0:00:11 > 0:00:13Raaarrgh!
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- SHE LAUGHS - Wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20but we've always tried to get you as close to them as possible
0:00:20 > 0:00:22by using cutting-edge technology.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26On today's programme, we look back at some of the unique footage we've got over the years,
0:00:26 > 0:00:31and we'll be putting the cameras in places we've never put them before.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Coming up on today's Animal Park...
0:00:59 > 0:01:03The lions pounce and we get the best seat in the house.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07We get caught up in a tangled web of love in the spider house,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10as keeper, Kim Tucker, plays match-maker.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Oh, he's doing it, he's doing it!
0:01:12 > 0:01:16And the otters have to brush up their feeding skills.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27A lion's sense of smell is extremely well developed.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32They have a special smelling device hidden in the roof of their mouth, called the Jacobsen's Organ.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37We don't have one of these, so that could be one of the reasons
0:01:37 > 0:01:40why a lion's sense of smell is 30 times
0:01:40 > 0:01:44better than ours and is essential for their hunting and reproduction.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48You can tell when a lion, or more likely your cat, is using it.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51They grimace when they're smelling.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53In the wild, lions would be simulated
0:01:53 > 0:01:58by a huge cocktail of smells that would get these senses zinging.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01So we're going to see how they react to the stink
0:02:01 > 0:02:02that Bob Trollope is making.
0:02:02 > 0:02:08This is one of your brilliant ideas. I love your ideas. And this is a particular favourite.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10What is the plan today?
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Well, what we're going to do is just lay a scent trail for them.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17We just wander about aimlessly for 10 minutes or so.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- We could probably do that! - Yes, we're very good at that.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25And hopefully they'll come out and follow it around and
0:02:25 > 0:02:29- do something.- This would basically mimic a wild environment for them,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32which would be full of lots of different smells
0:02:32 > 0:02:33from lots of different animals?
0:02:33 > 0:02:38Yeah, obviously, we can't put our other livestock in here to leave
0:02:38 > 0:02:40scent trails, so we have to do it for them.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43And the easiest way is to bag up poo.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45OK. What sort of poo have we got in here?
0:02:45 > 0:02:48We have rhino poo because it's really good stuff.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53- You don't have to get much to fill up a bag, obviously.- No, absolutely not.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57And presumably rhinos are not predatory to lions,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59so it's not going to scare the lions,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02it's just going to interest them?
0:03:02 > 0:03:04It should interest them.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09They would prey on small rhinos if they could get a chance.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12If there was one sickly, they would have a go at it.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15But they would come across this in the wild
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and obviously do whatever comes naturally.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20If we're going to start laying a trail,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- is it literally a case of dragging it around?- Yes, drag it around.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29Now, if you look behind us they're all going absolutely mad.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Presumably what we're imitating here, Bob,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35it's not just the smell, but if you were playing with a domestic cat and
0:03:35 > 0:03:41pulling a bit of wool around the carpet they'd want to chase it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I'm quite glad there's a big fence between them.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Obviously we are just dragging this through the ground,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50but it's not gonna be a huge amount of smell, is there?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54It should be, because this has been in there a few days now,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56marinating into the Hessian.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00And the rhino keepers have also dipped it in wee
0:04:00 > 0:04:02to make it nice and wet and soggy.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07We probably wouldn't notice any difference, but their sense of smell
0:04:07 > 0:04:11is really great, so hopefully they will.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14OK, well, Bob and I are going to carry on
0:04:14 > 0:04:19pulling Hessian sacks of poo around the field for a little bit longer.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Join us in a bit to see what the lions think
0:04:22 > 0:04:26of this mildly ridiculous morning's work!
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Whilst most of the animals around the park are not exactly
0:04:35 > 0:04:39what you would call hands-on, down in Pets' Corner visitors have
0:04:39 > 0:04:43the chance to meet the creatures first-hand,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46whether they be furry, slithery, or creepy crawly.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50With an expansion to Pets' Corner planned, keeper, Kim Tucker,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54is keen to increase the number of animals in their collection.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57So, over the past couple of months, she's been researching
0:04:57 > 0:05:00the mating habits of Chilean rose tarantulas
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and has selected two that she will play matchmaker to
0:05:03 > 0:05:07in the hope that they'll produce the park's first-ever
0:05:07 > 0:05:08clutch of baby tarantula eggs.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11These are two of our Chilean Rose Tarantulas.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13We've got Rosie in this box. She's a female.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15We've got Red in here - our only male tarantula.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19We've picked these two, because Red is our only male.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21When he first arrived we originally thought he was a female.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24So it's a bonus that he turned out to be a little boy.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27And Rosie because she's in very good condition.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29She's also one of our prettiest spiders.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31She's very red, so hopefully, with her colouring,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34we should get some pretty nice-looking baby spiderlings.
0:05:34 > 0:05:40So we're going to set up a new tank. This is going to be the love nest.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We'll pop Rosie in so she can stamp her claim on her enclosure.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45In a couple of days we'll put Red in,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47and then, hopefully, fingers crossed,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49we'll have some baby spiders in a few months' time.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Sounds easy enough.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Take one female and one male,
0:05:55 > 0:06:00set up a cosy environment and let nature take its course.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03But, as is so often the case with breeding animals,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06it's not quite as straightforward as that.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Firstly, she's got to be sure they're both ready.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15Good conditioning is one thing and making sure they're eating properly.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19And we keep records on the spiders, so we know that she's been eating.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24As long as they're handled with care these tarantulas will not attack.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26If they did, their bite would be similar to a bee sting.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31But Kim's hoping that they'll be on their best behaviour for the date.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Her job, as chaperone, is to create the perfect romantic environment.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Right, I'll just pop Rosie back in here for a moment
0:06:40 > 0:06:44and then what we're going to do is make a start on the love nest.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So, what I'm going to do is put in...
0:06:47 > 0:06:49This is just peat and vermiculite.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51The vermiculite helps to keep the water content,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54because it needs to be quite humid in there as well.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56And we'll spray it with some water.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Like I say, for the humidity.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04And just make sure that it's nice and comfortable for Rosie.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06And then what we're going to give her
0:07:06 > 0:07:10is a hide. It just means that she has somewhere nice and private,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13away from everybody else's eyes, if you like, to lay her eggs.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16And she can make sure they're safe and protected.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20No-one else can see them. Right, there we go, then, darling.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23It's important that Kim allows Rosie a couple of days
0:07:23 > 0:07:27to settle into her new home before she introduces Red.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30She'll need this time to make herself at home because
0:07:30 > 0:07:33if she doesn't feel relaxed, she won't be in the mood.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37While she's getting settled in there, we can have a quick look at Red.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39He's our little boy spider.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43He's a little bit smaller than her, but very, very pretty.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Males generally have a lot more hair on their body.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48They look a lot more furry than the females.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52He may be pretty, but being smaller than her leaves him vulnerable.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Female Chilean rose spiders have a tendency
0:07:55 > 0:07:58of becoming aggressive during mating.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Obviously we want to avoid any complications of any kind.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08But there is one that most people would associate with spider breeding
0:08:08 > 0:08:11and that is the probability that she might attack him. Quite fatally.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15So hence the reason I do have to watch the whole process,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17get him out before she attacks him
0:08:17 > 0:08:19or eats him or anything horrid like that.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23So I've got my little plastic sheet that I can stick in between them
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and get him out as quickly as possible.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27But hopefully she's ready, he's ready,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and we should hear the pitter patter
0:08:29 > 0:08:32of lots of tiny little feet in a couple of months' time.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36We'll see later in the show if the love nest Kim created
0:08:36 > 0:08:39gets Rosie ready to greet or eat.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Down in Pets' Corner, keeper, Rob Savin,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51is about to feed the most popular family.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54In the wild, these Asian short-clawed otters
0:08:54 > 0:08:55live in a variety of habitats
0:08:55 > 0:08:59and they spend most of their time searching for their food.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Here at Longleat it's a constant battle to enrich their lives and keep their minds active.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Rob has come up with an idea and it involves a broom.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10What is all this about then?
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Right. What we're doing with these two big broom heads,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16we're trying to replicate a bit of a reed bed.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19So we're going to lower this into the water in a moment,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22stuffed full of this lovely seafood.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24We're going to wedge a few on, tuck a few in
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and see just how agile the otters are. We've learnt
0:09:27 > 0:09:30they're very agile, with their feet and all sorts of things.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33So shall we start? Literally just...
0:09:33 > 0:09:37I want them wedged in tight and some skewered in.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Obviously you're always trying to come up with ways to enrich their
0:09:41 > 0:09:44habitat here, and how did you come up with this idea?
0:09:44 > 0:09:48It's something we've used before with a few of the other animals,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52with the marmosets, for example, just for ways of hiding food.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55And we've got various ways already in the enclosure of hiding food,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58putting it into bamboo and coconuts, that sort of thing.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Hiding food is very, very important.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07But also these otters are very partial to shallow water and
0:10:07 > 0:10:09they would be within the grasses and the reeds,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and they find all sorts of crustaceans, crabs,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15that sort of thing, in here, and they're very adept
0:10:15 > 0:10:19at getting little bits of food out of very, very small spaces.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Some of these prawns have their shells and everything on.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Will that whole thing be eaten?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- They'll eat the lot.- They're not picky?- They'll eat every last bit.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It's getting quite full already.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- It is.- I'm just trying to skewer, without breaking bits. That'll do.
0:10:33 > 0:10:40- This is definitely a first!- We have a camera waiting there as well.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43So we should hopefully get some fantastic images from the water.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46So we want to lower this down carefully.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Nice and gentle, and hopefully they'll come straight to it.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Let's get that in there.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Yeah, most of it's staying on.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- That's good.- Here they come. What's this, down here?
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Here she comes. This is Rosie, straight to it.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Three out of the four are straight in there.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05She's gone straight to our camera. There are the others,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- touching it with their noses. - Touching it, sniffing it.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10They've got a very, very keen sense of smell.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Their eyesight in the water is brilliant, though,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14because throughout the water they can focus on things
0:11:14 > 0:11:17in the water, and while they're in the water,
0:11:17 > 0:11:18they can focus on things outside too.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21And these thick tails, presumably, help them with swimming?
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Yeah, brilliant for balance. It acts a bit like a rudder.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28On the land, balance again. They do spend a lot more time on the land
0:11:28 > 0:11:32than most otters, but, as you can see, they're such agile swimmers.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34They can turn very quickly.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- Are you pleased with how this is going?- Very pleased.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It's great that they're taking their time over it, I imagine?
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Anything that takes more time for any animal is always good.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Anything you've hidden, any different smells,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49it keeps them busier for longer, keeps them working harder.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I'm assuming it replicates more realistically
0:11:52 > 0:11:53- what happens in the wild. - Absolutely.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59- And the grass is the reeds, the bamboo.- And will they take them away?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02There's a couple up on the bank there. Do they get them
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- out of the water to eat?- Yeah, because they're still a bit wary,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07they're going to go outside on the ledge to eat.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Sometimes they just bring it on these low ledges, here.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Depending on how soft the food is, how much they've got to do with it,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15they can sometimes munch it in the water.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18These otters spend a lot more time on the land,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and if there's anything they have to crunch away or peel away
0:12:21 > 0:12:24with their paws they're going to do it on the land.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26So they'll take little bits and come back for more.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29And that is always adding to their enrichment.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31How long can they stay underwater?
0:12:31 > 0:12:34It's around a minute, so not as long as you may think.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Look at them. They're really going for it now, digging around.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Rosie's up here. She's normally the first one to do this sort of thing.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- What's she saying to you? - She's saying, "Come on, chuck it to me, I can't be bothered!"
0:12:45 > 0:12:49But, no, she's gonna work for it. I'm not gonna make it too easy for her.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52- Which is exactly what this is about. - That's the whole point.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54- Will you leave that in until it's empty?- Yes,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57and we may use it continuously and keep stuffing it full.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00It's important we keep chopping and changing with this. It's fantastic.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04A very successful experiment there, Rob. Thanks very much.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06You're welcome.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13WOLVES HOWL
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Earlier in the programme, Kate and deputy head of section,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Bob Trollope, brought a whiff of the wild to the lions' enclosure
0:13:21 > 0:13:23by leaving a scent trail of rhino poo.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27It's now time to see how the lions are going to react.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29And you've got a front-row seat,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33as we've placed a camera right by the pile of poo.
0:13:33 > 0:13:39The moment has come to let the lions out and see how they react to this.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Yes. - OK. I'll let you give the signal.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44OK, Sarah, if you could let them out, please.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49Do you think there'll be an instant reaction, as soon as they come out?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- I think so.- Oh, look at this!
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- THEY LAUGH - That answered the question for you!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56I don't think they're taking a lot of notice of the scent trail we laid.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Not at all! But coming straight up.
0:13:59 > 0:14:05What we did, you can see, just out here, we emptied the sacks...
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- THEY LAUGH - And they have knocked straight over the little camera, which won't be
0:14:09 > 0:14:13getting any pictures of them now, but lovely pictures of the grass.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14That's extraordinary, Bob,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18that they've come straight in to that pile of dung.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Is that what you expected to happen?
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Yeah. They actually love getting themselves smelly.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Right.- Lovely, fresh rhino dung is ideal because it
0:14:26 > 0:14:29holds its moisture, and also, as I said earlier,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33it's been dipped in the rhino wee, so it's nice and strong,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37and they'll roll about in that and make themselves a right mess.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Look at her.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45One of the females here, she's not doing it now, but she had hold of
0:14:45 > 0:14:49a bit of dung and her mouth was completely screwed up, like that.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Do you think it was just because it was a very horrible, strong smell?
0:14:53 > 0:14:54She... THEY LAUGH
0:14:54 > 0:14:57She's just run off with the camera.
0:14:57 > 0:15:03- That's a close-up!- Is that going to be a problem for him?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05The camera is one thing, but are you worried
0:15:05 > 0:15:08that he might chew that, or is it fairly bomb proof?
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It's pretty bomb proof. That's a metal case.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14A bit of plastic.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17- They crack bones.- That's true.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22There's going to be some very interesting close-ups there
0:15:22 > 0:15:25of Mr Dudley's tongue over the lens.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Kate and Bob haven't seen this footage yet,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32but before they do they've got to retrieve the camera.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35So, what I want to know, though, Bob,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38is who is going to go and get the camera?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40The cameraman, obviously! THEY LAUGH
0:15:40 > 0:15:42It's his camera!
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Go on, Adam, off you go!
0:15:50 > 0:15:54- There we go.- Let's have a look, Bob and see what...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58..Mr Dudley managed to film.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00This is obviously the shot
0:16:00 > 0:16:03before the lions were let out.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Oh, my goodness!
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Here they come. Wow! Pile in!
0:16:08 > 0:16:10OK, there's the shot of the grass.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12That's interesting.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18I'm not sure our cameraman, Adam is...
0:16:18 > 0:16:21I'm not sure his job's in jeopardy quite yet.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- No, not yet. - Oh, there's a bit of lion there.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26A bit of nose.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Having a good old sniff!
0:16:28 > 0:16:31You don't want to get much closer than that, do you?
0:16:31 > 0:16:33You wouldn't really, would you?
0:16:33 > 0:16:36SLURPING AND GROWLING
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Actually, the sound is great.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42You can really hear how much they're
0:16:42 > 0:16:44communicating with each other.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51A nice great big bit of lion slobber right there.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Oh, that's tongue. Look at that!
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Yes, if you ever wanted to see what it would be like,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08your final view as you got eaten by a lion, this is it!
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Look at that tongue, that's brilliant!
0:17:12 > 0:17:16These amazing shots give us a great idea of how they feed.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Look at that tongue. It's covered with rough spines, called papillae.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23This helps the lions scrape meat off the bone
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and acts like a comb for grooming their coat.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Their jaws are short and strong,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32and at the back of the mouth are the carnassial teeth,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36which work like a pair of scissors for cutting up the chunks of meat.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Brilliant. Well, what a fantastic experiment.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45And clearly a very good way for them all to start the day.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Although they've now completely abandoned the poo
0:17:48 > 0:17:50- and gone to lie in the sun.- Yeah, good idea.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It's very lion-like behaviour. Thank you again, Bob.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03In ten years we've never filmed down a lion's throat.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07But we've always strived to bring you the most interesting images from
0:18:07 > 0:18:12around the safari park, such as when the giraffes wrapped their
0:18:12 > 0:18:1718-inch tongues around their dinner and we had a peak into a wolf's den
0:18:17 > 0:18:19to discover new-born pups.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22It's been a challenge trying to capture animal behaviour
0:18:22 > 0:18:25that you would never normally get to see,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28either with the naked eye or with an ordinary camera.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33So, from time to time, we brought in specialist camera people,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36like Jonathan Watts, who came to reveal
0:18:36 > 0:18:40a strange and mysterious world down in Pets' Corner.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43These are leaf-cutter ants.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47What I'm doing is using a miniature camera,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50which is actually just stuck on the end of this
0:18:50 > 0:18:53focusing slide with a piece of Blu-Tack.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56It's a little bit crude, but, as you can see,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58you can get right in close and
0:18:58 > 0:19:01get some really nice images of the ants.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06But to get even closer, Jonathan brought an endoscope lens,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09the sort of thing that is often used for key-hole surgery.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13It givens us a wide-angle view from really close up,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and it gives you some idea of how big the ants are.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18It gives you a really nice feel.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20If you look at these guys
0:19:20 > 0:19:24chewing away at the leaves and carting them all off...
0:19:24 > 0:19:27And if you can really get in close,
0:19:27 > 0:19:33you'll notice that they're really like prehistoric animals.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35They're so crude,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37but absolutely fascinating.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Once the ants have chosen a suitable leaf,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43which they hold on to with tiny hooks on their legs,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47the leaf cutters use their powerful mandible jaws,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51which vibrate at a thousand times a second, like a chainsaw.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54They then follow a scent trail back to the nest.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58There, the leaves are left to rot until fungus starts to grow on them,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01which is what the colony actually feeds on.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04As well as delving into the world of the very small,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09we've also tried to see things from the animal's point of view.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Our aim was to get cameras on the big
0:20:11 > 0:20:14and rather less approachable creatures.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18We decided to start with something slightly more manageable.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22So, sheep farmer Simon Baggs set us a canine challenge.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26We're going to try and get a sheepdog's view
0:20:26 > 0:20:28of rounding up sheep.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Now, this little camera that you can see there has been fitted
0:20:32 > 0:20:37by a specialist wildlife cameraman, who is just over here.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Now, Steve, tell me, how does it actually work?
0:20:39 > 0:20:43How are we going to pick up the images from that camera to here?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Megan has a small camera mounted on her head
0:20:45 > 0:20:48which is connected to a microwave transmitter on her back,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50which sends a safe signal back to my receiver
0:20:50 > 0:20:52which is connected to the camera.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54And if I look in there...
0:20:54 > 0:20:56You'll see Megan's eye view.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Hey, look at that, I can see hands!
0:20:59 > 0:21:03That looks brilliant. Are we all ready over here from your end?
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- Up and running.- Ready over here!
0:21:05 > 0:21:09We're ready. Simon, the sheep are scattered.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10- Shall we let her do her work?- Right.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Farmers and dogs have been working together like this for centuries,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23but this was the very first time we'd seen the business
0:21:23 > 0:21:25from the dog's point of view.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Modern technology has changed almost every other aspect of farming,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32but when it comes to rounding up sheep,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36there's no better way than one man and his dog.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53In Pets' Corner, the big day has arrived for Kim and the Chilean Rose
0:21:53 > 0:21:58tarantulas, who she's hoping will produce a clutch of spiderlings.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Rosie's been settling into her new love nest for the past two days,
0:22:02 > 0:22:07and now the time has come for her to meet Red.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12This is the really, really interesting bit now.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14To see if we have everything right for them.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Hopefully, if things go to plan,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20we should see a little bit of action this afternoon.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24It's vital that Rosie has been given the time to feel
0:22:24 > 0:22:26fully at home in the new love nest
0:22:26 > 0:22:30so that she feels comfortable enough to welcome Red on to her patch.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35We're going to pop him in, in a minute, and I've got my little
0:22:35 > 0:22:36plastic sheet here, which is
0:22:36 > 0:22:42my stopper in case she decides to charge for him and eat him.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Obviously we don't want that to happen,
0:22:44 > 0:22:45so this is my spider saver today.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Aggression by the larger female towards the smaller male
0:22:49 > 0:22:52is common during tarantula mating,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56so no wonder he's instinctively looking for a place to hide.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59This is all very, very hopeful.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Obviously I've researched this lots and lots.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05I've never personally done it before, so we'll just have to
0:23:05 > 0:23:09keep our fingers crossed that it'll go in textbook fashion.
0:23:09 > 0:23:15What we're going to do first is pop Rosie inside the hide.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19The idea of this is that Red can lure her out.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21That's what's supposed to happen.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25With Rosie in place,
0:23:25 > 0:23:30it's time for Red to do his duty and step into the love nest.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32I've got butterflies in my tummy now.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Hopefully she's not going to charge for him.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Hopefully they'll do what they should.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40The theory is that he'll lure her out of the hide
0:23:40 > 0:23:43by tapping his legs on the floor and vibrating.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Just to let her know that he's a potential male
0:23:46 > 0:23:47and not a meal, if you like.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Then what'll happen is he'll approach her very carefully
0:23:51 > 0:23:52and then lift her up,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and what he'll do is hook her fangs out of the way
0:23:55 > 0:23:57so hopefully she can't bite him.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02He'll use his palpal bulbs, and...if that's the way to describe it!
0:24:02 > 0:24:08Then hopefully insert his semen into her and then we'll have some babies.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12It's a nervous moment as Red feels his way around the tank,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16but neither seem that interested in mating.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20In fact, as he goes around the back, she nips out the front.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22All Kim can do is wait.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28There doesn't seem to be an awful lot of action going on. As they're
0:24:28 > 0:24:31sat quite far away from each other, what I might have to do is
0:24:31 > 0:24:34nip in and give nature a helping hand.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40What I'm going to do is...
0:24:40 > 0:24:42I'm going to move the hide.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50With the obstacle out of the way,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52almost immediately Rosie makes a move for Red.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Right, go on. Oh, no, she's over there.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09- That's it.- Eventually, with a little gentle persuasion, they edge closer.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Oh, oh! Oh, he's doing it.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24He's doing it! Oh, brilliant!
0:25:24 > 0:25:29Oh, fantastic! Oh, I'm so pleased.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Let's just hope she doesn't eat him afterwards.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Fantastic. Look at that!
0:25:40 > 0:25:44I'm just anticipating now that, because they've split up now, so...
0:25:46 > 0:25:48I don't want her to...
0:25:48 > 0:25:53Then attack him. It looks like he's trying to lift her up again.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58But she has her fangs out now so I'm going to intervene.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02There we go, that means she's not happy, so...
0:26:05 > 0:26:06I'll get her out of the way.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11And keep her away from him so she doesn't eat him.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14And then I've got to get him out.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Fantastic. Absolutely brilliant.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I'm so chuffed we've got it right.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22It may have taken him a while to pluck up the courage,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25but it was definitely worth the wait.
0:26:25 > 0:26:31# If you hold me in your arms
0:26:31 > 0:26:34# I won't feel better
0:26:34 > 0:26:39# If you hold me in your arms
0:26:39 > 0:26:43# We can brave this storm together... #
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Success! Wonderful!
0:26:46 > 0:26:50So hopefully, apparently, this is the easy bit, getting this bit done.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53The difficult bit is getting her comfortable enough
0:26:53 > 0:26:57to lay the egg sac. So I'm really, really pleased
0:26:57 > 0:27:03it's all gone according to plan and we've had spider mating. Yippee!
0:27:05 > 0:27:09It's a special moment and let's hope, for Red's sake,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12that he savours every second.
0:27:17 > 0:27:24Unfortunately, what they do say is that after three months
0:27:24 > 0:27:27there is a possibility that he may die.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31So, regardless of the fact that she didn't eat him,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33he still isn't going to last very long.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36She'll be fine. There'll be no problems with her at all
0:27:36 > 0:27:38whether she lays an egg sac or not.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40He's basically served his purpose.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44He was put on this earth to mate with a female and to procreate.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47So he's done that now, and now we can leave Red in peace.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Go and pop him back
0:27:49 > 0:27:51into the stable, where it's nice and warm.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55And then concentrate on Rosie, making her as comfortable as possible
0:27:55 > 0:27:57and then we'll just have to keep an eye on her.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01So, Red's future might not look too bright, but for Kim,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04her months of research have paid off.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I'm really pleased for myself, if I'm honest.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10It means I've done everything that I can do properly
0:28:10 > 0:28:13and I'm really relieved that we haven't had to keep trying
0:28:13 > 0:28:17and keep trying, because there was a possibility of that happening, too.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22But obviously the first time and it's worked so that's fantastic.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Let's just hope she doesn't eat him afterwards.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28# Hold me in your arms... #
0:28:38 > 0:28:40I've joined keeper Sarah in the hot house to meet Dave,
0:28:40 > 0:28:44the yellow-footed tortoise with a very different diet.
0:28:44 > 0:28:45Look what he's tucking into.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- Meat!- Yes. He's loving it. - Is this right, Sarah?
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Yes, for this particular type of tortoise
0:28:51 > 0:28:54it is what he would eat naturally in the wild.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57He would come across dead rodents and things like that,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59that they like to eat, so yes.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02So very different to the other tortoises here
0:29:02 > 0:29:04that eat green grass... Greens, basically?
0:29:04 > 0:29:05Yes, very different.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09He will have some green foods similar to our other tortoises.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Some dandelion leaves and mainly fruit as well and insects,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16but every now and again we offer him a bit of protein,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19because that's what they'd need naturally in the wild.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21It's sort of some people's idea of a horror film, really?
0:29:21 > 0:29:23It does look really wrong!
0:29:23 > 0:29:27And for us it goes against the grain a little bit because we're so used
0:29:27 > 0:29:31to feeding our Mediterranean tortoises the leafy, green food
0:29:31 > 0:29:35and to give them meat is something that's really strange for us,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37but it is what he would eat, so...
0:29:37 > 0:29:41So, apart from eating meat does he actually have yellow feet?
0:29:41 > 0:29:46- They have lots of yellow scales on their front legs.- Oh, yes, I see.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48And a lot of yellow on the face as well.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51And there is a similar one called the red-footed tortoise which is
0:29:51 > 0:29:53practically the same, but has red markings.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55And why is he in here with the iguanas?
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Dave, as a yellow-footed tortoise,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01would be found naturally around the same areas as the green iguanas,
0:30:01 > 0:30:05so South America, the same kind of parts and he'd live on the forest floor,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08so for him to be in here with him, it's fine.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10They tend to ignore each other, to be honest.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- He's not going to try and eat him? - Hopefully not!
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Not as long as we provide that, he should be all right.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Sarah, thank you very much.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21- That's OK.- We'll leave Dave to his meat and here's what's still to come on today's programme.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24There's trouble bubbling in Half-Mile Lake
0:30:24 > 0:30:27as Sonia the hippo has something stuck in her teeth.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31But how do you treat the most dangerous animal in the park?
0:30:32 > 0:30:36New keeper, Jack Alderson, has his toughest test yet
0:30:36 > 0:30:40as a baby Eland appears to be rejected by her mum.
0:30:40 > 0:30:45If the situation doesn't change, the baby could die.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48And there's chaos down in Pets' Corner.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50We've lost a ferret.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53But before all that, we're looking back over the years
0:30:53 > 0:30:58to the moments we really immersed ourselves amongst the wildlife here at Longleat.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Special high-tech cameras have given us fantastic viewpoints from the animals
0:31:12 > 0:31:17and even help solved mysteries that have had the staff baffled for years.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Over in Pets' Corner,
0:31:19 > 0:31:24Michelle Stevens looked after the giant African black millipedes for five years,
0:31:24 > 0:31:28and she wanted to know which were boys or girls.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33There was only one way to tell and that was thanks to the minicam.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36The important thing is that we look at, on the males,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40on the seventh segment the males tend to have a missing pair of legs.
0:31:40 > 0:31:46They do have these legs, but they're special clasping legs for mating and they're hidden in little pouches.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50To tell the sexes apart you have to find the missing legs,
0:31:50 > 0:31:55and that's tricky because they are very small and they do keep moving, all the time.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- Two millipedes in here.- Wonderful.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00African black millipedes.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05What Jonathan captured on camera was then played back in slow motion
0:32:05 > 0:32:08so Michelle could see in detail the millipede.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13We can probably pause it and count the legs back.
0:32:13 > 0:32:19One, two, three, four, five, six, and the seventh one still appears to be there so...
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- So, it looks like a female to me. - Right.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25- So, we've found something out, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:32:25 > 0:32:31The next challenge took Jonathan from one of the smallest creatures in the park
0:32:31 > 0:32:32to just about the biggest.
0:32:32 > 0:32:40What we're going to do is try and put this tiny camera
0:32:40 > 0:32:44onto a rhino and get a rhino's point of view in the park.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46So, Ian, do you think this is going to work?
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Have you ever tried anything like this before?
0:32:49 > 0:32:54No, we haven't. It's going to be interesting to see what they see when they're walking about.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56And the horn, here, you can see it.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01- Yes.- It's just like your fingernail, so it's not going to affect her.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04It's not going to hurt her in any way.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06- Who's this, Becky?- This is Babs.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09OK, well, given that she's in such a good position,
0:33:09 > 0:33:12shall we try and put this on? OK, Babs.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15We have Velcro on there and Velcro on the camera.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17I just need to push that little bit in...
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Oh, hold on, wait a second!
0:33:21 > 0:33:24There we go. That's on.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Now, while you two are keeping her nice and calm,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32I'm going to pop over here to see Jonathan Watts who is our little camera expert.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37Well, you're not little, but the camera is. Oh, look, we've got a picture already.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42Oh, this is brilliant. Have you ever attached a camera to a rhino before?
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Not to a rhino, no.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47This is a definite first for the morning.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49With the camera in place, the rhinos were turned out
0:33:49 > 0:33:53into the yard from where they could move down to their paddock.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57The microwave link to the camera had a limited range
0:33:57 > 0:33:59so we followed in a car.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01We've got a picture.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Oh, look, we are beginning to get a picture.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07It's an amazing view, isn't it?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09It looks really weird.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11I've seen the rhinos loads of times before,
0:34:11 > 0:34:15but to actually see what the rhino is looking at, it seems so weird.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20- Look at that, right up close. - Lots of behind shots, I'm afraid.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24You've never seen a rhino's bum this close before!
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Her horn is much longer than any of the younger rhinos,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31do they continue to grow as they get older?
0:34:31 > 0:34:34All the time. Literally, like your fingernails.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38And obviously some rhinos' horns grow bigger than others, not everybody is the same size.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42But you can literally tell from young rhinos what age they are by the horn.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45And we're not going to stop here.
0:34:45 > 0:34:53Keep an eye on the rest of the series for more weird and wonderful images of Longleat's natural world.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Along with the rhinos, this area is home to all of the horned animals.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Oryx, ancholi and also to a herd of eland,
0:35:11 > 0:35:16a type of antelope from the Savannah plains of Africa.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20The breeding herd of eland has been really successful, but over the winter,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23sadly, they lost several females to natural causes.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28So the keepers were thrilled when Cindy had a new-born baby a few weeks ago.
0:35:28 > 0:35:34Brandy the calf appears to be doing well but, having observed mother and baby over a couple of weeks,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38new keeper Jack Alderson, has started to become concerned
0:35:38 > 0:35:41over Brandy's feeding, or lack of it.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48I was out one day, just sort of came across baby and mum together
0:35:48 > 0:35:51and mum was sort of pushing her away.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Not giving her the milk she wants.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Which is not really normal.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57So I was a bit concerned, really.
0:35:57 > 0:36:03Head of section, Tim Yeo, has nearly 30 years' experience
0:36:03 > 0:36:08working with animals and knows that this one needs close attention.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12When you look at the calf, it looks healthy. It looks strong.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15So, I think it's getting milk
0:36:15 > 0:36:19but there's maybe a question as to how much it's getting,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23and it may be that it demands just a bit more and it's not getting that.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26It could go downhill quite quickly and become a bit of a problem
0:36:26 > 0:36:28because obviously she's young, she needs every bit of energy,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31every bit of life her mum can give her from the milk.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34So, it's very important she gets as much as possible.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38If she's not being fed at all we could intervene and hand rear her.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40I don't know how much success we'd have,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44because there's not been very many successful cases of hand-rearing eland.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47The chances are she could become very tame and that could be a problem.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50She's a wild animal, she's got to be wild.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54Taken away from the herd, that's never a good thing, I don't think.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Although it looks fairly healthy,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Jack has noticed that the calf is struggling to feed
0:36:59 > 0:37:02and if the baby doesn't feed it may die.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Jack urgently needs to know,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07if Brandy's not getting any milk during the day,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09what's happening during the night?
0:37:09 > 0:37:11So, in the spirit of this programme,
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Jack has put up one of our infra-red night cameras.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19This will help him discover if Brandy's managing to suckle.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24He'll then make an important decision of whether or not to intervene and bottle feed the baby.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28These are tricky times for Jack.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30What will the footage reveal?
0:37:33 > 0:37:34Earlier in the series,
0:37:34 > 0:37:39the keepers at Half-Mile Lake hid a camera amongst the hippo feed.
0:37:39 > 0:37:45It was a great success and gave us a chance to see these wild animals up close.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47And they really are wild.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49The keepers are totally hands off.
0:37:49 > 0:37:55But, for the first time since the hippos arrived 30 years ago,
0:37:55 > 0:38:00Mark Tighe urgently needs to get close to Sonia, who looks in trouble.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04I'm out in the hippo field with head of section, Mark Tighe,
0:38:04 > 0:38:09because something rather dramatic has happened to one of the hippos. What is it?
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Well, unfortunately, Kate,
0:38:11 > 0:38:17Sonia here has unfortunately found a section of cargo mat.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21It's like a thick, rubber matting.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23We do use it around the park.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26But it's a perfectly rectangular piece
0:38:26 > 0:38:29that she has found on the bottom of the lake somewhere,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32and has got it jammed over one of her tusks.
0:38:32 > 0:38:33Oh, my goodness.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37The piece of plastic probably just floated into the lake from the river
0:38:37 > 0:38:42and it was her pickaxe-like tusks that hooked it into her mouth.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44That's a bit of a problem.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47How on earth are you going to do anything about that?
0:38:47 > 0:38:50- We're not, unfortunately.- Right.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55Annoyingly, this has happened when we're not feeding them.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Of course, because you only feed in the winter.
0:38:57 > 0:39:03Yes, if we were feeding them, we'd be able to feed them into the house up there, hopefully.
0:39:03 > 0:39:08And then we'd be able to sedate her and remove it relatively safely.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12But she's within, perhaps not blow dart distance,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14but could you not sedate her here?
0:39:14 > 0:39:17Not in the water, no. And even if she was out in the field,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20if we darted her, the first thing she would do is run to the water.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23And I suppose if she's sedated,
0:39:23 > 0:39:27she's too floppy and she's not gonna breathe.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Yes, it'd be a big problem.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32What a problem.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35I suppose it must be affecting the way she eats, is it?
0:39:35 > 0:39:40My initial concern was, can she eat?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42When I first saw it in the water,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45it was right across her mouth and covering her tongue.
0:39:45 > 0:39:50But she has since swung it round so it's stuck out the side.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Do you think it will eventually fall off by itself?
0:39:53 > 0:39:56It's difficult to tell. It is very strong stuff
0:39:56 > 0:40:01because it has cords of fibre through it which holds it together.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04What I'm hoping is that, in the short-term,
0:40:04 > 0:40:06she may well break the major part of it off
0:40:06 > 0:40:10and just be left with a small piece stuck around the tusk,
0:40:10 > 0:40:16which perhaps then, we can work with later on in the winter when we're feeding.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Because you're trying to keep them as wild as possible, I suppose.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Has anything like this ever happened before with either of them?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25No, we've had nothing go wrong with them.
0:40:25 > 0:40:31They've been completely bulletproof. 30 years and never seen a vet.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34And this is unfortunate. And it's annoying,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37because I don't know where this piece of rubber's come from.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41I've put a giant tree stump out in the field
0:40:41 > 0:40:46in the hope that she might use that and pull it off.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49But it's a bit hit and miss, really.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Gosh, what a problem, and a big one at that.
0:40:52 > 0:40:58And she just happens to be one of the most dangerous animals you've got at Longleat as well,
0:40:58 > 0:41:03so there's no kind of going up with a few pony nuts and hoping to whip it off?
0:41:03 > 0:41:04No, definitely not.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09Well, Mark, keep us posted with how it gets on.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12And fingers crossed that she does manage to remove it herself
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- and stays here for another 30 years keeping you busy.- Let's hope so.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Thanks very much indeed.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21We'll find out later in the series
0:41:21 > 0:41:25if the keepers managed to get anywhere near Sonia to help her.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36Back with the eland, new keeper Jack is worried about Brandy the calf,
0:41:36 > 0:41:40as mum, Cindy, has been refusing to let her suckle.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45If Brandy doesn't get milk on a regular basis, she could die.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48And, having lost five of the herd over the winter,
0:41:48 > 0:41:52due to natural causes, Jack is desperate to make sure this doesn't happen.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56So he set up a camera to see if she was letting the calf feed overnight
0:41:56 > 0:41:58when there was no-one around.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Much of a keeper's knowledge is learnt on the job
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and experience counts for everything.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06So, as a new keeper, Jack has asked Tim Yeo,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10his head of section who's worked in the park for 30 years,
0:42:10 > 0:42:14to review the footage with him to get his opinion.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Oh, look. See, that's what we saw in the yard.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21And she just blatantly refused her there.
0:42:21 > 0:42:22- Stay away.- Exactly.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25That's what we're concerned about, really.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30But other times it's been a bit more severe, more of a knock away.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32The calf is clearly very hungry
0:42:32 > 0:42:35as, an hour later, she tries to suckle again.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38But mum's still refusing.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42See here, she just doesn't look that interested.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Do you know, Jack, my impression of that just then
0:42:46 > 0:42:50was that the calf almost seems a little bit concerned
0:42:50 > 0:42:53not to commit herself to go and suckle.
0:42:53 > 0:42:58- Because she is worried of getting a... - Because she's possibly worried.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03If mum has just kicked her, it seems a little bit nervous.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06She's waiting for mum to say, "yeah".
0:43:06 > 0:43:07Then Cindy lies down
0:43:07 > 0:43:12which means the calf definitely can't reach the teat to suckle.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15The calf is not giving up easily, though.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19Maybe a little tender, loving care towards mum may help.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22This is a bit later on in the evening, well, night.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25Yes, happily ruminating there,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28and little one grooming her, bless it.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33It's a wonderful opportunity just to see them...
0:43:33 > 0:43:35To see them at night doing what they do.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Yes, things we don't normally see them. It's wonderful.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41Four hours later,
0:43:41 > 0:43:46Cindy decides to stand up, but will she let her hungry calf feed?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50This looks promising.
0:43:52 > 0:43:56Oh, yes, and now things are rather different,
0:43:56 > 0:44:00in a sense, Jack, because she's sniffing the calf more there.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04- She's paying more attention to the calf, isn't she?- Definitely.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06A bit vigorous, but yeah.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10Oh, that's good.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12Excellent. Excellent.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15You can see it is inducing the milk to come
0:44:15 > 0:44:18by this thrusting motion to the udder.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21- Just inducing the milk to come. - A bit painful that, for the mum?
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Yes, it must be uncomfortable, that, surely.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30She's cleaning the calf there.
0:44:30 > 0:44:35So that's perfectly natural behaviour. Absolutely nothing to worry about there.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37I know it's easy to be concerned,
0:44:37 > 0:44:41but I think we can see that the calf looks healthy
0:44:41 > 0:44:43enough and I think it looks...
0:44:43 > 0:44:48It doesn't look dehydrated in any way. It looks OK.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51It was a bit scary because, obviously, new-born, they need the milk from the go.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55- Exactly.- Thank you very much, Tim, that's a big relief.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01I'm out in the park with Jack, looking at Brandy,
0:45:01 > 0:45:02and it looks like, Jack,
0:45:02 > 0:45:05all your hard work paid off and she's doing really well?
0:45:05 > 0:45:08Yes, as you can see, she's doing really well.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11She's out with the herd and grazing away and, yes, she's looking good.
0:45:11 > 0:45:17So, Mum eventually worked out what she was supposed to do to look after her daughter?
0:45:17 > 0:45:22Yeah, she's had calves before so it shouldn't really be a problem, really,
0:45:22 > 0:45:26- but she got there in the end. - So this camera surveillance,
0:45:26 > 0:45:32that was a stroke of genius and you obviously learnt a lot from it as well?
0:45:32 > 0:45:36Yeah, it's not often you get to be in that sort of situation
0:45:36 > 0:45:39and see what goes on with Mum and baby at night.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42It was beneficial for everybody.
0:45:42 > 0:45:47But the whole herd look very healthy, look like they are doing well.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Is Tim pleased with them and with the work you've been doing with them?
0:45:50 > 0:45:53Tim is pleased, yes.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56We've obviously got Brandy and she's looking well now.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59We've had another calf born since so, yes, he's very happy.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02And we're all really chuffed with them.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05I have to say, you've obviously started off well with Brandy.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Great to see she's settled so well into the herd.
0:46:08 > 0:46:12Look at that, you'd never ever have known there had been a problem, would you?
0:46:12 > 0:46:17That's a happy group of elands scampering about in the Wiltshire sun.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20- Congratulations, Jack, and thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:46:24 > 0:46:28Bactrian camels have roamed the Longleat pastures for nearly 40 years
0:46:28 > 0:46:33and they're a particularly special herd as they're critically endangered.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36Originally from Mongolia and north-west China,
0:46:36 > 0:46:41these tough animals are used to extreme desert conditions.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44They have two humps, in contrast to the one-humped Dromedary camel,
0:46:44 > 0:46:50and despite common belief, the hump is not full of water but fat.
0:46:50 > 0:46:56This fat then gets turned into water if the camel becomes dehydrated.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58Lack of water is not a concern at Longleat,
0:46:58 > 0:47:05but the keepers are always trying to conjure up new and interesting ways of nourishing their animals,
0:47:05 > 0:47:07as Ben is about to find out.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09Now, I don't know about you,
0:47:09 > 0:47:15but I personally think it can NEVER be too cold or too wet for an ice lolly.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18But is the same true for camels? We're about to find out.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22Kev, we basically have camel ice lollies here.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24- Pretty much, yes. - What are these about?
0:47:24 > 0:47:30What we've done today is frozen some carrots and a few bananas in a little bit of ice.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33We've done that and what it's going to simulate is, in the wild,
0:47:33 > 0:47:35obviously they come from a desert region,
0:47:35 > 0:47:39but it gets very, very cold with snow on the ground a lot of the time.
0:47:39 > 0:47:40We're hoping to is throw these out.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42And in the wild, the camels would come across this food
0:47:42 > 0:47:45and they'd have to dig for it. And they eat frozen food as well.
0:47:45 > 0:47:50So we're hoping they'll have a play with these or nibble the tops, see what they do with them.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53So, basically, this isn't to cool them down or anything,
0:47:53 > 0:47:58- this is trying to recreate what would happen in their homeland? - That's right, yes.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Normally they would have a big, thick, shaggy coat to keep warm
0:48:01 > 0:48:03and they lose it to get cool.
0:48:03 > 0:48:07- That's what they're doing now. - Yes, they're looking particularly,
0:48:07 > 0:48:12- shall we say, scraggy, I think, is the best term?- They do.
0:48:12 > 0:48:13This is their molting time of year.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16They'll lose all this fur over the next couple of weeks.
0:48:16 > 0:48:21- Shall we get them out? How many have we got?- Three altogether. - OK, two in there, presumably?- Yes.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24And why are the ends of the carrots sticking out?
0:48:24 > 0:48:27That's for them to get a grip hold of with their teeth.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30They can throw them around if they want to, or just chew the ends.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32Who's going to come over first?
0:48:32 > 0:48:35- These two, for a start.- Khan normally comes over.- Khan's on the right. He's the boy.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38He normally comes over first, cos he's the bull.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41Just throw it out like that and see what they do with it.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45- And who's the girl?- This is Rayisha.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47She also comes over first most of the time.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50She's very interested in what happens.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52But not today.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56But after five minutes standing around in the rain,
0:48:56 > 0:49:01drastic action is needed and Ben takes things into his own hands.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05There we go, see if they can get into that a little bit more.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08You must have a very big freezer.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Yes, we've got a giant freezer.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14It's not every day you get to make camel ice lollies.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17They're definitely interested in the smaller pieces now.
0:49:17 > 0:49:21Yes, they can see the carrots now, so maybe they'll start chewing them.
0:49:21 > 0:49:27Presumably in Mongolia they would eat frozen vegetables, frozen leaves?
0:49:27 > 0:49:30Yes, it's mostly dry scrubland, things like that.
0:49:30 > 0:49:35And salt bushes, all frozen under the snow and they'll dig their way through to it.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39That looked like it put a bit in its mouth and thought, "Oh, it's too cold!"
0:49:39 > 0:49:40It could well be.
0:49:40 > 0:49:47There we go, that's chewing on a crunchy piece of frozen carrot there. Who is that?
0:49:47 > 0:49:49That's Khan again.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51They are greedy by nature.
0:49:51 > 0:49:56- They can't resist.- No, once one finds something, they'll all be there trying to fight over it.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59I wonder whether they suffer the same ice cream headaches we get
0:49:59 > 0:50:01if you eat an ice cream too fast?
0:50:01 > 0:50:04We could find out soon if one drops over.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07It seems more successful in smaller pieces.
0:50:07 > 0:50:12This is the answer, you need to make small, bite-sized chunks in the future.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14Individual, frozen carrots.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17- Yes, or carry a hammer at all times. - Exactly.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21Well, I think we can say that was a success after we broke it up.
0:50:21 > 0:50:22- In the end.- Thanks, Kev.
0:50:30 > 0:50:36Kate loves her ferrets. These are definitely her favourite friends in Pets' Corner.
0:50:36 > 0:50:41So she's taking me along to find out what is all the fuss about?
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Kate and I have come down to Pets' Corner
0:50:43 > 0:50:46to catch up with some of the furry and rather smelly residents here, the ferrets.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50- They're not smelly.- It's true. - It's not true. They're fabulous.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54- Alexis and Bev here look after them you're some of the keepers. - Yes.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56We have a whole gaggle on leads?
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Yes, we're going to take some of them for a nice walk.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Bagsy that, if that's OK. Can I do that job?
0:51:02 > 0:51:04- OK.- Why don't I do that?
0:51:04 > 0:51:08OK, and Bev and I will stay here and look at the other ones.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11- We will. We've got four others. - Is this an actual ferret harness?
0:51:11 > 0:51:14It is, especially made for them.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18And it sits on the neck area here.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21It's a little bit like...I was going to say it's a bit like taking a dog for a walk,
0:51:21 > 0:51:25but I'm not going to be doing this with my Labrador, holding her up with one hand.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28- No.- See you later, Kate. - Bye, have fun.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30We will. Come on, guys.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33This is brilliant. Come on.
0:51:33 > 0:51:39Just while Ben is walking his four around and we've our four here...
0:51:39 > 0:51:43We're going to let them have a bit of exercise just here.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45- No leads or anything?- No leads.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47We have to make sure they don't go too far.
0:51:47 > 0:51:51I'll come out with you.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Literally put them down?
0:51:53 > 0:51:56- Yes.- You're very brave.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58They always go where you don't want them to go.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02- It is instantly noses down, having a good old sniff.- Yes.
0:52:02 > 0:52:03I think we've lost one, actually.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07I think we have. We've got one in that corner. This is going to be chaos.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10It's amazing. Where are you off to, chum?
0:52:10 > 0:52:16- It's amazing how agile and active they are.- Yes. You wouldn't think.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19Where they're so low to the ground you don't imagine they'll get up
0:52:19 > 0:52:23onto that wall and into the flower beds.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25We'll never get him out of there now.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32These furry little creatures have been pets for thousands of years.
0:52:32 > 0:52:33Cleopatra could have had one
0:52:33 > 0:52:38as there are drawings of ferret-like creatures on leashes in Egyptian tombs.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41Just remind me who we've got here?
0:52:41 > 0:52:45OK, on the green lead, the dark green lead, you have Fred.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48- This one is Fred.- On the light green lead you've Reggie.- OK, Reggie.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51On the red lead I have Bill,
0:52:51 > 0:52:52and on the blue lead we've Riki.
0:52:52 > 0:52:57I'm amazed you can tell them all apart. Do they have their own characteristics and personalities?
0:52:57 > 0:52:59Definitely. Some will sleep more than others.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01Some won't wake up for their dinner.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03- Who's the naughtiest? - Oh, Fred definitely.
0:53:03 > 0:53:09- Fred being...?- The one in the dark green.- What makes Fred so naughty?
0:53:09 > 0:53:11He just is. He's quite a character.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15He doesn't like some of our older ones as much as he likes his brothers here.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19- Ah, they must be really popular with all the visitors? - Definitely they are.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22Particularly when we take them out on leads like this, so they can interact with everybody.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26They get interaction from all the different smells from all the different people.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30And how long does a ferret walk last for? How long to you need to keep going for?
0:53:30 > 0:53:33We generally keep ours out for about half an hour.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Ferrets can get really thirsty really quickly,
0:53:35 > 0:53:40so we like to take them back in, particularly on a hot day, so they can have a nice drink.
0:53:40 > 0:53:44And ferrets really suffer with the heat because, unlike us, they can't sweat.
0:53:44 > 0:53:50Shall we continue going this way and continue our tour of Pets' Corner?
0:53:50 > 0:53:53Are there any animals here that you can't take them near
0:53:53 > 0:53:57or that would be a natural predator of them, or that they're a predator of?
0:53:57 > 0:53:59Anything too small and fluffy.
0:53:59 > 0:54:04So, we won't go too close to the chipmunk enclosure or the rabbit enclosure, really.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09OK, we don't want to scare any of the other residents here, do we. Are we missing one?
0:54:09 > 0:54:11We're missing one now.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13One, two, three. Who are we missing?
0:54:13 > 0:54:15Fred.
0:54:15 > 0:54:21- We've lost a ferret.- He'll come out. - I can hear him over here, I think.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27There he is. You pickle!
0:54:29 > 0:54:30Come on out, you.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33That's the trouble when we try and take more than one.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36We're just taking our ferrets for a walk, you know.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38It's OK, they like pushchairs.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42It's one of the most extraordinary animal walks I've been on.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46Let's see if these guys will walk us back and we can catch up with Kate.
0:54:46 > 0:54:51They do look like they're absolutely loving it.
0:54:51 > 0:54:53They're clearly very intelligent animals.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56If you do have an intelligent animal, like a ferret,
0:54:56 > 0:54:59you really almost need to treat it like a child?
0:54:59 > 0:55:02You do because you need to keep them active.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07We've brought more mischief back to you.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10I think it's fair that we were taken for a walk,
0:55:10 > 0:55:13rather than we took the ferrets for a walk.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16They're great animals, don't you think?
0:55:16 > 0:55:20They're wonderful. You just missed one there.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22Alexis... You take that one.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25Grab that one! It's ferret chaos here.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28- Nearly went up the drain there. - Alexis, Bev, thank you very much.
0:55:28 > 0:55:32Do you feel thoroughly stimulated and enriched, guys?
0:55:32 > 0:55:34You should do by now.
0:55:34 > 0:55:39I tell you what, we can put them in your hair and they'll really have an enriching experience.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Yeah, get out of that alive!
0:55:48 > 0:55:53After all the excitement at the beginning of the day with deputy head of section, Bob and the lions,
0:55:53 > 0:55:57we thought this would be a good opportunity
0:55:57 > 0:56:01to find out what happens at the end of Bob's day.
0:56:01 > 0:56:07He's putting the tigers in for the night and it's not quite as easy as calling in your cat.
0:56:07 > 0:56:11It's taken Bob and the other keepers months of training
0:56:11 > 0:56:14to teach all the tigers when it's time for bed.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19Well, that's it. The tigers are in for the night.
0:56:19 > 0:56:25All tucked up and we're here with keeper Bob Trollope, to say goodnight to them.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28When you first started bringing them in and out,
0:56:28 > 0:56:33when they came out of their quarantine period, what did you do?
0:56:33 > 0:56:37How did you make it work that they knew this was the time to come in?
0:56:37 > 0:56:39We were generally feeding them.
0:56:39 > 0:56:44We used to let them out into the compound to start with, and they would get fed in.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47So they knew they associated the hay with food.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49And then when they were outside
0:56:49 > 0:56:53it was just a case of sort of shepherding them with the Land Rover.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57Of course, they'd run right down to the gate
0:56:57 > 0:57:01and then run off in a different direction altogether.
0:57:01 > 0:57:05But then they got to it and as soon as they were into the compound
0:57:05 > 0:57:09you could ease off a little bit and then they would just come in, but it takes time.
0:57:09 > 0:57:13And I assume there are a number of reasons you bring them in each evening,
0:57:13 > 0:57:16for their own safety and other people's safety?
0:57:16 > 0:57:20Primarily, it's a health and safety thing.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24Obviously tigers, being solitary animals, they're a little bit more active.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27The lions want to sleep all the time,
0:57:27 > 0:57:29so they go into the house willy-nilly.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32With these, we do want to get them in.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35Obviously, we wouldn't want a tree to come down overnight
0:57:35 > 0:57:37and then they'd be off into the Wiltshire countryside.
0:57:37 > 0:57:41So, the end of the day now. What sort of time will you wake them up for their breakfast?
0:57:41 > 0:57:45We come and see them again about 8.30am tomorrow morning.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47Well, they have a nice lie in.
0:57:47 > 0:57:48Lucky things!
0:57:48 > 0:57:52Thank you very much, Bob, for letting us come and say goodnight to them.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54They're all looking extremely well.
0:57:54 > 0:57:59- Tucked up for bed.- Although I think this lot may be saying, "Clear off, it's our bed time."
0:57:59 > 0:58:00Good night, girls.
0:58:00 > 0:58:04Here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08There's an emergency in the deer park
0:58:08 > 0:58:11as the vet battles to save the life of an unborn calf.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15I get a good look at the meerkat babies,
0:58:15 > 0:58:17but they just show me their teeth.
0:58:17 > 0:58:21You're gorgeous, even though you want to kill me.
0:58:21 > 0:58:27And down at Half-Mile Lake, keeper Mark Tighe's preparing for two precious new arrivals.
0:58:37 > 0:58:40Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ld
0:58:40 > 0:58:43E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk