0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is Wolf Wood. It's home to a pack of eight wolves,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07but recently, a litter of cubs was born.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Sadly, in the past, many have died at this early stage,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13but so far, six have survived.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15We'll be bringing you their story today.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Coming up, on Animal Park...
0:00:40 > 0:00:45Darren teaches Ben a thing or two about how to pick up a bird.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I've never done turkey wrangling before.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51There's an impostor in the flamingo enclosure.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55And Lord Bath's pride and joy goes on a hot date,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57with Dandy, the labradoodle.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03But first, we're heading to Wolf Wood because there's a big problem.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Keepers from across the park are descending on the section
0:01:09 > 0:01:14because there's an emergency with the six week-old wolf pups.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19The small pup down there is having some sort of seizure,
0:01:19 > 0:01:25some sort of fit. So we come up here, managed to get hold of him.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Had a rough check but he doesn't look very good at all.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32The wolf pup has become very sick, very quickly
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and they have no idea what's caused it.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Swallowing a poison or toxin somehow,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41could have caused such an aggressive reaction.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45They've had a problem with worms before in Wolf Wood, but Bob's
0:01:45 > 0:01:49worst fear is a disease or virus infecting the whole pack.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55While we were up here, we've decided to worm the rest of them,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58so we've been going around trying to find them.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00We've managed to find two more
0:02:00 > 0:02:02but they've just disappeared.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05They're in hoes, they're everywhere.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07So it's just a case of looking around every tree,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10every nook and cranny, until we find the other three.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And just give them their first dose of wormer.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Just in case that's something to do
0:02:15 > 0:02:17with what's wrong with little one.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Normally, they wouldn't get out of their patrol vehicles
0:02:24 > 0:02:26in the enclosure, but this is serious.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33Our biggest problem is that there's a wolf pack running around here.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37And they're very protective of the youngsters, so Dad, Mum
0:02:37 > 0:02:41and the rest of the pack members are following our every move.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46The keepers have to act with extreme caution in a situation like this,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50but are left with no alternative but to intervene.
0:02:50 > 0:02:56If it's worms, all six young pups could get sick and die very quickly.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00But they're almost impossible to find.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- Where's he gone now?- Still there.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Come here. No, no, no, no, no...
0:03:15 > 0:03:18There. Two of them. Hey. They're lively.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Just like with your dog or cat at home, worms can be fatal,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27so all the pups need treatment and thankfully,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30the team have caught all six.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We're just putting a couple of mil of wormer in...
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But, as they prepare to let them go,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42the first sick pup starts going downhill fast.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45And another is very weak.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52The keepers need to think on their feet and make the unusual decision
0:03:52 > 0:03:55to rush the pair to the vet.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57This is incredibly rare.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Wolves are pack animals, so they are never separated,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03but this is life or death.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Whatever is wrong with these pups could spread to the others,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11which might mean losing the entire litter.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Their future is now in the hands of vet Paul Higgs.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18This one's a bit better. Yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20This one's a bit brighter, isn't it?
0:04:20 > 0:04:24How long can we keep them away from the pack, realistically?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Or are we in trouble already?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29I'd really like to put them back as soon as we can, to be honest.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32If we start keeping them away, then you're gonna have
0:04:32 > 0:04:35other problems really, getting them back in.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39This one's looking pretty bad, really, Brian, I think.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42I'm just going to take its glucose in a second cos I think
0:04:42 > 0:04:44that's the most likely problem that we've got.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48If we've got a high worm burden, that's the most likely.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Two of them going at the same time.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55If worms are the problem, then the pups would need
0:04:55 > 0:04:58a very aggressive course of treatment.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02So Paul takes bloods to investigate all possibilities.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08MACHINE BEEPS
0:05:08 > 0:05:09The glucose is normal.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Normal range is about four to seven or eight
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and we're at six, we're smack bang in the middle.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21I don't really feel, therefore, that a low glucose or worm burden
0:05:21 > 0:05:25is the likely cause of seizures, so we'll have to try
0:05:25 > 0:05:27and work out now what the cause is gonna be.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Then suddenly, the pup who had been fairly lively,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36slips into unconsciousness.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39I'm just gonna go and see how these bloods are getting on a second.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Upsetting, really, to see them like this.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Worryingly, I don't know if the rest of them are gonna go the same way.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Paul has to figure out what's wrong with them...and fast.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Pets Corner, here, is home to 270 different animals,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29made up of 47 species.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31And once a month, they have an enormous task
0:06:31 > 0:06:33that Kate and I have volunteered to help with.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Darren, you're head of Pets Corner here, with a beautiful owl.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39So, first of all, who is this?
0:06:39 > 0:06:41This is Harriet. She's gorgeous, isn't she?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43She's a European barn owl.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46And she's gonna help us start the ball rolling today, really.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Hopefully, your guys are gonna help us. We've got to weigh everything...
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Every single animal in Pets Corner has to be weighed?
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Well, it's a bizarre thing but as a keeper with a lot of animals,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00it's difficult, they can't tell you whether they're well
0:07:00 > 0:07:03or whether they're having babies or stuff. And Harriet, for instance,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05these feathers hide a big secret.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08We don't know whether she's thin under there,
0:07:08 > 0:07:09is she fat, is she carrying eggs?
0:07:09 > 0:07:12And so, weight can tell you so much.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15So what we do, we weigh as many animals as we possibly can
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- and we do it on a regular basis and we look for patterns.- Right.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Obviously, a heavy animal isn't always a healthy animal, you know?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24A light animal isn't always a sick animal.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26You want to try and keep on a steady even keel.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30We have guidelines of what we're looking for. And Harriet's first.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It's dead simple. We have different methods.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35We just pop her on here. She sits on here.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36- If she does. Yeah.- Go on, my love.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- There she goes. That's easy. - She's very well behaved.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42And it's not rocket science. We read that.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47377. That's a good weight. And then I'll add that in her records.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Later on, I'll sit and we'll do some number crunching
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and it tells us whether she's about right... come on, sweetheart...
0:07:53 > 0:07:57if she's underweight, overweight, whether she's carrying eggs,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59any of that information, but with so many animals,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01it takes a long time to do them!
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- Where would you like us to start, Darren?- If we head out to...
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- I think Bev's waiting for us in ferrets...- OK.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- And I've got a really good one for Ben.- Fine. So I get the ferret.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14- You get the ferrets.- I've never liked the sound of that, Darren,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- when you've got a good one for me. - There we go.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Bev's just round the corner. - Oh, brilliant. There's Bev.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- With ferret in hand. - Ben, we're going over here.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26All right. I'll come and find you in a bit and help you out.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Yes. Presumably, Bev, how many ferrets have you got at the moment?
0:08:30 > 0:08:32We've got eight boy ferrets in here.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- OK.- So it's quite smelly at the moment.- Right.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39We've got Reg here. So I've got to weigh him still,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42but if you want to hold Reg, I've got to find Ricky, as well.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46OK. You know you never ever need to give me an excuse to hold a ferret
0:08:46 > 0:08:49cos I do think they're the best animals in the world.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Do you want to weigh Ricky first?
0:08:51 > 0:08:55What we do, we put them in the scales and you have to sort of balance 'em,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- cos they're a bit wiggly.- OK.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59He's quite a good weight, actually.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- He's about one, three. - One kilo, 300 grams.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07OK, Reggie. Let's see if you need to go on a Weight Watcher's programme.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Let's pop you in there, gently.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12There you go. Just sit there.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14There, nice and calm. Oi, oi, oi!
0:09:14 > 0:09:18No. No chewing the camera. There you are. Sit there.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Sit still, Reg.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Go on, Reg. He knows what's going on. Go on. Sit in there.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27- Gosh, it's not easy. - It isn't. You've gotta be quick.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30You're not gonna sit down, are you, Reggie? Come on.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- And how many of these have we got? Six more to do?- Six more to do.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Hang on, Reggie. Come on.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37He's doing that girl thing, isn't he?
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Keeping one foot on the floor so you don't look as heavy as you think you are.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43We've clearly got a bit of a battle going on,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47so we're going to carry on with the ferrets. Let's see where Ben is.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Wow.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52This is Lucky Chestnut, we call him.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- Obviously, a turkey.- He is a turkey.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56- Wow.- And he's a handsome fella.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Look at the colours on his face.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02He's just like every stag turkey across the world,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04or stag turkey of these.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06But you don't always see them with their feathers on,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08I'm afraid, so he's a big hit.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- I've put him in here... - With the tortoises, obviously.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14because we have gotta weigh him and that means we've got to catch him.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- OK.- And he runs a bit faster than you might think.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Look at his head. Look at the colouring there.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21At the moment, he's showing off to you.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- He's letting you know that he's handsome.- He's boss.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30Yeah. And all this round here, the caruncle and all this fleshy skin
0:10:30 > 0:10:33around his face, he filled it with blood just to look very intimidating.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- Isn't he handsome? - Well, I was going to ask you that.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41I think he's gorgeous.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43No comment from me. I think he's interesting.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47I think, as well, because he's a fairly new animal to us this year,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50he's one of the ones I was telling you about, we can't tell condition.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54We can watch him eating. We know his behaviour. He's very active.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57What we have got to do is grab him, weigh him and then, I'm afraid,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59we've gotta weigh you, as well.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- How would you suggest we go about this?- Let's catch him.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- Literally just...- If you head him off.- Yeah.- Go in front of him.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09And turn him back to me. And then I'll head him to you and just...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Tuck your arms round him and tuck him under your arm, Ben.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Just, like so?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17That's it. And just watch these cos these are dangerous weapons, these.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Wow.- Are you all right?- Yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25It's cool, I've never done turkey wrangling before.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27He's coming through a moult.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31See all this? He's coming through a moult. This bit's called his beard.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- Right.- And honestly... I don't know if he'll make a noise.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37In a minute, we'll put him down and see if he'll make a noise.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Let's weigh him back over here. He's a bit smelly.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41OK. So, I understand.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45We're going to weigh both of us and then we'll have to weigh me.
0:11:45 > 0:11:46Ideally, you stand on there.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Is this all trial and error, that you've worked out the best ways?
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Otherwise we've got to wrap him and box him and that's really not...
0:11:53 > 0:11:57You don't want me to say this out loud, do you?
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- Don't worry. I'm not shy. - If you put him down now.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- Yes.- And we'll say goodbye.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Thank you, Lucky. Thank you, Lucky.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05He might make a noise.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Are you going to make a noise for us?
0:12:07 > 0:12:09HE WHISTLES, TURKEY GOBBLES
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- Do you like that? - Brilliant, isn't he?!
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Absolutely fantastic. Have you just weighed him?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I have. Beautiful, or not beautiful?
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Mmm. I'm not sure I'd marry him.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22But then, Ben, I get to work with you,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- so, you know, the standard's set.- OK.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- Back on there before you go.- Now I've got to stand on here, myself.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32And obviously, I'll just do the taking away.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Was that turkey or for me, Darren?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39He's now over 10 kilos. 10½ kilos, now.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42That's a good weight. He's still putting on weight all the time so,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46obviously he gets lots of exercise here, but he was an easy one.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48We've got loads more to do now, so if we can crack on.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Obviously, no mention of Christmas, at this stage.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- No.- Keep it quiet. Keep it quiet.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01Now, we're heading straight back to the vet's where Paul is trying
0:13:01 > 0:13:06everything he can to save two of Brian's precious wolf pups.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Paul decides to put the sickest one on an ECG machine
0:13:16 > 0:13:19to check its heart rate.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Trying to make a quick analysis of this.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31It's quite difficult when you haven't seen the species before.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34But it certainly doesn't look normal.
0:13:34 > 0:13:42The results of the blood test appear to confirm those of the ECG machine.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44All right, Brian.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48So we've had our blood results, to here.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Couple of the important ones. This one, particularly, low calcium,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55can really make animals go really weak, really twitchy,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57possibly have full-blown seizures,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01but I would expect other signs on the bloods which we haven't seen.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I'm not 100% sure this is what's going on,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06but we don't have anything else at the moment.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09We're in a fairly critical stage. If we don't turn him around now,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11he's not going back to the pack
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and we're not gonna be able to save him.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15So we're going to treat him with some calcium.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17If he perks back up, then great.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Then we can start using oral calcium for, hopefully, all of them,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22supplementing them all.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31The problem with this stuff, Brian, is it's pretty dangerous.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34If we give it too quickly, it's gonna stop his heart,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36all by itself.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40So I've put the ECG back on him and we'll watch as he goes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44If we start seeing problems with the ECG, then we'll stop.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Calcium should replenish the pup with essential minerals.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50But too much will kill it.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Paul is taking a risk but this pup is now so ill,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56it's difficult to pinpoint the cause.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01No. It's the same as it was just before we injected,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04but it's worse than it was before.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07The calcium hasn't worked and things are looking desperate
0:15:07 > 0:15:10for both this pup and his brother.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Paul works quickly to do everything he can
0:15:13 > 0:15:15to try and save the young pup's life.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19He knows they must get back to the pack tonight or they may face
0:15:19 > 0:15:23being rejected by their mother, who would abandon them to die.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30We'll try everything that we can, at the moment.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33And this one is still completely and utterly...
0:15:33 > 0:15:38you know... you can see, comatose and really non-responsive.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40The problem is, we've got two in this state
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and we've got to get them back tonight.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46If they're going to go back, they've got to get back tonight
0:15:46 > 0:15:48and I can't see this one recovering.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52And to go downhill so quickly and we've had no response from it at all
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and blood's been pretty much normal,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58if this were a puppy, you know, we'd be putting it on fluids,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01we'd be doing things, but we can't with these animals
0:16:01 > 0:16:04cos they're gonna go back into an environment where they're gonna die
0:16:04 > 0:16:07because they've been away too long.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12So, I think we're going to take some last minute measures and if
0:16:12 > 0:16:17that doesn't do the job, then I think we'll have to call it a day for it.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22But nothing can revive the young pup,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26leaving him and Brian with only one tragic option.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28In a way, Brian, I think...
0:16:28 > 0:16:32it might be sensible to put this one to sleep...
0:16:32 > 0:16:33and focus on the other one.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Make sure the other one survives.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Cos at the moment, the other one's not getting any of our time
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and this one is getting all of our time.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45I don't think we're going to do anything to save him.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48No. I think that's probably the best thing to do.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50It's a really tough decision cos
0:16:50 > 0:16:53if you don't know what's going on, there could be something
0:16:53 > 0:16:56you can do something about, but until you know what it is,
0:16:56 > 0:16:57you can't treat it.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01We've tried every avenue that we can think of, at the moment.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04You know, we've given him some calcium, given him some glucose.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I mean, it's really not making any effects, at all.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10In fact, actually, he's getting worse, really.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12And that's not a very good sign.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16The problem is that his mate, as well, is getting worse
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and unless we find out what's going on, we're going to lose both of them.
0:17:20 > 0:17:26So, you know, in a way, it's going to be fairer to let this one go,
0:17:26 > 0:17:31cos he's pretty past pulling back, at the moment and seeing whether or not
0:17:31 > 0:17:34he can give us any more information about what's going on
0:17:34 > 0:17:36so we can try and save the other one.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39It's a terrible choice to have to make,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43but Paul has done everything he can for this pup.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47It's now unconscious, weak and not responding to treatment.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52- The kindest thing is to let it die in peace.- OK, Brian. Agreed?
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Yeah. I agree. Yeah, totally.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57You've done everything you can.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Poor little thing.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19We'll have to do a post-mortem and try and work out if we can
0:18:19 > 0:18:22find a way of treating the other wolf.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25But I think, you know, even then it's still clutching at straws
0:18:25 > 0:18:28with this guy. I think we'll be lucky to find
0:18:28 > 0:18:32a reasonably acceptable cause,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36but we need to give it a go.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39They were doing so well.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Very chuffed with how they were getting on and then suddenly,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45bang, we lose one.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Possibly may lose all of them, I don't know.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49That's the worrying thing.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54I'm hoping Paul may find something in this one to help the others.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58If he don't find anything, I really don't know what the answer
0:18:58 > 0:18:59is at the end of the day.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03All Brian can do is hope that the post-mortem
0:19:03 > 0:19:06may help them save the other young pup.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Well, the great weigh-in continues here at Pets Corner.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20I'm with Bev Allen and we're in the rabbit enclosure,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23so which of these two? This one's being very... Yeah.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24That's Sparky. Sparky the rabbit.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's none of those rabbits we're gonna weigh.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- OK.- I've put her in the box over here ready.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- That's an enormous box, Bev. - It is. She's quite a big rabbit.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- Bless her.- Right. This is obviously a new resident
0:19:37 > 0:19:38that I haven't met before.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41No. She's only about ten months old.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- OK.- I've got the towel here so we can wrap her up.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46- Right.- And here she is.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48She's called Delilah.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50She's beautiful!
0:19:50 > 0:19:52She's obviously a giant rabbit, is she?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Yeah. She's a British Giant.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58I mean, she's still got a bit of growing to do. So yeah, she's lovely.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Got another one called Samson, as well. And she's quite heavy, now...
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Crikey. That is an armful of rabbit, isn't it?
0:20:06 > 0:20:07- Wrap her up.- Yeah.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12So then you can... you have to step on those scales first, actually.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- OK.- So we've got to weigh you.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Right. Yes. OK. Got that.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Then we pop her back on you.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- You got her?- She does weigh a tonne.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23She's very heavy, isn't she?
0:20:23 > 0:20:25It's those big ears, as well.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28She's gorgeous. She's absolutely gorgeous.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Now we've just got to see what it is.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36She's about, I'd say, about 4½.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38I would say about 4½ kilos. Yeah.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Your weight, 4½ kilos?
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Yes, Ben. Absolutely.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44In your dreams, Humble, in your dreams.
0:20:44 > 0:20:454½ kilos of rabbit isn't bad.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Wait till you see what we've got in the box.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- Darren's about to reveal all. - All right.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- Well, good luck and we'll put you back, Delilah.- Good girl. Good girl.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Good girl. Well done, you.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59I always get a bit nervous at Longleat when I'm issued with gloves
0:20:59 > 0:21:02but the next animal we're weighing requires them. What is it?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It's a new animal to us, not been here long. She's called Val.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- Right.- And she's a cane toad, or marine toad.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Cane toad, OK.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11I can see that. Who's that?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15That's Michael. That's the male. We've had that one a little while...
0:21:15 > 0:21:16or we think was a male.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20We've got another one to go with it and the food disappears every night.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22We want to see again whether this one's eating it,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25but the gloves are important, cos if I open the door...
0:21:25 > 0:21:28these toads are a great defence and it's called bufotoxins
0:21:28 > 0:21:32which is a poison. And they emit it from small sacs on their shoulders.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- Right.- If we open that...- Yeah. I've got another problem for you.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- Yes.- I'm glad you're doing this. - Where is the other one? - He's in there.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43They hide, you get predators and to protect themselves and keep cool...
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- she's buried herself right down. - Literally under the...
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Dig down there, under the front of the locusts there.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51That locust doesn't know what it's sat on. That's it.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54And then scoop and she'll probably do this defensive thing
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- where she'll shed some liquid. That's it.- OK. Wow.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Grasp her firmly. Behind you are the scales. You have to do it calmly.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04You have to do it and make sure that... that's brilliant. Slippery.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08- What are you doing? - Don't ask, Kate.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10I'm toad wrangling. Cane toads.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- You're doing very well.- Right. - These are a pest species, remember.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17They're a real nuisance throughout the world now. 395.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- That's brilliant. Thank you.- 395. - Just pop that one back in.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24- They're getting bigger by the day. - Incredible animals, aren't they?
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Look at all that slime.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Oh, dear.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30- Let's close.- Right.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33I want to go and find something a little less slimy.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39With so many animals to weigh,
0:22:39 > 0:22:44this monthly routine is an enormous undertaking for the keepers.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49But helps ensure the good health of their creatures, great and small.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56- He wants to explore everywhere. - There you are. Pop you in there.- OK.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58So let's try down there.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- Just in case.- About three kilos. - Gosh.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06- That's quite a weight, isn't it? - A good weight. Yes. He's doing well.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Over the past six years, there's been one animal
0:23:22 > 0:23:26that's been firmly by the side of the Lord of the Manor.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28His devoted dog, Boudicca.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33Lord Bath first met golden labrador, Boudie, when she was just
0:23:33 > 0:23:38a tiny puppy and she quickly became his faithful companion.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Boudie!
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Boudie Boo! Boudie! Bouda!
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Boudie!
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Come on. Show your obedience.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Somebody I know, whose dog was having puppies
0:23:53 > 0:23:54and I got a telephone call,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58"She's produced a white labrador especially for you".
0:23:58 > 0:24:01So I felt I'd better have it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05She's got a very warm personality, very loving
0:24:05 > 0:24:09and I think she's bonding with me fast.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10I do find her adorable!
0:24:10 > 0:24:14But it wasn't always the easiest of partnerships.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Boudicca's natural enthusiasm sometimes got the better of her.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25It's quite painful, having a close relationship with her.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Like many puppies, all Boudie wanted to do
0:24:28 > 0:24:31was nibble everything she could get her mouth round.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33And nothing was off limits.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38These were recently acquired shoes and she's ripped off all that.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42She chewed up my £1,000 hearing aid.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46But despite her appetite for destruction, it was the start of
0:24:46 > 0:24:50a beautiful friendship and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Come on, Boudie, time to get up.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10But despite all the years of happiness,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13there's still one thing missing from Boudie's life.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15A litter of puppies.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18So this year, Lord Bath has decided that it's time
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Boudie became a mother.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24I've had her since she was that high, or that large, rather
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and she's been a really lovely companion
0:25:28 > 0:25:33and I've always wanted a strain of doggies to replace her.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37I would ideally like to establish a Longleat breed.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Well, she's not had any puppies before
0:25:40 > 0:25:44and this will be her chance to have her first litter.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I have faith in my daughter there, producing the litter I want.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51At nearly seven years old, she may not have
0:25:51 > 0:25:54many more opportunities to get pregnant.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58And as she's never bred before, finding the right dashing young male
0:25:58 > 0:26:00for the job is all-important.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Meet Dandy.
0:26:06 > 0:26:12A two year-old third-generation local prize-winning labradoodle.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15Proud owner, Barbara Oats,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19thinks he could be the prince Boudie's looking for.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23He's very bright. He much enjoys playing.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26He can be quite obedient, on occasions.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Very good-natured dog and he loves kids.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33As the name suggests, labradoodles are a cross between
0:26:33 > 0:26:37a labrador and a poodle and were first bred in Australia
0:26:37 > 0:26:42in the 1980s, as guide dogs for people with allergies to animal fur.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45They don't moult and are full of character,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48so have proved very popular.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52They've got a bit of common sense of a labrador and the bounce of a poodle...
0:26:52 > 0:26:56which is quite a fun dog to have, really.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Very trainable, but I'd rather too much fool around
0:26:59 > 0:27:02with him, so it doesn't always work!
0:27:02 > 0:27:06He may have the pedigree but will Dandy cut the mustard
0:27:06 > 0:27:07as a suitor for Boudicca?
0:27:07 > 0:27:10He's very fit. He's very healthy.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12He certainly knows what to do.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16He's very interested when there's a bitch on heat anywhere.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18So, just hope for the best.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21So, Dandy by name and...
0:27:21 > 0:27:22well, dandy by nature.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27We'll be back later to find out what happens when he meets Boudie.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Having weighed everything in Pets Corner,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Kate's next stop is Nico, on Gorilla Island.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41But as he's the weight of four men and has the strength of eight,
0:27:41 > 0:27:46thankfully, she's not having to tempt him onto the scales.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Well, I'm standing on the pontoon with keeper Michelle Stevens.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54We're basking in the sunshine here, outside Gorilla Island, with Nico
0:27:54 > 0:27:56looking very content and happy in the background.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- He's a western lowland gorilla, that's right, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02So, if I were to try and find Nico in the wild,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06- where would I have to go in the world?- Mostly Cameroon, Congo area.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Sort of West Africa.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10- Right. So quite hot.- Very hot.
0:28:10 > 0:28:16Very kind of humid. Lowland kind of tropical forest areas.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21OK. So, I mean, he's lived here, in Wiltshire, which seems, at times,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25about as far from a tropical rainforest as anywhere could be.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Exactly. Not quite the temperature.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30And yet, clearly, he does very well here.
0:28:30 > 0:28:37How does he manage between warmer summers and colder winters?
0:28:37 > 0:28:40He manages very well. We don't mollycoddle him,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42so he will go out in all winds and weathers.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45If you look at his arms, the hair on his arms is really long
0:28:45 > 0:28:48compared to a lot of captive gorillas and I think, over the years,
0:28:48 > 0:28:52he's grown that long hair just to compensate for the cold weather.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55On this island, it's like a whole ecosystem, a climate on its own.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58- Yes.- It could be two degrees colder on here than it can be on land.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02In the summer, it can get really hot, so he'll just seek out shade.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05He'll either hide in the bamboo or just hide around the house
0:29:05 > 0:29:08and lay down and sleep, pretty much all afternoon.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11And you don't feel kind of tempted that on particularly
0:29:11 > 0:29:15cold winter days, you sort of keep him inside with a hot water bottle?
0:29:15 > 0:29:18If it's very very cold, if it's snowing, it's bitter cold,
0:29:18 > 0:29:20then we will keep him in, but to be honest,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22it's very rare that we have to keep him in.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25We try not to keep the house so warm that it's such a shock
0:29:25 > 0:29:28when he goes outside, that could be really bad for him,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31so it's trying to find that level where it's quite comfortable,
0:29:31 > 0:29:34it's not too cold inside, but he's going to be comfortable
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- when he goes outside. - Michelle, thank you very much.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40We've got lots more coming up on the programme.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46Dandy meets Boudie, but it's not exactly love at first sight.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50And Kate gets to grips with a new toy.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52That's it.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53Yes!
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Back now to the critically ill wolf pups.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Vet Paul and keeper Brian made the difficult decision
0:30:03 > 0:30:09to put one pup down to find out what was wrong in order to save the rest.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13We've done a post-mortem now and it has actually come back
0:30:13 > 0:30:16as one of the things we suspected, which is a huge, huge worm burden.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19As soon as we went into the stomach and the intestines,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22there were just hundreds and hundreds of worms,
0:30:22 > 0:30:26all there and there was nothing else actually in the gut apart from worms.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30The worms have killed because they are not allowing the body to absorb
0:30:30 > 0:30:35any of the energy from the food so the worms are living off the energy
0:30:35 > 0:30:38that the pup is eating, the cub is eating and so,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41there is nothing left for the cub to absorb.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44So the poor pup had died from worms.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48In Wolf Wood, the keepers are always vigilant about worming
0:30:48 > 0:30:52the mothers and the treatment has always been passed
0:30:52 > 0:30:54straight through to their young pups.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57All carnivores are actually susceptible to worms
0:30:57 > 0:31:02and the larvae can survive in their food, grass or faeces,
0:31:02 > 0:31:06but warm, wet conditions will cause them to thrive.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10Like their wild cousins, wolves take their lead from nature,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13surviving by not showing sickness.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16By the time the keepers knew these pups were ill,
0:31:16 > 0:31:17it was already too late.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22For this one, treatment is going to be to try and get some glucose in him
0:31:22 > 0:31:26which means putting some glucose under his skin and he's gonna go back
0:31:26 > 0:31:30to the pack today and then the rest of the pack, the rest of the cubs,
0:31:30 > 0:31:34are gonna have to be wormed again over the next couple of days,
0:31:34 > 0:31:36which is gonna be hard work for Brian,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40but, unfortunately, we couldn't save the sick pup.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42There was nothing we could do.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Having treated the worms, the glucose should give this pup
0:31:45 > 0:31:47enough energy to survive.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51But Brian will have to treat all the pups back at the park.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Lively now, aren't you?
0:31:53 > 0:31:57I might have to decide really to put them in the house, wolf house.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59And actually lock them in.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02It's not a thing I wanna do, but to save them,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I think we may have to do that, cos I can't guarantee
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I can catch them all the time.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10And if we don't do anything, we're going to lose the lot of them.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25The great house has well over 100 rooms,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27full of the treasures that one would expect
0:32:27 > 0:32:31to find in a grand country house.
0:32:31 > 0:32:37But over 20 rooms have had somewhat of a makeover by Lord Bath.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41He's been painting murals in his private apartments for 40 years
0:32:41 > 0:32:46and head guide Ruth Charles is about to reveal another to Ben.
0:32:46 > 0:32:51- Where are we going, then? - We're going into the disco mural,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53which is full of bright colours.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56I didn't think, after all the years I've worked here,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59that there was another room that I hadn't seen but here is one.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01- It's VERY bright.- Very bright. Yes.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04So what was this room used for? What is it used for?
0:33:04 > 0:33:06It's used as the children's playroom.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- The date in the corner is here.- Over here.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Tells us when he did it.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15Weymouth, because he was the Viscount Weymouth when he did this.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17- OK.- Between '82 and '84.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22So does that mean it took two years... did he create this over a two-year period?
0:33:22 > 0:33:24Probably even longer than that. With help.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27He needed help to actually physically get through the quantity
0:33:27 > 0:33:31- he wanted to.- And how is this all made then?
0:33:31 > 0:33:33How does he create this 3D effect?
0:33:33 > 0:33:38Well, he mixes household paint with sawdust to make a clay
0:33:38 > 0:33:41and it's got glue in there, as well and nails to give it some relief.
0:33:41 > 0:33:47And then 10, 12 layers of paints splatted over, oils squeezed straight
0:33:47 > 0:33:49from the tube, until he gets the finish that he wants.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54It's incredibly bright, isn't it? Obviously, as a children's playroom,
0:33:54 > 0:33:56you want all those bright colours.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59What's this scene going on around here, then?
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- People dancing, I assume. - The disco mural. They're jiving.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06All of them very happy. There's just the base of a trampoline here.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Looks like they're bouncing on the trampoline.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13And as you go round the room, you've got the trombone players,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16you've got the cork from the champagne bottle.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20Obviously, the ceiling is partly where it gets its disco theme from.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24It's almost like a disco ball but stuck to the ceiling.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Stuck to the ceiling. Yes. And its legs make it look funny, comical.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31- So you've got humour here, as well. - Did Lord Bath create that, as well?
0:34:31 > 0:34:34No. His nephew, who has the same name, Alexander Thynne.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37He's created all the ceilings and Lord Bath has done all the walls.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40I don't think he understands the word magnolia.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Everything, every inch, is coloured.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46- Well, there you go. Another room... - Yes.- that I never knew existed.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Thank you very much.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06Just as colourful as Lord Bath's murals, are the Chilean flamingos.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10These eye-catching birds are extraordinarily fussy,
0:35:10 > 0:35:13like to be left alone and everything has to be perfect
0:35:13 > 0:35:16for them to lay eggs and increase their number.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Something their keeper, Mark Tye, is desperate for them to do.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Kate even helped him build them some nests a few years ago,
0:35:25 > 0:35:27to try and push them in the right direction.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32Unfortunately, it didn't work, so Mark has tried to leave them
0:35:32 > 0:35:34to their own devices as much as possible.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37But now, he's placed an impostor on the pond,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40which should help him keep an eye on them.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45Well, I'm down outside the flamingo enclosure
0:35:45 > 0:35:48and I'm here with Mark Tye.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52You're playing with a remote control duck, Mark.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- Hmm.- Why?
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Well, I wanted to show you something
0:35:57 > 0:36:00- and if you look at this little camera here.- Yeah.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Remember those shockingly awful nests we tried to build,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06- to show a flamingo how to build one?- Yes.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Well, they've showed us exactly how to do it properly.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Oh, my goodness. Because that was a couple of years ago, now.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- Yeah.- So all these mounds that you're getting...
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- this is the camera mounted on the duck?- On the duck's nose.
0:36:19 > 0:36:25And presumably, this is a way of not disturbing the flamingos?
0:36:25 > 0:36:27Yeah, because if we all went in there,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30they'd probably all just leave the nest site.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34It's taken such a long time for them to get used to it
0:36:34 > 0:36:36and seem to want to go there,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38that I don't want to jeopardise any of this at all.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42That's absolutely brilliant, because when the flamingos first
0:36:42 > 0:36:45arrived here, they were all immature birds, weren't they?
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Yeah. They were all between sort of a year and two years old.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52So that was far too young to breed.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- Yeah.- We always knew it would be a long-term project.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57And now we've had them here for five years.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01- Last year, they had a bit of a mess at it.- Right.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05And they didn't build any nests, but they started displaying a little bit.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09- OK.- This year now, it's all absolutely kicked off.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12For the past six to eight weeks, have been displaying like mad.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16It keeps stopping and starting, but then the weather keeps changing.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20Right. So will they display when the weather's good, basically?
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Yeah. They've been displaying while the weather's nice and then we've had
0:37:24 > 0:37:28- some horrible rain and they've all just stopped.- When they display,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32- what do they do?- They all run up and down the bank, all as a group.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- Yeah.- All in unison and it's like one turns, everybody turns.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- Wow.- And they all keep flashing all the pink of their wings they keep
0:37:38 > 0:37:42holding out, so it's like showing off, but the greatest thing is,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44- two of them have eggs.- No way!- Yeah.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- That is brilliant.- So it's exceeded what I'd even hoped for.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51It's great that they've done this. And now we've got two eggs.
0:37:51 > 0:37:56There are also six nests in total, so I'm hoping for a few more yet.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00Do you know how long it takes for a flamingo egg to hatch?
0:38:00 > 0:38:04It's a little bit variable, but it's believed to be
0:38:04 > 0:38:06- between 27 and 31 days.- OK.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11So that's not too bad. I've got dates when they were all laid,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- so we can hope.- You're not going to, cos I know that you will quite often
0:38:15 > 0:38:19incubate eggs, like with the pelicans and things, won't you?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Are you just going to leave the flamingos to
0:38:22 > 0:38:23do it by themselves?
0:38:23 > 0:38:27I think at this stage, you know, the behaviours are all as they should be.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30- Yeah.- They're sitting on the eggs. They're turning the eggs.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Can see one sitting just there.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35- Yeah.- Why get involved? Let's leave them to it.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Well, we'll keep our fingers crossed that there might be baby flamingos
0:38:38 > 0:38:40in a few weeks' time. Thanks, Mark.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54Earlier, we met Dandy, the two year-old labradoodle,
0:38:54 > 0:38:59chosen as a suitor to Lord Bath's favourite companion, Boudicca.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Well, today, Lord Bath has invited him, along with owner Barbara Oats,
0:39:03 > 0:39:05for a lunch date with Boudie.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08So will it be love at first sight?
0:39:08 > 0:39:09He definitely hopes so.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Dandy, don't put your feet in her face.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Well, no, it's not the warmest of welcomes,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20but then the path of true love never runs straight.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Dandy, don't bounce at her.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26If he kept his feet to himself, I think she'd like it a lot more.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29- Good boy.- Who's a lovely doggie?
0:39:29 > 0:39:30Good boy. Down.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35You be nice to doggie. She's never had a fight with any dog.
0:39:35 > 0:39:40No. I think she'll put him in his place, as a young upstart.
0:39:40 > 0:39:47Try as he likes, the lady of the manor's just not having any of it.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Boudicca! We'll go and sit over there and let them play around.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52Lovely.
0:39:57 > 0:39:58You're a good girl.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00No. Not sounds like that.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04- You be nice girl. - Dandy, don't be a wimp.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Just leave her alone for a minute.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08She thinks he's a bit bumptious.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11I think she wants to be thought of as the princess.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Quite right, too, in her own garden.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19And the more eager he is, the more she plays hard to get.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21He's a very handsome labradoodle.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23A very, very good-natured little dog.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Well, she is, except she's not exactly appearing so,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31the way she's treating him. Ah, thanks.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37If you calm down, Dandy, she might look more favourably on you.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42She's just a girl who can't say yes.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Well, the fact that she makes a puddle in front of him,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54perhaps, is flirtatious, I don't know.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58Princesses require delicate handling.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01I think the more they get to know each other, the more...
0:41:01 > 0:41:04the more likely they'll be friendly at the right time.
0:41:04 > 0:41:05Live in hopes.
0:41:05 > 0:41:11Yes. We mustn't get too optimistic. They must do what they think best.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- To the puppies.- To the puppies.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20So, with the doggy date over, was it successful?
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Boudicca wasn't a total no.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26She slightly said watch your Ps and Qs, if you don't mind.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29But I think she might come round to it.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32I don't think that my little princess there was being
0:41:32 > 0:41:35as quite as hospitable as she ought to have been,
0:41:35 > 0:41:39but I think this is all in dog flirtation.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43I mean, while she was snarling, she was wagging her tail.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46She was saying don't force me on this
0:41:46 > 0:41:48but I might like you if you wait.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51If you come back and present yourself another time,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53we'll think about it.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57And when he comes back another time, she'll be in season and I'm sure she
0:41:57 > 0:42:00will be thinking about it much more favourably.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Back now to the wolf enclosure because Bob and Brian
0:42:13 > 0:42:14are on a mission.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17They tragically lost one wolf pup to worms,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20but did manage to save another and return it to the pack.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24But now, they have to catch all five remaining pups
0:42:24 > 0:42:27to give them a second dose of wormer.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30If they don't, they could lose the lot.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34The thing is, we've got 20 acres here that they can run around in.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39So if they're all in one place, it's fine,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42but if they're all spread about, then it's a bit more of a nightmare.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48These animals live a wild existence, so the keepers are invading
0:42:48 > 0:42:53the wolves' territory, but they must catch all the pups.
0:43:00 > 0:43:05As you can hear, the adults we've got to contend with, as well.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07It's not the easiest, this job when you've got
0:43:07 > 0:43:10eight adult wolves running around you.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13And, obviously, they're very protective of their cubs,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16which is natural. To them, they don't understand
0:43:16 > 0:43:21what we're trying to do, so they're a bit noisy at the moment.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Suddenly, they spot one.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45I reckon there's at least one or two in there.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49They manage to get three of the pups but there's still two more to find
0:43:49 > 0:43:52and they could be anywhere.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01One.
0:44:01 > 0:44:02Come on, chubby.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08- Trying to hide, look.- They get hold of one, but the other is too deep
0:44:08 > 0:44:12in the den that the wolves have dug, for the keepers to reach.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14You're a little one, aren't you?
0:44:14 > 0:44:16Getting used to this now, aren't you?
0:44:17 > 0:44:19The keepers might be too late.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23The final pup may have died from the infestation of worms already.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27To find out what's going on, they ask our production team
0:44:27 > 0:44:31to look down the hole with our specialist camera equipment.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34Ah, I can see you flashing that then. There you go.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36You can see it flashing.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40- There it is. There, look.- Got it.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43- It's amazing.- Never got that before.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45Just round the corner from you.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48- Yeah. That's it. - It's not that far away from you.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51It's not from where you are. Bit more.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55You're almost lighting him. There. You got the light on him now.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57He's too far to grab, though.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59I'm at full stretch now. Hold on.
0:44:59 > 0:45:04All the pups are still alive but this one isn't coming out,
0:45:04 > 0:45:09so deputy head keeper Ian Turner is left on sentry duty
0:45:09 > 0:45:12while they give the other pups their second dose of wormer.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18He doesn't like that one.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24If they wander off to the back of the root system,
0:45:24 > 0:45:27then it's just a matter of time before they come out.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29She will come out cos she'll get hungry.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31She'll come out and Mum or Dad will call her.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34And as soon as she's out then, hopefully, fingers crossed,
0:45:34 > 0:45:38we'll be able to catch her and give her a second dose of wormer.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42And then put them in the house and keep them in here
0:45:42 > 0:45:43for another day or two.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46With four pups separated in the wolf house
0:45:46 > 0:45:52and one staying firmly underground, the adults are getting restless.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54It's cos everything's not right, at the moment.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56The pups in two different places.
0:45:56 > 0:46:00And to get together, they all howl together,
0:46:00 > 0:46:02which is what they're doing at the moment.
0:46:06 > 0:46:07That's Mum here, on the right.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09And that's Dad on the left.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12What they'll do now is just call it out.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14WOLVES WHINE
0:46:16 > 0:46:18Here it comes.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20That's it. His head's coming out.
0:46:20 > 0:46:22(Get back out there.)
0:46:26 > 0:46:31Bob and Brian have to treat all the pups or they won't survive.
0:46:31 > 0:46:33They spot their chance.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53Got it. The final one.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58With all five pups successfully rounded up, all they need to do now
0:46:58 > 0:47:02is to get Mum in to the house where the keepers can monitor them all.
0:47:04 > 0:47:08She's just gone in. That's it, Bob? That's it.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15Hello.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17Well, we've got the last one... finally.
0:47:17 > 0:47:22And it's not a pretty sight but you can see where the problem is.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24He's pooing and he's pooing worms.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27But that maybe because we gave him a dose yesterday,
0:47:27 > 0:47:29so it might be getting them out.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33But we got them all now...
0:47:33 > 0:47:38thankfully. That's the fastest I've run for a while!
0:47:52 > 0:47:56Paul, the vet, has now arrived to check on the pups.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59Considering what the two of them looked like last night,
0:47:59 > 0:48:03it's impressive to see, especially the one that went home last night,
0:48:03 > 0:48:06is looking quite good, so, yeah, very pleased, actually.
0:48:06 > 0:48:11Quite surprised. I was 50% suspecting that we would have lost
0:48:11 > 0:48:14the other one today, so it's good news.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17You're a darling, you are, aren't you?
0:48:18 > 0:48:22In a lot of ways, I think it's turned out a lot better
0:48:22 > 0:48:24than it really could have done.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27We could have lost two or three more pups, if not the whole lot.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30It's still early days but...
0:48:30 > 0:48:33let's hope that they are out of the woods now
0:48:33 > 0:48:38and we can look forward to more positive days.
0:48:50 > 0:48:55There are an awful lot more animals on the estate than just exotic ones.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01Thousands of sheep and cattle also call it home
0:49:01 > 0:49:05and they all need feeding, too, which isn't a problem in the summer.
0:49:05 > 0:49:10But in the winter, when the grass isn't growing, they eat silage,
0:49:10 > 0:49:12rotted down bales of lush pasture.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16So, summer is a busy time for estate farmers like Simon Baggs.
0:49:21 > 0:49:26At this time of year, the air smells particularly sweet here at Longleat,
0:49:26 > 0:49:30because all the meadows are being cut and someone who is making hay
0:49:30 > 0:49:32while the sun shines is Simon Baggs.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35- Hello.- Hello. How you doing? - Not too bad, thank you.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39You've been very, very busy, by the looks of this field behind us here.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42I would love to have a go at baling cos I've never done it before.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45- You're welcome to have a go. - Really.- Yes. Of course you can.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48- I'm not gonna completely mess it up? - I'll stay with you. You'll be OK.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52- Does the machine automatically make them that beautiful shape?- No. No.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56They make the round bale, then we have the machine that comes round
0:49:56 > 0:49:57- and puts the plastic on them.- OK.
0:49:57 > 0:50:01Why do you wrap hay in plastic? I thought the idea of hay was...
0:50:01 > 0:50:04This is more haylage and silage, so we wrap it for the cows
0:50:04 > 0:50:06in the winter, so it doesn't go off.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09- Oh, right. So it's sort of preserving it, really?- Yeah.
0:50:09 > 0:50:12- That's it. Yeah. It makes itself.- OK.
0:50:12 > 0:50:17You've got the beast over here. Come and show me how this all works.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21Can we just while we're here, I know it's really noisy, I apologise to
0:50:21 > 0:50:25our soundman, but this does look beautiful, Simon.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28It's still got a bit of moisture in it.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30- Bit of green.- Yeah. Moisture. And it's just dry on top.
0:50:30 > 0:50:34So what we do is we cut it, leave it for about 24 hours,
0:50:34 > 0:50:38- then we have a big rake comes in, puts three swafts into one.- Right.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41And then we can bale it. It's just easier and quicker.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44So you're not going up and down the field a million times.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48- We're doing it every 30 foot.- It's absolutely lovely looking stuff.
0:50:48 > 0:50:49Your lucky cows. Right.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53OK. But it's no good looking at it, we've got to get it baled up.
0:50:53 > 0:50:57I'm just so excited. I feel about ten.
0:50:57 > 0:51:00- Shall I get in? - Yeah.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02- Right.- Right. That's it. Put your clutch down.
0:51:02 > 0:51:07- Clutch down. So does it bite like a car?- Yeah. Will be.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09- Go on. Off you go. That's it.- Woo-hoo!
0:51:09 > 0:51:11That's it. Just keep it over to your...
0:51:11 > 0:51:13I'm going to get over-excited now.
0:51:25 > 0:51:30I'm dying for it to beep and make my very first bale. Look at this.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Come on.- There you go. TRACTOR BEEPS
0:51:37 > 0:51:40- If you put your clutch in.- Yep. - Press the brake hard.- Yeah.
0:51:40 > 0:51:44- That's it.- Yes!- Put that into neutral. Press that button there.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48- Yeah.- And you watch and that'll start tying. See.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51- OK.- Yeah.- This is my very first bale, everybody. Look at this.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56OK. That's it.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02I'm so excited. Right.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06- Oh!- That's very good. - Is it?- Yeah. That's OK.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09- For your first attempt.- There's a little bit of a bulge, there.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13That doesn't matter. The cows aren't going to worry about that in winter.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16Look at that. I feel like I've baked my first cake.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19How many more acres did you say that has to be done?
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Probably about 100 left.
0:52:21 > 0:52:22Fantastic. Let's go!
0:52:36 > 0:52:39Earlier in the programme, Boudie met Dandy,
0:52:39 > 0:52:42a very eligible young labradoodle that Lord Bath hoped
0:52:42 > 0:52:45may father a litter of pups with his pride and joy.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Their first meeting didn't exactly go smoothly.
0:52:50 > 0:52:56Dandy was interested, but Boudie wasn't willing.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58No sounds like that. You be nice, girl.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04Well, since then, they've had a second date and perhaps it was
0:53:04 > 0:53:06the ambience of Lord Bath's love garden,
0:53:06 > 0:53:09but let's just say they got on a whole lot better.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13So well, in fact, that Lord Bath feels a trip to the vet is in order
0:53:13 > 0:53:15to get her checked out.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21Having returned from all the drama in Wolf Wood,
0:53:21 > 0:53:23Paul is back in residence at the practice,
0:53:23 > 0:53:26dealing with more domestic matters.
0:53:26 > 0:53:28Lord Bath and Boudicca, please.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33- Ah. Come on, little girl. - Come on, Boudie.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35So, how's she been getting on?
0:53:35 > 0:53:39Well, I wouldn't know if she's pregnant or not.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42I mean, she isn't eating more than usual.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Well, she was mated five weeks ago?
0:53:44 > 0:53:47- I think it was about that, isn't it? - About five weeks ago.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50So we might not be able to feel anything at this point,
0:53:50 > 0:53:54but we should be able to see something on an ultrasound scan.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58At seven years old, this is probably Lord Bath and Boudie's
0:53:58 > 0:54:00last chance for puppies.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09Righty-ho. Right. We're gonna have to get Boudie back up on to here.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12- Yes.- So Anna's just going to give me a hand to lift her up.- OK.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15Alrighty. Come on, Boudie. Up we go.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17One, two, three.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20There. OK. Good girl.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Who's a lovely little girl?
0:54:23 > 0:54:27So we now just need Boudicca just to lie on her side a little bit.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30So she might not like this very much. Anna's gonna give me a hand.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Good girl. Well done.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Good girl. Good girl.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39- So we'll see what we get. - Be a good girl.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43Right. So this is the picture we're looking at. Well done, Boudie.
0:54:43 > 0:54:44You be brave.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Now, we're looking for other black fluid holes with puppies in,
0:54:48 > 0:54:50hopefully. I haven't seen any yet.
0:54:50 > 0:54:52I'm just gonna have a quick scout round
0:54:52 > 0:54:55but there's nothing obvious there, at the moment.
0:54:55 > 0:54:59So I'm afraid, Lord Bath, that she definitely isn't pregnant.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Well, I expect she's delighted.
0:55:01 > 0:55:06Yes. It may be sensible, actually, at her age, to call it a day
0:55:06 > 0:55:11with the breeding attempts because I think she's unlikely to get pregnant
0:55:11 > 0:55:13and if she does, she's gonna be at high risk
0:55:13 > 0:55:18- of having problems at her age. - Mm-hmm. Oh, well, my little girl.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20You've got to be content with your dadda.
0:55:26 > 0:55:31So Boudie won't be a mum but Lord Bath is philosophical
0:55:31 > 0:55:33about life as one man and his dog.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Well, it is sad. I mean, because we've left it
0:55:38 > 0:55:40a bit late in having this try.
0:55:40 > 0:55:45It's not saying goodbye to the chance but we've probably
0:55:45 > 0:55:49done it and she must just get used to her own family.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14It's a little over two years now since the warthogs arrived
0:56:14 > 0:56:18at Longleat and they are now firmly part of the furniture,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21as Andy, you're demonstrating very well.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23Look at them. So who have we got over there?
0:56:23 > 0:56:27This is Genghis, Vlad and Atilla.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29We though it suited them perfectly.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33Well, you say that and they were, indeed, horrors,
0:56:33 > 0:56:35weren't they, when they first arrived?
0:56:35 > 0:56:39Yeah. I mean, to be fair to them, they were really scared.
0:56:39 > 0:56:40And so were we.
0:56:40 > 0:56:46And we'd never dealt with any animals of this nature before.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49And yeah, it was a very steep learning curve for us.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53And quite a few times, we wondered what on earth have we done getting
0:56:53 > 0:56:57these animals, but now, we've spent some time
0:56:57 > 0:57:00just trying to habituate them to what we want them to do
0:57:00 > 0:57:02and we've kind of met level ground.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05They do look quite fierce, though.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07Would they attack us if they were scared?
0:57:07 > 0:57:10What would they do in the wild if they felt threatened by
0:57:10 > 0:57:13another animal or by a human being?
0:57:13 > 0:57:16- Their main response to any kind of danger is just run away.- Right.
0:57:16 > 0:57:18You see their little tails go up.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21They do. I always think they look like remote controlled pigs.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25- Radio controlled. Yeah.- Little tail flies up and they'll just run off
0:57:25 > 0:57:28and get away from it, but, if backed into a corner,
0:57:28 > 0:57:31then yeah, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a warthog.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34These guys'll see leopards and lions off.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37You almost look like a proud father standing here, doesn't he?
0:57:37 > 0:57:40I thought you were going to say you look like a proud warthog!
0:57:40 > 0:57:43- Thanks(!)- They say keepers start looking like their animals.
0:57:43 > 0:57:47I think we'd better go before you get into even more trouble.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50And we have run out of time, sadly, but here's what's coming up
0:57:50 > 0:57:51on the next Animal Park.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57It's a keeper's worst nightmare as a lion tries to go over the top.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59Come on, mate.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04Thomas and Michelle may be giant tortoises,
0:58:04 > 0:58:06but are they giant enough?
0:58:06 > 0:58:08A vital weigh-in suggests they're not.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14And Ben is let loose on 40 tonnes of runaway train,
0:58:14 > 0:58:17packed full of passengers.
0:58:17 > 0:58:21- So we're just creeping up to 5mph.- Absolutely...
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