0:00:09 > 0:00:11Meet Razina and Marashi.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13They're southern white rhino,
0:00:13 > 0:00:18a species that back in the 1900s had been hunted almost to extinction.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22There were less than 100 of these animals left in the wild.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Thanks to conservation efforts,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26the species survived - but only just.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Today, keepers are preparing to fly thousands of miles to the front line
0:00:30 > 0:00:35of a war being fought to save this iconic species, and many like it.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39So join us, as the keepers head to meet the wild cousins of the animals
0:00:39 > 0:00:41they work with here in the park,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43and bring back vital information for their future.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53It's day one of another jam-packed week of summer specials...
0:00:55 > 0:00:56..and coming up on today's show...
0:00:58 > 0:01:01..the baby marmosets are at risk of attack.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02It's absolutely terrifying for us.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05We love these monkeys and we don't want anything to happen to them.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Jean finds a waterproof toy big enough for the tigers...
0:01:09 > 0:01:11but will it get them into the pool?
0:01:11 > 0:01:13- Is it going to go in? Ooh, is it going to go in?- Come on, girls.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16And we'll follow five keepers
0:01:16 > 0:01:19on the ultimate fact-finding mission to Kenya...
0:01:22 > 0:01:24First wild lion footprint. Yes!
0:01:24 > 0:01:25..as they learn all they can
0:01:25 > 0:01:30from some of the world's rarest and most iconic species.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32We're on a bit of a research mission here.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33We're going to find some stuff out
0:01:33 > 0:01:36and, hopefully, take that home with us.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47It's been ten months since the arrival of cheetah cubs
0:01:47 > 0:01:48Poppy and Winston...
0:01:49 > 0:01:51..and whilst out in their enclosure,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54head of section Amy is finding it extremely hard
0:01:54 > 0:01:57just to keep tabs on them.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01They run around, and we have to be really on our toes.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03To make matters worse,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06behind the scenes, the cubs are also having an effect
0:02:06 > 0:02:08on the park's two adult male cheetah.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11So, this is Carl.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14He's very laid-back, but he's actually dad to Poppy and Winston,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18so he's done the business with Wilma, which is great.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21He's a great character. He really is. He's a ladies' man.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24This is Rasta. He's a bit grumpier than Carl.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Not even looking at us at the minute.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Dad Carl used to live with mum Wilma in the same outdoor enclosure...
0:02:33 > 0:02:37..but in order to control when she has her next litter,
0:02:37 > 0:02:38he's having to be kept away.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42The problem is, the only other outside enclosure
0:02:42 > 0:02:44already belongs to Rasta...
0:02:46 > 0:02:50..and these two fully grown males have never been mixed.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Shut off...
0:02:52 > 0:02:54between six and five and then five and four, as well.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59So, today, Amy is going to introduce them for the first time
0:02:59 > 0:03:04in the hope that, one day, they could form a bachelor group.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08It's always a bit nervous, sort of, that first reaction -
0:03:08 > 0:03:10but you need to do it and just be brave
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and sort of open up and just seeing what happens,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14sort of thing. We're ready.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17If anything does happen, we can be there, we can separate them off.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19So it's all controlled. Do it in the house,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21so we've got a bit of control over it.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24So it's not big spaces that they suddenly just go running off
0:03:24 > 0:03:27after each other. So, hopefully, it'll go quite well.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35There's no way of knowing how the cats will react.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Male cheetah are highly territorial.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Straight up there.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Carl's very interested, by the looks of it.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Just having a pace up and down.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Rasta, the fact he's quite confident,
0:03:54 > 0:03:55he's come in all of his own accord.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58It's opened up for him. If he wants to come in, go out, he can -
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and, hopefully, the more we do it, Carl will get used to it,
0:04:01 > 0:04:02calm down a little bit,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and then we can sort of get him into the pen next door
0:04:05 > 0:04:07and just keep going and seeing how that goes.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14A few days later, Amy has begun feeding them in adjoining pens.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19So far, it seems to be working...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27..but the moment the food is gone, tempers flare.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35A week later, and Jean is catching up
0:04:35 > 0:04:37with head of animal operations Darren
0:04:37 > 0:04:40to find out if things have improved.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42They weren't getting on too well, were they?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44No. We're asking...
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- This is a big ask, you know. - Yeah, of course.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50We're asking for two male cheetahs to be very close to each other.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52They're not bonded, they're not blood brothers.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53- Yeah, they're not family.- No.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57There's been some hissing and lots of vocalisations from Carl, as well.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58It is crucial we get this right.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- Yeah.- We can't have single cheetahs living on their own.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02It's not how we operate.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05We're a safari park, we want these animals to go out.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08If Amy and the team can get this as a group,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11it'll be great for the animals, but it'll be even better for us...
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Yeah, you really want to see that bachelor group forming.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15So what happens if it doesn't work?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The crux is, if these two boys don't get together,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20then there isn't room for everybody,
0:05:20 > 0:05:21so somebody is going to have to leave,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24or somebody is going to have to go on to pastures new.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26So it's really important that this is a success.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31It's whilst in Africa that the team will look for fresh ideas
0:05:31 > 0:05:32on how to mix the cats.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Feeding time sounds as if it's going well.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39It's almost finished. Amy, come over and join us.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I hear that a trip you're taking to Africa
0:05:41 > 0:05:43might help you out with this?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Yeah, we've got a bit of an expedition coming up.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49We've got so many unanswered questions here on the park.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- Yes.- You can talk to other zoo collections and cheetah experts,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- but all these animals are in captivity.- Mm-hm.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59You know, what happens out there on the front line, every single day,
0:05:59 > 0:06:00- the battles these animals go through.- Yes.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02..that's where some of these answers are.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- We need that, we need that.- Yeah.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09And this is where they'll be heading -
0:06:09 > 0:06:1310,000km away to the Lewa Conservancy in northern Kenya.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18The 250 square kilometre Lewa Conservancy
0:06:18 > 0:06:22is run today by CEO Mike Watson.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27In the '60s and the '70s, Kenya, along with many other countries
0:06:27 > 0:06:31in Africa, was suffering from a significant bout
0:06:31 > 0:06:33of devastating poaching of rhino, primarily,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36but obviously of other wildlife species, as well -
0:06:36 > 0:06:41and the demand for rhino horn was such that the population
0:06:41 > 0:06:45of black rhino in this country went from 20,000 to 200
0:06:45 > 0:06:46in the space of 12 years.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49That was roughly three rhino every single day that were being killed.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54That's a massive, massive figure of rhino to lose...
0:06:55 > 0:06:57..for Kenya.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59It's by working with Mike and his team
0:06:59 > 0:07:01that expert keepers from Longleat
0:07:01 > 0:07:04will be able to enhance and grow their own knowledge.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07We do have plans to hopefully mix more animals in
0:07:07 > 0:07:09with our giraffe and zebra,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11so it would be nice, when we go out to Kenya,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14to see which animals mix well with each other,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17who hang out at watering holes together.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19We can bring that information back and use some of those species
0:07:19 > 0:07:22that mix well naturally
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and bring them in our mixed exhibit.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30We would love to sort of expand into African species of invertebrates,
0:07:30 > 0:07:34so going out there and seeing the habitats they live in
0:07:34 > 0:07:36would be perfect.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38We'll join the team later
0:07:38 > 0:07:41as they begin their mammoth research trip to Africa.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50It's feeding time at the park, and what the residents eat
0:07:50 > 0:07:54is as varied as the species themselves...
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Come on, lemurs! Come here.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59..but it's up to the keepers to find out what they like -
0:07:59 > 0:08:02and, more importantly, what's good for them.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04These are ring-tailed Madagascan lemurs.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07They're known as opportunistic omnivores
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and I'm joining Tina here in their enclosure with some summer treats.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Now, what have we got here? We've got coconut, we've got strawberries,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15we've got melon - and it seems that melon is...
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Oh, squabble.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19It seems that melon is their favourite right now?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Yes, we don't often give them fruit items.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25This is very much a summer treat for them.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27In the wilds, they would...
0:08:27 > 0:08:29You know, their diet is mainly based on the fruits
0:08:29 > 0:08:30that they find out there.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32All the trees blossoming and coming into fruit.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33But they'll eat meat as well?
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Yes, they are omnivores, so, you know, out in the wild,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39they will go for insects and bird eggs sometimes.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42We have tried them with it, but, to be honest, to begin with,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45they start out a bit scared of them
0:08:45 > 0:08:48and then they have to rely on Mum and Dad to show what to do.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Now, was that a little squabble over food, was that kind of hierarchy...?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Unfortunately, you know, like any family, they do fight.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57That was one squabble. You could see who was dominant.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59We've still got the one here and the other one's ran away.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01So we can see the hierarchy there, but that's it, sorted.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03They're very inquisitive, aren't they?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- And they're not worried about us. - No, no, they've grown up with us.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10We teach them that, you know, they have respect for us, but, you know,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13we bring them lovely things and that's what they enjoy.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Is it quite important for you guys to keep adapting
0:09:17 > 0:09:21their diets, testing, seeing what works, what doesn't work?
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Yeah, we do like to keep it sort of with the seasons.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We also like things like, in the winter time,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29we use sweet potato and we heat it up in a microwave and then it's
0:09:29 > 0:09:31something warm for them to come into the house at night.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33It's nice and warm.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35We make tea for them, as well, in the winter.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- Tea?- Yes, a nice cup of tea. It warms them up after a cold day.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Now, when they drink their tea, do they like it white or black?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44No milk, no sugar, just black.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I love that. Listen, I think this is a success.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I think we can safely say that these guys
0:09:50 > 0:09:52love their strawberries and their melon.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I'm not sure about the coconut.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Well, that's a lesson we've learned,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59so next time we will leave that out.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- Tina, thank you very much. - Not a problem.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Now we're heading straight to monkey temple,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11where there's been a report of an intruder.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Keeper Sam is on the lookout for the culprit.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18This morning, first thing, we let the monkeys out
0:10:18 > 0:10:19into the outside enclosure.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23One of our cotton-top tamarins, Luana,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27was sat in the tree and a crow flew down and tried to grab her.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I've worked here three years, it's never ever happened before.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It's absolutely terrifying for us.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37We love these monkeys. We don't want anything to happen to them.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Monkey temple is a walk-through enclosure.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41It means visitors can get up close...
0:10:42 > 0:10:46..but with nothing protecting the monkeys from the outside world,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48it also leaves them vulnerable to predators.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Crows are nesting nearby and are taking an interest.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55They've been sat up in the trees,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57they've been swooping round all morning.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59So the keepers that are out with the monkeys
0:10:59 > 0:11:01are having to keep a really close eye out.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03A group of crows is called a murder.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Sam has no doubt that's what they're capable of.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Luana, come on.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13The victim of this morning's attack was Luana,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15a rare cotton-top tamarin.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20You can see how small she is. She only weighs about 400g.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22So, unfortunately, pretty much snack-size
0:11:22 > 0:11:24for a big bird like a crow.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26We've got some small, young baby monkeys at the moment,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29which are really, really high-risk. So until this threat has passed,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32we have to keep them inside, because we just can't risk them
0:11:32 > 0:11:34being taken by a crow.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Birds do prey on marmosets in the wild,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40but, out there, their defences are up.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43What they'll do in the wild, is if they see a bird,
0:11:43 > 0:11:44they'll generally alarm call.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Because they live in a group, they'll all run and hide for cover.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50So they are actually quite clever about it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Obviously, living here, they probably have a little bit more
0:11:52 > 0:11:55comfortable lifestyle than they would have in the wild.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57They're slightly more relaxed about it, which I think is why perhaps
0:11:57 > 0:11:59the crows are getting so close.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Crows, crows everywhere.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Sam's determined to protect the animals in her care...
0:12:05 > 0:12:06I'm watching you.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08..with a little help from her friends.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Meet Gareth and Jamie - Sam's new scarecrows.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23So we have a plan.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27These are our very plastic, fake birds.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31So the idea is that crows are scared of birds that are bigger than them,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33so we're going to pop these out around the temple
0:12:33 > 0:12:35and, hopefully, it might be a bit of a deterrent.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38They'll keep the crows away from the monkeys.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41It's our first try.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44The only problem is obviously the monkeys are scared of the crows,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47which means they may also be scared of these guys.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49If the monkeys are worried about them, we might have to rethink,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51because it doesn't really solve the problem.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54There's only one way to find out what effect the fake birds of prey
0:12:54 > 0:12:57have on the crows and the monkeys.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03That would be a good spot for the crow to see it,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05but the monkeys will not be too worried about it.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Got a new friend.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10So it's great, the moment.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Luana's just foraging in the bush there, which is perfect,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15normal behaviour. So, so far, she's not too worried,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17but it might just be she hasn't spotted it yet.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18If she was at all worried,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21she'd probably start making loud alarm call noises -
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and jumping around and getting...
0:13:23 > 0:13:26They fluff themselves up to look big and scary as well.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28I think she might have just spotted it now, actually.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30She's just having a little look...
0:13:31 > 0:13:33..but she doesn't seem to be too worried.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35So that's perfect, really, so far.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38If it was stressing them out at all, of course I would move it -
0:13:38 > 0:13:40but if she seems quite comfortable with it there,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42hopefully we'll be able to leave it there and it'll fool the crows
0:13:42 > 0:13:45more than it's fooling the monkeys.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48We'll be back later on to see if Sam's fake feathered friends
0:13:48 > 0:13:50can keep the birds away.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58The team has arrived in Lewa, a remote part of northern Kenya.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01The keepers have been travelling for over ten hours
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and taken several flights to get here.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05They've come to Lewa because visitors to Longleat
0:14:05 > 0:14:09have been raising tens of thousands of pounds each year
0:14:09 > 0:14:12to ensure the charity the Tusk Trust can continue
0:14:12 > 0:14:14its vital work.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18To go out and actually experience working with Tusk,
0:14:18 > 0:14:19which is quite close to my heart,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22it's one of these charities that just does so much good
0:14:22 > 0:14:24throughout the continent.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28It would be incredible to meet the people on the ground out there
0:14:28 > 0:14:31that have to deal with poachers in everyday life.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35People like Sarah Watson, director of programmes for Tusk.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38Human beings can't live alone,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41we have to be able to live with the wildlife, with the habitat,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and we have to be able to find ways to make it sustainable
0:14:45 > 0:14:46and achievable -
0:14:46 > 0:14:48and Lewa is one model that's proven that -
0:14:48 > 0:14:50and so, the more that we can instil this here
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and across the rest of Africa, the more hope there is for,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57basically, for the people and wildlife of Africa.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04One of Lewa's biggest successes has been with the southern white rhino.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Once on the brink of extinction,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08with less than 100 in the whole world,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12the conservation miracle here has raised their numbers globally
0:15:12 > 0:15:13into the thousands.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Back home in Wiltshire, the park has struggled in recent years
0:15:18 > 0:15:20to get the species to breed.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Their male, Nanju, isn't mating
0:15:23 > 0:15:25with the three females he lives with.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Experienced keeper Kevin has a theory.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33We were hoping that they would breed within just a couple of years.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35The main reason, really, is to do with Nanju.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40He's just... I think he's just too nice an animal, really.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Any animal in captivity will behave differently to their wild cousins...
0:15:45 > 0:15:48..but in Africa, Darren will be on the lookout for information
0:15:48 > 0:15:51that could help his challenges back at home.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56The Lewa Conservancy is an absolute conservancy haven
0:15:56 > 0:16:00for white rhino and black rhino, and it's really crucial for us.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03We have white rhino at Longleat and we've tried very hard
0:16:03 > 0:16:05over the last few years to...
0:16:06 > 0:16:07..encourage them to breed.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Not been successful at that yet, but, here, they are the masters.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13We're on a bit of a research mission here.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16We're going to find some stuff out and hopefully take home with us.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21The vast conservancy is patrolled daily
0:16:21 > 0:16:24by a dedicated team of rangers, like Ian.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31Just grab my gear, which is the camera, a GPS and the radio,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and then grab my motorbike...
0:16:36 > 0:16:37..and then I go round.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Monitoring the animals for their health and wellbeing
0:16:42 > 0:16:44is the reason for his relentless patrol.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Any sightings of the key species that I'm looking at,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53I take a look at them, also rate them,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55give them their body condition score
0:16:55 > 0:16:58and then move on to the next species that I find.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Ian is passionate about his work and observes our place
0:17:01 > 0:17:03in the Earth's fragile ecosystem.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07We came into this planet and took over,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10but wildlife is such a beautiful thing -
0:17:10 > 0:17:15and to be working closely with amazing creatures
0:17:15 > 0:17:17like this wildlife is just amazing.
0:17:19 > 0:17:26Every day, his findings are fed into the computer back at Lewa HQ.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28I found a few buffaloes.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Got a few rhinos, about ten rhino.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33These ones are very healthy.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34Very healthy.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Ian's interest in wildlife began
0:17:36 > 0:17:38with a visit to Nairobi National Park.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41When I was a young boy, I used to go and see the animals.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Of course, they're in cages, but like for a young person,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49I was quite fascinated to see lions so close.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52When I grew up, I knew that I really wanted to work with wildlife.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I wanted to do something to protect this species.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01I went to school for that and here I am.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08Darren is keen for Ian to show them wild rhino and share his expertise.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13- How are you doing?- Very well. How are you?- Nice to see you.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15- Nice to see you, too. - Thank you for this, thank you.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- My pleasure.- Thank you. Good man. Thank you. Come and meet the team.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20All right.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- How are you?- Not too bad.- Good.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24This is Polly, who looks after our rhino.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- Wow. Awesome.- Yeah, yeah.- Awesome.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Let's go and find some rhino.
0:18:31 > 0:18:37A total of 157 black and white rhino thrive here at Lewa.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Due only to the constant vigilance of rangers like Ian,
0:18:40 > 0:18:45rhino here are seemingly safe from the ever-present threat of poachers,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47which stalks many parts of Africa.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51One of our big concerns all the time is the poaching
0:18:51 > 0:18:54and the evil, you know, taking of the rhinos' lives.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57I mean, how do you monitor here that the rhino are safe?
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I mean. because you haven't lost any, have you, last year?
0:19:00 > 0:19:02No, we haven't lost any in the last three years...
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Brilliant. Well done.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- Good.- ..and we are very happy and excited, because...
0:19:08 > 0:19:10but it takes a lot of work.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Rangers...- Yes.- ..security, intelligence, all that.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16- There's rhino there. - We have rhino, just here.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22The first one, that's a small calf,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24then the lady is Rosie.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Then the big guy behind her, that is Owen.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- Owen?- Yeah, Owen.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Keen to compare them to his rhino back at home,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Darren wants to know more about this wild family.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40And is it unusual to see the bull with a female?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42For white rhinos, they are quite social.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- OK.- In fact, even this is a small group.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47At times, you'll find that even the cousins are there,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and you'll find five to six.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Well, that's good to see. That's good to see.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55It's an opportunity for Darren to discuss his captive group of rhino,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58and his male, Nanju.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Our male lives very comfortable, there's not really much aggression.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It's very, almost brother, sistery, cousiny.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08You what him to be a bit, "Hey, come on, girls," you know?
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Yeah, and he's not. - And he's not, yeah.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Then we have to have more than one.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- If there are two males...- Yes. - ..at least they'll want something.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21They want to compete, then there's better chances of mating,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and this one has to wait.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25So it will trigger that sense of...
0:20:27 > 0:20:28..reproduction.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30But birth is only the beginning of the story.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Here, young calves are vulnerable to attack.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Once they are born, there's everything that wants to eat that...
0:20:38 > 0:20:41..rhino. There's hyena, there's lion.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- Even sometimes you'll find a pack of wild dogs...- Wow.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45..just chasing after a rhino.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49The mother is defending the calf, plus the male rhino, he's also...
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- He'll come in to defend?- Yeah.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54That's an impressive horn the male has, isn't it, over there?
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Yeah, yeah.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59And it's the horn the poachers are after.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Tusk and Lewa are working hard to change opinions here.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Several rangers were once poachers.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12When the calf is born, the rangers have a right to name it.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- That's brilliant.- And then they gave us the names of their families.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18They gave us the names of their mothers, the names of their wives,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20children, fathers,
0:21:20 > 0:21:25and it's important to create that attachments with these animals,
0:21:25 > 0:21:30because once you do that, you are no longer looking at rhino X,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32you are looking at Sophie, you are looking at Callum,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37you are looking at somebody who you can put an attribute to -
0:21:37 > 0:21:40and also one important thing to note is that they name them
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- also depending on their behaviour. - Oh, do they?
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Yes! Sometimes you'll find a rhino being called Mpole,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- which means very gentle in Swahili.- Oh, OK.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- Do you get some called Grumpy and...?- We have Mkali.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- That means very tough!- OK!
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Although Ian and his team seem to be winning the battle with poaching,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03as our keepers will see later,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07it requires a huge amount of coordination and surveillance.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17There are over 30 different species of birds living here at the park,
0:22:17 > 0:22:22many of which are endangered in the wild, and in just the last year,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24keepers celebrated a significant milestone.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27It's feeding time for the pink-backed pelicans,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31and I am here with super keeper Mark Tye.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I'm allowed to call you that because a little bird told me -
0:22:34 > 0:22:37well, in fact, quite a big pink-backed bird told me -
0:22:37 > 0:22:41that finally your work with these extraordinary birds
0:22:41 > 0:22:43has been recognised. You've just won an award.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- Yes, we did.- I'm so proud of you!
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- It's not just me.- Well, no.- There's an awful lot of other people help.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53I know, but I remember many, many years ago, you carefully,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57desperately trying to get these birds to breed and you've done it.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Well, finally we've got them to do it.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02You know, this is what we've been aiming for.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05We've had much success with hand-rearing.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Yeah. Although that was a first, wasn't it?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11No-one had managed to hand-rear one before.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15No. That was a first. That came with many problems, but this bird here,
0:23:15 > 0:23:20that is the first parent-reared one we've had, and this has been, what,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- 20 odd years in the making. - 20 odd years!
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- Took a while. - But absolutely incredible success.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32I mean, how does it feel to have spent all those years
0:23:32 > 0:23:35getting really to understand the biology of these birds,
0:23:35 > 0:23:40what makes them tick, to allow them to breed in a country
0:23:40 > 0:23:42which is so far from their own?
0:23:42 > 0:23:46It's just been an amazing sort of journey with them, really, you know?
0:23:46 > 0:23:51And to actually finally see them manage to do it, on their own nest,
0:23:51 > 0:23:56all by themselves, was a real, sort of, big moment for us.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Real nice to see.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01And what implications does this have for the species?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Well, hopefully, if we can keep going forwards
0:24:04 > 0:24:08with more parent-rearing, the fact is, you get that one bird
0:24:08 > 0:24:10that can do it, it proves it can do it,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- the others see it happening around them...- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14- ..so they all think they can do it. - Yeah.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17So what I'm hoping now is that this will just mean that the group
0:24:17 > 0:24:20will go from strength to strength and that they'll start
0:24:20 > 0:24:23bringing them all up themselves and we won't have to hand-rear any more.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Well, I did notice, you've got one nest already.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31So, we're right at the start of the breeding season now, are we?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34The breeding season for these guys is only when they feel like it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- Oh, is it?- They literally have bred in every month of the year -
0:24:37 > 0:24:39and when we do the hand-rearing,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41we're all faffing with heat lamps and all the rest of it.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43They just get on with it.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45It's been brilliant to watch.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Mark, I can't congratulate you enough.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49I know how much this has meant to you,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and I know how hard you've worked, and I'm just delighted -
0:24:52 > 0:24:55but, as you say, you've come up with the ultimate success -
0:24:55 > 0:24:57the birds are doing it for themselves.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59- Brilliant. Thank you.- Great news.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03All this summer, Jean has been helping keepers to come up
0:25:03 > 0:25:05with new ways to keep their animals cool...
0:25:07 > 0:25:09..and today's idea involves this...
0:25:11 > 0:25:15It's a boat's buoy placed right next to the tiger's pond.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17You can let the tigers out now.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20The question is, will it persuade the tigers to take a dip?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Oh, here they come.- Oh.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26There's Soundari first and then Shouri's just behind her.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29She's the more dominant out of the two,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and she's a bit more confident than Shouri is normally.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36However, Shouri is the first one that's coming over towards us now.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38She's just having a little sniff around log cam.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40- Yes.- Now, there's a big orange object there.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- What will she make of it? Oh, there she goes.- Having a sniff.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Seeing what she thinks of it,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48make sure it's not dangerous or alive or anything like that.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50It's great that she doesn't seem like she's backing away
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- or she's scared of it.- You can see her ears are flicked back
0:25:52 > 0:25:56a little bit, so you can she's a bit cautious about it, still -
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and now Soundari's coming in as well, doing the same thing,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03having a sniff of log cam first, then have a good old sniff of this.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Seeing them up close, you can really see that dense coat of fur,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10which of course is perfect for Siberian tigers in Russia, but here,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12on a warm day, you really need to keep them cool.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Hopefully they'll batter it around and push it into the pond soon.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20This is quite nice for bonding, isn't it, just playing around...
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Yeah, definitely.- ..cos they are sisters.- Yeah, definitely.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Tigers are normally solitary animals.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27The only time you see them together is when Mum's got cubs.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30But luckily our girls do normally get on really well with each other,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32and they do like to have a bit of fun and play.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Yeah, we just need to see their noses and paws nudging that buoy
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- into the water, don't we?- Yeah. I think they're probably hoping
0:26:37 > 0:26:39that there's meat somewhere, because that's normally
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- what we put out. There's Soundari. - Up on her hind legs.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43- Yeah.- That's great.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46Is it going to go in? Oh, is it going to go in?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Come on, girls. If you didn't have the buoy there,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52would they be likely to just run into the water?
0:26:52 > 0:26:53They don't often just run in.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- OK.- Normally, when it's the heat of the day.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58At midday, they might go in and try and cool down.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Tigers have webbed feet. That's so unusual.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Yeah, slightly webbed paws just to help them swim,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06obviously gets a bigger surface area so they can pull that water in and
0:27:06 > 0:27:09help swim a bit better, cos they are water lovers.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Oh, she's almost just pushed it in there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- Go on. Go on, Shouri.- I think it might go in. Go on, Shouri.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Yeah, they're giving it a good go with their massive paws
0:27:17 > 0:27:20and they're balancing as well, so they're using some other skills.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Yeah, you can really see the little flicks of the tail
0:27:22 > 0:27:23to get that last bit of balance.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26It's almost like two domestic cats with a ball of wool,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29or something. They're really rolling it around and playing together.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Yeah, definitely.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Well, the girls didn't fancy getting wet today,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35but they've had a good old play around, so the buoy done good.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47It's mid-afternoon and over in Monkey Temple,
0:27:47 > 0:27:51keepers Sam and Shelley are busy nervously moving marmosets.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54This group of monkeys we're just about to shut in,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and then we're going to let out our black-tailed marmoset group,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59which have little babies.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02It's been three days since an unprecedented attack,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05in which a mob of crows nearly flew off
0:28:05 > 0:28:07with one of the park's marmosets,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10sparking fears for the safety of their two newest arrivals.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Today, Sam is letting their family and the babies out
0:28:15 > 0:28:17for the first time since the attack.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Hello, guys. Are you coming out?
0:28:21 > 0:28:23So this is Mum that's come out first.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28And then we've got Dad and one baby, I think, by the looks of it.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Hello. This is one of our baby black-tailed marmosets.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34No bigger than the palm of Sam's hand,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38the babies could easily become a bite-size snack to a hungry crow.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Being so tiny, it's the little babies we were a little bit more
0:28:41 > 0:28:43worried about.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46The park's other groups of larger marmosets have continued to go out
0:28:46 > 0:28:47safely each day,
0:28:47 > 0:28:52albeit under the watchful eye of Sam's two fake birds of prey.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Never had any issues with crows before. It's all a bit strange.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Perhaps it's their breeding season or something like that,
0:28:59 > 0:29:01but we're just really happy that our bird deterrents
0:29:01 > 0:29:03have done the job.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06At eight weeks old, it's vital the baby marmosets are outside
0:29:06 > 0:29:08as much as possible.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12It's a critical stage in their physical and mental development,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15learning important life skills from their parents.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17You can see, Mum and Dad are doing a great job of looking after them
0:29:17 > 0:29:19and guarding them as well.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Now, finally free to explore their open-topped enclosure,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26it seems Sam can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31This is exactly where they should be, out and about, running around,
0:29:31 > 0:29:32enjoying the sunshine, so it's great.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35As you can see, they're really enjoying themselves.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40The Conservancy of Lewa in northern Kenyan is one
0:29:40 > 0:29:43of the few places in the world that is winning the war
0:29:43 > 0:29:45on keeping wildlife safe.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49We've got more white rhino and black rhino here
0:29:49 > 0:29:52than I've ever seen in my life. It's just stunning -
0:29:52 > 0:29:55and that's because the rangers that are looking after them,
0:29:55 > 0:29:56and we're talking armed guards,
0:29:56 > 0:30:01we're talking lay their life down to protect an animal.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Lewa covers 250 square kilometres,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and the challenge to keep it secure around the clock is immense.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10I'm in charge of this room
0:30:10 > 0:30:12and I have a team of seven radio operators.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14So, we man this place 24-hours a day.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20In the communications room, John ensures the experienced rangers
0:30:20 > 0:30:24on the ground are where they need to be at the right time.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28His wealth of experience and dedication to the wildlife
0:30:28 > 0:30:31helps inform his decisions.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35It's my passion and that's why I've worked here for the last 21 years,
0:30:35 > 0:30:40and I've seen it grow gradually, and at least now we have technology.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43This tracking system means the wildlife
0:30:43 > 0:30:44can be constantly monitored.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48So, this one is for tracking the elephants.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52We have 7,500 elephants, and out of those we've collared
0:30:52 > 0:30:54between 45 to 50 elephants.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57So, for example, if you look at this particular animal here,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59that is an elephant...
0:30:59 > 0:31:02That is where she is at the moment, and if you go there,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04she's not alone, she could be in a small herd -
0:31:04 > 0:31:08and we have about 7,500 elephants current in that area.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10We have what you call a security response team,
0:31:10 > 0:31:12and we can send them there to go and make sure
0:31:12 > 0:31:15that those elephants are safe.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19The advanced technology means rangers and anti-poaching patrols
0:31:19 > 0:31:22can be dispatched immediately to deal with any situation.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Each of these green and white blue dots you are seeing,
0:31:26 > 0:31:28those are patrols.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31We have, in this patrol, we have at least three men,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33whose work is to go out there and find rhinos,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35plus any other wildlife species.
0:31:35 > 0:31:36So they protect rhinos
0:31:36 > 0:31:40and, at the same time, they're protecting other wildlife species.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Sadly, in spite of the efforts here at Lewa,
0:31:43 > 0:31:47poaching of rhino and elephant is on the increase across Africa.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52The armed patrols at Lewa are constantly on alert
0:31:52 > 0:31:55for poachers who illegally obtain rhino horn and ivory.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03Today, Ian wants to show the keepers their most critical challenge.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Black rhino are on a knife edge in terms of conservation.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11With only an estimated 5,500 in the world,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14they could easily go extent.
0:32:14 > 0:32:19These are four black rhinos and we have Sonia and Subira.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Subira is her calf -
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and then, on the other side, we have Anna and her calf.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26It's quite incredible for us.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30This is a species that could be lost in our lifetime,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33but here they're not only surviving, they're breeding too.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Two successful breeding female black rhinos.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40- Two successful breeding females.- Amazing.- Yeah.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42And then we have Anna there.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Anna, this is her second calf.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46She's still a young mother,
0:32:46 > 0:32:50but we're expecting that she will give birth again next year.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55We're looking at four of only 84 on the Conservancy, anyway.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I say only, that's a massive proportion of the number
0:32:58 > 0:33:00left on the planet.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- This is wonderful work.- Thank you.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Rhino are hunted for their horns,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07which are then used as shows of wealth,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10or for their falsely believed medicinal benefits.
0:33:13 > 0:33:14It's an outside of Africa thing, is it?
0:33:14 > 0:33:19Yeah. The biggest market is Asia and other places.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23A rhino horn is a sense of wealth and everything,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26and also the Chinese medicine, as well.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Keeping the rhino here is a matter of life or death,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33both for the rhino and keepers in equal measure.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35It's sad that it's happening out there
0:33:35 > 0:33:37and we're the ones who are feeling it,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41we're the ones who are kind of like risking our lives
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and risking our families and risking everything.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46You know, even the rangers themselves,
0:33:46 > 0:33:47they don't understand.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Why would somebody want to kill a harmless rhino?
0:33:49 > 0:33:52If we were able to show that to the people out there,
0:33:52 > 0:33:56and also to make sure that the people who are buying this,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58- it's not been cut off peacefully. - No, it's been killed.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01The animals have been killed, they've been butchered.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04This is a being that you are taking from the wild.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Today has been a profound experience for Darren.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13We can really see the progression that conservation is making -
0:34:13 > 0:34:16but actually there's a whole army of people like Ian
0:34:16 > 0:34:19that care so much and are working day in, day out
0:34:19 > 0:34:22to conserve some of the rarest animals on the planet.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34From the tallest to the smallest,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37the park is home to some pretty strange creatures...
0:34:39 > 0:34:41..but when they're covered in slime,
0:34:41 > 0:34:43most people would throw in the towel.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48I'm here to meet an animal that I usually spend time avoiding
0:34:48 > 0:34:52on a rainy day in my back garden - but, Graham, you're going to change
0:34:52 > 0:34:54my opinion about the slug.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Well, I hope so. These are probably one of the larger species
0:34:57 > 0:35:00of slug out there and they're the Pancake slugs.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03They get their name because they're quite sort of pancake coloured
0:35:03 > 0:35:06and they do sort of tend to flatten out when they relax.
0:35:06 > 0:35:07Yeah, it's very unusual looking.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09It's nothing like your ordinary garden slug.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11No, no, I don't think you'd have much of a garden left
0:35:11 > 0:35:15with these guys in there. They grow up to about 12 centimetres in size.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18So they are a really enormous slug, from Barbados, actually.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20- So they're a tropical slug. - So it's an exotic slug.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- It is an exotic slug, yeah. - That's good.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24I'm hoping you won't find these ones in your back garden.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Being this close up, I can see there's two eyes there.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28And what are these two little things underneath?
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Yeah, these bits here really are like feelers.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32So he's just tapping away as he's moving
0:35:32 > 0:35:35and he's looking for anything that is nasty
0:35:35 > 0:35:37that he doesn't want to slime through,
0:35:37 > 0:35:39anything sharp, but also food, as well.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42So, these guys just constantly eat all the time.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44It's a really cool adaptation down there -
0:35:44 > 0:35:45and from this angle,
0:35:45 > 0:35:49it looks like the two stalks of the eyes are coming out from under...
0:35:49 > 0:35:52- almost under a hood.- Yeah, really unusual for this species, as well.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55It does. It comes out under a bit of a mantle at the top there -
0:35:55 > 0:35:57and that's just an extra form of protection,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00so if you were to just disturb him at the front, there,
0:36:00 > 0:36:03- you'll see that his eyes... - Ah, they retracted.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Retract straight back inside and then he's poking about,
0:36:05 > 0:36:08making sure it's all safe again before he moves on again.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Now, Graham, you keep saying "he".
0:36:10 > 0:36:11Have you sexed this slug?
0:36:11 > 0:36:14No, I should probably correct myself on that, actually -
0:36:14 > 0:36:17they are hermaphrodites, which means they are both male and female.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19- Wow.- So that's a really sort of unusual feature
0:36:19 > 0:36:22for most of the gastropods, the snails and the slugs.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25He or she doesn't really make any difference, I don't think.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27I don't think he gets that offended by it,
0:36:27 > 0:36:29but, basically, they can produce both eggs
0:36:29 > 0:36:31and mate with the other sex as well.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I have to say, Graham, they do have a bad reputation,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37but watching him for a little while, he's really interesting.
0:36:37 > 0:36:38I think you've changed my opinion.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40- I'm glad.- Yeah, it's great.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Earlier, we met Carl and Rasta,
0:36:44 > 0:36:48two male cheetah that Amy and her team want to introduce
0:36:48 > 0:36:49into one bachelor group.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53If it works, Amy can keep all the cheetah here.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56If it doesn't, some of them will have to go to a new collection.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Darren and Amy are seeking the help of an expert in the field, Mary.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05She's Lewa's research manager and one of the few people in the world
0:37:05 > 0:37:08who can help Amy with her issue back at the park.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12The cheetah have a house that they come into each night.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14They've got separate pens inside the house.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18We're trying to get them to have that close contact with each other,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22in the house, when they're feeding, but they haven't actually met.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Amy explains that after feeds, the older cheetah, Carl,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28has been showing more aggression than Rasta.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Because Carl is the father to the cubs,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- he might be more territorial as well.- Yeah, exactly.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38So he might not want Rasta to come in and be close.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Cheetahs are so territorial that...
0:37:42 > 0:37:47..like, even one male can protect the whole of the entire of Lewa...
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- Wow!- ..as the territory.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52He's going to be aggressive and he feels like he's...
0:37:52 > 0:37:58He's the dominant male, he's definitely going to feel, you know,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02- "These other males are not coming to my territory."- Yes, yes.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05As Carl is older and arrived at the park first,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08there's little chance of him ever accepting Rasta,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10the younger, new arrival.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12If they were young and they grew up together...
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- Yes.- ..then that would be good -
0:38:15 > 0:38:18but now they are all grown-ups, and you're bringing in together.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- Yeah, try to bring them together. - You want them to stay together.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It's... I don't think that is going to work.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29It seems the difference in their age could be making things difficult,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32but Mary isn't ruling anything out.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It's going to be fascinating to know how that goes...
0:38:37 > 0:38:39..but, you know, that is in captivity.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42It is a different situation in the wild.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44So we will keep in contact...
0:38:44 > 0:38:46- Definitely.- Definitely keep in contact.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48..and you will tell us how that works -
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and if you succeed, you better document it.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53- Yes.- Definitely will.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Thank you.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58It's not the answer the team were hoping for -
0:38:58 > 0:39:01but on the drive back to camp, Darren spots another species
0:39:01 > 0:39:03that he's been wrestling with how to display
0:39:03 > 0:39:05back in Wiltshire - ostrich.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11It's really interesting to see how these interact with each other here.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15We're looking to run a group of ostrich together.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Darren's always wanted to keep a large group of ostrich,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21but has never done it.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25So this is a great opportunity to understand a group in the wild.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31That's the male of the family and then that's the female.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36The very young males are starting to mature, but once they are young,
0:39:36 > 0:39:38they will always stick with each other...
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- OK.- ..and then they'll split later on after maturity.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46Back at the park, they've recently started incubating a dozen eggs
0:39:46 > 0:39:49in the hope that they can form a larger group -
0:39:49 > 0:39:52but no-one is quite sure if it would work.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Back home, we currently have a clutch of eggs
0:39:55 > 0:39:57and we've got them in the incubators,
0:39:57 > 0:39:59but our female's also sitting on eggs
0:39:59 > 0:40:03that we don't want her to hatch out. That bloodline's no good.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06So what we're going to do is, we're going to put some back under her,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09- yeah, so she'll hatch them out of thinking they're her own.- Yeah.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Let them grow up together and then they will have the notion that...
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- Yes.- ..they are from the same family.- OK.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Encouraging a female ostrich to raise unrelated chicks
0:40:18 > 0:40:22as one family from birth is something Darren is keen to try.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Back at the lodge, he calls home to fellow keeper Mark.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31- Hello, Mark.- Hello, Darren.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Just wanted to give you a quick call hot off the press.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36We came across a big family group of ostrich -
0:40:36 > 0:40:41and as long as Mum and Dad rear them as their own,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44they will accept them and they will grow up
0:40:44 > 0:40:48- without any risk of inter-male fighting.- Oh, brilliant.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53The good news for you is you've got 11 out of 12 fertile eggs.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55No way! Cheers, mate, thank you.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57- Take care.- Cheers, bye.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Another great thing to look forward to -
0:40:59 > 0:41:02and if I can take a few more of those little pearls of wisdom
0:41:02 > 0:41:06back from Africa, then it's worth a 13 hour shift.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17Earlier, Jean and Eloise gave the tigers an enormous ship's buoy...
0:41:17 > 0:41:19- Oh, is it going to go in? Is it going to go in?- Come on, girls.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22..hoping they'd play with it in the pool and cool off.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Well, the buoy didn't get wet...
0:41:26 > 0:41:29but later in the day, it certainly got played with.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36Now, if you've ever wondered what a tiger could do
0:41:36 > 0:41:39to a ship's buoy, wonder no more.
0:41:39 > 0:41:40- Eloise!- Look at that.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42They did a pretty thorough job, didn't they?
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Yes. They definitely ripped it to shreds
0:41:44 > 0:41:46and crumbled it up as much as possible.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48And do you know what's amazing? This is really solid.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50I mean, they've really gone to town.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52That is quite an animal toy.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55Yeah, they managed to get through it a lot quicker than we expected,
0:41:55 > 0:41:56and, yeah, they love it.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Is this sort of thing important for the tigers
0:41:59 > 0:42:03to have in their enclosure, to have that opportunity?
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Yeah, we try and make our girls work really hard
0:42:05 > 0:42:08and get as fit as possible, and giving them a new toy
0:42:08 > 0:42:10is exciting for us to see what they do
0:42:10 > 0:42:12and for them to figure out what they want to do with it, as well.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13Well, I am impressed.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16It looks like you've got a few little chunks of food there,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19- on a knitting needle! I like what you're doing there.- Yes, yes.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- Come on.- This is? - This is Shouri behind us.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- Shouri.- Shouri's the one that had the most interest in this buoy
0:42:24 > 0:42:27and she's he one that made the most mess out of it.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30- Didn't you, sweetheart? - They're keeping you on your toes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- Definitely.- Thank you so much.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Sadly, that's all we've got time for on today's programme -
0:42:34 > 0:42:37but here's what's coming up on the next Animal Park.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Keeper Polly is in Africa, earning her stripes
0:42:42 > 0:42:45amongst some very rare zebra...
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Seeing them out here in the wild, it's amazing.
0:42:47 > 0:42:48It's overwhelming!
0:42:50 > 0:42:54The park's gorillas give their verdicts on a new diet.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56Both going for the tomato, as well.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Save some for the others, Evindi!
0:42:59 > 0:43:03..and we'll reveal how an emu cools off in the summer.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05When they're that hot, they need to cool down,
0:43:05 > 0:43:06and this is the best way for it.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09Yeah, he's just sat himself right in there.