0:00:07 > 0:00:10There are currently two separate prides here,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12and two separate enclosures.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14But all that is about to change,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17because construction is under way
0:00:17 > 0:00:20on a brand-new lion enclosure out in the woods,
0:00:20 > 0:00:24and the area is so big, it will mean that all these lions
0:00:24 > 0:00:28and both prides will be able to live in the same space
0:00:28 > 0:00:32and be able to come and go as they please, 24 hours a day.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37This is a huge moment - final checks are being made to the fences
0:00:37 > 0:00:40and the keepers are bracing themselves as these lions
0:00:40 > 0:00:44prepare to go into their new home for the first time.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47It's been a jam-packed series...
0:00:47 > 0:00:53Full of animal antics, getting you closer than ever before.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55And today is no exception,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59when Ben becomes a tree for a long line of lorikeets.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- Have I got something on my head? - I'm afraid so.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Kate gets extremely close to some creepy crawlies.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07I'm worried I've lost some.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10You suddenly have one crawling up the back of your shirt...
0:01:10 > 0:01:13And we find out how the early visitors
0:01:13 > 0:01:16got a closer encounter than anyone bargained for.
0:01:16 > 0:01:17Somebody on the left would say,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20"Oh, we've seen the sea lion," rush over, and the boat would tilt.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But first... Lions have always played a massive part
0:01:34 > 0:01:39in the safari experience ever since the park first opened to the public
0:01:39 > 0:01:4150 years ago.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43The lions are really, really important to the park.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46It's the first animals we had in '66 when it opened,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48that's what we're famous for.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Back then, keeping lions in a large, semi-wild group was new,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55ground-breaking and dangerous.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00And now, half a century later,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04the team are about to embark on another pioneering venture.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Come, lions, come on!
0:02:11 > 0:02:12At the moment,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15the lions have naturally split into two different prides.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17Good lions.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Come on.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20At the end of every day,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24both prides are brought in from the open enclosure of Lion Country.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33On duty this evening is senior keeper Caleb.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35What we're doing now... As they come in,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37we tend to try and shut them in so they can't run back out,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and we then put them in groups of four.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43While one pride remains in the house overnight,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47the other stays in the outside paddock with access to the shelter.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53So, currently we have the 13 that have been shut in with access
0:02:53 > 0:02:55to the majority of the house.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57And then the others have access to the paddock
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and a small part of the house.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03To keep things fair, every few days the prides are swapped over.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07But all that's about to change...
0:03:09 > 0:03:13..because the park is creating a new super-enclosure,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16big enough for all the lions,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20with houses open to paddocks at night.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24The main reason we're doing this is for the lions' welfare,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28it's to give them a better life so they can stay out all night.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31We try and do everything as natural as possible.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Because, in fact, lions are semi-nocturnal - in the wild,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39most of their hunting and social behaviour happens at night.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43It's really important for the lions to out at night because that's what they naturally do.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Giving the lions free access to their outdoor space at night
0:03:46 > 0:03:49is extremely rare and not without risk.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51If this works and turns out really good,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54you'll probably find that other parks will follow.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57This densely wooded area will have plenty of space
0:03:57 > 0:03:59for the lions to climb and explore.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04But, for it to work, the forestry team must remove
0:04:04 > 0:04:08a rotten tree that could come down and onto the fence.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15The work is causing disruption across the whole carnivore section,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17partly because of all the tractors.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29The big cats associate tractors with food because that's how they're fed.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Just the sound of a tractor gets them excited.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39And not just the lions, the tigers too.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43It's a bit unsafe to get the tigers out into their enclosure
0:04:43 > 0:04:44while we're doing this.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46We're working in an area behind their section - they're very
0:04:46 > 0:04:49interested in what we're doing, especially with tractors.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53So we're going to have to keep them in their paddock until we're done.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55But the tigers are hungry.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57We've got the paddock here,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01so we'll chuck the meat over before they go out and they'll feed.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04At the heart of this whole redevelopment is the fence.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10At a cost of £500,000, the park is erecting
0:05:10 > 0:05:14two and a half kilometres of state-of-the-art lion-proof fencing,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18standing a whopping five metres high.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Built by a specialist set of fencing contractors,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24they know it's not just the height that matters.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30We're laying some matting on the floor just to prevent
0:05:30 > 0:05:32any risk of the lions burrowing underneath.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36These guys are used to high security jobs.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41We've got to make sure nothing can get out.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45God forbid anything was to, but this is to ensure they don't.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50And seeing the lions here is keeping the contractors on their toes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52It's feeding time and they're all running around
0:05:52 > 0:05:54and, yeah, that's a bit frightening.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58It's a first for the park.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03We'll be back to find out just why these lions need such a big fence.
0:06:20 > 0:06:2250 years ago, it was all about the lions,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26but they've since been joined by a host of other animals.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I'm here with my old friend Darren Beasley...
0:06:28 > 0:06:30- Hi, Ben. - ..and some lorikeets.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Look, they are desperate for this. They are beautiful.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34Aren't they wonderful?
0:06:34 > 0:06:38These are called rainbow lorikeets and it looks like somebody
0:06:38 > 0:06:41has painted them every colour of the rainbow.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Lorikeets have brushed tongues, so they eat nectar,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46so we supply them a little bit of nectar here.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50And this really is all about the people who come to visit Longleat
0:06:50 > 0:06:52getting a close, immersive experience
0:06:52 > 0:06:53with this magnificent wildlife.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Absolutely. You're quite right. Lord Bath said,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59"Bring them into the safari park and trap the people in their cars."
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Well, now we're taking all the barriers down and you come in
0:07:02 > 0:07:05this huge aviary and the birds come and go as they please.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07But for us as a keeper as well, it's wonderful,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11because what I'm doing now, secretly, is I'm looking at toes...
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- Like a health check?- Absolutely.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Because they get so close.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19What other things do we need to look for? Hello.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23When we have them here, we're looking from good feather condition.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26We're looking for toes - are there any nicks or...?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28They can nip, they are parrots,
0:07:28 > 0:07:30they can bite each other.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32And also, you can feel the weight.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34It's an absolutely great way for us to get close.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38If this was a free-flight aviary without us coming in,
0:07:38 > 0:07:40you'd have to peer through the mesh,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42you just wouldn't be able to get close.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44- Have I got something on my head? - I'm afraid so.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Is there something on my head? I can't tell, it feels...
0:07:48 > 0:07:50So where are these guys actually from originally?
0:07:50 > 0:07:53The lorikeets come from Australasia and south-east Asia.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55These are actually...
0:07:55 > 0:07:58We call them rainbow lorikeets but they're actually a particular type
0:07:58 > 0:08:00of rainbow lorikeet called Swainson's lorikeet.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03And what about this noise they're making?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05If you live where these guys come from,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07it's a pretty vast expanse of space.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09They've got to talk to each other so they need to be loud.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11You know, Darren, I had forgotten
0:08:11 > 0:08:15how ridiculous and wonderful your job is.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17You're like the real-life Dr Doolittle, you know.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- I'm a lucky, lucky man. - You really are.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Well, Darren, thank you very much, it's been amazing to meet
0:08:22 > 0:08:25your lorikeets. Who knows, maybe they'll be here in another 50 years.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Half Mile Lake is a strange old place.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36It's currently home to hippos from Africa, sea lions
0:08:36 > 0:08:40from the Pacific Ocean, and a gorilla named Nico
0:08:40 > 0:08:42who lives on the island in the middle.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47But it began its life in the 18th century as an ornamental lake.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51It must have seemed like a pretty brave, if not crazy plan,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54to fill this spot with wild animals when the safari park
0:08:54 > 0:08:58was first set up by the Sixth Marquess of Bath.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03His grandson Lord Weymouth knows just how wacky an idea it was.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I think it was courageous,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10I think it had incredible foresight.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14It was slightly batty.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Lord Bath's plan was to fill the lake with hippos and sea lions
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and let primates roam around on the island in the middle.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Oh, yes, we've improved the hippo reserve here.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We now have three hippos.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The two big ones are called Arnold and Manfred
0:09:29 > 0:09:31and the little one called Frida.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33And they really are the most engaging beasts.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37They flop about in the water and the public can feed them from the boat
0:09:37 > 0:09:39when they go round and see them.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42When I first started years ago, we did boat trips round the lake,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45similar to what we're doing now, but the boats were a lot smaller,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47they were old lifeboats.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51They'd rock from side to side with sea lions jumping on the boats
0:09:51 > 0:09:56and hippos in the lakes, and going round the island
0:09:56 > 0:09:59was a little bit more scary than it is now.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Two people who remember fondly what it was like back then
0:10:02 > 0:10:04are Rose Long and her daughter, Helen.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07The boats were a lot more rocky than they are now.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10They have nice flat bottoms and they're nice and stable now
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and they certainly weren't when I was little
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and they had sort of dragon-boat heads on the front of them.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Somebody on the left would say, "Oh, we've seen the sea lion,"
0:10:18 > 0:10:20rush over, and the boat would tilt.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23So it was a bit of an experience going on the boat then.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26But rickety old boats weren't the only thing visitors
0:10:26 > 0:10:30had to look out for - it was the animals, too.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And then over here, in this island,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35there's a whole family of chimpanzees.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38They're great big savage animals - quite frankly, if you went
0:10:38 > 0:10:40on the island, they'd tear you limb from limb.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41I'm scared to death of them.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48But really, it was the hippos they should have been most afraid of.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53They may look placid, but in Africa these two-tonne herbivores
0:10:53 > 0:10:57contribute to more human deaths than any other large animal,
0:10:57 > 0:10:58even lions.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02You see, a hippo is extremely territorial,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06and simply won't tolerate anyone who strays too close,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09a fact that the current Lord Bath probably hadn't heard of
0:11:09 > 0:11:11when he bought a new sailing dinghy.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Here's his version of events from 2004.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21I was bullied into getting a boat by my children.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25That's not quite true.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I think I got it in my head and they were saying it was a ridiculous thing to have.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32But anyway, having got it, I better try it on the lake.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Ian Turner was a junior keeper at the time
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and he couldn't believe his eyes.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I mean, literally, I just came along the top road
0:11:41 > 0:11:43and I could see a sailing boat out on the lake.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47First instinct was I couldn't believe anybody would go
0:11:47 > 0:11:51onto a lake with a boat like that with hippos in.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54And it turned out to be the now Lord Bath.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57So I went out there and the boat had a will of its own
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and kept on going towards the island.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06And trying to tack it and make the boat move in the direction I wanted,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08I didn't seem to be very good at that
0:12:08 > 0:12:11and it just went closer and closer and closer.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13So I said to the boats, "You have to tell him to get off."
0:12:13 > 0:12:16They said, "We can't, it's Lord Bath's son."
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I said, "It doesn't really matter who it is,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22"cos if the hippos which were in the lake get near the boat,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25"they'll sink it and he'll be sunk."
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Lord Bath was escorted back to dry land by one of the pleasure boats
0:12:29 > 0:12:32and he never tried sailing on the lake again.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39And today, 50 years later, Half Mile Lake is every bit as exciting,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42and still the only place in the world where hippos,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46sea lions and gorillas peacefully live side-by-side.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Well, almost.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Having worked at the park for so many years means that we've
0:12:56 > 0:13:00been witness to sad events like the loss of Samba the gorilla,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02but also happy and exciting ones
0:13:02 > 0:13:04like the arrival of lion cubs and the new tigers.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08We've even seen Lord Bath jump out of a plane.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12But one of the most dramatic stories we witnessed happened ten years ago
0:13:12 > 0:13:14and that starred Imogen the giraffe.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20In 2006, after several years of trying,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Imogen finally fell pregnant,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26and when it was her time to give birth, keeper Bev Evans was there.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27It's really exciting.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31We came in and she was actually starting to go into labour,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34but obviously with that came the complications, so from really
0:13:34 > 0:13:39exciting to really worrying in quite a short space of time actually.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44When Imogen's labour went on for more than a day,
0:13:44 > 0:13:45it was clear to Andy Hayton,
0:13:45 > 0:13:50the keeper in charge of the giraffes, that something was wrong.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Sunday morning, the vet came out, looked at her and the decision
0:13:53 > 0:13:56was taken we would probably have to pull the calf,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59the calf was obviously badly presented.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02We thought possibly it could have been a breach birth or the head
0:14:02 > 0:14:05was tilted back so she just couldn't physically push out.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10In order to help, they had no choice but to put her under anaesthetic.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14But resident vet Duncan Williams knew how risky that could be.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Anaesthetic-wise, I think giraffes probably are the most dangerous.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Literature reports are basically one in three anaesthetics with giraffes
0:14:23 > 0:14:26ended in fatalities.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28But if they didn't do something,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Imogen and the calf would surely die.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33The last thing you want to do is knock out a giraffe,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37and even worse is knock out a giraffe that's got a baby inside.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41So, you know, it was a last resort, we hadn't got any choice
0:14:41 > 0:14:43in the matter. We'd waited till the last minute
0:14:43 > 0:14:46and it was just fingers crossed from now on.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52A whole team of vets and staff was urgently summoned.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Nothing like this had ever been done here before,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00so Ian and the team filmed the whole procedure.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06The first step was to anaesthetise Imogen.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Andy was dreading what would happen next.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13When they go, sometimes what they'll do
0:15:13 > 0:15:17is force themselves into a corner and try and prop themselves up
0:15:17 > 0:15:20and then what can happen is they'll actually flip themselves straight
0:15:20 > 0:15:24back over where they just can't fight any more and they're just
0:15:24 > 0:15:27out on their feet almost and they just collapse.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29The big worry for us is if she goes over straight backwards,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32she could break her spine.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35The box is lined out with large bales of hay
0:15:35 > 0:15:37to soften it as much as we can do.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42The straw on the floor was also piled up to cushion the impact.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51She survived the fall, but the risk wasn't over.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53I think the big problem is...
0:15:53 > 0:15:55A massive animal, when they fall down,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59you've got the risk of regurgitation of stomach contents...
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The contents can go up the oesophagus
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and get swallowed into the lungs.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10So, as quickly as possible, an air tube was inserted all the way down
0:16:10 > 0:16:12that long throat to the top of the lungs.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Responsible for that was Pamela Murison, an anaesthetist
0:16:18 > 0:16:21from Bristol University's veterinary school.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24They're so big.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28I'm used to anaesthetising large animals, but you know in the back
0:16:28 > 0:16:32of your mind all the time that it is such a risky procedure.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37With Imogen anaesthetised, Duncan could start his examination.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40He had to find out what state the calf was in.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45The ropes were essential for everyone's safety and it took
0:16:45 > 0:16:48a lot of hands to hold them secure.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51You know, there's 30-odd people - if the giraffe kicks,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55somebody's going to end up seriously injured or even worse.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02Duncan's internal examination revealed some sad news -
0:17:02 > 0:17:05the calf inside was already dead.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08It may have been dead for some time.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Bev Evans had been looking forward to having
0:17:10 > 0:17:13a new baby in the giraffe house.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16It was quite sad to lose the calf.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19The vets and everybody couldn't do anything about that.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22We couldn't have done anything so there's no point
0:17:22 > 0:17:24worrying too much about that.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Yeah, it's such a shame we lost him, this little boy.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Now, all their efforts were concentrated
0:17:31 > 0:17:34just on trying to save Imogen.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37They had to get the dead calf out,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39but there was a complication.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41There was no way that it was going to come out just simply
0:17:41 > 0:17:45because everything had closed down again.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47We did quite a major pull on it
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and it just wasn't shifting, unfortunately.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Duncan and the team had to come up with a new plan and fast,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57because Imogen's life was balanced on a knife-edge.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Jean Johansson has been shadowing keepers...
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Eloise, wait for me.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13..and getting to meet the park's most amazing species.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- All right?- I'm trying not to scream.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17Finding out what they love...
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Oh, this is great.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20How lovely.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23..and how best to care for them.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Today, it's the turn of the park's lemurs.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Right, I've got rosemary, thyme and mint in here,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31everything you asked for - but what are we going to do with it?
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Here in Lemur Walkthrough,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- we like to test our lemurs and we like to mix things up.- OK.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39And this is specifically for our white-fronted brown lemurs
0:18:39 > 0:18:41that we have in here with our ringtails.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43There they are. Who are these two?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46This is Ida, our female, and this is Brau.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52- If you want, this is a bit of mint, we'll see what she likes to do.- OK.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54So she's away with it? Oh, she's rubbing herself with it!
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- Yeah, it's good insect repellent. - OK.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02This is Brau, her partner, so she likes to make herself smell nice.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04That's pretty unusual.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Now this one likes eating it more than rubbing it all over his body.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Yeah, Brau is very much food-orientated,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12he loves eating the buttercups in here as well.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- But it's good for digestion, good fibre in there as well.- Excellent.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20So he's rubbing as well but, yeah, he will eat it also.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- So these are white-fronted brown lemurs.- Yes.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23I don't know anything about them.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Where do they come from? Are they from Madagascar as well?
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Yep, they are as well. They're a bit more timid as you've seen
0:19:29 > 0:19:32being in here - the ringtails are very much in-your-face...
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Yes, they are, they like the limelight.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38The browns are a bit more timid, in the wild they would be more
0:19:38 > 0:19:4290% in the trees and 10% maybe on the ground,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44whereas ringtails are more 50-50.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47They would be found in the northern part of Madagascar
0:19:47 > 0:19:51but they might come into contact meeting over territories.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55But they're much more... They'll sit back and let the world pass by.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Brau, he has a bit of romance going on
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- with some of the boys like Watson.- Really?!
0:20:00 > 0:20:04You find them playing together, eating together, grooming,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06and then you've got Ida, who's 22,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09so she's our eldest lemur here in the Walkthrough.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13And does that make her the kind of leader of the pack because she's 22?
0:20:13 > 0:20:16They are very much separate, so the ringtails have their family group
0:20:16 > 0:20:19and the browns have their pair.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21But, you know, when it comes to it
0:20:21 > 0:20:23she'll keep them in line if she has to.
0:20:23 > 0:20:29So, at the ripe old age of 22, how long do you think she'll live?
0:20:29 > 0:20:34In the wild, ringtails and browns, probably about 18 years.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39In captivity would probably be... They can go into their mid-20s.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42However, some people say that browns can go into their 30s.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44That would be great, wouldn't it?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46But, in my heart, Ida's going to live forever,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48so we'll wait and see how old she gets.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51She's full of energy and she's lovely.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55She's got a special place in many of the keepers here, in their hearts,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59and we will take care of her for as many years as she gives us here.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15Now, one of the things I love about filming Animal Park
0:21:15 > 0:21:21is that I get to handle some really weird and wonderful creatures.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24First of all, tell me about these amazing bugs.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- This is a giant, spiny stick insect...- Yeah.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31..and, hopefully, today, we're going to sex them.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Not all of them, hopefully, because we got quite a lot...- Right.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37..but were going to use, hopefully, admitted your kit to work out
0:21:37 > 0:21:39which ones are boys and which ones are girls.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And why is it important for you to sex them?
0:21:42 > 0:21:44- Breeding, obviously, breeding purposes.- Yep.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- Eventually, we are going to have too many stick insects...- Right.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- ..so, obviously, eventually, we may have to separate boys and girls.- OK.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Obviously, we don't want to be completely overrun
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- with these beautiful creatures. - They ARE beautiful!
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Where would you find these?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59If you wanted to stumble across one of these in the wild,
0:21:59 > 0:22:00where would you have to go?
0:22:00 > 0:22:04- These guys are from New Guinea. - Are they?- Yeah, New Guinea spiny...
0:22:04 > 0:22:07There is something about New Guinea wildlife that just...
0:22:07 > 0:22:11- It just has knobs on, doesn't it? - Yeah, definitely, without a doubt.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14So, hopefully we're going to use one of your cameras to work out...
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Well, let's try and do that. Do you want to try mine first?
0:22:17 > 0:22:22So, we've got this lens that can do macro close-ups,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- so we're going to use this monitor here, aren't we, John?- Yep.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28This to see... You are a very active!
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So, which part of the insect
0:22:31 > 0:22:34does Jamie need to try and get a good shot of
0:22:34 > 0:22:36to find out what sex it is?
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Just to make things that little bit more interesting,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- there is actually two parts that we need to look at.- Right.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- So, you've got the base of the tail...- Yeah.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48- ..and also at the back of the legs, so, the two back legs...- Yeah.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51..the boys have a certain part there which the girls do not have.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Ooh, they cling on -
0:22:52 > 0:22:54they've got these wonderful hooks on their feet...
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Yeah, don't worry about dropping them.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59I mean, I can already see the tail in that shot...
0:22:59 > 0:23:01- Yeah.- ..so, I can tell that that is a girl.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Well, we should have known that, shouldn't we?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05- Because you're beautiful. - I've got two boys here.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07I'm worried I've lost some - I feel like they've...
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I'm a bit worried that I'll get home tonight, and...
0:23:09 > 0:23:12You'll suddenly have one crawling up the back of your shirt.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14I won't be overly popular in my household if that happens.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- Right, so I've got two boys here. - OK.- So, if you look on your one,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- you see the base of the tail has got almost like a big spike.- Yes.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- Whereas the boys...- Oh, no spike at all.- ..don't have that.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27So, that lovely spike right there, that shows it's a girl.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Now, what's the bit on the legs that makes this a female,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33- and yours a male? - So, just underneath,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I don't know if you can see, he's got a really mean set of...
0:23:36 > 0:23:38almost like hooks on the back legs.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Oh, yes, it has. - Almost like great big barbs.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- It looks like a rose thorn, almost, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45In fact, in parts of New Guinea,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- fishermen would actually use those as fishing hooks.- Really?!
0:23:47 > 0:23:50They'd actually take them - not so good for the stick insects,
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- but obviously that's man. - So, my lovely girl
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- doesn't have those barbs.- No. - No, nor she does.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58So, the bit on the end, there, is called the ovipositor.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- Now, I know what that means.- Go on, then.- I did Latin A-level, John.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- Oh, OK.- Don't do me down. So, ovipositor is - "ovi" is "eggs"...
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- Mm-hm.- ..and so that's where she is depositing her eggs from,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- would that be right? - Very good, very good.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13They are absolutely wonderful.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Well, John, I'm glad we were able to be a little bit useful -
0:24:16 > 0:24:18although it seems you didn't really need a big fancy camera,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- you just got us here under false pretences...- Yeah, yeah...!
0:24:21 > 0:24:22- ..didn't you?- Possibly.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Over in Lion Country,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41The new super-sized enclosure is now almost ready,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45and, as moving day approaches, tensions are building.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48I think we're all excited by it.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50I'm a little bit nervous of what's going to happen
0:24:50 > 0:24:54when we do finally opened the gate and get the lions running through...
0:24:54 > 0:24:57but it is really exciting. We've never tried it before.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00The new fence may look like overkill to some,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03but senior keeper Caleb
0:25:03 > 0:25:06is all too aware of these cats' ability to climb.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14Today, the carnivore team have got something special for Simba's pride.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20They've got a box of hooves and hides, which the lions love...
0:25:20 > 0:25:23and they're hanging them up in awkward places
0:25:23 > 0:25:25to give the lions a real workout.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28So, we've got a climbing frame here
0:25:28 > 0:25:31with a big structure on top so we can hang stuff on either side.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35I'm feeling really excited.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Now to find out what these lions are capable of.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Here come the lions. So, you've got Simba charging first.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Hopefully he's going to jump up, with Nala,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48and they're going to try and bring down the hide.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50He can see Simba using his strength, and the girls,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52to pull it and drag it.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57SIMBA RUMBLES
0:25:57 > 0:25:59And what he's doing is, he's making vocalisations
0:25:59 > 0:26:02to signify that it's his, and the others can't get it.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06One of his sisters have gone up along the top of the log,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08and she's trying to attack it from the top side,
0:26:08 > 0:26:09because she knows it's less dangerous
0:26:09 > 0:26:11than being right next to Simba.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Something out of the ordinary like this
0:26:20 > 0:26:23brings out the lions' natural instincts.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25There are some easy pieces out there, as you can see,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28some just laid there, but they choose to go for the bigger pieces,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31the ones where they can assert more dominance.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36You can see why they've been pruning branches
0:26:36 > 0:26:39that overhang the fences in the new lion enclosure.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Such powerful climbers would be up and over in a flash.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46When we do things like this,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49you can appreciate how strong they are in, how high they can jump,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52how long they can hang and how they can use their muscles, as well.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54If the new enclosure works out,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56it's going to give the lions an opportunity
0:26:56 > 0:26:59to show even more natural behaviour.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04My passion in life is to show people what carnivores are capable of,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07cos I can't imagine a world without carnivores,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10because they're a symbol of strength, power, family...
0:27:10 > 0:27:15And, not to forget, they're also natural-born killers,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19so, encouraging their wild behaviour could be a dangerous thing to do...
0:27:20 > 0:27:23..but the new lion enclosure is almost ready,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26and the keepers are set for taking that risk.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40We're going back to 2006,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44and one of the most dramatic scenes to ever hit the giraffery.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47A female giraffe named Imogen had lost her calf,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50but failed to give birth to it naturally.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54If left untreated, she would almost certainly die.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58So, with Imogen in real danger,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02there was only one way left to try to save her life.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Andy knew there was little chance of success.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12We're going to attempt a Caesarean, just to give her go.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16You know, we can't just decide we're going to put her down
0:28:16 > 0:28:18and quit here, you know? We've got to...
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Like I say, it's...
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Even if it doesn't come out,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26the right decision, or the right outcome, that we want,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28you got to at least try it, so...
0:28:28 > 0:28:31we're going to attempt a Caesarean now and see how we go.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37This was the first Caesarean ever performed on me giraffe at the park.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Duncan Williams was the vet in charge of the team.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44We do Caesareans in cattle all the time,
0:28:44 > 0:28:49and the actual operation itself is very much similar to do it in a cow.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52But, I mean, it is different.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55I've never done anything like that in a giraffe at all.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56No.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Imogen had already been under anaesthetic for well over two hours.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03For a giraffe, that's a very long time.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Deputy head warden Ian Turner was losing hope.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Never seen a Caesarean on a giraffe.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13And literally, if the giraffe survived, it would be a miracle.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16You know, at the stitches, were talking, like,
0:29:16 > 0:29:17that sort of size stitching,
0:29:17 > 0:29:20and she's got two lots of internal stitching,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22plus the external stitching.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26She's now been under for four hours-plus.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28You know, it's going to be touch-and-go
0:29:28 > 0:29:31whether she actually survives this operation anyhow.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33The stitches had to be very strong,
0:29:33 > 0:29:37because the team needed to get Imogen up on her feet
0:29:37 > 0:29:39as soon as possible.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43The moment of truth would be when they tried to revive her.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Once we'd finished all the operation,
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Duncan had stitched it all back up, he'd got all the stitches done,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53he cleaned the wound up, he gave it all the antibiotics and stuff,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56they give it a revival.
0:29:56 > 0:30:02What we do is...Andy, Ryan, a couple of others, stayed in there,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04and we moved out with just Ryan and Andy in there,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and sit on its... What you do is, you sit on its neck,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10you wait for it to come round, and at the last minute,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14once it's up, you get off its neck, and it sits up.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18It was an anxious time for Pam, the veterinary anaesthetist.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22For me, particularly, I find that period very nerve-racking,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24because beyond...
0:30:24 > 0:30:27We've got very little control of how she gets up,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30and she could easily injure herself.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44They were expecting Imogen to at least try to stand up
0:30:44 > 0:30:48as soon as she came round - but something was wrong,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51because lying down is unnatural to a giraffe.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55It's dangerous, because they're known just to give up
0:30:55 > 0:30:56and lose the will to live.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59- PAM:- The longer the anaesthetic,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02the more likely you are to have some of the other problems
0:31:02 > 0:31:05associated with anaesthesia in large animals -
0:31:05 > 0:31:07for example, there is pressure on the muscles,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10which have been lying in an awkward position
0:31:10 > 0:31:14with 600 kilos of giraffe lying on top of certain areas.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- DUNCAN:- It's one of those difficult sort of situations -
0:31:17 > 0:31:18it's, how much do you intervene?
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Do you let her do it herself, and...?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I think I was worried that you don't do enough,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25and if something bad happens, you know,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27you're going to be blaming yourself.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31But, a few minutes later,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Imogen found the strength to sit up...
0:31:44 > 0:31:48..and then, finally, to try to stand.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06The big step is, she didn't die in the operation.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10The next big step is, she got up, or woke up, and got up,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14and if we can slowly get her eating again...
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and it is just tiny, tiny little steps all the way.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25If she makes it through tonight,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27tomorrow and then days on after that,
0:32:27 > 0:32:30if she gets to two weeks, then we can kind of breathe out.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Imogen did survive the days that followed,
0:32:34 > 0:32:39and, just one month later, she was well enough to go out with the herd.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44In fact, Imogen made a complete recovery
0:32:44 > 0:32:47and lived many more years at the park,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51during which time she had a healthy baby boy called Henry...
0:32:55 > 0:32:58..and another, called Kaiser.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17At the end of each day, the park's four white rhino,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19helped by a tractor,
0:33:19 > 0:33:23begin their journey back to the rhino house, ready to go to bed.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Jean is back with Tina and Luke to help tuck them in for the night.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- Look, here they come, I see one coming round the corner.- Yeah!
0:33:33 > 0:33:35They've all come down together!
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Yeah, you've got Unjarnu right at the back, there, our bull,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39he's just, you know, pottering at the back,
0:33:39 > 0:33:41and these are our girls coming down.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44- Wow!- Come on, rhinos!- They are huge. How much do they weigh?!
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Let's just say you wouldn't want them to stand on your foot.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I have to say, I've got two rhinos running towards me at the moment,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52it's a little bit unnerving.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58In the summer months, all four rhino can stay out,
0:33:58 > 0:33:59with access to the house...
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Ebun, come on, lovely. Come on, lovely!
0:34:02 > 0:34:06..but on wetter nights such as today, Ebun, the youngest rhino,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09is brought in to keep her warm and dry.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- In you come.- Good girl, Ebun!
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Where will she sleep, on the floor?
0:34:14 > 0:34:17I see a few mats, there, at the back.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Rhinos themselves, they're not sort of cosy, comfortable animals.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22They don't need a big feather pillow or anything like that,
0:34:22 > 0:34:24they're really hardy - but what we do is,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26we provide these mats that you see at the back,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28just to make sure they don't get any pressure sores,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30or anything like that - and, you know,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33it's a nice warm surface between the cold concrete on the floor.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35She's got some logs, and everything, around,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37so she can scratch all night, which they love to do.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41- I did notice some piles of poo... - Yes.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44..already in there before they came in. What's that about?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- Our rhinos have middens.- A midden?
0:34:46 > 0:34:49A midden! Yeah, as you see, in all the different patterns,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52we have different piles of poo, they're referred to as middens,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and we have them up in a new area, where they spend the day,
0:34:55 > 0:34:59and they use them where they defecate,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- and basically mark their territory. - Right, OK.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03For us, personally, as a keeper,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06it's a brilliant way of trying to keep their pens inside tidy -
0:35:06 > 0:35:09instead of coming in in the morning and finding lots of piles of poo,
0:35:09 > 0:35:11they just poo in one place, and it makes it a little bit easier for us.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Wait a minute - so, not only are they trained for bedtime,
0:35:14 > 0:35:16they're potty trained, as well?
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- In a sense, yes.- Smart rhinos!
0:35:19 > 0:35:23Amazing to see a rhino up close like this - am I safe to touch?
0:35:23 > 0:35:24Yes, absolutely fine - obviously,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27- just watch where she's pointing us, but, no...- Wow!
0:35:27 > 0:35:29..she's a really good, well-tempered rhino.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Now, I've heard that she loves having her belly rubbed,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35- so, if I go into here, is that OK, is that safe?- Yeah, it's fine.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40Very soft under here, not what you'd expect from a rhino at all.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43People think they're quite, you know, rough and tough -
0:35:43 > 0:35:44and they are, but, as you can see,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47they also have their sensitive side, as well.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Yeah, really sensitive to just touch,
0:35:49 > 0:35:53because she seems to be really enjoying this, and I mean...
0:35:53 > 0:35:56- Yeah!- It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59They love the contact, they absolutely love it.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05Now, that is how you put a rhino to bed. I'm really proud of that!
0:36:06 > 0:36:08Good girl!
0:36:18 > 0:36:21The new super-sized enclosure is now ready,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25in the day has finally come for the big lion move.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29We've all been preparing it for, like, six months now,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32and we haven't slept, we've been so excited,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34and we don't know what's going to happen.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36OK, good morning, everybody.
0:36:36 > 0:36:37Time for a final briefing.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Hopefully the food will help keep them calm.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Extra keepers have been drafted in to help.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47We have a plan. Playing it by ear, to a certain extent.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50The mission today is to move half of the lions
0:36:50 > 0:36:52through a new fenced corridor, or race,
0:36:52 > 0:36:55joining their old enclosure with the new area.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00The teams take up their positions.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Caleb and Eloise are putting out the lions' favourite treats
0:37:03 > 0:37:07in the new territory as a kind of house-warming present.
0:37:07 > 0:37:08These are hide strips.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11We're going to chuck them all around this section
0:37:11 > 0:37:12in areas that we want the lions to explore.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15It's just going to make it a positive experience.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Of course, they will, like, rip that apart in two seconds.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Meanwhile, in the old lion enclosure,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25section manager Amy is in charge.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29I can't really put it into words, what...such a big day this is,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33getting them over there, and the fact that...the race,
0:37:33 > 0:37:34and just making sure that works.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Amy has a squadron of safari trucks
0:37:38 > 0:37:40ready to usher the lions down the race.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44This will be new territory for the lions,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and no-one knows how they'll react.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48The worst case scenario today
0:37:48 > 0:37:51would be for the lions not to want to come across,
0:37:51 > 0:37:53or to be too scared to come across the first.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56With everyone in position, it's zero hour.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01The lions are released from the paddock into their old enclosure.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Down in the new area, the feed wagon is driving up and down.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11The lions know that sound.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13It's got their attention.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Amy and the others slowly start to shepherd them
0:38:18 > 0:38:20towards the top of the race.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Is it's a tense wait to see if the lions will go in.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33We've got one at the top of the race.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41The lions are running through the race.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43So, we have some of the braver individuals -
0:38:43 > 0:38:44so, the two big lionesses,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46we have Little Jas and Jazeera leading the race,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50and then I can see Simba, one of the males, coming through.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57But just when things looked to be going well, the last lion,
0:38:57 > 0:39:00a young male called Notch, bolts.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Notch is the last one, he's a bit wary.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06He wants to follow, but he's a bit like, "I don't know!"
0:39:06 > 0:39:10As the bold ones take their first steps into the new territory,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Notch isn't ready to leave the old neighbourhood.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16He's a bit wary of the others -
0:39:16 > 0:39:19he's one of the youngest in this group, anyway,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21so, yeah, he's not quite as confident as the rest of them.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Notch could scupper the whole move.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29He's calling them, he's trying to get them to come back.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33A lion pride is a family, and they don't like to leave one behind...
0:39:36 > 0:39:39..so, now, they're all retreating back up the race...
0:39:41 > 0:39:44..and the big lion move is back to square one.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51To have any hope at all, something will have to be done about Notch.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53We can give him as much time as he needs,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55but if he doesn't, last resort, we will dart him.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59The keepers have planned for every possibility.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Ryan is standing by in case they need to take extreme measures.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09Our gold standard was to have the 15 lions just move across together,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12but, you know, this is working with animals.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Nothing generally works exactly to plan.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Ryan has a dart gun ready.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19If Notch won't move,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22they'll have to tranquilise him and carry him through...
0:40:22 > 0:40:26These are semi-wild animals. You can't just...
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Just because that's what we would like them to do,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32doesn't necessarily mean that that's what they want to do.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37..but putting an animal under anaesthetic is a risky move.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40So, the team have one last trick up their sleeve.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41We've sent the feed wagon through,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44and they're hopefully going to go across,
0:40:44 > 0:40:45drive round the feeder in the old way,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48and to make Notch realise everything's all good,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50and then, hopefully,
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Luke is will be able to drive back through this way,
0:40:52 > 0:40:53and bring Notch through
0:40:53 > 0:40:56with the feed wagon and a band of his friends.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00If all the others are chasing the feed wagon, Notch might join in.
0:41:03 > 0:41:08Notch is starting to trot behind us, so that's good news.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Notch is at the back there.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18But, as the feed wagon goes down the race,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Notch has a moment of doubt...
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Come on, Notch.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28..until, finally, he takes the plunge.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31And I can see Notch!
0:41:32 > 0:41:34So, we have Notch in there, as well.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36He's joined the group and he's coming through.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42With the pride all together,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46they're now ready to start exploring their great new territory.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50We're literally witnessing exactly what a pride would do in the wild
0:41:50 > 0:41:52if they took over a new area.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55They're walking the boundary, so that's a good start,
0:41:55 > 0:41:57to assess how big it is, and where it goes,
0:41:57 > 0:41:59and they're scent-marking as they go.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03The big lion move has been a roaring success.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07This is a dream come true, it's the best thing.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Best day of my career, 100%.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Now, I know we weren't here on the day the park opened
0:42:34 > 0:42:37for the very first time, but it's been a few years, hasn't it is?
0:42:37 > 0:42:38It sometimes feels that way!
0:42:38 > 0:42:41- You haven't aged at all, Kate. - You old charmer!
0:42:41 > 0:42:43But, over the years, we've had some extraordinary encounters,
0:42:43 > 0:42:47met some amazing animals and, of course, made some wonderful friends.
0:42:47 > 0:42:48We really, really have.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Now, the park opened to allow people to see animals
0:42:51 > 0:42:55from all over the world, but it also has another important role.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59It's played its part in the understanding and conservation
0:42:59 > 0:43:02of many of our planet's endangered species.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05It really has - and let's hope that the extraordinary animals here
0:43:05 > 0:43:10continue to delight and inspire us all for another 50 years.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11- Goodbye.- Goodbye.