0:00:01 > 0:00:04Celia and Jo-Jo, two of the Californian sea lions
0:00:04 > 0:00:07that live here in Half Mile Lake, are about to give birth,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09but it's been a long wait.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14Yes, sea lions are pregnant for 11 months, but these girls are due any moment.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17We'll bring you all the news from the lake on today's Animal Park.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Here you are, girls!
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Coming up on today's Animal Park:
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Last year the pregnant sea lions defended their territory against the keepers.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53But it's birthing time again, and another fight is brewing.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57They've decided now they don't want the beach, they want my bridge.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59I'm not having it. I will win.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03The tigers tear into something new.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09And the great house goes under wraps for a monumental makeover.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16SEA LIONS BELLOW
0:01:16 > 0:01:21Every morning at the beach on Half Mile Lake, the six Californian sea
0:01:21 > 0:01:23lions come for their breakfast.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27It's a great opportunity for head of lake animals, Mark Tye,
0:01:27 > 0:01:32to see them all out of the water and make sure they're all healthy.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35But in early summer, there's an extra special reason
0:01:35 > 0:01:37to keep a close eye on the girls.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41This is Celia. She's a pregnant female.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43CONSTANT BARKING
0:01:43 > 0:01:4514 years old.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50That's Nancy, and that at the back
0:01:50 > 0:01:54there is Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo is the other pregnant female.
0:01:54 > 0:02:00You can see her back end is ever so swollen, whereas Nancy, although
0:02:00 > 0:02:02she's quite fat, she is still
0:02:02 > 0:02:05tapered at the end, but Celia is enormous.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07BARKING CONTINUES
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'The beach was built a few years ago so the sea lions would have
0:02:10 > 0:02:12'a natural place to give birth.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18'But, so far, they've avoided using it.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23'Last year, Celia and Jo-Jo gave birth on the jetty Mark uses to get
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'over to Gorilla Island, which proved quite inconvenient for everyone.'
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I'm going to get bitten!
0:02:38 > 0:02:39That's just Jo being protective.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43This is her spot and she felt we were a bit close, so she saw us off.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49'So this year, he has devised a new plan.'
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Yeah, last year they gave birth on our bridge, right next to
0:02:54 > 0:02:57our pontoon, which is not very convenient for us.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Obviously we had the beach built for them and they've decided no,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03they don't want the beach, they want my bridge.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06I'm not having it, I will win.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08But to make it more comfortable for them,
0:03:08 > 0:03:13we are going to build a wooden jetty off the beach,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17just like the bridge, because they seem to prefer lying on wood.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Wood is obviously much more comfortable.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23It's probably warmer when it's cold and cooler when it's hot.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Hopefully with a wooden bridge there, they will give birth there.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32'Mark's also worried about the safety of the pups on the old bridge.'
0:03:32 > 0:03:35There's only one exit off the bridge,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and it's plop, straight into the water.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39There isn't a very easy way out.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41We have to cross the island three times a day
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and they're always in our way.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48They get upset with us, and it's not a very safe place for the pups to be.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53Over on the beach, it's a nice area where they can get up onto easily.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58It's safer for the pups and it's just a more peaceful place for them to be.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02'With Celia and Jo-Jo about to give birth any day,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'it's a race against time to build the new jetty.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11'So, Mark has called in the park's Mr Fix-It, Bill Lucas, to help out.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20'All this activity has caught the attention
0:04:20 > 0:04:23'of the lake's longest serving residents, Spot and Sonia,
0:04:23 > 0:04:24'the African hippos.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31'After all this work, the big question remains,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36'will Celia and Jo-Jo actually use the new bridge to give birth on?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38'All will be revealed in today's show.'
0:04:42 > 0:04:45'Over in tiger territory, the three lively new sisters
0:04:45 > 0:04:48'have been settling in well to their new life in the park
0:04:48 > 0:04:50'after being released a few weeks ago.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54'As one of the most dangerous cats in the world, it's essential the
0:04:54 > 0:04:59'keepers get to know each tiger and what they do and don't like.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01'That could take some time,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'so they're keen to get started today, and Kate is joining them.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I've come up to the tiger house to meet keeper Bob Trollope,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and have a little hello to Kadoo - hello, Kadoo! -
0:05:11 > 0:05:14who is in today, which is jolly nice, Bob,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- because it's miserable out there. - It is, yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19She's enjoying staying in today.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Now, you have got a bit of an experiment planned, I gather,
0:05:22 > 0:05:23for the three new tigers.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Yes, it's something we've done in the past with Kadoo, as you know.
0:05:27 > 0:05:34What we're going to be doing is padding a sack out with straw.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38I've prepared one already. That's full of catnip.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41OK, which is famously loved by domestic cats.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Domestic cats, yes.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Generally as well, younger cats, so
0:05:47 > 0:05:50having some new cats, we have something to try them on.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53To see if they react to this catnip.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Yes, hopefully they will.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- That's not catnip, is it? - No, this is lavender.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01It's very strong, especially when you break it up.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06What we'll do is fill this up, tie it up tight,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10and break this up over the outside and really smother it
0:06:10 > 0:06:12so it really stinks.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Presumably, even if it's
0:06:14 > 0:06:20not the scent that interests the new tigers, will they be interested by
0:06:20 > 0:06:23just simply having a new thing in their enclosure?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Most probably.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30It'll be nice to see if they do grab hold of it, as Kadoo used to,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32really take the smell in.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34I mean she loved it, didn't she?
0:06:34 > 0:06:38- She really, really enjoyed the catnip particularly.- She did, yeah.
0:06:38 > 0:06:45I imagine Soundari, for one, will be full of energy, full of fun.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49I mean, she is the most curious of the three at the moment, isn't she?
0:06:49 > 0:06:53She is the most curious, the most mischievous, the most troublesome!
0:06:53 > 0:06:56And you love her already, don't you!
0:06:56 > 0:06:57Right, is that enough?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Yes.- Are we going to be able to tell the difference
0:07:00 > 0:07:02between the catnip one and the lavender one?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05What I've done is, the catnip one has the green paint on it,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07and I've turned this one inside out.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Right, OK. The one with no writing is the lavender one.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13So just break it up? Let's see...
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- You can smell it already, can't you? - It's a lovely smell, isn't it?
0:07:17 > 0:07:22As soon as you sort of irritate it, just get it all over.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Kadoo is studiously ignoring us over there.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- She's seen all this before.- She has!
0:07:29 > 0:07:32The plan is that we're going to take both these sacks, the one with the
0:07:32 > 0:07:37catnip and the lavender, out into the park to see
0:07:37 > 0:07:40how the three new tigers behave when they see them for the first time.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Join us later for that.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55'The nine Bactrian camels at Longleat are a particularly
0:07:55 > 0:07:59'special herd because in the wild, they're critically endangered.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04'Originally from Mongolia, Northern China and Kazakhstan, these
0:08:04 > 0:08:08'tough animals are used to extreme desert conditions, and that often
0:08:08 > 0:08:12'means subzero temperatures. It's their long thick hair
0:08:12 > 0:08:14'which helps them survive,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18'but that's not its only use, as Ben is about to find out.'
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I'm out in the new area with keeper Adrian,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24who has a rather hairy task for me.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Adrian, what are we up to today?
0:08:26 > 0:08:28We're collecting camel fur, which
0:08:28 > 0:08:33you'll find lying about on the ground here in the new area.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35It comes off them in great big clumps.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38It not only looks untidy, but it can get caught up
0:08:38 > 0:08:41in the hooves of the smaller animals.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42- So this is an example?- Yeah.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44There's loads of it. It's unbelievable.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48- Can I get out in the absence of... - Yeah, we're fine at the moment.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54So, basically, this is what we're collecting.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57They shed all of this at a certain time of the year, in the summer?
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Yes, late spring, early summer, it starts to come off.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07It takes six to eight weeks and they look very untidy, very moth-eaten.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It comes off in great big clumps from the neck.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14Sometimes we can help those who have the attitude to let us help.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Now, you say we are collecting this for a specific reason. Who's it for?
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Yes, we've got a special request from Pet's Corner.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25It's surprisingly coarse, isn't it, feeling it?
0:09:25 > 0:09:31It's the hair on top, and you've also got the soft underfur.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34I've got this image that all your camels are totally bald!
0:09:34 > 0:09:35They are at the moment, yes.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Just a little bit left on the humps.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42How long will it take for their hair to grow back again?
0:09:42 > 0:09:47It'll start to grow back immediately, but it's a very slow process.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Probably by the winter they'll have a nice full, thick coat again.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53What sort of uses does this have?
0:09:53 > 0:09:58In the Gobi Desert, where these camels originally populate,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01the shepherds would use them as coats.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Camel hair coat.- Camel hair coats.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Do you think anyone ever uses it locally?
0:10:06 > 0:10:13We have had a local person who wanted us to sell to them, to turn it into yarn and make jumpers.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Something tells me it would be a very smelly jumper.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18It would need to be washed, I would have thought!
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Adrian, thank you very much.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Join us later in the program when we find out which lucky animal
0:10:24 > 0:10:27in Pet's Corner is going to make use of all of this.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36'Down on Half Mile Lake, there's some exciting news.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40'Celia the sea lion has given birth.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45'Mark is delighted that she has avoided having her baby anywhere
0:10:45 > 0:10:50'near Gorilla Island, but no, she hasn't used the jetty he
0:10:50 > 0:10:52'built for her specially.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Good news, Celia has given birth.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Just not in the place we expected.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00We kind of hoped it would be the beach because we put
0:11:00 > 0:11:04the new platform up there, but she has done the next best thing
0:11:04 > 0:11:08and she has come next door into the old hippo pen,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11which is actually where she's given birth before twice.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14There's a nice gentle slope into the water, so the pups are in no
0:11:14 > 0:11:17danger of getting into distress.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It's a good place to be.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'Celia is 14 and this is her sixth pup.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25'She's been a brilliant mum in the past,
0:11:25 > 0:11:30'so as soon as Mark sees the baby suckling, he knows he can relax.'
0:11:30 > 0:11:36The first few hours are really for Mum and baby to bond.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39We just leave them and let them get on with it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42There's the first suckling, which the pup has now had.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45So, we've got no worries there.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50He or she knows where to go. It's all good really.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55'Sea lions give birth on land, because their pups
0:11:55 > 0:11:58'have a better chance of survival than if they were born in the water.'
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Babies can instinctively swim from day one.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05They're just not very good at it.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Normally after about a week, they would venture towards the water.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13When they're first born, as you can see, they're very saggy.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15They look a bit unfilled.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Once they've had a week of suckling,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20they fill out and become much more muscular and stocky,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24and that's when they would probably start investigating the water
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and perhaps have a swim.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31'But, at just four days old, this adventurous pup
0:12:31 > 0:12:34'heard Celia in the water and decided to take a dip.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42'Although the pup was coping well, Celia moved quickly
0:12:42 > 0:12:46'to get it straight back onto the safety of dry land.'
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Definitely a positive side to this job
0:12:48 > 0:12:52is knowing that your animals are happy, and they're happy giving
0:12:52 > 0:12:55birth and everything is all well,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58and hopefully will be for a long time.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03'This is the 31st pup to be born at the park.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07'There's already 15 girls and 15 boys, but Mark has got a
0:13:07 > 0:13:09'feeling about the sex of this one.'
0:13:09 > 0:13:15I would like a girl, and from what I've seen so far,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I'm 90% sure it's a girl.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21But I'm not going to put my money on it just yet.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24'We'll put Mark's intuition to the test later on.'
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Well, I'm now out in the tiger enclosure with keeper Bob Trollope.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Soundari right beside us, Bob. Do you think she knows something is up?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I think she knows, yes.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Earlier, we stuffed these two sacks full of straw
0:13:44 > 0:13:47and gave them a scent, one of catnip, and the other of lavender.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Presumably this is going to be something new and strange in
0:13:52 > 0:13:58the enclosure anyway, so they will probably be quite excited by their appearance?
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Yes, I imagine they'll see this as
0:14:00 > 0:14:03a new toy, and they'll grab hold of it and play with it.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05But it's when they've got a little bit bored
0:14:05 > 0:14:09with the playing and realise there's a smell on it, hopefully
0:14:09 > 0:14:14we will get the desired response.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17But how are we going to get the sacks out into the enclosure?
0:14:17 > 0:14:22Seeing as Soundari is quite close, I'm going to stand outside my door,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25using the Land Rover as a barrier.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29As soon as I've chucked one over, I'll jump back in.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32We'll see what she does with that one, then chuck the other one out.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33Just keep an eye on her.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- I'm keeping an eye on her.- OK.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38She's definitely noticed that you are out, Bob.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Oh, there she goes, straight for it.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Having a look. Straight for a sniff there.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Look at that. Are the other two interested?
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Sort of looking.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55They're looking, but...
0:14:55 > 0:14:58She's dragging it over.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Interestingly, she turned the sack over and went for the side that we
0:15:02 > 0:15:04really rubbed with lavender.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08You can see that green grass stain on it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Shall we put the catnip one in?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12We'll see if she goes for this one.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16She looks like she's rather liking that smell.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- Yeah, OK.- OK.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Here you go, Soundari, another one!
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Let's see.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29She's looking very happy with the lavender at the moment.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31She likes that one.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34She's having a right old time with that.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36That's brilliant!
0:15:51 > 0:15:55She definitely is loving the lavender, and at this moment,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58completely rejecting the catnip.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02So, if you have a couple of tigers at home, I can thoroughly recommend
0:16:02 > 0:16:05lavender for their amusement. Bob, thank you very much indeed.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07We're going to stay and watch her a little bit longer.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22'Dating from the time of Elizabeth I,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24'Longleat House is widely acknowledged
0:16:24 > 0:16:28'as one of the most beautiful Elizabethan buildings in Britain.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32'Unfortunately, at the moment, it's covered in scaffolding.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37'At least this is no ordinary scaffolding.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42'Like everything else at Longleat, it's on a grand scale.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45'And, to the builders working on it, this job is the Rolls Royce of
0:16:45 > 0:16:48'scaffolding contracts.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52'There are over 10,000 scaffold tubes to lay, but the scaffolding
0:16:52 > 0:16:54'hasn't been put up to be climbed on.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56'They're not working on the walls at all.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00'The entire structure is just to hold up that big white canvas cover.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04'It's called a hacky roof, and it's there to keep the rain off
0:17:04 > 0:17:07'the builders, while they tackle central repairs on the lead roof.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09'For house steward Steve Blythe,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'the repairs have come not a moment too soon.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16'The roof was in a dreadful state.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Any building is only as good as its roof, really.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23If you haven't got a good roof, you can get water in.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27With valuable pieces of furniture, valuable paintings,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31lots of high value things in the house,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34we cannot afford to get water in there.
0:17:34 > 0:17:40The lead that is down at the moment, we believe, is about 80 years old.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43With changes in temperature, it needs to contract and expand.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47With the age of it, it's started oxidising, and it's not
0:17:47 > 0:17:52contracting and expanding as it should, and instead it's splitting.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56So we're getting a good few leaks in the roof.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01'They used to just patch up the leaks, but now the job is getting done properly.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05'All the old lead is to be stripped off and replaced with fine new lead,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08'over 100 tons of it.'
0:18:09 > 0:18:12BANGING
0:18:12 > 0:18:16'Putting lead down is a noisy business.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19'The project is going to take over 14 months.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'Luckily, no-one lives in the rooms just below.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30'But today is a big day.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- 'They've finished the roof at this end of the house,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36'and are ready to start at the other.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40'So, the temporary canvas hacky roof must be moved from the west side
0:18:40 > 0:18:42'to the east side.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47'Now, here's the clever bit.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48'It's on wheels.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50'This could be a tricky operation.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54'Scaffold project manager Stuart Salmon wants to get cracking.'
0:18:54 > 0:18:59Today we're moving this roof and it's quite windy, and it's quite
0:18:59 > 0:19:03a big job. We need to get it done quite quick because with the wind, it
0:19:03 > 0:19:07could get quite dangerous. We are in quite a bit of a hurry.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12- Advanced scaffolder Steven Hart concurs.- A little bit nervous, yes.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15The wind is just starting to pick up, so the sooner we can get
0:19:15 > 0:19:17this done, the better really.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21'So now, 11 guys are about to push a
0:19:21 > 0:19:26'roof the size of two tennis courts, that weighs over 13 tons, a distance
0:19:26 > 0:19:31'of 42 metres in a freshening wind on top of one of England's finest
0:19:31 > 0:19:35'stately homes. You couldn't make this up!'
0:19:35 > 0:19:40Ready? Three, two, one, go!
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Job done!
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Double thumbs! Cup of tea!
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Time for a cuppa!
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Steven Blythe is looking forward to the repairs being complete.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27'Once this is all done, I can sleep easier.'
0:20:27 > 0:20:30We get heavy rain, I don't have to go running around checking all the
0:20:30 > 0:20:35ceilings and the roof spaces to see if we've got water coming in.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38'And, of course, when the whole project is finished,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41'the scaffolding can come down.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45'Even though this is an outstanding piece of scaffolding, the house
0:20:45 > 0:20:47'does look better without it.'
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Earlier on, I collected a whole bag of this fur
0:21:03 > 0:21:05from the camels up in the new area.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Now I have come down to Pet's Corner where keeper Bev Allen is waiting
0:21:09 > 0:21:11with anticipation for the bag.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- Morning, Bev.- Morning, Ben.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- Oh, great.- Oh, brilliant!
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Now, what do you want all this for then?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Right, what we are going to do is we are going to
0:21:22 > 0:21:26put it in our degu enclosure just over here, for two reasons.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29One is hopefully, they might make little trinket mounds
0:21:29 > 0:21:31out of the camel hair.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33What is a trinket mound?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36It's what degus do to show their dominance in the group.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's basically a pile of twigs, leaves and wood chippings.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42They make a big pile and they sit on top of it, chirping away,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44to show they're the most dominant male in the group.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48- So it's almost, "Look at my mound"? - Yeah!
0:21:48 > 0:21:51And a "trinket mound" is all the things they put in it?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Yes, any object they can find. So, why don't we put
0:21:53 > 0:21:55some down and they might use it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58So literally, are we just going to sprinkle it?
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Yes, just sprinkle it around here.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Would a degu ever come across camel hair in the wild?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07No, probably not, but maybe different kinds of hair.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09But any object they find in the wild
0:22:09 > 0:22:11they would use as part of their trinket mound.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14They're originally from South America, aren't they?
0:22:14 > 0:22:18South America, in the mountains, that's why we've got the rocks here.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Round here, we have got little caves which they go into.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Usually it's this big cave here, which they do like to build...
0:22:24 > 0:22:26We've got one on top of the mound, in fact!
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- They're actually quite small, aren't they?- They are.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31They're closely related to chinchillas as well.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33You can hear them chattering away now and then,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36they know we're here. They're very vocal animals.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Judging by this one standing on top of the mountain,
0:22:39 > 0:22:40- they love it up there. - They do.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43You see them climbing around, jumping around on the logs.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45They like to be up high.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47They've got surprisingly large ears.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49They do. They've got a very good sense of hearing.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Usually they wag their tail when they know danger's coming.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55When they build this mound, are they going to go up to the top of it
0:22:55 > 0:22:59like the summit of Mount Everest, and go, "I'm the best degu!"?
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Yeah, when they do their mounds in there, they usually sit on top of
0:23:02 > 0:23:06their trinket mounds and they get very vocal about it, to say,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08"This is my mound, look at my mound".
0:23:08 > 0:23:10But there's no female to attract?
0:23:10 > 0:23:11No, but in the wild this
0:23:11 > 0:23:15is something they would do to show they're the best male for breeding.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Another male might come along and knock their mound down.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20It's interesting to see them do it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24- Important for their hierarchy as well?- It is, very important.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27They do it quite often. You never know when they're going to do it.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29You usually see a pile of woodchips,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32leaves and twigs in there, so you know they're starting to do it.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Fantastic. Are you happy with the fur I brought you?
0:23:35 > 0:23:36I am, thank you ever so much, Ben.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41Brilliant, well, thank you and fingers crossed that the degus make lots of trinket mounds.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49'There are four species of deer at the park,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52'and it's never easy getting close to them.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55'But one special creature is friendlier than most,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58'so I've gone to meet her.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03I'm out in the deer park with head of section Tim Yeo, and the very
0:24:03 > 0:24:08soppy red deer female, O28. Is that her name?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10- That's right.- You could have thought a better name for her!
0:24:10 > 0:24:13We could have done a bit better, couldn't we?
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Why is she particularly affectionate?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I think she has been hand reared, this animal.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Not here,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25but I think she has been hand reared.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Hence the complete no fear whatsoever of us.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Well, it's a huge treat to get close to a red deer.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Red deer are native to Britain, is that right?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39That's right, Kate, yes.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42I guess, most famously, Scotland.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45People think of red deer and they perhaps think of
0:24:45 > 0:24:47the highlands of Scotland.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51They're quite big animals when you get up close to them, aren't they?
0:24:51 > 0:24:53They certainly are, Kate.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58- These are our largest land mammals. - Are they?
0:24:58 > 0:25:00You are very, very pretty.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02How do they work?
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Do you tend to have females group together, males group together,
0:25:05 > 0:25:09or all of them as a family?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11No, they're very much...
0:25:11 > 0:25:17As you say, for large parts of the year, the males go off and do their
0:25:17 > 0:25:20own thing, spend time together, and the hines,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23which we call the females,
0:25:23 > 0:25:29they're also collected in herds with calves of the previous year
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and that sort of thing.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36So again, it's the breeding season that brings them all together.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38And that's when you get the famous clashes,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40the males really battling it out for supremacy.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Exactly.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45It's lovely to see her as always, Tim. Thank you very much indeed.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47We've got lots more on today's programme.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52The keepers take a shot at the cubs.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54The otters go on the rampage.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00And Ben faces a deadly foe.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03They need enough venom to overpower quite a large prey.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- Large prey being a presenter?- Yes!
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'Down in Pet's Corner, keeper Rob Savin is about
0:26:13 > 0:26:17'to conduct a very important experiment in the otter enclosure.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24'The otters are undoubtedly one of the most popular animals with the
0:26:24 > 0:26:27'public, but unfortunately, their enclosure can become
0:26:27 > 0:26:30'barren and muddy.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37'In the wild, these Asian short clawed otters live in
0:26:37 > 0:26:40'a variety of habitats, but as their favourite pastime is
0:26:40 > 0:26:44'to destroy the plants around them, here at Longleat, it's a constant
0:26:44 > 0:26:49'battle to enrich their lives and keep the enclosure looking good.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51'But now, Rob has come up with a plan.'
0:26:54 > 0:26:57We're going to get some plants for the otter enclosure.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00As you can see, it looks a little bit bare at the minute.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I have been digging out some of the old grasses we had in there,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06so we are looking for something to fill these holes,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08and experiment with a few plants.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11We want to keep it natural, we want Asian plants,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13things which suit these guys very well.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Maybe a few local ones thrown in, I'll see what I can find.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18But definitely something from southeast Asia,
0:27:18 > 0:27:23where these guys come from, and try and experiment with different types.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26'Previous attempts to spruce up the enclosure have involved collecting
0:27:26 > 0:27:29'plants locally from the estate,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34'but the otters have always found a way to vandalise them.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51'Rob's plan is taking him to a garden centre
0:27:51 > 0:27:56'to choose a selection of plants originating from their natural habitat,
0:27:56 > 0:28:00'which he is hoping will prove to be otter friendly.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03'He's shown round by owner Diana Walker.'
0:28:03 > 0:28:08It's mainly the Asian otters, so we're looking for southeast Asia,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10something that will last a little while.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13The trouble is, they're such characters that they tear it up
0:28:13 > 0:28:15and play with a lot of the plants.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20It's just an experiment, so we just want ten, possibly up to 15 plants
0:28:20 > 0:28:21of various sizes, mainly Asia.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24That's quite nice.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Attractive foliage. It's called a Nandina domestica.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32It has lovely autumn colour, but I don't suppose the otters will really
0:28:32 > 0:28:34worry about that!
0:28:34 > 0:28:38They do see colours, so colours would be interesting for them.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41But smells as well, something that smells a bit different as well.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44This is a rather lovely grass.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49I like that. It's similar to what I've been getting randomly from
0:28:49 > 0:28:51the side of the road, to be honest!
0:28:51 > 0:28:53But it is a lot prettier.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58- It's quite tough.- Yes, I like that.
0:28:58 > 0:28:59- That's good.- And then bamboos.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03I was looking at the golden bamboo actually, that's really stunning.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07This is a golden bamboo here. Here we are.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Yes, I like that.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12And that's quite big. I want a variety of sizes.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16'But Rob is not just looking for plants of Asian origin.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19'He is also hoping to throw in a few local varieties.'
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- This is quite pretty. - This is a Warminster Broom.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27- Oh, Warminster so really local?- Yes, you couldn't get better than that.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28Yes, couldn't get closer if we tried!
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Grown in Chapmanslade. It's a broom.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33That's quite colourful.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36I think the otters would probably take a lot of this off straight away,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39but at least it would be quite good for them looking at it,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42seeing the colours and smelling it.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43I think we'll take a couple of these.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47We'll load up and see how the otters like them.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49- It'll be good fun to watch.- Good.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52We'll catch up with Rob when he's back in Pet's Corner later,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56to find out just which of his plants survive the otter test,
0:29:56 > 0:29:59and which get pulled to pieces.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13'Earlier, on Half Mile Lake,
0:30:13 > 0:30:18'we discovered that Celia had given birth to a gorgeous new pup.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21'But there was still one sea lion ready to pop,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24'so Kate's keen to see if there's any news.'
0:30:24 > 0:30:27We're coming down to sea lion beach.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29I'm here with head of section Mark Tye,
0:30:29 > 0:30:34and it's the time of year where there are usually youngsters.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Are there any? Oh, look, two tiny ones!
0:30:37 > 0:30:38We've got two!
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Hippos a little bit close to us, Mark.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45You're walking very confidently, I'm staying slightly behind you.
0:30:45 > 0:30:46Are we safe?
0:30:46 > 0:30:49They'll be fine, they don't normally come over here.
0:30:49 > 0:30:50Although that is a threat!
0:30:50 > 0:30:54I was going to say, that's a classic hippo threat!
0:30:54 > 0:30:56We'll be all right, we'll be all right.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00The little ones don't seem remotely concerned. How old are they now?
0:31:00 > 0:31:03They're coming up to three and four weeks.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05OK, and who are the mums?
0:31:05 > 0:31:09- Jo-Jo and Celia. - Right, so good, experienced mums.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Fine mothers, as you can tell... they're not here!
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- Just abandoned them.- Just abandoned them and left them for food!
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- They're getting on happy as Larry. - They look great.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Presumably, in the three and four weeks that they've been alive,
0:31:21 > 0:31:23they've grown a tremendous amount?
0:31:23 > 0:31:26They've grown a lot width wise, as opposed to lengthwise.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Is that what they do, they get sort of tubby?
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Yes, you tend to find that sea lions do three stages of growing.
0:31:32 > 0:31:37They go fat and then long, and then fat and then long!
0:31:37 > 0:31:39And presumably very rich milk, is it,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42that they're feeding on exclusively at the moment?
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It is, it's incredibly rich milk, very high fat content.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50When they're born, they look really saggy.
0:31:50 > 0:31:55Literally within a week, they fill out, completely fill out.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Right, so it's like this empty sea lion sack that fills up.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Yes, absolutely.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04Clearly very happy in the water, even at this early stage.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09- Are they swimming yet?- Yes, these two are swimming all over the place.
0:32:09 > 0:32:10They're very content.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13It's nice to have two together playmates, getting into trouble.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18You can always see them going off, one will test a little bit further,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21and the other one's like, "Shall I go? Oh, perhaps not."
0:32:21 > 0:32:23You know, they will both come back.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26- The interesting one is when they find the hippos.- Yes!
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- Baby sea lions always find hippos. - What happens?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Because I mean, the hippos have been here for years,
0:32:32 > 0:32:35they've been with the sea lions for years, so even though
0:32:35 > 0:32:37it's a combination you would never find in the wild,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40hippos and Californian sea lions, these guys...
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Sonia and Spot cope with the sea lions pretty well, do they?
0:32:43 > 0:32:48Yes, they have got so used to the sea lions being around, and the sea lions
0:32:48 > 0:32:52are much quicker than them, they've given up. They don't care now.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55They're quite happy to be a mobile island around the lake.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57You don't find sea lions literally perching on the hippos?
0:32:57 > 0:32:59- Right on their backs.- No!- Yes.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02You get some cheeky youngsters who will quite often climb right
0:33:02 > 0:33:04up onto the top of their head.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06That normally ticks them off a little bit.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08So funny.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11The sea lions are always so inquisitive, so cheeky, they get away with it.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15The big question, of course, is have you found out what
0:33:15 > 0:33:17sex these two are yet?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20We have, and it's two boys.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Not great news.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Not the best. It would have been nice to have at least one female that we
0:33:25 > 0:33:29could keep, but they have a shelf life for staying here,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33because of an interbreeding problem later on.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36How long can they stay here before that becomes a problem?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39They could stay here probably three years.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42So you will be able to see them grow up,
0:33:42 > 0:33:46like the proud Dad you always are every year.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Yes. It's lovely to see them grow up here,
0:33:48 > 0:33:50and it's such a fantastic environment for them.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55It makes them very strong, very fit sea lions from a young age, we find.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58I mean, it is the school of hard knocks, almost.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01We're not in a little pool and all the rest of it.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03It's a big pool, it's got other animals in it.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06It's a whole learning experience from day one for these little guys.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Mark, always a delight to see new sea lion pups.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11You are looking great, guys.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15Very good luck, and we look forward to watching you grow up over the next few years.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16- Thanks, Mark.- Thank you.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19BARKING
0:34:26 > 0:34:27BARKING
0:34:32 > 0:34:36'Over in lion country, the keepers are about to face one of the most
0:34:36 > 0:34:39'challenging tasks of the year.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43'It's time for the annual cat flu injections,
0:34:43 > 0:34:45'not the lions' favourite experience...
0:34:45 > 0:34:47AGGRESSIVE GROWL
0:34:47 > 0:34:50'..but something that has to be done for their protection
0:34:50 > 0:34:52'against a potentially fatal virus.'
0:34:53 > 0:34:56They obviously know something is going on.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02'Brian Kent and Bob are darting Kabir first,
0:35:02 > 0:35:06'so he hopefully sets a good example to his rapidly expanding family.'
0:35:06 > 0:35:10ROARING
0:35:12 > 0:35:15'There are six cubs in Kabir's pride,
0:35:15 > 0:35:19'and the youngest four are due for their first jabs today.'
0:35:19 > 0:35:21They have had normal inoculations at eight and
0:35:21 > 0:35:2412 weeks, and this is the first time they've had a booster
0:35:24 > 0:35:27for the four little ones.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29All the others have had them before.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34So, it's a case of the others knowing what's going to happen, and the four
0:35:34 > 0:35:37little ones haven't got a clue what is going to happen,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40so there'll be a bit of stress as well.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42They don't take long to wise up.
0:35:42 > 0:35:43They feed off each other's stress.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48They see one get done, and the others will realise that something not very
0:35:48 > 0:35:50nice is going to happen them.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Which is unfortunate, but they have got to have it.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58'It's been two years since Kabir arrived to start a new pride.
0:35:58 > 0:36:03'No-one could have predicted what a stud he proved to be.
0:36:03 > 0:36:09'His two ladies, sisters Yendi and Luna, gave birth soon after,
0:36:09 > 0:36:14'and within weeks of each other, to one girl each, Jasira and Malaika.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19'But then, only seven months later, came a big surprise, when Yendi
0:36:19 > 0:36:25'produced four more cubs, two boys and two girls.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29'And, Kate was lucky enough to help with their first health check.'
0:36:31 > 0:36:34You're four weeks old, and you are the most
0:36:34 > 0:36:38beautiful thing on telly today, that's for sure!
0:36:41 > 0:36:44'Watching the pride grow up has been a joy.'
0:36:51 > 0:36:55'They've been going from strength to strength. They're into everything.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59'They climb everything.'
0:36:59 > 0:37:03They tried to climb the fence, they climb any tree that's climbable.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06They're on the go all the time.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10They have a little bit of a siesta when the sun comes up,
0:37:10 > 0:37:12and then play, play and more play.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Kabir has been very, very patient
0:37:18 > 0:37:22with all the cubs you know, Malaika, Jasira and the four new ones.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27He's not the most playful of fathers,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30but he does tolerate a lot of tail pulling, and a lot of mane pulling.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35'But there's no time for fun and games today.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39'The youngsters are now 18 months old, and in the last six months,
0:37:39 > 0:37:41'have tripled in size.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43'They still look quite cuddly,
0:37:43 > 0:37:48'but given half a chance, would love to bite the hand that feeds them.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:51They could take your hands off easily,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54and rip down to the bone without even thinking about it.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57You might be able to get away with them not killing you,
0:37:57 > 0:38:00but I wouldn't like to put it to the test.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'There are nine injections to do in total.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07'One at a time, the lions are encouraged into the pen
0:38:07 > 0:38:11'at the end, so that Bob can get a clear shot using a blowpipe.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15'It's the quietest, least stressful means to inject a lion.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21'18-month-old Malaika goes first.'
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Good girl, stay there!
0:38:27 > 0:38:30How are you? Come and say hello.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Oh, I'm not going to hurt you now.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35That was obviously an expert shot.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37Textbook.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44'Before they can go out, the dart has to be retrieved.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47'Usually it just falls out in the run at the back.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52'Malaika's followed by her mum, five year old Yendi.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57'As the dart goes into the skin, the pressure is released,
0:38:57 > 0:39:01'forcing the cat flu vaccine into the muscle.'
0:39:01 > 0:39:03It's best to get them in the rump, because
0:39:03 > 0:39:05there's a bit more muscle there.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Good girl!
0:39:08 > 0:39:10'Yendi's sister Luna is next.'
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Oh, I know. Oooh!
0:39:15 > 0:39:18'Despite the noise, so far the four youngsters hardly seem
0:39:18 > 0:39:20'to have noticed what's going on.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27'Last of the older ones is Luna's daughter, 18 month old Jasira.'
0:39:27 > 0:39:31ROARING
0:39:36 > 0:39:40'This is one of the few occasions when the four youngsters have been
0:39:40 > 0:39:43'on their own, and they seem to be wondering why.'
0:39:43 > 0:39:47What's left is that the wisest ones have gone,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49and it's all the four little ones.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52This might be a little bit more difficult because
0:39:52 > 0:39:54all the big ones have gone out.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58When you separate them, they're going to panic a little bit.
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Come on!
0:40:00 > 0:40:02'We'll be back in the lion's den
0:40:02 > 0:40:06'later to see just how much trouble the cubs can be.'
0:40:06 > 0:40:07It's not going to hurt.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18I'm about to do something I've put off for a very long time.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20I've come down to Old Joe's Mine,
0:40:20 > 0:40:24which is home to use some of Longleat's least cuddly creatures.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Head of the Pet's Corner, Darren Beasley, is, of course, very cuddly,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33but you're going to introduce me to someone who isn't.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Yes, in here we have our imperial scorpions.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40If you look closely, there's one right at the back there,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and one at the side as well.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Lots of people hate them. I love them.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49It's our mission in life to get people to love them.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52They're ambassadors for the bug world, so hopefully...
0:40:52 > 0:40:56I have to say, I've always been a little bit scared of scorpions.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59If you walk this way, you won't have to be scared.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04We have you here a rather good pair of thick gloves.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06You need to put them on for me.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07You have been volunteered.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10We normally have three scorpions on display.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14Today there's only two on display because I have another one in here.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18- Look at this beauty.- Um, beauty?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Well, she is beautiful.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Darren!
0:41:22 > 0:41:25The thing is, you see, they're misunderstood.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Yes, they've got a big stinger on the back,
0:41:27 > 0:41:28which you have to watch out for.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31She's more scared of us. You've got to think, for her, we could eat her.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34She has to try and think about defending herself.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37You mention the stinger. Just how dangerous is that?
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Obviously, depending on the species of scorpion,
0:41:40 > 0:41:43they have got to have enough venom to overpower quite large prey.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Large prey like a presenter?
0:41:45 > 0:41:46Yeah!
0:41:46 > 0:41:48We have to be a little bit careful.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50We have got the precautions. You are wearing gloves.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54You know, there is only one Ben Fogle and we don't want
0:41:54 > 0:41:59to lose him today, but of course, the stinger is the important thing.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01It's their main bit of venom.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03What they can do is repeat sting.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Not like a lot of bugs who sting and then fly away.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08This can inject several doses of venom.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11I am going to pick her up like this, so she hopefully feels nice and safe.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14I've got the gloves on you as a precaution against the pincers.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18What I'm going to do is put her on there and then, how about this...
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- Ready? - Yes. Shall I put the hand in front?
0:42:20 > 0:42:22That's it, we don't want her to drop.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25She is going to feel a little bit unsure, a little bit nervous.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27These are the pincers.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Obviously she can bite with those. We don't want her to bite you.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33No, I really don't! And that's why I am wearing the gloves.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36And hopefully now what you're doing is showing the whole world...
0:42:36 > 0:42:38this is not a pet you can pick up and pet,
0:42:38 > 0:42:42you're not going to cuddle that tonight when you're watching the TV,
0:42:42 > 0:42:43but in fact, there is nothing to fear.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47That poor animal there has got more to fear from you.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51This venom takes several hours, 14 or so hours to recharge that venom,
0:42:51 > 0:42:53but it can strike and strike.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57What would they use their pincers for?
0:42:57 > 0:43:00When they're hunting, these are restraining pincers.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02These are to grab, restrain the prey,
0:43:02 > 0:43:05so that bit can come over the top and repeat sting
0:43:05 > 0:43:07until it's completely and utterly immobilised.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10They have special grinding-up jaws to rip pieces off,
0:43:10 > 0:43:11and start eating their food.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15Just imagine I didn't have my gloves on and I got stung,
0:43:15 > 0:43:16what effect would it have on me?
0:43:16 > 0:43:19There are some scorpions out there that are absolutely deadly,
0:43:19 > 0:43:22you know, and if you're accidentally stung by a scorpion,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25your life could be in danger. This isn't one of those.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Having said that, I wouldn't want you to get stung.
0:43:28 > 0:43:29I wouldn't ever want to get stung.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32When we handle these, we take the precautions
0:43:32 > 0:43:35and I am protecting her as much as I am protecting you today.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37I think you deserve your medal today. Well done.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41Dan, thank you for not letting my fingers be pinched.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44There you go, world, scorpions aren't so bad!
0:43:58 > 0:44:01'Earlier, we accompanied keeper Rob Savin to a garden centre
0:44:01 > 0:44:04'as part of his otter experiment.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08'He wants to find out which plants are otter friendly,
0:44:08 > 0:44:09'and which they'll destroy.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12'The Asian short clawed otters' natural behaviour is to tear
0:44:12 > 0:44:17'plants apart and use the foliage for bedding in their holt,
0:44:17 > 0:44:21'even though the keepers regularly provide them with fresh straw.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24'When the Pet's Corner team have added plants in the past,
0:44:24 > 0:44:28'they've never lasted very long, but Rob's hoping the selection he
0:44:28 > 0:44:31'has chosen this time, largely consisting of plants
0:44:31 > 0:44:36'originating from their natural environment, will be different.'
0:44:36 > 0:44:41I think they're probably going to go for the bamboo first,
0:44:41 > 0:44:43because it's something they've had before,
0:44:43 > 0:44:46and it's something that would be a very natural plant,
0:44:46 > 0:44:50this is one they'd find in parts of their own environment.
0:44:50 > 0:44:54They'll try to pull it or break it off as best they can,
0:44:54 > 0:44:58drag it in, and they'll use it to compact their den,
0:44:58 > 0:45:02and make it more comfortable, because they're a family unit.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05They all chip in, they all get involved, the whole family
0:45:05 > 0:45:08will help get that nest, that den, exactly how they want it.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10Leaving a mess out here, but perfect in there.
0:45:10 > 0:45:15I think this last one I'm going to put in, the Warminster Broom, that
0:45:15 > 0:45:21probably will last the least amount of time, because it's fairly flimsy,
0:45:21 > 0:45:24and the flowers on them will probably go pretty quickly.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28But yes, I expect they'll be straight in here,
0:45:28 > 0:45:32digging around, making it dirty, generally making a nice mess.
0:45:32 > 0:45:36'With the plants in place, Rob releases the otters to let
0:45:36 > 0:45:38'the mayhem begin.'
0:46:02 > 0:46:04This is working quite well.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08A lot of interest on the sedge grasses, and the bamboos,
0:46:08 > 0:46:10which is the stuff they're used to,
0:46:10 > 0:46:12which is what I thought they would go for first.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Bamboo, I think they've realised it's very deep set in that pot.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20They're having trouble getting at it, which is quite a good thing.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21They're trying.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24They almost got the grass out, the reeds,
0:46:24 > 0:46:26they almost pulled that out.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29'But how about his local English variety?'
0:46:29 > 0:46:32Not too bothered about the Warminster Broom actually,
0:46:32 > 0:46:35but they're showing a lot of interest and curiosity.
0:46:35 > 0:46:41This one smells lovely because they're sniffing it all the time.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43It would be good if they showed a little less interest in the
0:46:43 > 0:46:48plants because we want them to stay, we want them to be visibly good.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51We've got to make this attractive for the visitors, look really nice.
0:46:51 > 0:46:56I was wrong in my assumption that this would be gone in two seconds.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59They're lasting a lot longer than normal for now.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02They've only had 15, 20 minutes, but normally,
0:47:02 > 0:47:06when this stuff is in there, it lasts a great deal less than that.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08You're talking five minutes at most.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12So, yes, triple the amount of time.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14I think it has been quite good.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16There are lots of smells there, so it's very enriching for them.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20I'm pleased for them. I'm pleased that the plants look attractive.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24For the time being, the enclosure looks green, so it's nice.
0:47:24 > 0:47:31I'm sure that in the next half a day or a day, they will make a mess.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34I know they will. Not yet, they have proved me wrong just for the moment.
0:47:36 > 0:47:37'With some of the plants still standing,
0:47:37 > 0:47:40'Rob's experiment seems to have been a success.
0:47:40 > 0:47:45'Hopefully the days of the otter enclosure being barren are numbered.'
0:47:52 > 0:47:53'Back over at the house,
0:47:53 > 0:47:57'work is continuing to restore this fine building back to its
0:47:57 > 0:48:00'original glory, and we've gone to take a closer look.'
0:48:00 > 0:48:04This isn't a film set, although it looks like one.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07We are actually on the roof of Longleat House,
0:48:07 > 0:48:10where this massive restoration project is under way.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14It's believed that this is the largest scaffolding structure
0:48:14 > 0:48:18ever erected on a residential building here in the UK.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22There's enough piping to reach the summit of Everest three times.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25And we're going to be meeting some of the people who
0:48:25 > 0:48:27are undertaking this enormous task.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29I'm off to meet one of the stonemasons.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33And if you follow me... we've got a very tall cameraman, so duck down!
0:48:33 > 0:48:35Come this way with me.
0:48:35 > 0:48:40I'm going to meet James Nott, who is working with the lead.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42Is it all right to step on here, James?
0:48:42 > 0:48:47I feel bad stepping on your work. Come down here.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51This must be one of the biggest jobs you have ever undertaken.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54Yes, it's one of the biggest jobs our company has ever undertaken.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56For a full 12 months, yeah.
0:48:56 > 0:49:01As far as the lead is concerned, it sounds like an obvious question,
0:49:01 > 0:49:03but what does it actually do? Why use lead?
0:49:03 > 0:49:06It's quite a durable material and it's long lasting.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10This will last about 100 years. It's really durable and hard wearing.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Really? And this is the waterproofing for the roof, is it?
0:49:13 > 0:49:15Yes, it is.
0:49:15 > 0:49:19Can I see how skilful your job is by having a go?
0:49:19 > 0:49:22Basically we are taking the lead over.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24So I literally just wallop it?
0:49:24 > 0:49:31- Yes, take it over very slowly just curve it over the row.- Right.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33- Try to curve it over the row.- So if I wallop it like that?
0:49:33 > 0:49:35Yes, that's it.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37It's not easy.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39You must have very big biceps!
0:49:39 > 0:49:42I'm not sure I am going to be a huge amount of help,
0:49:42 > 0:49:44but I am going to carry on bashing here.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46See how Ben is getting on.
0:49:46 > 0:49:48Like that?
0:49:48 > 0:49:52As well as the leading, there's a huge amount of stonework to be
0:49:52 > 0:49:55done here, and that falls to one of the stonemasons, Sean Clarke.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57- Hi, Sean.- Hello, Ben.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59What's your role? What are you working on now?
0:49:59 > 0:50:04Currently I'm replacing one of the hounds overlooking the courtyard.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07- Where are you working on it?- Just round the other side of the roof.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09- I'll follow you.- OK, thank you.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Presumably these are old and new?
0:50:15 > 0:50:17That's correct, yes.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20And this has been started from scratch by yourself, has it?
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Yes, one block of stone.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26One block of stone? What is it actually made from?
0:50:26 > 0:50:29This is a type of Bath stone.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31OK. How tough is this?
0:50:31 > 0:50:33Can you do this with hand tools?
0:50:33 > 0:50:34Yes, definitely. It's not that hard.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37- And you're still working on this? - Yes, I am, yes.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40Can I have a little watch of you at work?
0:50:40 > 0:50:41Yes, sure.
0:50:45 > 0:50:49How long has it taken to get from your one solid slab to this point?
0:50:49 > 0:50:50Ten days' work.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53- How many hours a day? - Nine hours a day.
0:50:53 > 0:50:58- Wow!- It needs another day, maybe a little bit longer.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02I feel cheeky even asking, but is there any chance I could try?
0:51:02 > 0:51:04Feel free, yes.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06I won't try on the leg or anything.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08- Try this side here.- Here?- Yeah.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11- What, so literally...- Hold it here.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14Hold it here, and then just whack on that?
0:51:15 > 0:51:17Do you trust me?
0:51:17 > 0:51:18Yes, sure, no worries!
0:51:20 > 0:51:22There we go.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25And literally, that's what you will do for nine hours a day,
0:51:25 > 0:51:29- just carving away until you get the shape?- Yes.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31It's quite satisfying, isn't it?
0:51:31 > 0:51:35- Yes, it's all right. Beats working for a living.- Yeah!
0:51:35 > 0:51:38I might hang up my presenters gloves! Sean, thank you very much.
0:51:38 > 0:51:40You're welcome.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50# What's new, pussycat?
0:51:50 > 0:51:54# What's new, pussycat... #
0:51:56 > 0:51:59'Back up in the lion's den, the four youngest cubs are
0:51:59 > 0:52:03'about to have a new experience.
0:52:03 > 0:52:08'Bob and Brian are going to give them their very first cat flu jabs.'
0:52:08 > 0:52:12Come here, come here.
0:52:14 > 0:52:18Good girl. Good girl!
0:52:18 > 0:52:21We got her unawares of what was happening
0:52:21 > 0:52:23and the dart went off perfectly.
0:52:23 > 0:52:24It didn't come out straight away,
0:52:24 > 0:52:27but Brian's trying to get the dart out now.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32'The most awkward part of the operation is not shooting the darts,
0:52:32 > 0:52:35'it's getting them back.'
0:52:38 > 0:52:41If she moves up and down, hopefully it'll just fall out,
0:52:41 > 0:52:45otherwise she'll start panicking because she's not out with the rest.
0:52:45 > 0:52:49I don't think it's the dart that's actually bothering her now,
0:52:49 > 0:52:54it's being split up from her brothers and sisters, and also Mum.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59She just wants to get out.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01But I do need the dart back.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04You have got to be careful as well if she knocks it too much,
0:53:04 > 0:53:09she might break it off and you could end up with the needle itself
0:53:09 > 0:53:11still stuck in her.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13'It's the first time Brian has had to do anything
0:53:13 > 0:53:15'that hurts to the young lioness.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17'Her trust in him has been bruised.'
0:53:17 > 0:53:20Obviously, doing something like this,
0:53:20 > 0:53:21they don't want to come near you.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Oh, come here!
0:53:24 > 0:53:26There you are!
0:53:28 > 0:53:31She just stood enough by the cage, I managed to grab it.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35That was all right.
0:53:35 > 0:53:39# Pussycat, pussycat, I love you
0:53:39 > 0:53:43# Yes I do. #
0:53:43 > 0:53:45This is my little favourite, this one.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47Oh-ho! You won't be a favourite for long, doing that!
0:53:52 > 0:53:54Shhh, shhh, shhh.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59Oh, you didn't even realise, did you?
0:53:59 > 0:54:01Good boy.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05All right, go on. Freedom.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07GROWLING
0:54:07 > 0:54:10'The last two are getting nervous.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14'So often, this is when things start to go wrong.'
0:54:15 > 0:54:17Come here!
0:54:19 > 0:54:21It's not going off.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34It hasn't gone off.
0:54:34 > 0:54:39Unfortunately, the dart's gone in, but it hasn't gone off.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43I don't want to dart her again in case it does go off,
0:54:43 > 0:54:46and she'd get a double dose.
0:54:46 > 0:54:47The needle is bent now.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53That's what I was worried about. As you can see, it's all bent.
0:54:53 > 0:54:57If that had been a bit longer, it would have broken off there,
0:54:57 > 0:55:01and she would have ended with a needle stuck inside her.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07That has gone off.
0:55:11 > 0:55:16Good, we got the dart back as well. We're getting good at this.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20'Finally, Kabir's family is reunited,
0:55:20 > 0:55:23'and it was worth all the effort as the cat flu vaccine
0:55:23 > 0:55:26'will keep these lions healthy for another year.'
0:55:37 > 0:55:41Kate and I are down at a very noisy Half Mile Lake, on the beach with
0:55:41 > 0:55:46the sea lions, and head of section Mark Tye, helping with the feed.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49How are the mums getting on, that's the first question?
0:55:49 > 0:55:52The mums are getting on great, really well.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56No problems, as we would expect, after giving birth.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59They're both experienced mothers, and all is well.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01And full appetites again, judging by how they're eating
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- through this fish.- Absolutely, yeah.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07We feed them a little bit more once they've given birth to pups,
0:56:07 > 0:56:11obviously to help with the lactating and milk for their offspring.
0:56:11 > 0:56:17And what about the pups, are they doing well and thriving
0:56:17 > 0:56:21in amongst this big crowd of very noisy, very big adults?
0:56:21 > 0:56:24Yes, the pups do great. We are very lucky.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27It's a tough school to grow up in,
0:56:27 > 0:56:31but it's probably as near to natural as you are going to get in captivity.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35- Absolutely.- It does make them very good, very strong pups.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38And having Buster here, a big male,
0:56:38 > 0:56:41in charge of everybody - is he a good father,
0:56:41 > 0:56:43or does he tend to keep his distance from them?
0:56:43 > 0:56:46He's a fantastic father. He is really good, first class.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48The nicest bull we've ever had.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53He's a really good dad and a really good friend to these guys.
0:56:54 > 0:56:59And what happens now? The females, presumably, aren't going to get
0:56:59 > 0:57:02pregnant too soon, they will be busy looking after these young ones?
0:57:02 > 0:57:05Absolutely not. The females could be pregnant already.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07- What, now?- Oh, my goodness!
0:57:07 > 0:57:10Literally, they're only not pregnant for two weeks.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13That's exhausting!
0:57:13 > 0:57:17Are there any signs that they are pregnant?
0:57:17 > 0:57:20CONSTANT EXCITED BARKING
0:57:20 > 0:57:22What happens next year?
0:57:22 > 0:57:26Well, as you can see from the noise of the two mothers,
0:57:26 > 0:57:28they're both now pregnant.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30There's no signs at all, you wouldn't know.
0:57:30 > 0:57:34You only really know with about a month to go.
0:57:34 > 0:57:36But the fact that Buster is doing all this barking,
0:57:36 > 0:57:40is the fact that he has mated and he wants them back in the water now.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42He wants them back in the water, OK!
0:57:42 > 0:57:46In that case, we shall leave them in peace, and we shall leave you
0:57:46 > 0:57:49from this extremely noisy sea lion beach,
0:57:49 > 0:57:53and we look forward to seeing you again on the next Animal Park.
0:57:53 > 0:57:55BARKING CONTINUES
0:57:56 > 0:57:59Coming up on the next Animal Park:
0:57:59 > 0:58:01They call them the king of the beasts,
0:58:01 > 0:58:03but just how strong are these majestic animals?
0:58:03 > 0:58:08All the keepers are on tenterhooks, as Jessie the tapir is expecting.
0:58:08 > 0:58:14And the new vet faces a major problem - he can't find his patients.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16If they decide they don't want to be seen,
0:58:16 > 0:58:19then it can be quite difficult to find them.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd