0:00:02 > 0:00:05Half Mile Lake is home to two of the world's most dangerous creatures,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Ugandan hippos, and we've never been able to see them up close.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12But today all that is going to change because we're going to try
0:00:12 > 0:00:16and get a camera closer to the hippos than we've ever done before.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21The big question is, will the camera make it out in one piece?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Coming up on Animal Park:
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Two spiders got on.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52He's doing it, he's doing it!
0:00:52 > 0:00:55But is she pregnant?
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Our attempt to get close to the hippos doesn't exactly go to plan.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01It's a long way out.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Oh, dear. There is a pile of logs which has broken down.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And we look back to the terrible day
0:01:07 > 0:01:10that almost every animal faced being destroyed,
0:01:10 > 0:01:15thanks to a relentless disease closing in on the estate.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22There are more than 90 species living at the safari park
0:01:22 > 0:01:27and over the years we've got close to all of them.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Except one.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35The Ugandan hippos are two of
0:01:35 > 0:01:40the largest and most unapproachable girls you could ever hope to meet.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Spot and Sonia arrived at the safari park in 1976
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and no-one has ever really got close since. And for good reason.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53They have tusks like carving knives,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55run as fast as an Olympic sprinter
0:01:55 > 0:01:58and weigh in at two and a half tons,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02making them far and away the most dangerous animals at the park
0:02:02 > 0:02:04but also in Africa.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10More people are killed by hippos here than any other animal,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14mostly being attacked by getting in the way of them
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and their favourite place, water.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21For such huge animals, they're incredibly agile
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and are able to hold their breath for up to seven minutes
0:02:24 > 0:02:26before returning to the surface.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Spot and Sonia are usually
0:02:29 > 0:02:33in the water, making them even more unapproachable.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35But earlier in this series
0:02:35 > 0:02:39their keeper Mark Tye needed to get a close-up view of Sonia
0:02:39 > 0:02:43when she got a large piece of rubber matting caught on her tusk.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46How on earth are you going to do anything about that?
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Er...we're not, unfortunately.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Right. Could you not sedate her here?
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Not in the water, no. And even if she was out in the field,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58if we darted her, the first thing she would do is run to the water.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- It would be a big problem. - What a problem.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Thankfully, the rubber mat came off.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06But a way of getting close to the hippos was required.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Meet Raftcam.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Raftcam is a cutting-edge radio-controlled vessel
0:03:16 > 0:03:20that we can mount cameras on, allowing Mark a greater opportunity
0:03:20 > 0:03:24to get closer to the hippos in the water than ever before.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28One of the things with the hippos is we don't get to see them
0:03:28 > 0:03:31very closely this time of year because they literally spend
0:03:31 > 0:03:35most of their time, probably 99% of their time, in the water.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37And most of that time they're sort of submerged.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41If anything, you just see nostrils, eyes, and that's about it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44So we're getting this raft-cum-camera in
0:03:44 > 0:03:48and see if we can get some nice close-up shots of them in the water.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53I don't know quite how they'll react to it but it'll be interesting.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56They'll probably do one of two things,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58run away from it or attack it.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59And if it can't get out the way
0:03:59 > 0:04:02quick enough, it's going to get munched, I would imagine.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05So it's going to be a case of trial and error.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Put it in the water, see how it moves
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and then see if we can get it anywhere near a hippo.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16One person who certainly doesn't want to see Raftcam get munched
0:04:16 > 0:04:20is its designer, and top engineer from Cranfield University,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Dr Kim Blackburn.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25The whole idea of this raft was to be able to sneak up on the hippos.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28They're easily spooked animals, or so we're told.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32So we're trying to just appear like something they're used to.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36So the key thing is to get it low in the water and to get it really quiet
0:04:36 > 0:04:38so we can sneak up on them and get some nice close shots.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41So, what will Mark make of Raftcam?
0:04:41 > 0:04:43You've got two motors on the sides
0:04:43 > 0:04:46and we've got separate forwards and backwards control on each one.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49So the idea is, both forwards and you go forwards, both backwards
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and you go backwards.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56As Mark has no idea how the hippos will react to the raft,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58its maiden voyage will be made
0:04:58 > 0:05:01without our expensive camera equipment on board.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03I like that. That's great.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08You see what I mean? There's nothing to see, just some wood in the water.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09Yeah, it's really unobtrusive.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11The swans weren't bothered.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So it'd be interesting to see exactly how
0:05:14 > 0:05:16the other animals react to it.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21- Well, we've got a hippo coming over there.- Ooh, I can just see two ears.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Would it be worth whizzing over there a bit closer?
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Definitely. I'll just back it out of here.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- Right, I think you'd probably best have a go, then. All yours.- Cool.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Like a dream.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Slow but steady.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Sonia submerges, but suddenly something goes horribly wrong.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- It's a long way out.- Oh, dear.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47That was a wisp of smoke, wasn't it? I blame the driver.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50There's clearly a problem. It does happen in the middle of the lake!
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- We may need a bit of help from the boat.- We may do, yes.
0:05:55 > 0:05:5713 line seven boats.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03There is a... pile of logs which has broken down.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Is there any chance of being able to guide it over towards the beach?
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Any ideas what could be wrong?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I don't know. It's a number of possible things.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- The obvious thing will just be a piece of wire.- Worst-case scenario?
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Something more serious.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- Thank you very much. - Brilliant. Cheers.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41We'll try and not do that again.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- Well, I think you can see which side cooked.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57We've clearly got a problem with the electronics in that side.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59You can see it's burnt.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Something may have caught round the prop and that's seized.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04See, the back bearing in the motor has actually melted.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06So, something's cooked it.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I think it's probably just too much pedal to the metal.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Yeah, normal problem.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Sorry.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16We'll be back, we'll be back.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20It was really good, apart from I broke it.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Hopefully Kim can get it fixed pretty quickly, that's the plan,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and then we can get back on the water and away we go again.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42The park's rhesus macaque monkeys
0:07:42 > 0:07:45are believed to share over 90% of their DNA with us
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and, in some respects, they are pretty similar.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51But, whereas we tend to have three square meals a day,
0:07:51 > 0:07:56for a monkey, it seems every single waking hour is spent eating.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04With over 70 monkeys, this also means that almost every single hour
0:08:04 > 0:08:09of keeper Kevin Nibbs's day is spent preparing something for them to eat.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12These are called primate pellets.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14And that's got all the vitamins and minerals that they need.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- So there are special pellets made for primates?- Exactly.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21They're called primate pellets. So that's what these are.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We've also got dog biscuits, and these are good for their teeth.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27They chew on these. They've got big canine teeth, the monkeys,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29so they chew on these and keep them sharp and clean.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33And also in this bucket somewhere, we've got some maize, whole maize.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35And this is just a filler, really,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38it fills their tummies up for the rest of the day.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Right, so this is a perfect feast
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- for your...75 monkeys, roughly? - That's right.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47- Give or take a few, cos I've seen a couple of little babies.- Exactly.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51They're all on the cars now, which is obviously part and parcel
0:08:51 > 0:08:53of what goes on here. What's this about, then?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Today, we've got this feeding pipe, and what we've done,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59it's just a normal drainpipe and we've put a few holes in the top.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03What we'll do, we'll put some food in the pipe and, in theory,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06the monkeys put their hands through the holes and pull it out the top.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10- Shall I just pour?- Yep. I'll try to stop any falling on the floor.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12It's a bit of an art form, this is.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23We can put this anywhere, just on these logs here.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27As long as the holes are facing up, what they'll do is jump on top
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and help themselves to it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I'll let you do the proper placing there.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36There are obviously a lot of cars out today, quite busy.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Do you think that they'll give up the cars for this?
0:09:38 > 0:09:42I reckon they will. Anything for food, I think they'll do it.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45So you might find they jump on a car, travel around,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and when they get to here jump off.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49It'll be like a taxi for them.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52A taxi straight to their food.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24There have been a few times over the last five centuries
0:10:24 > 0:10:28when the Longleat Estate has very nearly become just history.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33In 1567, the old house burnt to the ground.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Back in the mid-1700s, the second Viscount Weymouth
0:10:38 > 0:10:41came close to bankrupting the place.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46And then, in 2001, a different kind of disaster threatened to
0:10:46 > 0:10:50wipe out the safari park and almost all the animals in it.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57When spring arrived in 2001,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00the country lay gripped by a terrible disease.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05The epidemic of foot and mouth was spreading like wildfire.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10The only way to stop it seemed to be by taking extreme measures,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12so wherever it broke out
0:11:12 > 0:11:16all susceptible animals in the vicinity had to be destroyed.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22On the 2nd March 2001, the disease struck
0:11:22 > 0:11:24just 15 kilometres from Longleat.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Estate manager Tim Moore had to take immediate action.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32This morning, we were faced with the reality of knowing
0:11:32 > 0:11:36there is a confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease at Melksham.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39So what we've had to do is to decide,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42do we stay open or do we close? We have closed, basically.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49We've shut the whole of the park, which is 1,000 acres. We've locked
0:11:49 > 0:11:54the gates apart from two controlled entry points, which we're staffing.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58And we've had to say, "Sorry, no access," except to those who have to come here
0:11:58 > 0:12:01to look after the animals or carry out key services as staff.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Nobody else unless it's for some really essential business.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11With the whole future of the safari park under threat,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14the estate gave our film crew permission
0:12:14 > 0:12:17to stay and document what happened.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20At the time, there were elephants at the park
0:12:20 > 0:12:23and even they could contract this terrible disease.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Head warden Keith Harris had a grim list of other species
0:12:26 > 0:12:28that were also at risk.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32There is probably between 70% and 80% of our animals that would be
0:12:32 > 0:12:35susceptible to foot-and-mouth, everything from the giraffes
0:12:35 > 0:12:41in the background to deer running on the park, our antelope,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Pere David deer, which is an endangered species,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Ankole cattle, buffalo.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52So a wide range of species that it's going to affect if it did get here.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55A large proportion of these animals would have to be destroyed.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57It'd be catastrophic.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02The safari park is why people come here. It's what we're all about.
0:13:02 > 0:13:09So, of 400,000 visitors, 80% come here to see a safari park.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12If we get an infection, we would lose over half the animals
0:13:12 > 0:13:14in the safari park through slaughter
0:13:14 > 0:13:18and we could lose an entire year's turnover of the business.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20There's a number of ways it can be spread.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23One is by people, who can carry it.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28Vehicles can carry it. But I think one of the main worries is that
0:13:28 > 0:13:30it can be wind-blown, which means it can quite literally
0:13:30 > 0:13:33travel in the air, which nobody can legislate.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36We've got our precautions down to stop people and vehicles carrying it
0:13:36 > 0:13:40into the park, but it can actually fly across all boundaries.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43So that is probably the more worrying part about this disease.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48At the safari park's only remaining entrance gate,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51deputy head warden Ian Turner took charge.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54At the moment, I'm doing boots.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56The reason is to keep the hygiene
0:13:56 > 0:14:00to the best we can to stop any diseases coming in.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05'Every vehicle enters onto the straw. The straw's been sprayed with a disinfectant.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07'We've got a spray pump and every vehicle's wheels are sprayed.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11'Whoever's driving the vehicle's got to get out and we do the feet.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13'And they do that on entering and leaving.'
0:14:13 > 0:14:19There's only one way that anybody can enter and that is this road in. All other roads have been closed.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29We've got the wind blowing down-country, which is bad.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33The virus survives better in damp, cold, miserable weather,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37which is exactly the weather we're getting, which is what we don't want.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39We want it to warm up a bit.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42The warmer, the better.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45It's just another worry, it's just something else.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47We just don't need this.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Tim Yeo was in charge of many of the cloven-hoofed animals
0:14:52 > 0:14:54at risk in the park.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59We're just about to go up and move the fallow deer
0:14:59 > 0:15:01back into the safari park.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04We want to do this quite quickly because of
0:15:04 > 0:15:08the outbreak of foot and mouth in the area.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10There's a confirmed case nearby.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13We really just want to bring animals in a bit closer,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15away from our perimeter fences.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Back into the centre of the park.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22There were over 200 fallow deer to bring in and every spare hand
0:15:22 > 0:15:24in the park turned out to help.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Bob Trollope led the team going up into the woods.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30As soon as you come to them,
0:15:30 > 0:15:31go like that, sort of thing.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Avoid them, so they can run past if they want. Anything else, let it go.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37All right?
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Can you spread out a bit more?
0:15:45 > 0:15:50The 20-strong team formed a line to herd the deer down towards the gate.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57You can actually see them going along the race now,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59so that's good.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01GARBLED VOICE ON WALKIE-TALKIE
0:16:01 > 0:16:03What was that?
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Well, hopefully...we've just got news from Tim that I think most of them...
0:16:11 > 0:16:16well, all of them have actually gone through where we wanted them to go. So, it's worked.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Thanks ever so much, everybody, that was wonderful.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22They're all in. I know that's hard work going up that hill.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- But...brilliant. Thank you very much. Job done.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30The giraffery is home to camels, zebra, goats and tapirs
0:16:30 > 0:16:33as well as the giraffes.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37And every single one of them was vulnerable to foot and mouth.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Back in 2001, the head of section was Lucy Harnal.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47It would be very traumatic for everybody if we lost the animals.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50It's hard to imagine...
0:16:50 > 0:16:55the worst comes to the worst, having the animals put down, it's hard to imagine it.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58And it's going to be absolutely devastating for all of us.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Feeding time is important at the moment.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05We can get a lot closer to the animals while they're eating.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09And we can have a good check of their mouths and their feet.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And make sure everyone is eating.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15So it's a good time for us to have a really close check of the animals.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Just by feeding them bananas like this by hand,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21the ones that are more tame you can feed by hand,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and we can have a closer good check of their mouths.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Check for anything that shouldn't be there.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Across the park, all the keepers were doing these grim checks.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36And even a single sign of foot and mouth would mean death
0:17:36 > 0:17:39to almost every animal here.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51This series, we've followed a true love story.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53A tangled web of desire between Rosie and Red,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56the Chilean rose tarantulas.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01It had been keeper Kim Tucker's dream for these two to get it on
0:18:01 > 0:18:05as they have never had spiderlings in Pets' Corner.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07So she chaperoned the first date,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11which was not without its risks to young Red.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14She might attack him, quite fatally.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17So, hence the reason I have to sit and watch the whole process.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19So, get him out before
0:18:19 > 0:18:21she attacks him or eats him or anything horrid like that.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24She had legs to die for.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25And he nearly did.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28But the date was a success.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31He's doing it. He's doing it!
0:18:31 > 0:18:34But, for Red, this may have been his last hurrah.
0:18:34 > 0:18:41Unfortunately, what they do say is that after three months he may die.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44So, regardless of the fact that she didn't eat him,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46he still isn't going to last very long.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Well, now Kate's gone down to Pets' Corner
0:18:49 > 0:18:55to find out whether this fairy tale indeed happily ever after or not.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Well, here is Rosie, the Chilean rose spider,
0:18:58 > 0:19:03and Kim, who is engineering this great romance between Rosie and Red.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05What's the latest?
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Well, a couple of weeks ago, she did lay an egg sack.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11But there must have been something wrong with it because she ate it.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14So, it could be lots of different reasons why she'd do that.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18So, I noticed that Red had spun another sperm web.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22So what I did was put him back in the box with Rosie in the hope that...
0:19:22 > 0:19:24- Brave move! - Well, yeah. And straightaway...
0:19:24 > 0:19:28I mean, last time I had to edge them together a little bit.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31This time he went for it and then got out of the way as soon as possible.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Because, I mean, there is that story
0:19:33 > 0:19:38that female tarantulas will kill males as soon as they've mated.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Yeah. Some of them do. Because of the position they're in, they're sort of
0:19:41 > 0:19:45face to face, her teeth are quite close to all his soft bits underneath
0:19:45 > 0:19:48so, if she was to bite him there, it can be quite fatal.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51So the best thing for them is to get out the way.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56- So, he scarpered as soon as the deed was done?- Oh, yes. He was up and out the box and nearly on the floor.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59So, you were there, ready to catch him. "Well done, my son!"
0:19:59 > 0:20:04Well, just looking in here, I mean, first of all, is she...
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Am I imagining it or is she looking a bit plumpish?
0:20:07 > 0:20:10She is very, very fat, compared to what she normally looks like.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14She did exactly the same thing last time, she's gone off her food,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16which hopefully means that...
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Food being in the tank is a threat to her egg sack,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21so I've sort of held off on the feeding.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25At the beginning, they'll eat loads and loads and loads and loads,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27whereas now she's gone off it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32So we've left her be. She's got a little bit of webbing down there.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35There is a bit of web. What would that be a sign of?
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Well, hopefully...
0:20:37 > 0:20:39The last time she laid the egg sack,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42what she did was laid quite a large area of web
0:20:42 > 0:20:44because what she does is puts the eggs in the middle of it,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46then pulls it all up and round.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- Oh, like a sort of blanket?- Yeah.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52And keeps rolling it and rolling it until it's exactly how she wants it.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55And keeps the eggs nice and safe.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Then she rotates it and carries it around.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59So, judging by the length of time
0:20:59 > 0:21:02that it took her to lay the egg sack last time,
0:21:02 > 0:21:07when do you think she might lay this time, if all your instincts are right?
0:21:07 > 0:21:09We're about a week off the last time.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13So, fingers crossed, it could be any time within the next week.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Well, shall we tuck her away and just have a look at
0:21:16 > 0:21:22the hopefully triumphant father and see how he's doing?
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Oh, my goodness! He's so much tinier than her, isn't he?
0:21:25 > 0:21:29He's absolutely diddy, compared to Rosie.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31If she does lay eggs,
0:21:31 > 0:21:37I mean, how many babies could you have in a week's time?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Erm, I'd like the lower end of the scale, which is 25.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43But I could end up with the higher end, which is about 2,000.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Oh, my goodness! What on earth will you do with them all?
0:21:45 > 0:21:50Well, what some breeders do is they leave all the babies in and don't feed them for a little while
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and they do cannibalise, so it brings the numbers down a little bit.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- So, that's a sort of natural process, presumably?- Yeah. Yeah.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So, all depending on how many she has, depends on
0:22:00 > 0:22:02how we go about dealing with them.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07They both look extremely content, if you can say that about a spider.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10And, I have to say, I would rather you hold him than me.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14But, Red, I'll shake a leg with you. There we go.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Shake a leg to say congratulations and may you have many,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20but not too many, lovely babies.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25- Kim, well done for a really, really good job done.- Thank you very much.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Up in Monkey Jungle, the feed pipe, our cameras and the monkeys
0:22:37 > 0:22:40are primed for a feeding frenzy.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Oh, look. We've got the first monkey up on top of the wood there.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Can you identify the monkeys apart?
0:22:53 > 0:22:57We can tell a few. There's a few with distinct characters.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00The first one there, the bigger one there, is called Maggie.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02She's got a very sort of dominant character to her.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06- How on earth do you know that's Maggie?- Just facially, and her walk.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Like I say, there's a few we know fairly well.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19And the noise that we can occasionally hear, it's almost like
0:23:19 > 0:23:21a squeaking noise, what is that?
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Some of it is actually a fear noise. They're challenging each other.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28And once they start eating they'll chatter a little bit.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31That will bring more and more of them to come over.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34And will they literally just eat as much as they...
0:23:34 > 0:23:37to fill them and then go off?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40What these monkeys have, they've got cheek pouches, so what they'll do is,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44they'll stuff their cheek pouches with as much as they can.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- So, they'll literally hoard? - They do. Yeah, just like a gerbil.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51When they're happy there's nothing else around, they carry on as usual.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- It's a fantastic sight, isn't it? - Absolutely, yeah.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55It's nice to see it working.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Some things we'll try and do
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and the monkeys just rip it apart straightaway
0:24:00 > 0:24:04but it's pretty strong, they're not going to be able to pull it apart,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06so I think we're on to a winner.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09It's not keeping them off the cars, though, Kevin, is it?
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Fantastic.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17- Thank you very much. And good luck with this, it looks like a huge success.- Thank you.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27Back down at Half Mile Lake, Dr Kim Blackburn is still testing Raftcam.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29It's now fixed and ready for the second,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32and hopefully more successful, voyage.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35But a damaged motor could pale in significance
0:24:35 > 0:24:39to the damage that one bite by a hippo could cause.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47So how close will Spot and Sonia allow the raft to get?
0:24:49 > 0:24:53The hippos have moved and they've gone out further over there.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- I can see. Shall we wander over? - Yes, let's see how they get on.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16At the moment, she seems totally non-fazed by it, which is great.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- But it's difficult to know how close is too close.- Yes, certainly.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24I'm quite surprised that you're as close as you are really.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30I can see an eye come up there.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33Clearly being watched.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39She's aware of it now.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Shall I just park it there a minute? See what happens.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Well, I guess the thing is, with the camera on it,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51we can just slowly sneak further in as we go along.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Is she coming towards it, do you think?
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Difficult to tell with the ripples.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Just gently moving away, so...
0:26:05 > 0:26:07there's no sort of aggression there.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11She didn't take a chunk out of it.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14No, that's positive. That was better than I was thinking.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16To get it that close.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Now we need a camera on there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24To see what we can see from the raft. It's disappearing into the reflection.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28But the question is, are the hippos just waiting for us
0:26:28 > 0:26:32to put our expensive cameras on before they attack?
0:26:40 > 0:26:43This is something that you rarely see, a water trough
0:26:43 > 0:26:46with very little algae in it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50It is beautiful, it is clear. Is that thanks to your hard work, Bev?
0:26:50 > 0:26:54A little bit, but we do have some help from some other things as well.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58I couldn't believe this. When we were in the goat enclosure
0:26:58 > 0:27:02the other day, I suddenly spotted these in the water trough.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06I thought maybe one of the visitors had wanted to get rid of a goldfish
0:27:06 > 0:27:09and stuck it in the trough but you've put them in on purpose.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Yep, we've got six goldfish in there and the main aim of the game
0:27:13 > 0:27:15is for them to keep the algae down.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20Before we put them in there, there was clumps of algae floating on the top,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22cos this is a very sunny position.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24But they tend to keep it down.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27But goats are famous for eating everything.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Surely they don't mind a bit of algae.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Goats are pickier than you think.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35What is it about algae that goldfish like so much?
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Well, goldfish are a member of the carp family
0:27:38 > 0:27:40and we heard that local farmers
0:27:40 > 0:27:43are using big grass carp in their bigger cattle troughs
0:27:43 > 0:27:47to keep the algae down, so that's why we use the goldfish.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50It's their natural food, it's really good for them.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52They'll eat bugs, fish eggs,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55algae, plant matter, anything like that.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58We will from time to time feed them as well,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01but, yeah, they tend to help us keep it clean.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03That's amazing.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07Bev, a huge surprise but a great story, thank you very much indeed.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10We've still got lots more coming up on today's programme.
0:28:12 > 0:28:17Ben and I have to feed tigers, lions and a pack of hungry wolves.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21And Kate meets the grand old dame of the East Africa reserve.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24When I get to retirement age,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27I wouldn't mind being looked after by you lot at the giraffery.
0:28:36 > 0:28:41Back now to a day in history that will never be forgotten.
0:28:44 > 0:28:502nd March 2001, the day a nearby outbreak of foot-and-mouth
0:28:50 > 0:28:53meant the whole park had to be locked down.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55After yesterday,
0:28:55 > 0:29:00when we decided to close the estate down, it brought it home to everybody how serious this is.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03When our cameras joined the keepers for their tea break,
0:29:03 > 0:29:07the mood was pretty grim.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Who only knows what will happen around here?
0:29:10 > 0:29:13I don't want to think about that, really.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16I know you do, but I just...
0:29:16 > 0:29:18I can't get it into my head, really.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20No-one wants to have to...
0:29:20 > 0:29:24destroy the animals they have worked with,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26or known all their lives.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28In some cases, hand-reared.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35That would be a very sad day, very sad day or weeks.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Very, very sad.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41A few of the members of staff here live in.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44If they lose their job, they lose their home.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49I don't suppose for one minute Lord Bath would put you straight out on the street,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52but you've got to make plans, haven't you?
0:29:52 > 0:29:58It would just knock the stuffing out of everybody here, it really would.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01And it would take you a long time to get over it.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Because it would be traumatic.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Quite frankly, I am terrified.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09The thought of it terrifies me.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14You know, to...to go in there in the morning,
0:30:14 > 0:30:18or whenever, and see symptoms.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21How many lives are we going to lose animal-wise?
0:30:23 > 0:30:28- And livelihoods. - I just wish it would go away.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30As everybody would think.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34It is a nightmare that we are living. That everybody is living.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Days turn to weeks,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45but the threat, the danger, the anxiety, never let up.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- ON RADIO:- '8 o'clock, the headlines.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51'The future of four farms hangs in the balance this morning...'
0:30:51 > 0:30:54- TV:- '..fight to contain the spread of the disease.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'There have been more confirmed cases today.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00'One farm leader said, "We are staring into the abyss."'
0:31:00 > 0:31:06Everyone was affected, from the most junior keeper to Lord Bath himself.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10It is the most frightening thing that has happened since
0:31:10 > 0:31:15I have been in charge and during the whole time I have been living here.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19It's a very frightening prospect of something that could happen,
0:31:19 > 0:31:23but we're still hoping very much that we've done enough precautions
0:31:23 > 0:31:26to see that it doesn't come to that.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30We would be hit very heavily if it was to get on to the estate.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32It is terrifying,
0:31:32 > 0:31:37because if one had to decimate the safari park in that fashion,
0:31:37 > 0:31:41it really does raise the issue of can one have safari parks,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44if it's going to strike every two to three years?
0:31:44 > 0:31:46If the worst did come to the worst,
0:31:46 > 0:31:52would we ever open up as we are now with the animals we keep?
0:31:52 > 0:31:57Could we make an attractive safari park with just wolves, lions and tigers?
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Would the public keep being loyal and coming?
0:32:00 > 0:32:04That's right, that's the biggest question we'd have to ask ourselves.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07At least the carnivores were safe from foot and mouth.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10They can't catch it. But in those days,
0:32:10 > 0:32:15they had five African elephants who were susceptible to the disease.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Their keeper was Andy Hayton.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24I'm feeling pretty terrified at the moment, probably the same as everybody else.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27It is a complete air of doom hanging over the place.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34If we lost the elephants, it would just be catastrophic.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38We've put nine years' hard work into these animals
0:32:38 > 0:32:41and brought them on since they were this big.
0:32:41 > 0:32:47Catastrophic for the UK elephant herd as a whole,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51these elephants are important for breeding potential in the future.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53It is very far-reaching.
0:32:53 > 0:32:59The trade in elephants coming from Asia and Africa has stopped.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01So replacing these guys
0:33:01 > 0:33:05as a wild stock, you are not going to get any more.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08I will do anything possible to protect these animals.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10On the other side of the park,
0:33:10 > 0:33:14the herd of 11 Eland antelope were being kept isolated,
0:33:14 > 0:33:20but eventually Tim Yeo had to turn them out in order to clean the yard.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23It is extremely hard to know what to do for the best.
0:33:23 > 0:33:29We can't shut them up indefinitely unless we've got really good cause.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Being confined, they're not able to go out and forage,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35and they get agitated sometimes.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37We have to be very careful.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44In Pets' Corner, Darren Beasley was also being vigilant.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49My big worry down here are my two pigs.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Bruno and Blossom, pot-bellied pigs,
0:33:52 > 0:33:58being members of the pig family, are very susceptible to foot and mouth disease.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03We are unclear on who else can carry the disease, so at the moment,
0:34:03 > 0:34:07we are going to take precautions and say everyone is a possible career,
0:34:07 > 0:34:11every single animal from guinea pigs to otters,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14meerkats to parrots.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17One of the concerns I have is we have breeding programmes
0:34:17 > 0:34:19in operation.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21My tortoise breeding programme
0:34:21 > 0:34:24has been up and running for just over four years now.
0:34:24 > 0:34:29Some of these tortoises are 60, 70, 80, maybe 90 years old.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34They've been through different problems throughout their lives. They've had good and bad lives.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38It would be totally dreadful to lose any animal.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41To lose any one part of a breeding programme,
0:34:41 > 0:34:43it will set us back for years to come.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46In fact, I don't know if we would ever recover from it.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52As the weeks passed, the situation showed no sign of improvement.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55The nightmare just dragged on and on.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08We've never managed to get close to the hippos in the water.
0:35:08 > 0:35:13And, for over 30 years, neither has their keeper, Mark.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16They HAVE been filmed in the wild,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19as you can see from this amazing footage.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22But when they feel threatened, they tend to attack.
0:35:25 > 0:35:30To try and get some shots at the safari park, we invented Raftcam.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35We've got cameras and microphones on and under it.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39But it didn't take long to discover our first problem.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43It turns out the lake's a bit silty.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52That floating shrubbery out there is in fact Raftcam.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54And Mark here is controlling it.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57On this screen here we're actually watching the images
0:35:57 > 0:36:01of the safari boat as it goes past.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04We're hoping to catch some images of the reclusive hippos,
0:36:04 > 0:36:09if I can call them that, and the inquisitive sea lions. No sign of anything just yet.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13- No.- And the controls, you've been taught how to move this.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15- How's it going so far? - It's not too bad.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17It's quite easy. Do you fancy a go?
0:36:17 > 0:36:20I'd love to have a quick go. Of course I would!
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Just like a normal remote-controlled car. You've got two engines.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Two engines? So if I... Should I put both of them forward?
0:36:27 > 0:36:29I seem to be just going in circles!
0:36:29 > 0:36:34I think you need to back off the power on one of the engines.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36OK. How about that? There we go.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38I was getting dizzy, watching that!
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Where have you spotted the sea lion?
0:36:40 > 0:36:44- There was one there.- There we go. I'm going to pass that back to you.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Let's see if we can get a shot.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Did you spot who that was?
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Here we go.- I think it was Zook.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54We think Zook is there. She's too wily!
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- She is too wily.- You spin it around.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02Well, I've spotted the hippos a long way over there.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06I'm wondering whether we should head towards the hippos or stay here.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11I think it would probably be best to go for the hippos.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Apparently, this is made to go at a fast walking pace.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18I think I could walk a little quicker than this!
0:37:23 > 0:37:26We're sneaking up quite well there, I'd say.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28I'm very excited.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30We're getting really close now.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34You're in the right direction. Yes! I can see them in the background.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Keep going straight ahead.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38- They're still quite small. Oh... - They've gone.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42- They've disappeared.- Let's hope they don't come up underneath!
0:37:42 > 0:37:46We're going to continue exploring the lake.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Join us later to find out what we see.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Back in the spring of 2001, the foot and mouth epidemic
0:38:15 > 0:38:21meant the estate had to be virtually cut off from the outside world.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Almost no-one was allowed in or out.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Deputy head warden Ian Turner
0:38:26 > 0:38:28even had to take over domestic deliveries.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30I'm just about to drop off the milk.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34The milkman's dropped off at the barrier. We don't let him in,
0:38:34 > 0:38:36he's going through country lanes.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It's just for the cottages down this row of houses.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Number two, number six and number one I've got to drop them off at.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48It's another job we could do without.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52But it's got to be done. People have got to have milk and bread.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54It's just something else you've got to do.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58People are a bit surprised when I turn up on their doorsteps
0:38:58 > 0:39:01dropping off letters, bread, milk and delivering their papers.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05We've got to try and cut down the people coming in and going out as much as we can.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08To guard against the possibility of foot and mouth
0:39:08 > 0:39:13coming in with the deliveries, goods had to be transferred at the roadblock.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18It was as if the park was under siege.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31Although lions can't catch foot and mouth, there were problems
0:39:31 > 0:39:36getting fresh meat delivered and the purpose-built feed wagon broke down.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41Since all non-essential people were barred, they couldn't get it fixed,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45so Bob Trollope resorted to using an old pick-up truck.
0:39:45 > 0:39:46Normally, we would do it
0:39:46 > 0:39:50two or three times a week. But obviously,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53with this foot and mouth problem,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57we've got to eke out our meat supply a little bit.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10This is a bit like how the lions were fed in the old days
0:40:10 > 0:40:14and before health and safety issues were a big concern.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Charlie's pride were waiting for lunch too.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30But here in the woods, there was less room
0:40:30 > 0:40:36for radical driving techniques, so Bob just let them help themselves.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51No-one wants to see this virus get to Longleat.
0:40:51 > 0:40:52Obviously we're little bit
0:40:52 > 0:40:57more relieved, working in the lion reserve, that our animals
0:40:57 > 0:40:59wouldn't get affected directly by it.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01But then,
0:41:01 > 0:41:06if the rest of the animals go, what future does it hold for the lions?
0:41:08 > 0:41:11But still, the park stayed clear of foot and mouth.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16After four weeks, it looked as if the epidemic was fading.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21Estate manager Tim Moore was able to announce some guarded good news.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24We have talked to the vets,
0:41:24 > 0:41:29and we know we can keep the at risk animals in the safari park,
0:41:29 > 0:41:31in effect, in quarantine.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34So we can keep them well separate from visitors.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39On that basis, we think it's a reasonable risk for limited opening.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42We've got a lot of jobs at risk here.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45You've got to balance up the risk from foot and mouth to the animals,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49the advice you're getting on a veterinary level about
0:41:49 > 0:41:51reasonably sensible precautions,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53versus the fact that if you don't open
0:41:53 > 0:41:57and don't have a business, you've got huge financial problems.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Longleat had a lucky escape.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03By the time the summer came,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06the spectre of foot and mouth was almost past.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11The park could finally reopen all areas for the public to enjoy.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27When foot and mouth struck, no-one could have predicted
0:42:27 > 0:42:29how serious it would get.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32There were over 2,000 cases.
0:42:32 > 0:42:344 million animals were slaughtered.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36It devastated the countryside.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Farms and rural attractions were all affected.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Should it ever happen again, places like Longleat must be prepared.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Now, Keith, it was a pretty terrible time. I was down here as well.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52It came to within just a few farms of Longleat, didn't it?
0:42:52 > 0:42:54It was within 15 kilometres of Longleat.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57So, literally as the crow flies, it was farms away.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59So, there were some dark days.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03I actually don't like thinking back, but it was quite frightening.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06I suppose it's really important that you do remember that
0:43:06 > 0:43:09and keep prepared. What sort of preparations have you got here?
0:43:09 > 0:43:13We've got a whole variety of things we can put in place
0:43:13 > 0:43:16literally overnight if we need to.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19That includes digging up roads to put in wheel baths,
0:43:19 > 0:43:24a whole biodiversity across the estate. Um...
0:43:24 > 0:43:27We can actually shut it down completely.
0:43:27 > 0:43:31Which is drastic, but if it needs doing, yes, we can do it.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34A lot of farmers did lose their livelihoods,
0:43:34 > 0:43:37they lost all their animals, which is totally tragic.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40I don't want to say our animals are different.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43But when you've got endangered species here, that are
0:43:43 > 0:43:46in short supply in the world, it does concentrate your mind
0:43:46 > 0:43:49a bit more. So, yeah, they were really dark times.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52It's one we don't like to think of but, for the future,
0:43:52 > 0:43:55if it happens again, we've got to be prepared and ready to do it.
0:43:55 > 0:43:57We have to at least talk about it.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01- Fingers crossed, nothing like that should ever happen.- Yeah!
0:44:02 > 0:44:04Had foot and mouth struck,
0:44:04 > 0:44:08the East Africa Reserve would probably have never have recovered.
0:44:08 > 0:44:13But it would also have affected conservation on a global scale.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17The park started breeding giraffe in the 1960s
0:44:17 > 0:44:23and built up one of the most important captive breeding programmes in the world.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27These are an endangered sub-species called Rothschild giraffe.
0:44:27 > 0:44:32There are only about 400 left in the wild.
0:44:32 > 0:44:36In 40 years, there have now been over 100 births at the park.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39Today, there's a herd of 12 animals.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42But there is one old lady
0:44:42 > 0:44:45that has been pivotal to the breeding programme.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49She's 24 years old, has given birth to 10 calves
0:44:49 > 0:44:52and now is in her twilight years.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55She's a bit arthritic and taking a break from the main herd,
0:44:55 > 0:44:58so I've gone to pay her a visit.
0:45:00 > 0:45:01Well, here is Jolly now,
0:45:01 > 0:45:06- and she certainly hasn't lost her appetite, Bev.- No, not at all.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09I think her most favourite thing in the world is bananas.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11She's enjoying it today, definitely.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14So she's still up in the paddock away from the rest of the herd?
0:45:14 > 0:45:19- At the moment, but a couple of days ago she walked out with the herd. - Did she?
0:45:19 > 0:45:21Some days she feels better than others.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25- She is very slow, especially walking across this yard.- Yeah.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28But when she gets to this gate, if she keeps up with the group
0:45:28 > 0:45:31she'll go down with everybody, if she loiters,
0:45:31 > 0:45:33which she does occasionally, she'll stay here.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36So it's not too much of a hardship for her to be
0:45:36 > 0:45:38up here getting personal attention.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Not really, we try and spoil her.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43She's got her salt lick, her browse, her water,
0:45:43 > 0:45:46she's got everything just here for her.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48She does mooch about the paddock.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52She's still reasonably mobile, just stiff and a bit slow, really.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54Like we're all getting in our old age, aren't we, Jol?
0:45:54 > 0:45:56She's looking incredibly well.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59A little bit grey but definitely distinguished.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00Well, yes, she does look good.
0:46:00 > 0:46:04We're very happy with her weight, she looks a bit elderly
0:46:04 > 0:46:06and her little patches are greying.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10- We think she looks quite cool! - I think she looks absolutely wonderful.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14For the time being, you're just going to keep monitoring her
0:46:14 > 0:46:19and leave her be while she's happy and, as you say, relatively mobile?
0:46:19 > 0:46:22That's right. Some days she's better than others.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25We do have our down days and she does seem really stiff
0:46:25 > 0:46:28but, you know, she's on medication for that so each day
0:46:28 > 0:46:30she seems to get a little better.
0:46:30 > 0:46:32You look very happy indeed!
0:46:32 > 0:46:35I have to say, Bev, when I get to retirement age,
0:46:35 > 0:46:39I wouldn't mind being looked after by all you lot at the giraffery.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42You certainly know how to spoil a girl, don't they, Jol?
0:46:42 > 0:46:47I hope that she continues to stay well and happy because she is
0:46:47 > 0:46:51everybody's favourite giraffe, quite rightly, aren't you, girl?
0:46:58 > 0:47:00Back down at Half Mile Lake,
0:47:00 > 0:47:03Mark and I have been trying to get close to the hippos
0:47:03 > 0:47:08without being attacked, and we're finally getting some good shots.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10So we've got the two hippos, Sonia and Spot there.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13Yep, right in front of us.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17- Pretty close, I'd say.- Yeah, not bad. They seem quite settled there.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20- We can probably sneak up a bit closer.- Yeah, I think so.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23Keep going so they really have no idea...
0:47:23 > 0:47:25- Getting really close there.- Yeah.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28Still doesn't really seem to have an idea...
0:47:28 > 0:47:32We've got the swan and all those cygnets just behind.
0:47:32 > 0:47:34It's a fantastic way...
0:47:34 > 0:47:36- ..Of sneaking up.- Exactly! Exactly.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39She's got her head on the other one's back.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41I was gonna say, because it's very high up.
0:47:41 > 0:47:45- Oh, look, look, in fact that's the other one there.- Yes, yes!
0:47:45 > 0:47:47We're so close now, this is great.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51Look at the snouts there, you get a really good image.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55I mean, they go underwater for considerable distances,
0:47:55 > 0:47:57can they close it down like a sea lion can?
0:47:57 > 0:47:59They can close their nostrils off,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02and they can spend seven or eight minutes underwater.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05They can literally go from one end of the lake to the other
0:48:05 > 0:48:07without being seen.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09You're going to crash into it if you're not careful!
0:48:09 > 0:48:15- Oh, oh...- Oh, look, I think she has spotted us and look, not happy. - They're off!
0:48:15 > 0:48:17What's this wood coming towards us?
0:48:17 > 0:48:22- You can really see the pink on the ears there, can't you?- Yeah, yeah,
0:48:22 > 0:48:24- they're very clean. - How thick is that skin
0:48:24 > 0:48:26that we're looking at there?
0:48:26 > 0:48:29Very, very... I mean, it's pure blubber.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31- Is it?- All the way round is fat.
0:48:31 > 0:48:35So they can survive very cold conditions I imagine, then?
0:48:35 > 0:48:37They have done in this country, obviously,
0:48:37 > 0:48:41although they naturally come from Uganda, very hot.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44You know, these two have lived out in this lake since the '70s
0:48:44 > 0:48:48and we've had some pretty cold weather back in the '70s and '80s.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51The lake used to freeze over quite regularly.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53They've got quite used to that.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56You're getting so close! I hope you don't crash again.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58I'll see if I can park it on her back.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01Amazing, you can see the eye and the ear as we go past.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04- Are those little hairs on her back? - Yeah, hairs all over her body.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07- Look at that.- Blimey! - That is amazing.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10- She's not gonna eat us, is she? - I don't know, she's turning round.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Quick, try and spin the camera and see if you can... Oh. No.
0:49:13 > 0:49:15Look at the wake that she makes.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17I hope that doesn't capsize our raft.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20- It's quite impressive. - Look, there she is.
0:49:22 > 0:49:26- They are magnificent looking things, aren't they?- They're fantastic.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29They are, in my whole eight years or so here,
0:49:29 > 0:49:31they're the animals I've seen the least.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34This is probably the closest I've seen them.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36This is the closest we've been to them in the water.
0:49:36 > 0:49:41I mean, obviously, we normally see them from a distance but this is getting real close.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46We've certainly had the closest encounter
0:49:46 > 0:49:49these dangerous girls have had for 30 years.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54But to get any nearer in the future we're going to need a bigger raft.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08Four years ago, the safari park
0:50:08 > 0:50:12was involved in a new captive breeding programme with white rhino.
0:50:12 > 0:50:16Three rhino, two females and a male were brought from South Africa
0:50:16 > 0:50:18and there were high hopes
0:50:18 > 0:50:23once they were sexually mature some baby rhino wouldn't be far away.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27Well, this year things have really been hotting up.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30The male has been mating with both girls
0:50:30 > 0:50:36and Ian Turner's dream of a baby was finally looking a possibility.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39So, pregnancy tests were done.
0:50:39 > 0:50:44Sadly, the tests last month came back negative, and to make things worse,
0:50:44 > 0:50:48the last time we saw Marashi she was worryingly off-colour.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51Oh, come on over here, girl, we're worried about you.
0:50:51 > 0:50:58The decision was made to dose her up and keep her tucked up in the house.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02So I popped up to see how she's doing.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04She certainly seems more alert today,
0:51:04 > 0:51:07and generally a bit more sociable, doesn't she?
0:51:07 > 0:51:10Yeah, I mean, before we came over to see her
0:51:10 > 0:51:13she was a bit keener to come over and have a bit of contact.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15Yesterday she just wasn't bothered.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19She was really lethargic, wasn't she, and kind of listless yesterday.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22When something like a rhino gets a cold,
0:51:22 > 0:51:25I mean, can you equate it to a human cold?
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Would you expect her to see some improvement in two or three days?
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Yes, I mean, she's a little bit better today.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I would imagine she'd gradually improve
0:51:34 > 0:51:38and probably by the weekend she'll hopefully be back to normal.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41Thankfully, Marashi quickly bounced back.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44But to bring this story right up-to-date,
0:51:44 > 0:51:50let's join Ian Turner for some news that has put a big smile on his face.
0:51:54 > 0:51:59Well, it's reasonably good news without getting too excited.
0:51:59 > 0:52:04Rosena here who always comes into season as regular as clockwork,
0:52:04 > 0:52:06this month she's not.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09So it's bit exciting that she's not come into season,
0:52:09 > 0:52:13cos that's the first signs that she could be pregnant.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15It's looking really good news.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17The other thing is that Marashi,
0:52:17 > 0:52:20the other female, she's not come in as well.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23We've always wanted baby rhinos, we've had them before.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26This has been an ongoing plan for probably 15 years or more.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28So it's fingers crossed, really.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32It's been a long time waiting for baby rhinos and we've got another 16 months,
0:52:32 > 0:52:36if she is pregnant, before we're actually gonna have a baby rhino.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39It's quite a long period of time.
0:52:39 > 0:52:41We are a bit excited underneath all of it.
0:52:41 > 0:52:46So, you wait 17 years for a pregnant rhino
0:52:46 > 0:52:49and two may have come along at once!
0:52:49 > 0:52:53We hope to bring you all the news on a future episode of Animal Park.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59But now we're heading back to Pets' Corner because there's news
0:52:59 > 0:53:01of some more arrivals.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05Rosie, the tarantula, did indeed produce an egg sack.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08It's Kim's first and she's about to find out
0:53:08 > 0:53:11if there's any spiders in it.
0:53:11 > 0:53:12Moment of truth.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21Please let there be baby spiders. Oh, my God!
0:53:21 > 0:53:26- I've got baby spiders. - In fact, Kim has about 400
0:53:26 > 0:53:31and, for now, will carefully monitor every incy-wincy one of them.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40But now there's work to be done.
0:53:40 > 0:53:46There are three tigers, 16 lions and a pack of wolves at the park,
0:53:46 > 0:53:49and every three or four days they get fed.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51The feed wagon's wheels are rolling
0:53:51 > 0:53:55and Kate and I are inside on our way to the Tiger Territory.
0:53:57 > 0:54:02Well, sadly, it is almost the end of our time here at Longleat for this year
0:54:02 > 0:54:04but we've got one final job,
0:54:04 > 0:54:07which is to come out and feed all the big cats and the wolves.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11We're in the tiger enclosure and if you look round that way
0:54:11 > 0:54:16the tigers are already coming up to follow the feed truck.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21These three, Bob, have they done you proud?
0:54:21 > 0:54:24Yeah, they're coming along brilliantly.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27As you can see, they're all chasing the feed wagon
0:54:27 > 0:54:30which they didn't do initially.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33- They're very much like our old lot.- Absolutely!
0:54:33 > 0:54:37Now we have got cameras mounted on this feed wagon, at every corner,
0:54:37 > 0:54:41to see at every angle whether they might try and chew the tyres.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Any problems with tyre chewing
0:54:44 > 0:54:47- or are they behaving themselves pretty well?- Sundari's had a few.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49- Really?- She's getting good at it.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Here she comes.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54- Oi!- Hey, no more tyres!
0:54:55 > 0:54:58They'd actually killed a vehicle.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01So, yes, it's erm...
0:55:01 > 0:55:03She's outwitting our patrol people!
0:55:03 > 0:55:06She's all over the place. It's quite unusual to see
0:55:06 > 0:55:08a tiger being chased by a zebra.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11You don't see that very often, do you?
0:55:11 > 0:55:15- Shall I take a piece?- Yeah. - And who's gonna get this piece?
0:55:15 > 0:55:19I think Sundari will as soon as she realises. She's had a tyre!
0:55:19 > 0:55:23- Did she get it then?- That's five!
0:55:23 > 0:55:25- Did she actually get the tyre?- Yeah.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28- I heard that hiss. - Does that mean we have to...
0:55:28 > 0:55:30No, we just have to carry on.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34I don't want to jump out there and change this!
0:55:35 > 0:55:42With one less tyre but still lots of meat, it's on to Lion Country.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47So we're now whizzing through Charlie's pride, Bob.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51- Yeah.- He's looking fantastic. - He's brilliant.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53He's a magnificent beast.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55And you can see there just how fast he is as well...
0:55:55 > 0:56:00- Yeah.- Dwarfs the cars, sometimes. You know, it's pretty interesting to
0:56:00 > 0:56:02be able to see them run after us,
0:56:02 > 0:56:05- and it's a fair distance they've covered.- Yeah.
0:56:05 > 0:56:06I mean, they're panting.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08Yeah, they want to be here first.
0:56:08 > 0:56:13It's interesting, the girls are going first and he's waiting, is he?
0:56:13 > 0:56:17Yeah, that's it, you would mimic the wild, the females do the hunting
0:56:17 > 0:56:20and the killing and he's just looking for the best bit, really.
0:56:20 > 0:56:22I think he was waiting for Kate to jump!
0:56:24 > 0:56:26It's a good workout for you, Kate!
0:56:26 > 0:56:29It is, trying to balance on a wobbly truck
0:56:29 > 0:56:31and drop down huge, heavy pieces of meat.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34Right, that's them all done.
0:56:34 > 0:56:35Onwards...
0:56:37 > 0:56:43Wolf Wood is home to not only eight adults but five youngsters as well.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45They had a difficult start,
0:56:45 > 0:56:49sadly losing one following a severe outbreak of worms.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53But now, five are thriving.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55The youngsters... There they are.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57- Oh, there are the cubs!- Yes.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01Oh, I mean, I think the wolves...
0:57:01 > 0:57:04it's been a really great year.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06We're getting out here, aren't we?
0:57:06 > 0:57:09We're gonna drag out these...
0:57:09 > 0:57:13- I see you've taken the little one, Ben. Thanks! - I thought you needed the workout!
0:57:14 > 0:57:15Yeah, thanks, Ben(!)
0:57:15 > 0:57:17And where shall we put all this?
0:57:17 > 0:57:20- Shall we pull it around here? - Put it over here, yeah.
0:57:20 > 0:57:21Can you manage that, Kate?
0:57:21 > 0:57:25- Yeah.- The cubs are coming over, they're quite brave.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27- About here?- Brilliant, yeah.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30- Here they come.- Look at this one!
0:57:30 > 0:57:32The little thing!
0:57:32 > 0:57:35They actually come up to the food and nibble on it.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38Judging by the way they're reacting with Brian, they're fearless!
0:57:38 > 0:57:41Well, either fearless or stupid. I don't quite know.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45Well, Bob, congratulations on a great year.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47The big cats and the wolves have all done really well.
0:57:47 > 0:57:52Sadly, that really is the end of our time here at Longleat for this year
0:57:52 > 0:57:56but from the keepers, from all the animals and, of course, from us,
0:57:56 > 0:57:58- thank you for watching, see you again.- Bye.- Bye-bye.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:16 > 0:58:18E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk