.
0:31:32 > 0:31:33They do like it, to be up high.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35They've got large ears.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37They've got good sense of hearing.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41They sort of wag their tale when they know danger's coming.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Will they go to the top of this mound when they build it?
0:31:44 > 0:31:47like they summated Mount Everest and go "I'm the best degu".
0:31:47 > 0:31:50Usually, when they do their mounds in there,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52they sit on top of their mounds and they make it
0:31:52 > 0:31:56very vocal about it, to say "this is my mound, look at my mound".
0:31:56 > 0:31:59But there's no females to attract? No.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02But in the wild, this is something they would do to show that
0:32:02 > 0:32:04"I'm the best male for breeding."
0:32:04 > 0:32:07And then another male might knock their mound down,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09so it's interesting to see them do it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11And important for their hierarchy.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13It is very important, so they do it quite often.
0:32:13 > 0:32:35You never know when they're going to do it.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Back in lion country Bob, Brian and Doctor Brighton
0:32:40 > 0:32:44are heading into Charlie's pride, dragging the pullometer behind them.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Earlier, in Kabir's pride, it was the young female Malika
0:32:48 > 0:32:50who emerged as the strongest,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53while the big male Kabir took little interest.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55But how will the older, bigger
0:32:55 > 0:32:59and more streetwise lions in Charlie's pride, react?
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Come on.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06Brian, if you drove in there and head towards the scratching post.
0:33:06 > 0:33:07All right.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17These are bigger lions, a bit wiser than the cubs, obviously.
0:33:19 > 0:33:20You've got the same principle.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23You've got the one on the end killing it.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26And these others are playing with it.
0:33:26 > 0:33:45So we're up to over two already, which basically just
0:33:45 > 0:33:47There he is. It's Charlie on it, now.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51He's pulling. Watch the Land Rover rocking.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54You can see all the muscle tone.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58The muscle's actually working, how much effort he's putting into it.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00That is a fit and healthy lion.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03I imagine we'd be getting a good reading from that.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06So now we're up to about two and a half, nearly three.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09You can feel the whole truck moving. Yes.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11You can see now that he's got
0:34:11 > 0:34:14his claws dug into the rope and he's biting it at the same time.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17You imagine if that was an animal's hide...
0:34:17 > 0:34:20how they would use their claws to cling on to it
0:34:20 > 0:34:22and hold the animal while they were biting it,
0:34:22 > 0:34:24to try and kill it.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27So, clearly, Charlie here has achieved a much higher
0:34:27 > 0:34:29pull than any of the other lions.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Primarily, because of his added mass. Yeah.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35And when he tries to accelerate that mass backwards and tug on
0:34:35 > 0:34:55the rope, then we're seeing much much larger pulls and I'm afraid
0:34:55 > 0:34:57himself to a piece of the vehicle.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Get off.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11Oh, dear.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Look what you've done, Bob. Oh, dear.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18It looks he was as interested in yours as well as our rope.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Shall we go and have a look at the rope
0:35:20 > 0:35:22and see what the results were like?
0:35:24 > 0:35:28So the maximum pull that he achieved when he really gave it some
0:35:28 > 0:35:30was about three kilonewtons.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Now that's approximately equivalent
0:35:32 > 0:35:36to about 305 kilograms, which is over 600 pounds.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38So, it's a huge pull...
0:35:38 > 0:35:40on the end of that rope.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Three kilonewtons sounds a lot and it is. It's equivalent
0:35:44 > 0:36:07to the strength you'd need to lift two massive fridge freezers.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10And to top it all, he's also had a bit of tyre, as well.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14You don't always see him using his full strength, do we?
0:36:14 > 0:36:17He's in there with girls. He ain't got to do anything...
0:36:17 > 0:36:20so this'll give him something to do.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23You can get a good feel of how fit he is, effectively. Yeah.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Fascinating. It's been a fascinating day, looking at how the
0:36:28 > 0:36:31different animals have reacted and the results we've got
0:36:31 > 0:36:34have been interesting also for the keepers,
0:36:34 > 0:36:36so it's been a glorious day.
0:36:56 > 0:36:57I'm out in monkey jungle
0:37:14 > 0:37:19So you've come up with a great plan for the Rhesus macaques, here.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Tell us about it. This is just enrichment for them.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26OK. So I've frozen some fruit and water and put them on some popsicles.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30OK. And do you think that they will react like excited children?
0:37:30 > 0:37:34I expect they will, cos there's quite sweet fruit in them.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37And anything new, they're very interested in stuff.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41We've got a lovely sort of group here.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Males, females, what are we looking at?
0:37:43 > 0:37:45There's a mixture of all of them there.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48You've got some mums with babies, as well as a few males.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51You do a fruit one and I'll do peanut butter
0:37:51 > 0:37:53and banana and see which ones they go for.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Ready. One two three. Go.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Oh, now, let's see how they react.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01This one's grabbed both of them.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04They're very greedy. Here you are, guys.
0:38:04 > 0:38:27This is really interesting, the whole group coming in.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30It's bringing different textures into them, so it brings in
0:38:30 > 0:38:32different behaviours for them.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Stimulates their brain.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37And obviously, these are on little sticks.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40This won't hurt the monkeys. They'll leave these on the grass?
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Yeah, and we'll pick them up.
0:38:42 > 0:38:47OK. Here we are. I think your experiment is working well.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50They're looking very happy. Here we are.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52There you go. Try that one.
0:38:52 > 0:39:00It's lovely to see. Monkeys are pretty closely related to us.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Yeah. Do you see, is there anything particular in their behaviour that
0:39:04 > 0:39:06makes you think that's a pretty close cousin?
0:39:06 > 0:39:09The facial expressions. They've got so many.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12You can tell what mood they're in.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14They're that expressive? Yeah. Yeah.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Well, I think they are loving
0:39:16 > 0:39:36this experiment and I'm not sure they're that discerning, though.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Bob's vehicle took a bit of a bashing earlier,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41when Charlie took a chunk out of it.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Get off.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48But it's not just the lions who've been chewing the cars.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Earlier in the series, we met these
0:39:50 > 0:39:54three new wild young tigers, who came to live at Longleat.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Svetli, Shouri and Soundari.
0:40:01 > 0:40:02Oh, my God.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Soundari's a bit of a troublemaker
0:40:05 > 0:40:09and has not only been going for cars, but buses, as well.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13So, slightly nervously, Kate and I have joined Bob
0:40:13 > 0:40:15for a drive in tiger territory.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Bob, they're looking fantastic out in the sunlight. Yes.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22They look brilliant here. And, Bob, you're still learning
0:40:22 > 0:40:25about their traits when they're out like this,
0:40:25 > 0:40:47cos you've had some problems with them attacking cars.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49It would be advisable to shut yours. OK.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Cos I'm quite slow with this window.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54So what does she make of cars?
0:40:54 > 0:40:57I think they are prey to her.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01You know, this is something moving and it's quite often
0:41:01 > 0:41:04the moving that gets a reaction.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07She does actually chase parked cars.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11She's magnificent.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13It's wonderful to watch her kind of gait.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17Isn't it? Yeah. She has enormous paws, enormous paws.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20You just see there's such strength there.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23It's like there's this pent up energy.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27She looks like quite a relaxed cat and you know that in one moment
0:41:27 > 0:41:29she could completely change.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31And she's still got growing to do.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32She's not fully grown?
0:41:32 > 0:41:36She's not fully grown yet. She's only two years old.
0:41:36 > 0:41:56Here she comes, running alongside.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02Well, they've had to rethink, the local squirrels pheasants.
0:42:02 > 0:42:03Oh, really?
0:42:03 > 0:42:05I'm sure they just got so used to...
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Ambling past and now Soundari,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11she chases after them, lightening speed. Really?
0:42:11 > 0:42:13She doesn't stop at the base of the tree,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16she goes up the tree with them. There's no escape.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19So the squirrels and pheasants are all packing their bags?
0:42:19 > 0:42:21They are. Yes.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24It's great to see that they're doing well out here.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28I hope that they don't attack too many more cars.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31We will be keeping you updated with the new tiger's progress.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35That's the end of today's programme, but here's what's
0:42:35 > 0:42:37coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43There's pillage and mayhem when otters get a garden makeover.
0:42:43 > 0:43:08Lord Bath sets a course for disaster.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:20 > 0:43:24E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk