0:00:03 > 0:00:07Longleat is home to 12 of these incredible Rothschild's giraffes,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10and the keepers are busily preparing for more.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15After months of waiting, one of them is about to give birth very soon.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19We'll be bringing you all of the news on today's Animal Park.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Coming up on today's Animal Park...
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Some ferocious new arrivals bring terror to Longleat.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52The baby otters learn some new tricks.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56And, there's a battle brewing in Pets' Corner.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58I'm so going to be the winner.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02- There's no competition in there. - That's complete rubbish!
0:01:06 > 0:01:12The giraffes in the safari park are a highly endangered sub-species called Rothschild.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14There are only about 300 left in the world, so the keepers
0:01:14 > 0:01:19are doing their best to keep this threatened species alive.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24A pregnancy is usually a cause for celebration,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27but the latest one has only caused concern.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31That's because the expectant mother is Imogen,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35and the last time she tried to give birth, it almost killed her.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44She's due any day, so the keeper in charge of the giraffes, Andy Hayton,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46has been watching her closely.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51This morning, he's got two vets out with him - Duncan Williams and Paul Higgs.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56They were all there when things went so badly wrong for Imogen.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06It's been almost two years since these dramatic scenes in the giraffe house. When Imogen went into labour,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11everything seemed normal, but, as the hours passed,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14it became clear she was in distress.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Sunday morning, the vet looked at her and the decision was taken -
0:02:18 > 0:02:21we would probably have to pull the calf.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24We thought possibly it could have been a breach birth
0:02:24 > 0:02:27or the head was tilted back so she couldn't physically push it out.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32In order to help, they had no choice but to put her under anaesthetic,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36but resident vet Duncan knew how risky that could be.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Anaesthetic-wise I think giraffes probably are the most dangerous really, in terms of,
0:02:43 > 0:02:48basically, one in three anaesthetics with giraffes ending in fatalities.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55When the anaesthetic took effect, the team could get to work.
0:02:55 > 0:03:02There were four vets including a special anaesthetist, and keepers came from all over the park to help.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Sadly, Duncan's internal examination
0:03:04 > 0:03:08revealed that the unborn calf was already dead
0:03:08 > 0:03:13and it soon became clear that it was dangerously stuck inside the womb.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Imogen's life was now balancing on a knife edge.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21For any chance of her survival, they had to get the dead calf out.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We're gonna attempt a caesarean just to give her a go.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31We can't just decide we're gonna put her down and quit here.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37Even if it doesn't come out the right outcome that we want, we've got to at least try it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42The vets worked as quickly as possible to remove the dead calf.
0:03:42 > 0:03:49As the minutes turned to hours, Deputy Head Warden Ian Turner began to lose hope for Imogen too.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56We've just taken a baby giraffe out of her stomach which is a six-foot odd baby.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01So the stitches we're talking like that sort of size and
0:04:01 > 0:04:06she's got two lots of internal stitching, plus the external stitching.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10She's now been under for four hours plus,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13and if the giraffe survived,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15it would be a miracle.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21The stitches had to be made very strong because giraffes must never lie down for too long.
0:04:21 > 0:04:28If they do, the pressure of their own 600kg weight can cause muscle damage.
0:04:28 > 0:04:35So when it was time to revive Imogen from the anaesthetic it was vital that she just got straight up.
0:04:54 > 0:05:00It didn't look good. Sick giraffes have been known to lie down, give up and just die.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05It's one of these difficult situations of how much do you intervene?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Do you let her do it herself, and...
0:05:07 > 0:05:13You always worry that you don't do enough and something bad happens and you're blaming yourself.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20But a minute later, somehow Imogen found the strength to sit up...
0:05:27 > 0:05:30And, finally, to try to stand.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Slowly, over the months that followed, Imogen made a full recovery.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57As every Rothschild calf is so vital for keeping the species going,
0:05:57 > 0:06:04Duncan, the vet, decided that as long as there was careful monitoring, Imogen could try again.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Sure enough, she fell pregnant.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Having had one Caesarean doesn't automatically mean
0:06:10 > 0:06:17that she'll have a Caesarean every time but you can never say it's a certainty, that's the problem.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20She's looking big, actually. She's looking
0:06:20 > 0:06:24like she's gonna do something fairly soon. Her udder's developing well.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28She seems really happy in herself and it's really fingers crossed that
0:06:28 > 0:06:32everything goes smoothly. We'll just have to wait and see, really.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37With the baby due any time, and as a first-time mum,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40it's important for Imogen to be watched round the clock.
0:06:40 > 0:06:48So an infra-red CCTV camera has been erected in the giraffe house to monitor her progress day and night.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51We'll back to find out more later on.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59There are over 900 animals at the safari park.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Many animals within a species look alike
0:07:01 > 0:07:06so it's very important that the keepers know each one individually.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11For some residents that's obvious, but with others it's much more difficult.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16We're up at Pets' Corner with Head of Section, Darren Beasley
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and I gather, Darren, that you've got a bit of a challenge for the two of us.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Yeah, we know you both like a bit of fun and we think you can recognise your animals, hopefully.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26We'll we're gonna try and set you a little challenge today that we have
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- to be able to tell all our animals apart.- Yeah.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Parrots, up in the top they do lions and down here tortoises.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- Well that's easy they've got numbers on their shells!- Yeah, it's not gonna be as easy as that!
0:07:35 > 0:07:40We have different species and different sub-species in here and, in fact, they're all individual animals.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43They've all got their own pet names and they have their own characters.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48We number them for ease, but we're gonna try and show you some differences in the shell patterns
0:07:48 > 0:07:52and hopefully you guys will go away and come back and learn their names,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54and what type of tortoise they are, with a bit of luck.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I'm so going to be the winner. There's no competition in there.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- That's complete rubbish! - Who's my tutor?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03You're gonna go off with Sarah and she's pretty hot on the tortoises.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07She'll give you some good coaching, but we are gonna win because I'm gonna coach Kate, I'm afraid.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11- Yeah.- I'm gonna go and swot up.- No way will you win, Fogle. Right,
0:08:11 > 0:08:16OK, Darren, so each tortoise has an individual shell, is that right?
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Yeah, it's really just like our thumb print, really.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Lots of animals have individual markings.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The shell on the back of the tortoise has a different pattern,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29colouring, shapes, size - it's the way we identify them, actually.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33We take special photographs of them and it's a good way of keeping security of who's who.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36So there's an awful lot of tortoises in here.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Am I gonna have to learn, I can't even count them...
0:08:38 > 0:08:41No, I think some of the keepers have been here many years and they still
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- can't do it, which is why we put Tippex numbers on the shell.- Right.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46That helps them to tell them apart.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Some of them are very similar.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51It doesn't affect... Is it a bit like wearing nail varnish?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54It doesn't stop them breathing out of the shell or anything like that?
0:08:54 > 0:08:56No, I mean, you sort of hit the nail on the head there.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It is living tissue, that shell.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02What we do is put the Tippex there and it does block a few holes.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05This has got thousands and thousands of little holes in,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08which is for their heat regulation, they soak up the sun.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13On this one, there's some very faint lines down here. Can you see these?
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Oh yes, almost like rings on a tree.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Totally, and that's really what they are but they don't get a ring
0:09:18 > 0:09:21every single year, it depends on the food availability, the temperature,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26whether they've hibernated, so it's not an accurate way of ageing a tortoise by any means, but for
0:09:26 > 0:09:28every season or growth spurt
0:09:28 > 0:09:32they usually get another layer of growth around that shell.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Will size be an indication of how old a tortoise is?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Not really. We say the females are generally bigger than the boys.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- Right. - But, in fact, age isn't the thing.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45You've got two fairly old tortoises next to each other there.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46- Look at the size difference. - Totally different.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Size isn't an issue really.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51So it will grow with its shell, it won't shed
0:09:51 > 0:09:56the shell like a hermit crab or something like that, it won't move in or grow another bigger shell.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Exactly that. When they're in the egg, when we hatch them out, they're folded in half.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03They hatch out, that shell straightens, goes tough and hard
0:10:03 > 0:10:05and just grows throughout their whole life.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11There's a lot to learn, and luckily for Kate, there's plenty of time for swotting
0:10:11 > 0:10:16because in tiger territory, all hell's about to break loose.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25For almost 20 years, three Bengal tigers have lived here together like a settled family.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28There was Shandi, the famous white tigress.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Kadu, the playful female and Sona, the male.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37But last year, old age and cancer caught up with Shandi.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Then, just two months ago, Sona passed away.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Now Kadu is the only one left.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54At 21, she's already outlived the normal lifespan of a tiger
0:10:54 > 0:11:01in captivity and keeper Bob Trollope is keen to make sure she's happy in the autumn of her days.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04She hasn't been the same since Sona died.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11Kadu was, for the first day or two, obviously I wouldn't like to use
0:11:11 > 0:11:14the word "mourning" but she was aware that she was the only one left.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17She did pine for a little bit.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Tigers are solitary animals so they do spend a lot of time on their own.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27But having had a partner for 18 years,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31you know, she missed him.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43But life never stands still.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Now two vans have just arrived in the safari park.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51They've travelled from Mulhouse Zoo in Alsace, France,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and it's taken an incredible two days to get here.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58On board are three very rare tigers.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01They've come to live at Longleat.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It's an historic moment, and a tense one.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19Just getting them unloaded into the tiger house is going to be a challenge.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21No-one knows how they'll react.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28The three tigers are young, little more than a year old.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33They're all sisters from the same litter born at the zoo in France.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44The slide is up, but there seems to be a communication problem.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47What's the French for "Go on"?
0:12:47 > 0:12:52"Vous etes arrive a la maison"!
0:12:52 > 0:12:57- Deputy Head Warden, Ian Turner, spots the obvious solution.- We could
0:12:57 > 0:13:00turn the box round.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It's just as well for the team that these are only youngsters.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Tigers are the largest kind of cat in the world.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15The males can reach three metres from their nose to the tip of their tails.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Sandari is surprisingly placid - because she's the first,
0:13:19 > 0:13:24it takes a while before she bucks up the courage to enter the tiger house.
0:13:28 > 0:13:34One down, two to go, but it's amazing how different sisters can be.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Next it's Svetli.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45A bit more spirit, this one.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15Bob's been looking after tigers for 25 years, but even he is shocked
0:14:15 > 0:14:17by these fierce youngsters.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Er, one of them's fine so far.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22One of them's in a grumpy old mood.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Luckily, Chowri, the third sister, isn't in such a bad mood.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42In terms of temperament, she seems to be somewhere between the other two...
0:14:42 > 0:14:43..or maybe not.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45While all this has been going on,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49Kadu has been in a separate pen at the other end of the house.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Tigers are territorial animals,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55and could fight to the death to protect their own space.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00As soon as he gets a moment, Bob checks to see how Kadu is taking things.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03She doesn't seem that bothered about it.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08She's quite happy, she just thinks she's got noisy neighbours.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12She's purring away as normal in there.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17She's just thinking that something's a bit strange, a bit noisy next door.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I think they'll be a bit too boisterous for mixing, that's for sure.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Safari park vet Duncan has also come to check on the new arrivals.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35I think they look absolutely superb, they're beautiful animals and they're a little bit feisty.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38They're certainly not what we're used to in our other tigers.
0:15:38 > 0:15:44I think the best thing we can do, I mean, they've had a lot of stress travelling today,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47if we can leave them alone. The sooner we do that, the better,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- because they are pretty wound up, I think.- The three sisters
0:15:51 > 0:15:54are going to keep Duncan busy for the next few months.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00As they've come from France, the tigers will now have to do six months' quarantine.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09But how will these ferocious young tigresses adapt with being cooped up
0:16:09 > 0:16:13and how will the keepers cope with them?
0:16:20 > 0:16:24There's nearly 40 tortoises in Pets' Corner and to care for them properly
0:16:24 > 0:16:27the keepers need to be able to tell them apart.
0:16:27 > 0:16:33Today we've been challenged to do the same and Ben thinks he's got it all under control.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Kate, this is how you learn tortoise recognition.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Sarah, teach me everything you know. Who have we got here, first of all?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Here we've got Ronay.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44- OK.- We've got Winky,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46the one with the wheel. Big Ted.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50- Yeah.- This is Amos and that's Lady.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Now were you doing that just by the numbers
0:16:53 > 0:16:56or are there characteristics that you're looking for?
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- I was doing that by the numbers. - Were you?
0:16:59 > 0:17:04I know that I'm not allowed to do that. What sort of things should I look out for?
0:17:04 > 0:17:10- I think we know him because he's got the wheel because I know he lost a leg, didn't he?- Yes.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12OK, who was this again?
0:17:12 > 0:17:17This is Ronay, this is quite a good one actually for you to learn the difference.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22- If you look closely at the centre of her shell, each of these sections are called scoots.- OK.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25They don't actually line up like a lot.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28No, they've got little bits that go up the sides.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29It's a really odd shaped shell that she's got.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- OK.- That's quite a good one for you to pick out.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34I've noticed that these two shells are very different.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Does that mean that they're different types of tortoises?
0:17:37 > 0:17:40- Yes, these three here are Herman's tortoises.- OK.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Basically, their shell tends to be more gold in colour
0:17:44 > 0:17:49and they've got more of a distinctive difference between the black and the gold colours and their shell tends
0:17:49 > 0:17:52to be a little bit more wider and shorter to the ground.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Whereas, these two are spur-thighed tortoises.
0:17:54 > 0:18:00So, basically, they're got more of a domed shell and they tend to be a bit darker in colour.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03While we're talking about the shells, can they feel that?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06They can, yeah, they do have feeling in their shell.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10They have a blood supply through it so they can feel temperature, pressure and pain in their shell.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15This might sound like a daft question, do they have unique characteristics?
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Are there any that stand out in your mind?
0:18:17 > 0:18:21Some of them are quite feisty and they'll charge around the garden when the sun's out.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25There are a few characteristics that are different between them as well.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- So we'll go through one more time, we've got...- Amos.- Amos.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- Winky.- Yeah.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Charlie?
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Ronay. Yeah. She's the one with the irregular pattern down the middle.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- That's Lady, number three.- Lady.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- And Big Ted.- Big Ted.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44That's the biggest one of the group, that's quite an easy one to remember.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Big Ted, we've got to win this competition, honestly.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Kate, you don't stand a chance.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Tortoises are Darren's pride and joy but he was over the moon
0:18:59 > 0:19:05when the first baby otters in 30 years were born in Pets' Corner.
0:19:05 > 0:19:11So imagine his reaction when a second litter was born only months later.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I'm never gonna understand it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17In all the years I've worked with animals, it's odd that we go such
0:19:17 > 0:19:20a long time without anything at all, and we really wanted baby otters
0:19:20 > 0:19:22before now, and, lo and behold,
0:19:22 > 0:19:26we got two complete beautiful litters in quick successions.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29The only thing is - what's gonna happen now?
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Are we gonna have two litters every year? We're gonna have to expand, aren't we?
0:19:33 > 0:19:37We're gonna have to have rubber walls here, but it's a wonderful position to be in and we're really happy.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41The four youngest pups are now eight months old and nearly fully grown,
0:19:41 > 0:19:47though they're still learning some basic skills, like getting to grips with their food.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49What we're feeding them at the moment is some guinea fowl eggs.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53We collect these as surplus from the draft reserve, which is great.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55We boil them up.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00They've all got very good appetites, they're all very playful and they all juggle. Oh! They all like to play.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04And Darren is hoping the family will keep on growing.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09Obviously, the plans now really are all for the future.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13We've heard of wild groups of Asian otters living in groups of up to 20,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16and so we'll try and do that. We'll increase the space of this pool.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21We've got to plan for the future and say, "Look, if mum has another two litters, at what point do we stop it?
0:20:21 > 0:20:23"What point do we stop her having babies?
0:20:23 > 0:20:27"And can we keep supplying enough food to keep these going?"
0:20:27 > 0:20:30They're eating machines.
0:20:30 > 0:20:36But otter keeper, Rob Savin is happy to oblige by spending more time feeding them.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I'll go and get them things from the lake occasionally.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43We've got some scallops for them right now which they open very, very easily.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45They'll use their skills on them, especially the adults.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48The youngsters will learn off of Mum and Dad and the older children.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Also when they're searching for their food they've got very nimble paws.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55What they'll do, if they've got any gaps in rocks, or logs, or branches,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58or anything like that they'll put their paws down and feel around.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02They can't see what they're doing. Their head is usually up here and they're feeling for their food.
0:21:02 > 0:21:09- It's great.- Now there are so many, it's getting harder for Rob to know which is which.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12These four are gonna be really, really tricky.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16I'm gonna take lots and lots of ID photos and then scroll through
0:21:16 > 0:21:20on a computer and try and find little differences in their faces.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22All of them, bar Dad, have got a pink nose.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24At least two of the little ones look like their mum.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29I was looking at them the other day and I thought, "You look just like your mum, and when you're bigger,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31"it's gonna be very difficult to tell you apart."
0:21:31 > 0:21:36They are, at the moment, just very slightly smaller, just recently been named, actually.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40We've got Cormay, Rugan, Tika,
0:21:40 > 0:21:45and somewhere over the back, we've got Malaya as well.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52Understandably, the otter family are proving a favourite in Pets' Corner,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55not just with the public, but also with the keepers.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59This really, to be honest, is one of the many bonuses, you know.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03My hobby is my job and I've said that before and I'll say it again, it's great fun coming here.
0:22:03 > 0:22:10This is what we do. You have so many sad things working with animals that happen sometimes, these are what keep
0:22:10 > 0:22:12you going for the next day and the next day and the next day.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17My way of thinking, seeing this happy family group of otters, this really is well worth...
0:22:17 > 0:22:21it's worth getting out of bed and coming to work every morning just to see this.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27Time for Darren to tear himself away from his beloved otters.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31He's been called on to judge the tortoise showdown
0:22:31 > 0:22:34and see whether we can tell them apart.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Well, we're here at Pets' Corner. It's very tense.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43We're here with head of section, Darren Beasley and keeper, Sarah,
0:22:43 > 0:22:49and we've been swotting up furiously to see if we can identify one tortoise from another.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50It's the moment of truth, Darren.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- Okey dokey.- Do you want to start?
0:22:52 > 0:22:55We will start. One's coming straight across here.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Now remember we had the numbers on, so I'm hiding the numbers.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01OK. This is a big one, it's got quite a domey shell,
0:23:01 > 0:23:05- so I would say it's a spur-thigh.- That's good.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Quite high ridges on this shell with a dent here,
0:23:09 > 0:23:11so I would say this is Tom.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Not gonna give you the answer yet.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15OK.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18My turn. Are you gonna pick one out for me?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24OK. Let's have a look.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28A bit smaller than the rest.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Come on, Fogle!
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I remember, this is where the shell doesn't meet up
0:23:35 > 0:23:40and it's got a little bit of shell that goes inbetween which means this is Romey...
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Are you allowed to tell me now?
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- I don't know, am I?- No.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47OK, well, you keep tabs. OK?
0:23:47 > 0:23:53- Your turn.- OK. Right, they're both pretty much the same size,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56but Sandra was the one with the brighter shell,
0:23:56 > 0:24:01and Dawn was the one with the very pronounced rings on the shell.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05So I think that's Sandra and that's Dawn.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- Beat that, Fogle! - OK, Sarah, give me another one.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- OK. - I can't believe you got that one!
0:24:12 > 0:24:14It's the one with the wheel.
0:24:14 > 0:24:20I don't have to be as scientific as you, Kate. With a wheel, er, Wonky?
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Winky? Er, Wheelie?
0:24:24 > 0:24:25Erm...
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Don't look at me! I'm not gonna win your competition for you.
0:24:29 > 0:24:37- Wheelie.- Another big one but with a very different shell shape, slightly tips up at the back here.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38It's also a very different colour.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41This isn't a spur-thigh tortoise.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- It's a Herman's tortoise.- Brilliant.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46And this is Topsy.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49I wonder who was teacher's pet at school? OK, Sarah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Come on, next one.
0:24:51 > 0:24:57OK... Now, this shell is not as dark as the other one...
0:24:57 > 0:25:00and it looks like a Lady. Lady.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- I'm gonna go for Lady.- OK.
0:25:03 > 0:25:04OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08- Well, I've only got one left, Darren.- Last one.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14This one has got to be George and the reason that I say that is that George was the one with this classic
0:25:14 > 0:25:21kind of starburst or paint-drop on the top of the shell, but it's much smoother than Tom's shell.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23So, I think this one is George.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27OOH! OK, Sarah, there are two more to go, I think. Right.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30- They're quite similar, these.- Yeah.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Can I just do a quick comparison?
0:25:33 > 0:25:37I think this is Amos and this here...
0:25:37 > 0:25:40is Big Ted.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Please, please...
0:25:45 > 0:25:48- Doesn't he look like a Big Ted to you?- He does. Definitely.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52He's probably called Winky, though, or Wheelie or Wonky.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55OK. So, Sarah, how did Ben do?
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Very well.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01A couple nearly got right, but, more or less, five out of five.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03More or less five out of five, what does that mean?!
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- He got there in the end. - I got there in the end.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07Beat that, Humble.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Well, five tortoises, tricky job...
0:26:10 > 0:26:12outstanding, top of the class.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Gold star, names exactly right, pronounced right.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20The winner and the champion of the tortoise identification test is our Kate. Well done.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Favouritism.- Thank you, Darren.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Thank you both very much, indeed.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29We will never ever fail to identify these tortoises ever again.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Will we, guys? Especially you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Which one's this one again?
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I'm racing up to the giraffery after an urgent call from Andy
0:26:42 > 0:26:45with some dramatic news about Imogen.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Last time she tried to give birth, she nearly died.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53With her new baby due any day now, everyone's been desperately worried.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56The entire park is on tenterhooks.
0:26:56 > 0:27:01The keepers have been up all night and I'm really anxious to know what's happened.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Hopefully good news, Andy...?
0:27:09 > 0:27:14- What's happened?- We've got a baby giraffe, Imogen's actually done it.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Oh, that's fantastic!
0:27:24 > 0:27:27I know you don't really want us to go in at this stage.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32Yep, we always err on the side of caution and let Mum and baby bond, especially in this situation.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36She's a first-time mum. Let her get on with it and bond with the baby
0:27:36 > 0:27:40but she's doing brilliantly. It's just total textbook.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43That's such good news, and the camera, did it get anything?
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- Yes, it did. We can actually see the birth.- Can I have a look?
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Yes, sure. Just turn the TV on.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Turn the TV on. OK, let's see.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55This is truly a special moment,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59as it's the first time the keepers have filmed a giraffe giving birth alone.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05There she is. No sign of baby yet, but clearly looking quite restless.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10Yeah, you can see her going around in circles and agitated. She's quite a calm female anyway.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Women, when they're about to give birth, do feel quite restless, quite uncomfortable.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Presumably, it's sort of alleviating that discomfort?
0:28:19 > 0:28:21They don't give a huge amount away.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26- Right.- Because instinctively if they're flailing round and looking
0:28:26 > 0:28:31- like they're distressed, every predator within the vicinity is gonna go like, "Oh, cool."- Absolutely.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34- They've got to hide it. - They've got to hide it.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39A couple of hours later and things are really starting to happen.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45So is this sort of like, again, the human equivalent of waters breaking?
0:28:45 > 0:28:51- Absolutely, yeah.- This is it. And sure enough, just minutes later, the baby is on its way.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53There's a leg. There you go. You can just see a leg come there.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56- Look at that. That's amazing. - Here's the calf, look.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58You've got two front legs now.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00- Look at that!- There's the head. - Oh, my goodness.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05It does seem extraordinary that giraffes give birth standing up.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07It's a big drop for a baby.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09- It's a kind of a smack on the bum. - It is.
0:29:09 > 0:29:15If the bag hits, if the bag is still around the nose it will break the bag and also as the calf hits the ground
0:29:15 > 0:29:17we have heard them, "Huh!" as they hit the ground.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19So it's like a human baby where they'll slap them on the back.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- Absolutely. There you go. - There it goes.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Oh, my goodness, that's fantastic.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- Wow.- Let's see Imogen's reaction to the calf.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31This is a crucial time, presumably.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34This is the time where you're really nervous because will this
0:29:34 > 0:29:37very first reaction tell you whether Imogen's gonna be a good mum or not?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Yeah, I mean, you want her to get in there pretty quick.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43She didn't freak out. She kind of knows what to do.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46- It looks like she's licking it. - This is all important, Kate.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51- All this stimulation, the licking, the cleaning of the calf, the bonding...- Is he just...
0:29:51 > 0:29:54is he...
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- There he is.- There he is. - The first kind of wobbly steps.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Oh! Look at him.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01She's just standing there so calmly, so cool.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05Not fretting, not jumping around. He's trying to feed now, actually.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09He is. And, again, that first suckle - absolutely crucial?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Absolutely, yeah. Sometimes you'll get a problem with young females.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14She's actually trying to pull him in underneath her.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18She knows so well what to do and this is the amazing thing,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22it's an instinctive thing she learnt by watching the others, what she has to do and she positions herself...
0:30:22 > 0:30:24- Look at her. - ..over him so he can feed.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26This is absolutely incredible.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- It's lovely.- It's so nice.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31It's so nice to see, it really is.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33This is kind of what it's all about.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36It really is, and Imogen of all of them.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40That is amazing, Andy, congratulations.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44Really, really good news and I hope they continue to do really well.
0:30:44 > 0:30:49I can't wait to see them. We will, of course, be keeping you updated with this little ones progress.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51You've got to think of a name, of course.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- And it's H this year as well. - It's an H year. OK.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55Not Humble!
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- LAUGHTER - Thanks, Andy, really good news.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08I'm out in the new area with deputy head of section, Kevin Nibbs.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13This extraordinary sight of your three rhino just sunbathing...
0:31:13 > 0:31:18Exactly, we've crept up on them really quickly but they haven't moved an inch, really.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22I have to say in all my time here I don't think I've ever seen them quite so laid back.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25- Is that the heat?- Partly, yes. They do like to sunbathe.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27When it gets really hot they'll just lay down and chill out.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30They've found a nice spot without much grass there, so
0:31:30 > 0:31:33that means the insects won't jump out and get them too much.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36I think they've found a nice spot there to lie down and have a sleep.
0:31:36 > 0:31:41Does this mimic what they might do out in the wild in Africa when it gets very hot?
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Exactly, yeah, they're more active in the morning and late afternoon and in
0:31:44 > 0:31:47the heat of the day they'll just lie down.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Sometimes under the trees, sometimes just here just to chill out and have a bit of a snooze.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54They seem incredibly docile allowing us to get this close
0:31:54 > 0:31:57to them but these are potentially very dangerous animals, aren't they?
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Exactly. They've been with us for about three years now.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02When they came they were very, very boisterous.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04They've calmed down a lot in that time.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07They're happy with each other's company and they don't mind cars.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09They've seen the cars and they've seen us every day. Again,
0:32:09 > 0:32:11they're very happy just being here, chilling out.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14So they're well at home in the West country?
0:32:14 > 0:32:16- Exactly, yeah. - Kevin, thank you very much.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Here's what's still to come on today's programme.
0:32:18 > 0:32:23Three ferocious sisters get up close and personal.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28They are so powerful and so quick, they'd kill you in seconds.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31The water buffaloes are under attack...
0:32:31 > 0:32:32Shall I go for this one, as well?
0:32:32 > 0:32:34- Do you trust my aim?- I do, yeah.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39And find out what happens when our new arrival ventures out for the first time.
0:32:42 > 0:32:48Back at the tiger house the three youngsters from France are being kept in quarantine.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Only a handful of staff were allowed to have contact with the tigers
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and once a week, Duncan the vet, comes to do a health check.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06So I have to check them every week, make sure that they're all healthy, really.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10Not showing any signs of illness, such as rabies.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16They're in rabies quarantine because they've come from a country that's got rabies. They came from France.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18They have to have a six month quarantine
0:33:18 > 0:33:21period because the incubation for rabies is quite a long time.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25It can be even longer than that. So that's the reason.
0:33:25 > 0:33:33Kadu, the elderly tiger who's lived here for nearly 20 years, has also had to go into quarantine.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38She's been kept in her own pen and not yet misxed with the youngsters,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41but Bob is pleased as to how she's coped so far.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Well, Kadu is Kadu.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46She's our little favourite.
0:33:46 > 0:33:52We had a couple of months when she was on her own while we were waiting for these to come.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Now she's got three new friends.
0:33:59 > 0:34:05Because quarantine restrictions are so strict, our crew must stay outside the tiger house.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Right... See what we're doing here.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Hello, Doo-doos.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Hello, Doos...
0:34:28 > 0:34:34This is why I've got the camera because we've got the film crew out there, who aren't allowed in.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Next door is Sandari.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40The three have kept the names they were given in France where they were born.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42What have you got there? Oh, ho, ho...
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Sandari is turning out to be a big kitten.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47There you are.
0:34:50 > 0:34:56- Further along are the two ugly sisters, Svetli and Chowri. - Hello, my darlings.
0:34:56 > 0:35:03They were very grumpy when they arrived five months ago and their characters haven't really changed.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06No, sit... Sit.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08You're fogging up the lens now.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11This is Svetli. I know.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20Back with Sandari, Bob wants to get a good, close shot of her claws.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25I want to see your claws. Softee...
0:35:25 > 0:35:29These tigers have claws like knives, four centimetres long
0:35:29 > 0:35:32so that they can rip their prey to sheds in seconds.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34May be quick.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41But Sandari is just not that kind of girl.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44HE LAUGHS
0:35:44 > 0:35:47What are you doing, silly? Eh?
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Good girl.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57What's this? Something to eat?
0:35:57 > 0:36:03Bob needs to build up a bond with all the newcomers and one way to do that is with food.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07We'll be back to see if they bite the hand that feeds them a little later on.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30I'm down at Pets' Corner with deputy head warden, Ian Turner,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33and this extraordinary bit of kit, which is what?
0:36:33 > 0:36:36It's a scratching post. It literally started off...
0:36:36 > 0:36:40we had some lion cubs up the yard which I used to look after and we got this scratching post in for them.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42- Right. - They got bigger, they went away.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46- Yeah.- So I took it home, my six cats...
0:36:46 > 0:36:48and it's been at home for 20 years.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53- Right.- I've just lost the last cat now so now we're donating it to Pets' Corner for the ferrets.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56So it's got a lot of cat smell and stuff on it, so hopefully it should be quite good for them.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00OK, do you want me to help you get it in? Is it quite heavy?
0:37:00 > 0:37:02It's not that bad but it's quite bulky.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06Right, where shall I put it, Ian? Right at the front here?
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Put it down there and then the public can get a view of them.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10I'll just move one from underneath.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14There we are, already inquisitive ferrets.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Why is it important to bring new things into the enclosure?
0:37:17 > 0:37:22- They're not exactly short of stuff. They've got lots to play with. - It's just to keep them active.
0:37:22 > 0:37:28They're a very inquisitive animal, very intelligent and they just like to play in things.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30It's all environmental enrichment for them.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33It gives them something else to do besides what they've already got in the pen.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35They've got tubes.
0:37:35 > 0:37:36They love climbing through tubes.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38This is just an added extra bit.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Different smells on it to give them a bit more to do and look at.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47So it's all about keeping brains active, body active and that means a healthier animal?
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- Correct. Absolutely right, yeah. - No-one's coming over yet.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54- Shall I see if I can get one and see what they think? - There's one just over there.- Come on.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Let's have a look and see what you think of this.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Are they climbers, ferrets?
0:38:00 > 0:38:03Yeah, they're good at climbing down drainpipes.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- This is why we've got pipes in here. - Right.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07It's all the next smells, look.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Ferrets aren't actually a wild animal, are they?
0:38:11 > 0:38:13No, they're domesticated. Aren't you?
0:38:13 > 0:38:16So their closest rival... look at that.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20So the closest wild relative of a ferret would be what?
0:38:20 > 0:38:22A bit like mink.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26But these were bred specifically for hunting, mainly...?
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Yeah, for going after rabbits.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33Do they make good pets or are they high maintenance animals to keep? Are they good animals to keep?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35- They make good pets if you look after them properly.- Right.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39You need to handle them a lot because otherwise they can be quite aggressive.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41- Yeah.- They've got a nasty bite when they want to.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43And they like lots of space, presumably?
0:38:43 > 0:38:48Lots of space, lots of things to do, lots of playing stuff to do and they like to be handled a lot.
0:38:48 > 0:38:49The more you handle them the better.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52- I say, look, they're good at climbing.- Yes, it's fantastic.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54They're incredibly agile, aren't they?
0:38:54 > 0:39:02As you say, very athletic, they love to kind of move around and get into things. These amazing lithe bodies.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06I'm just gonna pick you up, sorry, I know you are just exploring.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Look at this. They do literally bend in half, don't they?
0:39:09 > 0:39:13That's right, yeah. Any little nooks and crannies they go down,
0:39:13 > 0:39:17down your tops, your jumpers, they'll crawl into anywhere.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Are they one of the favourites at Pets' Corner, do you think?
0:39:19 > 0:39:24- Do people love them?- Definitely - love them and they can handle them. People just love to handle animals.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28They say the more you handle them the better. And they are so bendy.
0:39:28 > 0:39:34One of the things about ferrets that is a common criticism is they do have quite a strong smell.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37You can smell a ferret from quite a long way off.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38There's a definite odour to them.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42It's not as bad as wolf, I can tell you. There is a strong smell.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45- You wouldn't want them in your house, probably.- Right.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48You'd want to keep them in a pen outside and then you can bring them in to play with inside.
0:39:48 > 0:39:54It's amazing, it's almost like they're trying to dig through and uncover what's underneath, isn't it?
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Well, we've brought in this lovely new scratching post but if you have
0:39:58 > 0:40:03a look at Gary, our sound man here, he seems to be much more interesting than the scratching post.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Gary, you've been besieged!
0:40:06 > 0:40:08The scratching post isn't nearly as interesting as the crew.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11The same difference, all new smells.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13They've never smelt the crew before, they've all got different smells on
0:40:13 > 0:40:16from their wives and families and stuff - all something new to them.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20I think they're gonna be very happy ferrets with their new toy.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21Ian, thank you very much indeed.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25We're gonna leave these ferrets to explore.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39Imogen's first baby, who we witnessed being dramatically born
0:40:39 > 0:40:43on camera in the middle of the night, is doing well.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47It's a boy and he's been named Henry.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56He's spending his first few days in a small paddock next to the giraffe
0:40:56 > 0:40:59house with his mum and Jollie, the granny of the herd.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Part of the reason for having them up here to start with before they go out
0:41:13 > 0:41:17into the drivethrough is we really want to see the calf and mum bond.
0:41:17 > 0:41:23You know, be right on her heels because out in the drivethrough, there are other animals around.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27In a giraffe environment we're pretty confident no harm will come
0:41:27 > 0:41:32to the youngster, but we can't guarantee that when you have zebra that sometime hare around.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35There's ostrich, camels, llamas out there.
0:41:35 > 0:41:42So what we want to see is that calf following Mum everywhere and really seeing its mum as its protector.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Its whole world is centred around its mum.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51The calf is four days old and so far he's been doing all the right things.
0:41:51 > 0:41:57So now the time has come for him to go out and meet the gang in the East Africa reserve.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02# Baby I love you But if you want to leave Take good care
0:42:02 > 0:42:05# Hope you'll make a lot of nice friends out there
0:42:05 > 0:42:09# Just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
0:42:13 > 0:42:17# Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
0:42:19 > 0:42:23# It's a hard to get by just upon a smile
0:42:25 > 0:42:29# Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
0:42:29 > 0:42:36# I'll always remember you Like a child, girl... #
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Because there are so many potential dangers on his first day out,
0:42:40 > 0:42:45keeper Carinne Hill is keeping an extra special eye on him.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47It's just lovely to see him out and about with Mum.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51All the other giraffes are taking an interest in him.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Giving him a bit of attention and stuff, it's absolutely lovely.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59After her Caesaerian and things we weren't sure how things would go,
0:42:59 > 0:43:05but absolutely lovely to know she can carry full-term, have a normal, healthy little calf,
0:43:05 > 0:43:10and that she's showing really good maternal responses as well,
0:43:10 > 0:43:12because it's her first time.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Really, really good. Really, really thrilled.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18She's a really cool mum, actually,
0:43:18 > 0:43:20but then she's seen a lot, she's an older mum.
0:43:20 > 0:43:26She's starting quite late breeding, so she's seen a lot of babies born.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29She knows the score.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31It's another Rothschild giraffe.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34There's 300 left.
0:43:34 > 0:43:40They're very endangered. He's a pure Rothschild giraffe. He's a male.
0:43:40 > 0:43:45He's gonna be a breeding male in the future. He's important, you know.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48This was why the risk was taken with Imogen to breed her
0:43:48 > 0:43:53because every animal we get out of this particular group, this herd,
0:43:53 > 0:43:55are important to Rothschild in general.
0:44:10 > 0:44:14I'm still out on patrol with deputy head of section, Kevin Nibbs,
0:44:14 > 0:44:20and I'm about to help out with an important mission with the water buffalo.
0:44:20 > 0:44:24- Kevin, what's the plan?- This time of year when the summer's just starting,
0:44:24 > 0:44:29we get a lot of flies around here and the poor buffalo get them around their eyes and we also get a lot
0:44:29 > 0:44:32of horseflies as well and when they bite they leave a big mark on them.
0:44:32 > 0:44:35It's more protection for the buffalo than anything, really.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38So what we're gonna do is try and help them out with a little bit of insecticide.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41OK, is it just the three you've got here?
0:44:41 > 0:44:44That's right, we've got one male and two females...
0:44:44 > 0:44:48In fact we've got a monkey on the back, we've got a couple of monkeys on the back of one of them.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50- Is that normal? - It's very normal for us, yeah.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52They get along very well.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56So they're basking in the sun, presumably in a good place to do this?
0:44:56 > 0:44:58- That's right.- How do we do this?
0:44:58 > 0:45:00What we need to do first is try and get them over here.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02- We've got a little bit of their feed here.- Right.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05So we'll split this into three bowls.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07- We'll split this fairly between the three?- Yeah.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11Bearing in mind that we're in monkey jungle, are we gonna be pestered by lots and lots of monkeys?
0:45:11 > 0:45:16Hopefully not, they tend not to like this truck so whilst we're on here we're pretty safe.
0:45:16 > 0:45:21- So here we have.- If we can just drop this over the side of the truck and we'll get our first volunteer.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24OK. So just one, we're gonna drop one at a time, are we?
0:45:24 > 0:45:27I reckon, yeah, see who comes down. They may all come down.
0:45:27 > 0:45:31Then one comes over and you've got a special liquid here like an insecticide?
0:45:31 > 0:45:36- That's right. This is just a simple insecticide that most farm animals would have during the summer.- Yep.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40We need to suck a little bit out. If you could hold that for me.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44Of course. Presumably we're wearing gloves because you don't really want to get this all over ourselves.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45That's right. It is purely for animals.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48It's not really good for us.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50Is it just normal flies that they're pestered by?
0:45:50 > 0:45:54I can see quite a few on its back there just between the horns.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57Normal flies round their eyes, that does annoy them.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01Sometimes we get horseflies round here quite a lot and they actually bite quite hard.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03- Horsefly bites are not nice. - They're not nice at all.
0:46:03 > 0:46:07So we get it onto their skin across their back, like that, in a nice, big, long line.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09- That was it.- That's it. She's done.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13OK. The others didn't like the look of that, they've kind of moved off.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15We may struggle a bit next time.
0:46:15 > 0:46:20Now, obviously, in the wild there isn't a nice friendly keeper to do this to water buffalo.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24- What would happen there? - What they normally do is stay down
0:46:24 > 0:46:27in the cool of the water and hide in the water a lot.
0:46:27 > 0:46:32- Shall I put this down here? - Just anywhere down there. Hopefully he'll come over.
0:46:32 > 0:46:36- This is Herman, our male, by the way. - Can I try this?- Yes!
0:46:36 > 0:46:38Just try and get a nice line down his back if possible.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41So just going back, if in the wild they'd find some water to lie in?
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Exactly, yes. They'd roll in the mud quite a lot and be covered in mud.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47We don't have quite as much mud here as they would in the wild.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50He's very tentative, isn't he, not sure about coming over?
0:46:50 > 0:46:52I think he knows what's gonna happen.
0:46:52 > 0:46:53I'll hide this down a little bit.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58Really skittish today! Is that because they wind each other up a little bit?
0:46:58 > 0:47:01- They do, yeah. They do. She's probably told them what's going on there.- So who is this?
0:47:01 > 0:47:05- This one's called Brenda, she's our oldest female.- Oldest being, how old?
0:47:05 > 0:47:10- Nearly 15 or 16 years old, so she's a fairly good age for a buffalo. - How long would they live for, then?
0:47:10 > 0:47:14Probably 20-25 years, so it's not a bad life for them here.
0:47:14 > 0:47:20I'm intrigued - what's the plan now? We've two water buffalo that don't want to come anywhere near this,
0:47:20 > 0:47:23and we've got the already vaccinated one gobbling up all their food.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26- Do you have to think on your feet here?- Just patience, I think.
0:47:26 > 0:47:27We might have to move off in a sec.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33- Here's some coming back. - This is Herman.- Yeah.
0:47:33 > 0:47:37I'm surprised that it was the female that came in first and that the male, perhaps, wasn't a bit more
0:47:37 > 0:47:41- dominant and went straight to the food.- That's right, this is slightly different for them.
0:47:41 > 0:47:45Normally we feed them in the morning but this afternoon it's a little bit
0:47:45 > 0:47:48different for them, so they're not quite used to it.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52I mean, looking at their tails now swatting away, that's obviously going for all the flies.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55That's right. They do get bothered by them quite a lot all over their back.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57They're very sensitive so they can feel a lot of flies on them.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00- Tell me when to go.- You can probably get him now, I reckon.- Do you think?
0:48:00 > 0:48:05- Yeah. That's brilliant. - Is that enough on it?
0:48:05 > 0:48:07That's plenty, yeah.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09We've just got one more to go.
0:48:09 > 0:48:10Do you want to fill up?
0:48:10 > 0:48:12Are we gonna drive forward for this one?
0:48:12 > 0:48:14I think we might have to, yeah, she's quite a shy one.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16OK. What am I filling this up to?
0:48:16 > 0:48:18Up to about 10mls, Ben.
0:48:18 > 0:48:1910mls, OK.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22There we go.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25So we're loaded and ready. Put that on the floor.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28So shall I go for this one as well, do you trust my aim?
0:48:28 > 0:48:31- I do, yeah, that should be fine. - Who is this third one, then?
0:48:31 > 0:48:34- This one's called Anja. - Anja really isn't sure about it.
0:48:34 > 0:48:38She's the youngest female, but she is very shy of us as well.
0:48:38 > 0:48:43This could be a patience thing or we may be able to get her tomorrow if it doesn't come to it today.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Is that what being a keeper is all about, thinking on your feet and if it doesn't work first time...
0:48:47 > 0:48:52Then we come up with a plan and change it when it doesn't work, which is quite often at the moment.
0:48:52 > 0:48:59Well, Kevin, thank you very much for helping me out and as we've said we shall return another day.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Back in Tiger Territory, the three young new arrivals
0:49:06 > 0:49:12are still in quarantine, but have been let out to stretch their legs in a specially constructed paddock.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17It looks like the girls are loving it.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24# We move like caged tigers
0:49:24 > 0:49:27# Oh, we couldn't get closer than this
0:49:27 > 0:49:30# The way we walk, the way we talk
0:49:30 > 0:49:33# The way we stalk, the way we kiss
0:49:33 > 0:49:36# We slip through the streets while everyone sleeps
0:49:36 > 0:49:38# Getting bigger and sleeker and wider and brighter
0:49:38 > 0:49:41# We bite and scratch and scream all night
0:49:41 > 0:49:43# Let's go and throw All the songs we know...
0:49:43 > 0:49:46# The Love Cats! #
0:49:49 > 0:49:52The tigers come into the house at night
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and that gives Bob an opportunity to try to build up their trust.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59He has to teach them to take chunks of meat from a stick
0:49:59 > 0:50:05so if they ever need medication, it can be easily given in their food.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Good girl.
0:50:07 > 0:50:13It's no surprise that Sandari, the nice sister, has got the hang of it already.
0:50:13 > 0:50:18But now for the two grumpy sisters, Svetli and Chowri.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21Good girl.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24Good girl. That's another achievement.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27A few weeks ago
0:50:27 > 0:50:30they wouldn't come up to us, but now...
0:50:30 > 0:50:32you keep on breathing on that, do you?
0:50:32 > 0:50:37Now, I've found they will all come up and take meat off the stick.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41This is also a good way to give them a dental check-up.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44The teeth are in perfect condition.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47But what about the elderly tiger, Kadu?
0:50:47 > 0:50:49The last survivor of the old gang.
0:50:49 > 0:50:54She's still here in the house, and her teeth are not so good.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56Most of her teeth were left in cars
0:50:56 > 0:51:01that she's bitten over the years, I think. So, we're gonna see her.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03There are so many comparisons.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06You look at Kadu's eyes,
0:51:06 > 0:51:08they're going a bit misty now.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12Everything about the new tigers,
0:51:12 > 0:51:16it's just like a younger version of Kadu.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19It's nice to be able to compare different age spectrums
0:51:19 > 0:51:24from most probably one of the oldest tigers in the country
0:51:24 > 0:51:27to some of the youngest ones.
0:51:29 > 0:51:34Whether any of the three youngsters ever become part of the family remains to be seen,
0:51:34 > 0:51:38but Bob's unlikely to be inviting them round to tea in the near future.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46They'd kill you in seconds. They would, honestly.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50They are so powerful and quick, that's one thing that...
0:51:50 > 0:51:56I suppose to a certain extent, we've been complacent with the old tigers.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00They are slow,
0:52:00 > 0:52:03but these, you can walk along the corridor,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06and the nastier ones will just fly at you.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18You get a bit of a shock, because it puts you back into perspective that they are wild animals.
0:52:18 > 0:52:23Their main aim is to get you. You're a food source to them, aren't you?!
0:52:25 > 0:52:30Although the new tigers are exciting, they clearly haven't replaced Kadu in Bob's heart.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33Hello, darling.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36She's still my favourite, no matter how nice these ones are.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47There are lots of new animals at the park,
0:52:47 > 0:52:51but I've come inside to discover some that have been hiding away in the libary for generations.
0:52:51 > 0:52:57Longleat House is over 400 years old and crammed with thousands
0:52:57 > 0:53:00of treasures, many of them behind the scenes where I am now.
0:53:00 > 0:53:07Included in that collection are 40,000 books, many of them still to be catalogued and that job
0:53:07 > 0:53:11falls to assistant librarian Dr Rosemary Foreman. Morning.
0:53:11 > 0:53:16- Good morning.- How are you?- Very well, thank you.- That is a lot of books you've got to go through.
0:53:16 > 0:53:21Yes, I've been working here for 2½ years already and I think I've got about another 15 years to go.
0:53:21 > 0:53:26- So tell me a little bit about this one.- It's by a Swiss zoologist
0:53:26 > 0:53:32called Conrad Gesner, and it's regarded as the most important book on zoology from its period.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35He tried to bring together a compendium of everything that
0:53:35 > 0:53:39was known about all the animals at that point.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Here, for example, we've got...
0:53:41 > 0:53:47Some extraordinary things, I can tell that up there must be a giraffe of sorts.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49It's a sort of giraffe, but look at the size of it.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51It's huge.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54And it's called a camelopard because they thought a giraffe,
0:53:54 > 0:53:59which they'd never seen, was a cross between a camel, long neck, and leopard, spots.
0:53:59 > 0:54:04Today there's no confusion about what giraffes like Imogen look like.
0:54:04 > 0:54:08Safari parks mean we can learn about animals from all over the world,
0:54:08 > 0:54:13but 400 years ago, it was a very different matter.
0:54:13 > 0:54:18Wow, look at that. He kind of looks like the lion from the Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, doesn't he?
0:54:18 > 0:54:21- Yeah.- So this would have been the very first time
0:54:21 > 0:54:24that any of these creatures were actually documented in print?
0:54:24 > 0:54:27It's the first accurate documentation of them, or as far as they knew.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30What I think is really interesting
0:54:30 > 0:54:34is this book also contains mythological animals like dragons.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36- Can I show you a dragon? - Yes, please do.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39- This is it? - Yeah. It's lovely, isn't it?
0:54:39 > 0:54:45- Incredible.- It's clear that the boundaries between exotic animals, which most people have never seen,
0:54:45 > 0:54:48and mythological animals, like a dragon, were very blurred.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52People believed in dragons just as much as they believed in giraffes.
0:54:52 > 0:54:57There's plenty of exotic animals around the safari park but Dr Rosemary Foreman's
0:54:57 > 0:55:01picked out the best from the library to put them out on show.
0:55:05 > 0:55:09Look at all these different creatures. How did you decide what to put in here?
0:55:09 > 0:55:13I looked for pictures of animals that you can see in a safari park today.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16My eyes are draw to this over here.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19- I'm assuming that's supposed to be a hippopotamus? - That is a hippopotamus.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23A very scary hippopotamus according to that illustration.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25That dates from 1682.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28And how would they have come up with a drawing like that?
0:55:28 > 0:55:31It looks like a cross between a dragon and a hippopotamus.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33They'd clearly never seen a hippopotamus.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36In fact, one wasn't seen in modern Europe until 1850.
0:55:36 > 0:55:41I suppose looking at it, if you imagine the report came back it was a water dwelling beast with enormous
0:55:41 > 0:55:46teeth which they do have, hence that's how the fangs appeared on the illustration.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49- Yes.- So how long will these books be on display here?
0:55:49 > 0:55:52About three months, and then we'll change them and put some more out.
0:55:52 > 0:55:57So you get to look through even more books, come up with more stories and
0:55:57 > 0:55:59find more illustrations and the stories that go with them?
0:55:59 > 0:56:03- I hope so.- Lucky you. Rosemary, thank you very much.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20We're out in the East Africa reserve with head of section, Andy Hayton,
0:56:20 > 0:56:27and just over there, presenting her bottom, Andy, which isn't great, is Imogen, new mum, with little Henry.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30Looking like they're fitting in beautfully.
0:56:30 > 0:56:35To be honest, Imogen is the best giraffe mum I've seen up here.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37- Really.- Better than Jollie. - Really?
0:56:37 > 0:56:39She is absolutely incredible.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43I mean, he's such a miracle baby, really. That should never have happened.
0:56:43 > 0:56:48Absolutely, she went through the pregnancy and she's absolutely breezed it.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50It's great, she's a breeding female now.
0:56:50 > 0:56:55It looks like he's slotted beautifully into the rest of the herd.
0:56:55 > 0:57:01Incredibly relaxed, they look like he's just been part of the family for years.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03It's nice, giraffe really love babies.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06They're all like these maiden aunts that all coo and cluck
0:57:06 > 0:57:09over babies and you get all the young females like, "I'm looking after him.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12"I'm hanging round with him." They get all over excited when you first put the babies in.
0:57:12 > 0:57:16Imogen is just the most attentive mum, ever.
0:57:16 > 0:57:20- Aw, it's such a happy scene. - It really is and Andy, for you, another success story in your book.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24You've had such a fantastic record of breeding here, and this is another one.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27This is the best birth for us, or for me particularly,
0:57:27 > 0:57:33because Imogen's done it. She can go on and have calves now. We know she can do it.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36It's a perfectly healthy little calf and she's a breeding female.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38She's gonna do what she's designed to do.
0:57:38 > 0:57:43Well congratulations to you and everyone at the giraffery, they're a credit to you, they really are.
0:57:43 > 0:57:47Look at that, that is a fantastic scene.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50Well, sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's Animal Park
0:57:50 > 0:57:54but this is what's coming up on the next programme.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58Just moments before letting them out, the new tigers attack.
0:58:01 > 0:58:06- My Gosh!- Lord Bath takes a Titanic wrong turn. - We're going the wrong way.
0:58:06 > 0:58:10- And, Winston the rhino kicks up a stink.- What does this involve?
0:58:10 > 0:58:13This actually involves dung.
0:58:19 > 0:58:22Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:22 > 0:58:25E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk