0:00:02 > 0:00:05With this thermal imaging camera we'll look the animals at Longleat
0:00:05 > 0:00:07in a way we've never done before.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Look at these amazing images. This camera will reveal things about the animals
0:00:12 > 0:00:14that we never normally see.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19So, stand by for a unique perspective of them and us on today's show.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Coming up on today's Animal Park...
0:00:43 > 0:00:47over in Tanzania, Michelle the keeper gets her first experience
0:00:47 > 0:00:49of working with an endangered hyena.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53But as her release into the wild stops going by the book,
0:00:53 > 0:00:57the pressure starts to show on a veteran of conservation.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Why isn't she waking up?
0:01:01 > 0:01:07Back at the park, could the latest technology save the life of Longleat's largest resident?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And a short back and sides is easier said than done
0:01:10 > 0:01:12when you've got a llama in the chair!
0:01:17 > 0:01:20But first, we're going to look at some hot new technology.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Or should that be cool new technology?
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Whichever it is, these images of animals
0:01:26 > 0:01:29are taken using a cutting-edge camera
0:01:29 > 0:01:31which shows areas of heat in the body.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35For the very first time, this technology, otherwise known as thermal imaging,
0:01:35 > 0:01:42has been brought to the park to give the keepers and us a unique perspective on the park.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46This is no gimmick. These cameras are being increasingly used
0:01:46 > 0:01:49by the medical and veterinary worlds to help diagnose conditions
0:01:49 > 0:01:54ranging from sprains and arthritis to even cancer.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58We'll be using this amazing camera throughout today's show
0:01:58 > 0:02:01to reveal some of the animal's best kept secrets.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05We are tucked in the shelter at the East Africa Reserve.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07It's a little bit wet, but we are not deterred
0:02:07 > 0:02:11because we are here with a man called Dave Blain,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13who is a thermal imaging specialist.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18Dave, can you tell us what this piece of kit does?
0:02:18 > 0:02:22The thermal imaging camera is the latest technology.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27It's very much used in industry now, for medical purposes, military purposes
0:02:27 > 0:02:31and of course, the local police force, fire brigade use it.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33What does it actually show?
0:02:33 > 0:02:37It picks up heat and radiation,
0:02:37 > 0:02:42and we use it very much looking at body temperature in the medical field.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45You're then looking for hot spots,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48or it can be reverted to look at cold spots.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53So, the white areas are the hottest, closely followed by the red,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55while the blue and green colours
0:02:55 > 0:02:58indicate the coldest parts of the animal.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01We're here with the head of section, Andy Hayton.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Andy, how do you think this is going to be useful for you
0:03:05 > 0:03:08looking at the animals here in the East Africa Reserve?
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Possibly rheumatism, if an animal is lame
0:03:10 > 0:03:13we can possibly look to see if there is any heat in the muscles,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17heat in joints through rheumatism, arthritis, things like that.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Andy, certainly a unique perspective for you. Looking at that,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25on this camel we have a very hot head,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28but lots of the neck looks like... just near the head
0:03:28 > 0:03:31is actually a lot colder than the rest of the body.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37It's the thickness of the fur, so the blue is the hair, the body hair.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40If we look at the giraffes, they obviously don't have
0:03:40 > 0:03:44as much covering of hair. Lots and lots of heat?
0:03:44 > 0:03:48If you look from the head and down the neck, the neck is very hot.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51There is obviously a good blood supply going up there
0:03:51 > 0:03:54and like us, you have a lot of veins in your neck close to the surface,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57so possibly that's what's giving off that heat signature there.
0:03:57 > 0:04:05What is interesting is, clearly in the places where you haven't got a great blood supply going through,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08the horns and the very horny place on the front of their head
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- are giving off hardly any heat at all.- That's solid bone.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16If we look at the big female, that's Jolly and she's on arthritic drugs.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- Look at that! - Look at the difference in the legs?
0:04:19 > 0:04:23You can clearly see her right leg is a lot hotter than the other.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27And presumably you can then use this evidence, if we can use that word,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29when the vet, Duncan, comes along next time.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32You can say we saw this, could that reaffirm what you thought
0:04:32 > 0:04:35and help you with your diagnosis and treatment?
0:04:35 > 0:04:39This gives us another tool to help look after our animals better.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43The more tools we have to make their lives more comfortable is a good thing.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Interestingly, vets are using this technique more and more,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49as indeed will we later in the programme
0:04:49 > 0:04:53when we go around the safari park with Dave and his camera.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Four Longleat keepers are on a fact-finding mission in Tanzania.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Ryan Hockley, Bev Allen and Michelle Stephens are led by head warden,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Keith Harris.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17But this is no safari.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21It's been an opportunity to work and live with Tony Fitzjohn,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25one of the all-time greats of African conservation,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28and his wife Lucy and their family.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33So far, Ryan and Keith have helped move a pack of endangered hunting dogs
0:05:33 > 0:05:36as part of a ground-breaking release programme.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Michelle tracked two tonnes of rather unpredictable black rhino
0:05:40 > 0:05:42through the bush,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46and Bev encountered her first ever wild tortoise.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48No-one will believe them back at Longleat!
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Fitz was the apprentice of this man, George Adamson,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55made famous through the book and film Born Free.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Michelle has the chance to continue Adamson's work
0:05:59 > 0:06:04by helping release a striped hyena back to the wild today.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09She was taken to the snake park just outside Arusha as an orphan,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13when she was quite small, and reared by two South Africans that owned the place.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15She was always causing trouble.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19She'd come out and chew your leg and chew your ankles.
0:06:19 > 0:06:20Chew your hand.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25Then she'd break out and eat all the little day-old chicks...
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Snake food. - For the snake food, right.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Although native to Africa, the striped hyena is increasingly rare
0:06:32 > 0:06:37due to hunting and the destruction of their natural habitat.
0:06:37 > 0:06:4118-month-old Fissi arrived at Mkomazi just four weeks ago
0:06:41 > 0:06:46so Fitz could release her into the park to breed with the other striped hyenas.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49I think putting her back in the rhino sanctuary,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52where there's a lot more striped hyena, and bags of room,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57will give us more time to find out about her.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00There's little known about these animals.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03So Fitz can monitor Fissi's movements, once she's been released,
0:07:03 > 0:07:08he's fitted her with a special collar with a radio location device.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Even though she's used to her keeper, Simon,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Fissi is still a potentially dangerous animal,
0:07:14 > 0:07:19so the collar can only be fitted when she's under sedation.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24Fitz has over 40 years' experience working with African wildlife.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29But anaesthetising wild animals is always a potentially risky procedure.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32She's never had a dart before, so I don't know how she'll react.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Maybe it would be a good thing if people stand back a bit.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44We'll aim for the hind quarters. It's the safest place to put the dart in.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Hello, big girl.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The darting may look uncomfortable, but it's the simplest way
0:07:51 > 0:07:56to alleviate any distress for Fissi when the tracking collar is fitted.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00It all went in.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03But we managed to distract her so she didn't pull the dart out.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09But within a couple of minutes,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13the sedative starts to take effect and the team can get to work.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18What do you think? Steady, Michelle.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Can I touch her?- Yes, please.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24She's really rough. Really, really rough!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Once the special tracking collar is in place, Fitz has a chance
0:08:30 > 0:08:34to make sure Fissi's in good health before she's released,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and Michelle gets the chance to help out.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40OK. Now, let's check her for ticks.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44OK, fleas... She seems amazingly free
0:08:44 > 0:08:47of all sorts of things. Teeth are all good.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49OK. Gums are good.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54At Longleat, Michelle normally looks after sea lions, hippos and gorillas,
0:08:54 > 0:09:01so by coming to Mkomazi, she's getting an invaluable opportunity to broaden her knowledge.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02This is really kind of...
0:09:02 > 0:09:06I can't really describe it. It's amazing being this close.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08I've never been this close before.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11So it's always a good opportunity, when an animal
0:09:11 > 0:09:16is under anaesthetic, just to have a good look at them,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18just to explore them.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Look at this long hair. It's amazing.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Fitz is satisfied that Fissi is in good health,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30and so it's time to give her another injection to bring her round.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Do you want to inject the antidote?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35I can do. Where to?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37In the rump.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Nice, juicy bit in the rump.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- Straight in.- Here?
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Yeah.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Thank you.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54We don't know what's going to happen, so we should all stand back a bit.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58This is always a nervous time, isn't it? It can go either way, can't it?
0:09:58 > 0:10:03It should only take a few minutes for Fissi to wake up.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07But bringing an animal out from sedation is always an anxious moment.
0:10:07 > 0:10:14However many animals you sedate, for whatever reason, you always...worry.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19Every now and then you get caught by surprise, there's a bad reaction or something.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22There are some big breaths going in.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Worryingly, there's still no sign of Fissi coming round.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30OK, why isn't she waking up, though?
0:10:32 > 0:10:36We'll find out if Fissi comes out of the anaesthetic later in the programme.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Now we know you'd never find a llama in Africa,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50but back in Longleat's East Africa reserve,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53three South American friends
0:10:53 > 0:10:57have lived happily alongside the giraffe, ostrich and zebra for years.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03Llamas Debbie, Lavinia and Foggy are hardy animals and spend most
0:11:03 > 0:11:07of their time grazing, so require little hands-on attention.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11But keeper Dan Gray has developed something of a soft spot for them
0:11:11 > 0:11:13and has noticed they could do with a grooming.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16During the summer months it gets really hot.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21They've got really, really thick coats, adapted for cold weather and stuff,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25so there's a slight risk of heat exhaustion.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28So it's nice to shear them just for their sake, really.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Really looking forward to it, actually.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It'll be nice to learn how to shear them properly.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Then we can do it every year.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Good intentions, but the reality is that Dan has never actually sheared
0:11:40 > 0:11:42a llama before.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43I have clipped dogs before,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46but obviously slightly smaller, slightly less fur.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50It's the first time they've ever had it, so we don't know
0:11:50 > 0:11:51how they're going to react.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Hopefully, they're going to be fine and just let us get on with it.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58It's possible they might struggle.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02So, since this is a first for both Dan and the llamas, he's called in
0:12:02 > 0:12:05some serious back-up - professional shearer Jamie Dickson
0:12:05 > 0:12:09has travelled halfway round the world to be here.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I actually met some of the breeders from England when I was back in Oz,
0:12:12 > 0:12:17and about three years ago they lost their previous shearer.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19And I was sitting eating my tea one night and
0:12:19 > 0:12:23got a phone call saying would you come shear in England?
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Last year, between over here and back home, I reckon I would have
0:12:26 > 0:12:29gone through about 10,000 or 11,000 alpacas and llamas,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31with a few sheep thrown in as well,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34so it's enough to keep you out of trouble.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Calm down, easy.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The most important thing is to be confident around the animal
0:12:38 > 0:12:41and let them know that you know what you're doing.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43That will keep them as calm as possible.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Well, I think what we should do, first up, try and get them in.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50We'll get some sheep nuts and we'll get them into the pen over there
0:12:50 > 0:12:54and from then on, it should be relatively calm.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Come on, llamas!
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Come on, Debbie. Good girls.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Well done.- They are by nature a very defensive animal,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and so when you do catch them, they can have a bit of a squirl,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08a bit of a spit, maybe a bit of a kick if we're lucky.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- But, generally, it's all a bit of bluff.- Very good.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Too easy. So long as we can make Dan nice and calm about the whole affair,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I'm sure he'll do fine. Okey-doke.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23But first, they've got to grab them. And the lucky llama they're after is Debbie.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Into this corner.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27Any corner's a good one.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30They'll usually stay calm if they're with a mate.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33OK, come up here with your mate.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36The llamas are not used to being restrained.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Holding them by the ears is the best way to keep them still and, while it
0:13:40 > 0:13:44causes them no pain, the llamas do like to make some noise to complain.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46LLAMA BRAYS AND GRUNTS
0:13:46 > 0:13:49OK, basically, we'll start just above the tail, here.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Put the comb in there once it's running.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55And just breeze along that side of her back line.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57OK? We'll get going while Debbie's nice and calm.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Debbie's being a bit vocal about the whole experience,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24but she's staying nice and calm.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32And that's about her done. She was very well behaved.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37Most of their herd recognition, how they know each other, is based on scent.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40After you shear them, they don't smell the same.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42They smell a bit of the shears, a bit of me.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46And so you'll see them sniffing each other, saying, "Who are you?"
0:14:46 > 0:14:48At worst, it will take them a day or two
0:14:48 > 0:14:51to kind of re-establish what the herd hierarchy used to be
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and they're happy with each other again.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56If we get her up in one of these corners,
0:14:56 > 0:14:57just like we did with Debbie...
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Next up, it's Lavinia's turn.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03She may not be as noisy as Debbie,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07but prefers to stage a more peaceful protest.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Here we go. They do feel a bit tense.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I usually just run my hand along their back line.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15That's the first place we're going to put the shears,
0:15:15 > 0:15:20so they're getting used to feeling something alien on their back.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26But after the initial resistance, Lavinia is perfectly behaved.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Push a bit harder.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32You often find that the ones that are a bit touchier when you're trying
0:15:32 > 0:15:36to handle them or trying to get them in - once you've got them held,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38they're actually the best behaved.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41It's the ones that are nice and calm and come up and
0:15:41 > 0:15:45give you a kiss in the paddock that you've gotta watch out for.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47But she's being lovely and well behaved.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- You were no trouble at all, were you?- Yeah, she was really good.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55I'm shocked at that.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Went quite well. She was the one we were
0:15:58 > 0:16:02expecting to be a bit of trouble, but she stood there good as gold.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Really surprised, actually. Thought she was going to be a complete nightmare
0:16:06 > 0:16:07and she was really good.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Fingers crossed, the last one behaves for you.- Hopefully.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15Having shown him how it's done, it's up to Dan to shear the final llama,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Foggy. But, like the others,
0:16:17 > 0:16:22she's not going to give in easily to a haircut, as we find out later on.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30Earlier in the series, deputy head warden Ian Turner masterminded a plan
0:16:30 > 0:16:35to put one of the six million trees from the Longleat estate into Monkey Jungle,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38to make its residents a new and exciting feeding station.
0:16:38 > 0:16:45Things didn't go exactly to plan and the whole operation took over 36 hours
0:16:45 > 0:16:48just to move the massive trunks into position.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53Ben and I have joined Ian to put them to good use.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- So what have we got here?- We've made some special cakes for the monkeys.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02It's got all the normal stuff, what the monkeys eat - banana, peanut and apples.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07What we need to do is shove it into this Corsican pine tree we've made for them specially.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11We've drilled loads of holes in, but the trouble is we need to do it quick because the monkeys...
0:17:11 > 0:17:16It's not the greatest day weather wise, but we need to scoop this out and shove it in there.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21- Would it be fair to describe this as a monkey trifle? - Yeah, yeah.- It looks very good.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I've got one here. God, it does look good.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25So they will come racing over to this.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Has the tree gone down well with the monkeys? Have they enjoyed it?
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Really well. Yeah, yeah. And the reason why we're doing this is instead of just putting food down,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38they've got all these perches where they can sit on and pick the food out.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42If you look behind you, you've got one coming over straightaway.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44And they don't like this weather.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48So it is very much a case of racing against time, or racing against monkeys.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51- Don't take them from my tray yet! - KATE LAUGHS
0:17:51 > 0:17:54We may even need to speed up, cos they'll be right here.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58What is attracting them? Are they curious because we're around here,
0:17:58 > 0:18:03or would they be able to actually smell this food from a distance?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06They'll be able to smell this food and they know somebody's made them.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10- And that's quite a nice one. Look. - Look at that. That's brilliant.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12- Squash right in. - I'm worried they'll blow away.
0:18:12 > 0:18:18Is the point that they'll spend hours and basically busy themselves when normally they'd just eat?
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Normally, they shove everything in their pouches. So they've got great big stores.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Then if anyone comes over, a dominant male or some other,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28they can run off and eat at leisure.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34Well, Ian, should we just pull back now and let them come in and watch them feed?
0:18:34 > 0:18:38- On this tree, yeah.- Yes. OK, let's just pull back and away.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42And, yeah, in moments, we've got the first one coming in, although, rather lazily,
0:18:42 > 0:18:46picking stuff up off the ground there.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50MUSIC: "Girls and Boys" by Blur
0:19:00 > 0:19:02You're constantly coming up with ideas for them.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Do they really need it, because it's a huge enclosure with lots of natural trees
0:19:06 > 0:19:09for them to climb and places for them to hide?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Why is it so important to keep coming up with new stuff?
0:19:11 > 0:19:16They probably wouldn't need new stuff, because, as you say, it's like being in the wild.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19But literally just to keep them, cos they've got all the young ones,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22it's always good to keep their mind active.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26And have new stuff all the time. And this tree has gone down a treat.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28It has got little perches and stuff. You can see,
0:19:28 > 0:19:33instead of shoving all that in one, he's picking all the peanuts out.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- Oh, yes, he is!- It must be incredibly satisfying to see them working away like this?
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- Yeah. Normally, they'd take five minutes to eat and this hopefully will take a few hours.- Brilliant.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Well, we shall get down to putting this in the rest of the tree.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49But, Ian, thank you very much and congratulations on a real success.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- You'll have some very happy monkeys this year.- Thank you very much.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Earlier, we were looking at some of Longleat's animals
0:19:58 > 0:20:00in a whole new light -
0:20:00 > 0:20:02through a hi-tech thermal imaging camera.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05This provides a temperature map of the animals,
0:20:05 > 0:20:10revealing hot spots which could be cause for concern.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It already showed up Jolly the giraffe's arthritic leg.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17So now, up in the new area, Head of Section, Tim Yeo,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20is keen to put it to the test on some of HIS animals.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25He's asked expert David Blain to take a look at Winston,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29the elderly rhino who's a favourite with the keepers and the public.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33Winston's been with us here at the park for a good number of years.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36He's a very popular rhino with the staff
0:20:36 > 0:20:40and certainly the public that visit the park.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45He'll readily come up to the bars and he likes to be patted
0:20:45 > 0:20:48and have that close contact with people.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52In the wild, rhinos rarely live beyond the age of about 30.
0:20:52 > 0:20:58But Winston's easily surpassed that, reaching the grand old age of 38.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01The keepers have kept him well for many years,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04but sadly his age is catching up on him.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07His health is an increasing concern.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12For a number of years Winston has suffered with arthritic problems.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18He's getting on in years and it has been increasingly a problem to him.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23It's been a rather upsetting thing to see over that period of time.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26He has good times and he has bad times
0:21:26 > 0:21:31and it's worrying because you don't know what's round the corner, you don't know what's coming.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Tim has good reason to be so worried.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Sadly, Winston's condition is all too familiar.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43His long-time companion, Babs, also suffered with arthritis.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Last year, at the age of 37, her condition worsened
0:21:49 > 0:21:51and her pain increased,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55so the decision was made to put her to sleep.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Now there are signs that Winston is displaying similar symptoms
0:22:03 > 0:22:06of arthritis, which can be as crippling for animals
0:22:06 > 0:22:08as it is for humans.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11While he receives ongoing treatments,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14it's not always easy to tell how well they're working.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It's very difficult by looking at the animal
0:22:18 > 0:22:20to see the severity of the problem.
0:22:20 > 0:22:26All sorts of remedies have been tried to ease the discomfort,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29but he still seems to suffer.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33So can thermal imaging provide an answer?
0:22:33 > 0:22:37If the arthritic areas can be accurately identified, it would be
0:22:37 > 0:22:41a massive help for Tim and his team to target their treatment.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46What we had hoped to see with arthritis
0:22:46 > 0:22:50is if you look at the joints, they'll be white cos it's warmer.
0:22:50 > 0:22:56What happens is it draws the blood to the surface to protect it.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00That's how you can determine, because the blood is warmer,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04you can see the problem areas.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06It just pinpoints it spot-on.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Especially on the back leg, you can see it clearly.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Thermal imaging has one other massive benefit -
0:23:13 > 0:23:17it's non-invasive, which means that Winston can be examined
0:23:17 > 0:23:22just by the use of a camera and without causing him any stress.
0:23:22 > 0:23:28It's very interesting looking at the pictures and seeing exactly
0:23:28 > 0:23:30whereabouts those heat sources are.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34It would be wonderful to be able to do it again
0:23:34 > 0:23:36after a period of time had elapsed
0:23:36 > 0:23:39to see if there were any changes.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42You can store the images.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47You can store the images and you can overlay them, place them side by side,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50and you can see if there's any deterioration
0:23:50 > 0:23:54or if it's got any better, if your medication's working.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58It's incredible technology.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03Surely it'll help our vet very much to see whether these treatments
0:24:03 > 0:24:06are having any effect at all.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10The hope is, of course, that that sort of technology could help
0:24:10 > 0:24:13in the future with these sort of conditions
0:24:13 > 0:24:18that are always going to be with us as animals advance in years.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Thanks to this new technology,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Tim has the opportunity to treat Winston's arthritis
0:24:24 > 0:24:29in a way they never could with Babs, and keep him happy and healthy.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Back in the Mkomazi game reserve in Tanzania,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45pioneering conservationist Fitz and Longleat's Michelle Stephens
0:24:45 > 0:24:48are anxiously waiting to see if Fissi,
0:24:48 > 0:24:53the orphan striped hyena, is going to come round from being sedated.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56She's moving now.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Ears are back.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03Fissi has been fitted with a radio transmitting collar that will enable
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Fitz to monitor her movements once she's released into the wild.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12But for now, she's more interested in the safety of her den.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17- I mean, talk about heading for home. - Safety.- Wa-hey!
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Sedating a wild animal is always a risky procedure
0:25:22 > 0:25:27so Fitz and Michelle are relieved that she's back on her feet,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29even if she's looking a little bit groggy.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32There she goes. Now, this is better.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Simon's the one she likes to bite and that's what she's doing.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40- Everything...- ..is normal.- Yeah.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Simon was saying that she's biting a little bit harder than normal
0:25:44 > 0:25:46when she normally plays with him,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48but that's understandable.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51That's happened before with other animals.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53They just want to let you know
0:25:53 > 0:25:56that something funny has gone on and they're not impressed.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00So now, Fissi is almost back to her normal playful self.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05Fitz and Michelle leave her to rest overnight, as tomorrow's a big day.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Next morning, Fitz and Michelle are back to see how Fissi is doing.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18Today's the big day when she's finally released into the reserve
0:26:18 > 0:26:21where she can mingle with the other striped hyenas.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24First, Fitz wants to make sure that the collar's working
0:26:24 > 0:26:28as it's important to monitor Fissi's progress once she's released.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32This is an essential piece of kit
0:26:32 > 0:26:36when you're tracking... trying to find a little, lone hyena.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40This is difficult country. It's not like the Namibian desert
0:26:40 > 0:26:42where you follow a nice little trail.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44It's thick, there's lots of grass.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48It's difficult country, especially in the rains, to track in this.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49- It's big as well.- Yeah, huge.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53And we have no idea where she's going to go, so this is essential.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Maybe she'll go 20 miles in a straight line. Maybe she'll just go round the corner.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Maybe she won't leave. Who knows?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03But without this, we'll never know.
0:27:03 > 0:27:09The collar works by transmitting a radio signal which is picked up by the aerial.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13The strongest signal is the way this antenna's pointing.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17And now we are, we are that close...
0:27:19 > 0:27:21RECEIVER BEEPS You can actually notice
0:27:21 > 0:27:24a slight difference, even here. Yeah.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27The bleeping sound tells Fitz the collar is transmitting.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31So finally Fissi is ready to be released.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34But after a month of guaranteed food and shelter here,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38she's going to take a bit of coaxing to get her out of the compound.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Don't chuck her anything.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44OK. Put it back, put it back.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Simon.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Simon. Come on. Come on.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Show her the meat. Perfect.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Come on. Come on.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09FISSI YOWLS
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Fissi has got too attached to her home,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14so there's only one thing for it.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16It's going to have to be pulled down.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20We're just trying to tell her that it's time she became
0:28:20 > 0:28:23a bit of a big girl, and made a move into the bush.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27She knows what we're doing. She's a bit cross we're busting the hut down.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30FISSI GROWLS Come on, Fissi.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32You can't stay in here forever.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36That's been her little place, her little place of safety, security,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39for the weeks that she's been here.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42So, I mean, she's defending that, which is great.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45All her instincts, all her inherited knowledge are there.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48So I'm not worried about how she's going to cope.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51She'll be fine. I think we're going to have to leave her.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Simon, I'm sure, will get her out later.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00OK, Simon. All yours, man.
0:29:00 > 0:29:06With Fissi standing her ground, Fitz leaves it to Simon to tempt her out of her compound.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10We'll find out later on if this hyena wants to be released at all.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19This is Jess the tapir.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23This is Senior Warden Bev Evans.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27And this over here is Hugo the brand new tapir.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- He is absolutely adorable, still with his stripes.- Yes, definitely.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33How long will he keep these for?
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Round about six to eight months
0:29:35 > 0:29:38and then he'll go all brown just like his mum.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41It's pretty amazing having tapirs born here at the safari park,
0:29:41 > 0:29:43cos they're endangered.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45They're quite badly endangered.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48These are Brazilian tapirs and they're from South America.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53The habitat out there is depleting quite a lot because it's rainforest.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57That is a problem for them. But they face a lot of problems in the wild.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02So it really is significant to the whole population that you've got a new tapir.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03We like to think so.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08This is her sixth baby, so here at Longleat we are doing quite well
0:30:08 > 0:30:10on the breeding of Brazilian tapirs.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Bev, thank you very much.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14You really are sweet.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19We've got plenty more animals like Hugo still to come, including...
0:30:19 > 0:30:23How DO you measure a tiger with paws the size of a Frisbee?
0:30:23 > 0:30:28The answer is very carefully, as I'm about to find out.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34- Two down, and one to go- - - but how will Dan get on shaving his first llama,
0:30:34 > 0:30:35if it won't even get up?
0:30:35 > 0:30:41And Fissi the hyena is headed out into an area of Africa's bush the size of the Yorkshire Dales.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45But how on earth will they ever find her again?
0:30:49 > 0:30:54At Longleat, Pets' Corner is no stranger to orphaned animals.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59Deputy Head Keeper Bev Allen has often been on hand to play mum.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02In her time, she's cared for everything from a baby wallaby
0:31:02 > 0:31:05to even a marmoset. But now,
0:31:05 > 0:31:10she's out in Africa at the Mkomazi Game Reserve, and her experience is being called on by Lucy,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13wife of Tony Fitzjohn,
0:31:13 > 0:31:17who has spent his life dedicated to bringing animals back from the edge of extinction.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Living in the bush means Lucy and her family
0:31:21 > 0:31:24are always helping stray animals.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Recently, they've been caring for an aardwolf. That may seem strange,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31but it's nothing compared to some previous housemates.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36We started off with a lion cub, which was fantastic, and she was with us
0:31:36 > 0:31:40for about nine months. Then we put her into the rhino sanctuary,
0:31:40 > 0:31:47and she matured, and then further out into the reserve, so she had a good seven years in this reserve,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50starting off in the bed!
0:31:50 > 0:31:53Sharing a bed with a lion was lovely. They go to sleep when you do.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56It was like having a little baby next to you, absolutely lovely.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01We are very much early carers. We give them a few months here,
0:32:01 > 0:32:07where they put on weight or mature, and then after that, the job is to reintroduce them into the wild.
0:32:07 > 0:32:14Today, they've got the smallest carnivore in Africa on the loose in their house - a dwarf mongoose.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16They usually live in family groups,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19but this one seems to have lost its way.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24This little one was in the guys' camp when they were having lunch one day, all on its own.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28And it was feeding off one of the guys' hands, so they caught it
0:32:28 > 0:32:30and brought it in here.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34Although this may not be as endangered as a striped hyena,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37this dwarf mongoose would never survive on its own.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42So Lucy planned to monitor her progress, then release her to join the other mongoose.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44But today, she escaped from her cage,
0:32:44 > 0:32:50and with lots of dangers around the house, this orphan needs to be caught and monitored.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Sounds like a job for a veteran of Pets' Corner!
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Now, Bev, it's gone back up the wall.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Have a look. I can't see it at the moment.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Hide and seek!
0:33:01 > 0:33:02- Nothing.- Nothing.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06We'll be here all day... Oh! There it is, going back up again. Sorry.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Come on!
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- It's coming your way, Bev. Can you see it?- No.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Look under...
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- Where's he gone, under the bed?- Yes. - Hang on.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27- Oh! It's coming. Have you got it?- Yeah.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Well done.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Its little heart's pounding away.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- We'll put it in the box.- Yeah.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37And let it calm down.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Ha!
0:33:40 > 0:33:45With a very careful grip, Bev can now finally examine the mongoose.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Ah, hello.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49As you can see, there's sharp teeth!
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- Looks quite...- What do you think? - Looks quite healthy.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57- Nice and clean bottom area.- Yeah. - Nice bright eyes as well.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59There's no dirt coming out of the eyes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:00Ears quite clean as well.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- Look at it biting you. - BEV LAUGHS
0:34:02 > 0:34:05- But their claws are incredibly strong, aren't they?- They are.
0:34:05 > 0:34:10Because they like to dig down in burrows to get away, especially when it's very hot.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13The fur is in good condition, very glossy.
0:34:13 > 0:34:14Wants to go back.
0:34:17 > 0:34:18But very active.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Usually if there was a problem, they'd be hiding.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Sort of curled up, not looking bright-eyed and bushy there.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31So now they know she's in good health all that's left is for Bev to attempt to release this animal
0:34:31 > 0:34:33back into the wild.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Something she's never done before.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Join us later to see how Bev and the mongoose get on.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47How on earth do you measure a tiger?
0:34:47 > 0:34:50That's been the challenge for the keepers since these
0:34:50 > 0:34:52three youngsters arrived at Longleat.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56Coming up to two years old they're growing fast and can put on
0:34:56 > 0:34:58up to three kilograms a month.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01That's the same weight as your average domestic cat.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06It's essential that their growth is monitored to spot any abnormalities,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09but since these are the most dangerous cats in the world,
0:35:09 > 0:35:11just how is this done?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Well, Ben's about to find out.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14I've come up to the tiger house
0:35:14 > 0:35:17to help out with a rather worrying task.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Tiger measuring.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Keeper Bob Trollope is here.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23- Morning, Bob.- Morning, Ben. - Is this for real?
0:35:23 > 0:35:26We're actually going to measure a tiger somehow today?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Well, attempt to. As you can see it's not something that you
0:35:29 > 0:35:34can go in with and get proper measurements, that's for sure.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37What do you want to do then? You want to basically...
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Basically just get her to stand up and see how far she can stretch and
0:35:41 > 0:35:44then we'll just see what measurements we can get.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48- So who have we got here?- This is Sundari, one of our new ones,
0:35:48 > 0:35:52which is one of the livelier ones, as you can see!
0:35:52 > 0:35:54She's amazing, isn't she?
0:35:54 > 0:35:58And literally you're going to entice her up using some of that meat?
0:35:58 > 0:36:00- I'll keep her up here, Ben.- OK.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03If you see if her paws come up against there,
0:36:03 > 0:36:05if you're very careful, you can get a rough measure.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10A rough measurement. OK. Let's see how we go, I won't go too close.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11Come on, my darling.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13We've got...
0:36:13 > 0:36:20OK, I estimate about 17 centimetres for one of her paws,
0:36:20 > 0:36:23but that's only a rough estimate. Can I have a quick go?
0:36:23 > 0:36:26- Yeah.- Do you mind me? I'll do a swap.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28OK. There you go.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29- Just hold it out.- Yeah.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31Wow, look at those teeth!
0:36:31 > 0:36:35If you're tall enough Ben, if we can dangle it from here.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38See if she'll go right up to the top.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39Up there. Sundari, look.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Look, up here. It's up here, Sundari.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43Maybe she has to follow it up.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Look, here we go. Up we go.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50- That's it.- Wow, so basically we know that she can stretch
0:36:50 > 0:36:52right up to the top of this cage.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55And you think of it, that wasn't a full stretch.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57Do you want to occupy her with that and I'll...
0:36:57 > 0:37:01- You can measure the cage.- I'll measure the cage from top to bottom.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Hup, hup. Good girl.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Yeah, you have that bit.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10We've got 207 centimetres or so.
0:37:10 > 0:37:15Although she's already over two metres long, since she's just a cub,
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Sundari still has a way to go.
0:37:18 > 0:37:23Fully-grown tigers like Kadoo can reach over three metres.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Look at these claws as well.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29In fact, shall we see if you can estimate a claw size.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31I've got it here. I've got it here.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35- Let's see if we can get a claw. - Here you go.
0:37:35 > 0:37:40Now that's...well, just the actual sheath of the claw,
0:37:40 > 0:37:42that is four centimetres.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Four centimetres, wow.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47You wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of that?
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- No. Definitely not.- Bob, thank you for letting me help you
0:37:50 > 0:37:54with one of the most unusual tasks I've ever done. Here you go.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00Wow. I tell you what, it's not every day you get to measure a tiger!
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Back over in the East Africa reserve, keeper Dan Gray is about
0:38:10 > 0:38:13to give Foggy the llama a haircut.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17She's actually the most confident of the three, but
0:38:17 > 0:38:21just cos she's the most confident, she's not necessarily the calmest.
0:38:21 > 0:38:26She's got trust issues, so she's a little bit wary of us.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Removing her heavily-matted fleece will make her much cooler and more
0:38:30 > 0:38:32comfortable during the summer.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Professional shearer Jamie Dickson
0:38:34 > 0:38:38has shown Dan how it should be done on Debbie and Lavina.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43But Foggy is not exactly keen on the idea. It's a first for her and Dan.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46So, understandably, they're both a little anxious.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49OK, Dan, are you ready to have a go yourself?
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Erm, yeah, possibly. I think so.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55OK, the main thing is not to be nervous.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59The shears are designed so they're not going to hurt the animal.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- You'll be fine, mate. - Yeah, it'll be fine.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08She's going to go into the same corner as she did before.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13But Foggy just isn't in the mood for a short back and sides,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15and refuses to stand up.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21So Dan has no option but to shear her sitting down.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Now, remember to go in just above the tail there.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31So if you bring in the comb...
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Be nice and easy. So if you just start it up.
0:39:35 > 0:39:36There you go.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42That's it. Anywhere will do.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51You seem to be getting a feel for it. No worries.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I think that's enough for her.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08- There you go.- Sorry about that.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11That's a pretty good job. I think you should be proud of yourself.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15- Hopefully better with practice. - Well, that's what it's all about.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17You don't start off being an expert.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19Well, that's for sure.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22This may not be quite the look that Foggy was after.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- Go on.- Come on. Good girl.
0:40:27 > 0:40:28I think Dan did really well.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32From this distance, you can't tell which one was done by who.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36- So that's the main thing. - I'll get better at it hopefully.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Hopefully, it will continue from there.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43After all their moaning, the girls seem quite grateful of their new
0:40:43 > 0:40:47crew cut and, for the first time ever, can scratch those parts
0:40:47 > 0:40:50other llamas just can't reach.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01There are plenty of warm-blooded animals around the park,
0:41:01 > 0:41:06but it's the cold-blooded ones that need some extra special care.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Since they can't control their internal body temperature
0:41:09 > 0:41:12they survive by absorbing heat from their surroundings.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16It's essential they're kept at the correct temperature.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19With David Blaine and his thermal imaging camera on hand,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22it's a great opportunity for keeper Kim Tucker
0:41:22 > 0:41:25to learn a little more about one special creature.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- Who's this that you've got here, Kim?- This is Khan.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Khan has just come out of the enclosure,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33so he's lovely and warm to the touch.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Let's see what he looks like on the camera.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37- You can see.- He's very red.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40But what's really interesting is that he's particularly red
0:41:40 > 0:41:43around where your hand is, isn't he?
0:41:43 > 0:41:45He looks to be taking on my heat.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49I'm just wondering if we can take him away from you a bit
0:41:49 > 0:41:53and see if he starts losing heat.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56A little bit. He seems to be cooling off a little bit.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00It's a very warm day today, but this is interesting.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02He's got real warmth in the middle of his body.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06That's where all his organs are. So most of it'll produce the heat.
0:42:06 > 0:42:07Oh, right.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09That's fascinating.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12What is the mechanism of a cold-blooded animal like this
0:42:12 > 0:42:14to warm up?
0:42:14 > 0:42:16They take on the heat of their surroundings.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18If they're cold, they'll move to a warmer spot.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21If they're too warm, they'll move to a cooler spot.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24I know that it's not something that you would ever do,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26but do you think if he was put down on the ground,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29he'd cool off very quickly.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Probably, because taking on the heat of his surroundings
0:42:32 > 0:42:35and at the moment he's taking on my heat as we saw before.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37The areas with my hands on him are very red.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39If I was to put him on the floor,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42I suppose, David, back me up on this, he should go quite...
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Shall we give it a go and see?
0:42:45 > 0:42:49- I hope he doesn't shoot up your trouser leg!- Let's hope not.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53That's amazing! Look at that! He's cooling almost instantly.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Going yellow. You can see again around that organ area,
0:42:56 > 0:42:57still keeping warm.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01But the areas where my hands were, look, they've gone.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02- They have.- The redness has gone.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06If you were to pick him up again now, shall we just see if...
0:43:08 > 0:43:10- There you go.- Look at that.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12He instantly takes the heat from your hand.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15It's almost like a thermal fingerprint.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18- Look!- Look at that! That's amazing.
0:43:18 > 0:43:22- But his head is now completely cooling off.- Yep.
0:43:22 > 0:43:26How will this help you when you are doing 'Meet the Creatures'
0:43:26 > 0:43:29with these very delicate animals?
0:43:29 > 0:43:32Hopefully it can detect how long we can keep them out for,
0:43:32 > 0:43:34depending on the weather conditions.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38At the moment, on days like today, we will keep him out maybe an hour
0:43:38 > 0:43:41and on cooler days, not quite so long.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43We do use hot water bottles as well.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46Look at that instant change as soon as you pick him up.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49He completely changes colour again.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52That is absolutely fascinating.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54I can see he clearly loves you, Kim,
0:43:54 > 0:43:57because he blushes when he's in your arms.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00Dave, thank you very much. A fascinating afternoon.
0:44:00 > 0:44:07Kim, thank you and Khan, you are a perfect thermal imaging subject.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19For keeper Bev Allen, travelling to Africa was an amazing chance
0:44:19 > 0:44:21to see animals in their natural habitat.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25But now another opportunity's landed at her feet.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30For the first time ever she's about to attempt to release an animal into the wild.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33But she's as nervous as she is excited.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37You never can be 100% certain that it's going to go well.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41But that's why we need to monitor it, we need to do the process slowly
0:44:41 > 0:44:43not rush into it.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46Um, and just get the crate out with the mongoose in
0:44:46 > 0:44:49and hopefully it'll start calling and then the other group of mongoose
0:44:49 > 0:44:51will come over and it'll communicate.
0:44:51 > 0:44:57After monitoring the dwarf mongoose for 24 hours and giving it a clean bill of health
0:44:57 > 0:45:00the time has come to set her free.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02So what do you think now?
0:45:02 > 0:45:05I think maybe if we take him outside in the crate,
0:45:05 > 0:45:09sort of put him near where the other mongoose usually come to
0:45:09 > 0:45:14and he might start maybe talking to the others and making the noise and that.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19Is this where the mongoose hang around here, is it?
0:45:19 > 0:45:21There are a lot of mongoose around here.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25And they come through here quite a few times a day.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28- So I think if we put it somewhere shady?- Yeah, that'll be great.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35- The mongoose looks quite active now. Compared to what it was back in the house.- Yeah.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37It looks desperate to get out now.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Hopefully if it starts calling and making all the noises
0:45:40 > 0:45:45- the others may come over...- Yep. - ..and start making noises to him,
0:45:45 > 0:45:47communicate with it.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51See you in a bit!
0:45:51 > 0:45:55There are several mongoose colonies near to Lucy's house
0:45:55 > 0:45:58and they live in groups of up to 20 animals.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02For this one to survive it's vital that it integrates back into a group.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11- So that's her calling for the others?- Yeah. - HIGH-PITCHED CALLS
0:46:11 > 0:46:13I wonder if they'll come.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15- QUIETLY:- Oh, look - there's one there.
0:46:15 > 0:46:16Brilliant!
0:46:16 > 0:46:19- Oh, that's good.- So sweet. - It's coming over.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23Here they come, look. Not taken them long.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27You can see her paws going out.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33- I'd never have thought that would happen that quickly.- That's amazing.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36Here they come.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43And they're not showing too much signs of aggression as such.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45They just seem more intrigued.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51- This means that, you know, she should be accepted back into the colony.- Yeah.
0:46:51 > 0:46:58There's a high chance that this is her own, you know, her colony before this happened.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02ANIMALS CALL
0:47:02 > 0:47:07This is a really good sign that, you know, that they're coming over, they're showing good interest
0:47:07 > 0:47:12- with her.- Yeah. - And she's showing good interest - she wants to be out now.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15It's like she knows she's home which is brilliant.
0:47:15 > 0:47:20So, I think, you know, it's a good time now to go over in a minute and open the cage
0:47:20 > 0:47:21and just see what happens.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24With no signs of aggression from the other animals
0:47:24 > 0:47:28Bev feels it's now safe to release the little mongoose back into the wild.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34You've found your friends.
0:47:36 > 0:47:37If you take a step back.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45- She's not that nervous.- No.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46Look, there she goes.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49- Straight into the bush.- Straight in! She's happy.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51- That's brilliant!- She's keen!
0:47:51 > 0:47:56For Bev this is truly an experience she will never forget.
0:47:56 > 0:48:00It's been fantastic. It's an opportunity that I've never had before.
0:48:00 > 0:48:05Um, I mean it was quite scary because you don't know how it's going to turn out.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09Um, but the way that everything's happened and the behaviour of them,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11it's been fantastic.
0:48:11 > 0:48:12I'm over the moon.
0:48:12 > 0:48:17Really pleased. I mean the little animals are just as important as the bigger animals.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21Um, but that was a success and I'm really, really pleased.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30- Oh! - KATE LAUGHS
0:48:31 > 0:48:35I out in the wolf enclosure with keeper Stuart Sears
0:48:35 > 0:48:38who rather wisely said, "Why don't you feed the wolves today?"
0:48:38 > 0:48:41Stuart, you're giving them an enormous amount of food.
0:48:41 > 0:48:42Oh!
0:48:42 > 0:48:44How far do I need to drag this?
0:48:44 > 0:48:48- That'll be fine.- Is that all right? - Yeah, that'll be fine.- OK.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50Good!
0:48:50 > 0:48:51Right, back in the vehicle.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56Now, presumably, Stuart, one of the important things when you feed the wolves
0:48:56 > 0:49:01is that it gives you a very good opportunity to check them all over and see how they're doing?
0:49:01 > 0:49:06That's right. Usually they are quite elusive and sometimes, you know, you can patrol an area
0:49:06 > 0:49:08and you won't see full numbers all day.
0:49:08 > 0:49:11When we put feed out for them, when we draw back
0:49:11 > 0:49:14generally draws the whole pack in and we can observe them.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17- So we need to move back a little bit, do we, before they'll come in?- Yeah.
0:49:17 > 0:49:21- We can them starting to sniff. - They're starting to circle.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24- They're like, "Get out of my way." - Yeah.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28Keeper Stuart Sears is particularly keen to check up on the new wolf pups
0:49:28 > 0:49:31which were born just five months ago.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33And what sort of stage are they at now?
0:49:33 > 0:49:40Because presumably their pecking order in the pack, they're still very much at the bottom?
0:49:40 > 0:49:45- That's right. They have got their own hierarchy amongst themselves. - Oh, have they?
0:49:45 > 0:49:49And that will integrate with the adults' and the adults will put them right.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52But they're coming on. They're pretty much self-sufficient.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54They're still suckling now and again.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58- OK. So they will come onto the meat, hopefully?- Should do.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01OK. I can see a cub trotting into the sunshine,
0:50:01 > 0:50:04just coming in behind the rest of the pack.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07Who's going to be in first? Would it usually be
0:50:07 > 0:50:09one of the dominant males that will come in first?
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Mostly, we have found recently,
0:50:11 > 0:50:14- it would be Frida that'll come in first.- So the mum?
0:50:14 > 0:50:16The mum has been coming in first.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19Whereas, the pubs are growing now, it all changes again.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23OK, Stuart, we've got them absolutely as you predicted, in fact.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25A complete change of hierarchy.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Pups seem to be coming in almost first.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31- It looks that way today, doesn't it? - It does.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33They're very wary of that piece of meat.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36I'm slightly offended after all that effort.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39They should be in there, ripping it apart!
0:50:39 > 0:50:42Who's gone in first?
0:50:42 > 0:50:44Someone's been brave.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47This is interesting, the pups coming right up now going,
0:50:47 > 0:50:50"Oh good, they've done the first bit of ripping."
0:50:50 > 0:50:55My word, you really see a bit of competition there.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Oh, it is great to see them, Stuart,
0:50:59 > 0:51:01looking so well and clearly thriving
0:51:01 > 0:51:04amongst the pack. Congratulations on your latest wolves,
0:51:04 > 0:51:08- they're just gorgeous. - Thank you very much.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Earlier on, in the Mkomazi game reserve,
0:51:18 > 0:51:21Fitz and Longleat's Michelle Stevens had trouble coaxing Fissi,
0:51:21 > 0:51:26the orphaned striped hyena, out of the compound and back into the wild.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31A few hours later, and Fitz and Michelle are keen to see if keeper Simon has had any more luck.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37THEY SPEAK IN DIALECT
0:51:41 > 0:51:44She came out. She just carried on adding sticks
0:51:44 > 0:51:47to where her little place was and she just went in
0:51:47 > 0:51:53and just bolted out, veered right and went through the fence at the back into
0:51:53 > 0:51:56the main part of the sanctuary and she's gone off into the bush there.
0:51:56 > 0:52:01- So we've got the machine here. We know her collar is working. Let's look for her.- Let's.
0:52:01 > 0:52:07Fitz has fitted Fissi with a radio transmitting collar so that he can track her progress in the wild.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10TRANSMITTER CRACKLES
0:52:11 > 0:52:13It doesn't take him long to pick up a signal.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16MACHINE BEEPS
0:52:19 > 0:52:24The strength and frequency of the beeps tells Fitz which direction to look in.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33- I can see something there. I don't know if that's her.- She is.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35- Right here.- I saw her. - Here we are, Fissi.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39- Thought I could see something. - Yeah. No, well done.
0:52:39 > 0:52:44Apart from a bloody nose, Fissi seems in perfect health.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46And has found a new, comfortable home.
0:52:46 > 0:52:51She's found a beautiful sandy place beneath the rocky outcrop,
0:52:51 > 0:52:55protected from rain and shade
0:52:55 > 0:53:00and just a classic place for a striped hyena to lie.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03- I mean, couldn't be better than that, Simon.- Indeed.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07She has every chance now to become a real hyena.
0:53:07 > 0:53:12- How do you think she will find hunting, cos she's never done it before?- No, she hasn't.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14But I don't think she'll bother.
0:53:14 > 0:53:20I mean, they scavenge and they're very careful. They eat very small crustaceans and ants.
0:53:20 > 0:53:26- They're not fussy at all. - Maybe even lizards.- Will you feed her initially just a little bit?
0:53:26 > 0:53:28Of course. Of course.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31If she sort of heads back, she will get fed.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34And, after a couple of days, if she hasn't headed back,
0:53:34 > 0:53:37we'll look for her and give her something if she needs it.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40Make sure she's well and she's coping OK.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43So, Fissi's release has been a success.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47I hope that she, you know, just continues to explore the environment.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49I hope she meets up with other striped hyena.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52Maybe in the long-term, have a family of her own.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54You know, she's got her life ahead of her now.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58She is a young hyena. She's got everything to look forward to.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03Being involved in the tagging and release of an orphaned animal
0:54:03 > 0:54:07has been an amazing chance for Michelle to learn about conservation first hand.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10This has been a really excellent experience for me.
0:54:10 > 0:54:16Not many people get hands-on experience doing this and it's a really positive thing to do.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18I mean, it is conservation at its best.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22You always want animals to be where they naturally should be.
0:54:22 > 0:54:28And it's been achieved today and it's really brilliant. It's great. Really good feeling.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41Hi-tech thermal imaging has been a great success in the park.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44So far it has helped diagnosed Winston's arthritis,
0:54:44 > 0:54:47spotted Jolly the giraffe's bad leg
0:54:47 > 0:54:50and taught keeper, Kim Tucker about Khan the snake.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54But before we go, there is one more thing it can help with
0:54:54 > 0:54:58and that involves the often confusing question of gender.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02We are down in Pet's Corner with head of section, Darren Beasley.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06Darren, you have a theory which you think that Dave Blaine,
0:55:06 > 0:55:11on his thermal imaging camera, is going to be able to back up or not.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13It would be fantastic if he can.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15OK, tell us about this.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18Really, it's all about boys and girls.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21Parrots, most species of parrot all look the same,
0:55:21 > 0:55:23whether it be a boy or a girl.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26The issue we always have, the great mystery of the universe is,
0:55:26 > 0:55:29they know if the bird next to them is a boy or a girl.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31We can't do it visually.
0:55:31 > 0:55:32It's really odd.
0:55:32 > 0:55:35We're not sure what sense they use or how they do it.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37It might be the shape of face or something.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40We have to either surgically sex or use DNA nowadays
0:55:40 > 0:55:43- to find out if the bird is a boy or a girl.- Right.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47I just wondered whether there is something the birds see in their field of vision,
0:55:47 > 0:55:50whether it is some heat or some little hot spot or something,
0:55:50 > 0:55:53that says, "Hey, you're a boy, I'm gonna talk to you."
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Or "You're a girl, I'm gonna chase you,"
0:55:55 > 0:55:56whichever way round it would be.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00- So, shall we start. Who is this? - This is Archie.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04- Right. And Archie is definitely male, is he?- Definitely a boy.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09Is there a place, Darren, that Dave should concentrate on?
0:56:09 > 0:56:12Do you think there are any particular areas?
0:56:12 > 0:56:16Certainly the head, the face shots and around the beak area,
0:56:16 > 0:56:19but I also wondered around the tummy part.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22If I turn Archie round... Archie! Come up on there.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24ARCHIE SQUAWKS
0:56:24 > 0:56:28There is definitely a hot area around his tummy.
0:56:28 > 0:56:32It is very warm and very white on the legs.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34I've got Nelson here which we know is a girl.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36Despite the name!
0:56:36 > 0:56:38Despite the name! Always confuses me.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41Can we see any difference here?
0:56:41 > 0:56:43You're not getting the complete bleaching out
0:56:43 > 0:56:46- and actually the tummy is a lot cooler, isn't it?- It is.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49- There could be something in it, Darren.- There could be.
0:56:51 > 0:56:55Shall we try with Sunday, because Sunday is a mystery.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58This is an unsexed bird.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02I would say immediately, exactly the same as Archie.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04- Look at that! - Warm down at the bottom.
0:57:04 > 0:57:09The very completely bleached out head and the white legs.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12- It really is a mystery, isn't it? - It is a mystery.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15What we would probably have to do is later on, perhaps this year,
0:57:15 > 0:57:17we would follow up and perhaps have DNA tests.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20- You can take a feather, send it away...- HELLO!
0:57:20 > 0:57:24Hello! Sorry. Take the DNA and have a look,
0:57:24 > 0:57:27- so we can definitely get a sex. - Thank you very much indeed.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31Absolutely. Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme.
0:57:31 > 0:57:33But here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:57:35 > 0:57:42They've got a plan to stop the marmosets from getting up to mischief, will it work?
0:57:43 > 0:57:48Kadoo must be put under anaesthetic, but will she ever wake up??
0:57:49 > 0:57:53And Winston the rhino might not be the only one who's going to get a mud bath.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56Don't even think about it, Fogle!
0:58:12 > 0:58:15Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:15 > 0:58:18E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk