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NARRATOR: One of the most popular species
at Taronga
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is the critically endangered
western lowland gorilla.
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MEL: So, our western lowland gorillas
here at Taronga is a family group.
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It consists of eight animals
at the moment,
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and they range in age
from only a few months old
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up to 38 years of age.
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Gorillas are interesting to watch.
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There is a lot of things
that you would relate back to yourself.
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Things like their mothering skills,
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so how much time and investment
they put into their youngsters.
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And also how important
the family unit is to them.
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They spend a lot of time
with their family,
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they support each other,
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and I guess watching
that whole harem work together
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is very similar to how we relate
with our own families.
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It is headed up by our silverback, Kibali.
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He is 18 years of age.
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He came to us from France in 2012,
and his role is very important.
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He's there to oversee the family,
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make sure everybody's doing
what they should be doing,
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and also to protect and support
his family unit.
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LARRY: He's our silverback.
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He's a very important animal
in this group and in our zoo.
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We brought him in several years ago,
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specifically to improve the genetics
of our gorilla population.
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So, as an individual,
he's a very significant animal as well.
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AMY: So I'll go the far side
if you want to stay this side.
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- KEEPER: Sounds good.
- AMY: And we'll pop the food out.
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NARRATOR: Keeping gorillas
active and healthy
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requires a large team
of dedicated keepers.
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KEEPER: So gorillas really like smears.
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Especially Kibali,
it is one of his favorites.
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Especially the Vegemite.
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But all of the kids love it,
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so they should be pretty excited
when they do come out today.
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AMY: They've got a good combination
of different types of lettuce,
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which is one of their favorites.
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We've also got some eggplant,
or aubergine for me.
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We've got some sweet potato
and some parsnip.
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NARRATOR: Over the last few months,
gorilla keeper Amy...
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AMY: Stick one of these here.
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NARRATOR: ...has noticed
some worrying behavior from Kibali.
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AMY: Some days eating really well,
some days not so much.
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He's been drinking
a little bit extra as well.
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We've seen a few stomach cramps
perhaps with him.
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It's been a bit of a roller coaster
with his health.
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So it's about time that we did
a bit of a health check on him.
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- KEEPER: The fences are on.
- AMY: The bucket's in?
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KEEPER: Tools are in,
and the food is all out,
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so we're ready to release them.
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AMY: Cool. Let's do it.
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NARRATOR: Spring is always
a wonderful time of year at Taronga Zoo,
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as the results of previous
breeding seasons start to bear fruit.
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Zookeepers can't wait to meet
their new additions
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as babies start appearing
all over the zoo.
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KEEPER (off screen): Can you see
where her pouch is,
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there is a little bit of black
in the middle?
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That's the ear of the joey.
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It's tucked itself away now.
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NARRATOR: But nowhere has
a birth been more significant this year
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than at Taronga Zoo's sister location,
Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo.
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Located four hours west of Sydney,
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Dubbo Zoo is 320 hectares
of open plain habitat,
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and home to the white rhino,
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which has just had its population
increase by one,
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thanks to white rhino mum, Mopani.
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NICK: Mopani has given birth
to a little girl calf,
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which is very exciting
for our breeding program
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and for the future breeding success
of the white rhinos in captivity.
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The little female calf
is approaching two weeks of age.
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So she's just been sticking
very close to mum off display.
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So at the moment,
we haven't named our little calf.
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We've put it out to the general public
to come up with a name for her.
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She is such a special critter
for us and the breeding program
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that we are hoping someone
will come up with a cool, nice name
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that we can keep forever.
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NARRATOR: For the first weeks
of a newborn calf's life,
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mum is understandably very protective.
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NICK: Mum's recovering from
a long gestation period, 16 months.
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So she's been resting up,
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and the calf has just been
finding its feet as well.
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Mum's made it clear
to the other resident white rhinos
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that they're not allowed
to come too close.
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They're allowed to check it out
but not come too close to the calf,
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and she'll decide when she wants
to go out on exhibit with the calf
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and explore further.
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NARRATOR: Getting the newborn calf to mix
with the other rhinos
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is important to
their development and confidence.
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But so far, repeated attempts
to introduce her to the herd
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have been unsuccessful.
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NICK: Come on.
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NARRATOR: And it's
not because of the weather.
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NICK: Come on, girls.
Mopey, you coming out?
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Mopani, this way.
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Come on.
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Up until now, mum and calf
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have really just been
coming to the first gate.
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They've sort of been poking
their nose through, having a look,
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and then mum just turns around
and walks off again,
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back to their little shelter
out the back here.
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The calf looks keen to go out,
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but mum just gets there
and goes, "Ahh, not today."
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NARRATOR: But after days of trying,
Nick has arrived this morning
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and noticed both mum and bub
are already near the gate.
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NICK (off screen): Good girl.
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That a girl, let's go.
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Come on.
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Well, this looks pretty promising.
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So I'm hoping today's the day
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that mum might let little bub
out on exhibit.
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Everyone's life's about to change.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR: Zookeepers have
noticed Kibali has been unwell.
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In order to conduct a health check,
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they have to rely on years of preplanning.
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LARRY: Since he arrived a few years ago,
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it's been actually quite difficult
to get him separate
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from the rest of the gorilla group.
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So there's been some intensive training
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to be able to separate him,
and also for a hand injection
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for the anesthetic drug
to be injected into him.
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NARRATOR: Giving a silverback gorilla
an injection
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is not as straightforward as it sounds.
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MEL: Alright, we have got...
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...everyone at their stations.
Lovely.
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For the last two years,
we've been training Kibali
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to sit at a station,
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and we positively reinforce him
with his favorite food.
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So things like fruit
and also honey water or tea
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he's really partial to.
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MEL: Are you going to go for
a shoulder present now?
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And he's been trained
to present his shoulder
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and push his shoulder up close to me
as the trainer,
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and we can then slowly get him
used to a blunt needle
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touching him on the arm.
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MEL: One more time, present your shoulder.
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We're going to go with the needle.
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Excellent. Really nice.
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So we do three sessions every day,
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and on the day, Larry will give us
the anesthetic drug in the syringe,
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and we will put that into his arm,
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and hopefully it'll all go smoothly
and he will go to sleep.
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NARRATOR: And after two years of training,
that day has finally come.
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LARRY: I mean, it's so much better
that you guys inject him,
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nice and peaceful hand injection,
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rather than having to dart him,
which is terribly stressful
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obviously for him and for us as well, so.
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MEL: Yeah, and he doesn't like
seeing you, so.
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LARRY: Oh, he doesn't mind me.
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Yeah, he likes me. The thing is...
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MEL: I think out of all the vets,
he likes you.
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LARRY: We are doing this, too,
so that we can maintain
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that rapport, you know, that's the thing.
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The vets in zoos
are in an interesting position,
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because obviously our goal
is to ensure the animals are healthy
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and cure their illnesses and injuries
and things like that,
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but also it puts us in a situation
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where often there's a negative association
between us and the animals,
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because, you know, especially
if we have to dart them,
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they see us as the person
that causes them discomfort.
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So what we've got to do tomorrow
is make sure
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that until he's hand-injected
and actually falling asleep
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that I'm not around at all.
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MEL: So I might call one of the vet nurses
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so that he doesn't hear
your voice on the radio either.
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'Cause that can sometimes set him off.
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LARRY: It's crazy how sensitive they are,
isn't it? It's amazing.
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- MEL: Vets are pretty scary.
- LARRY: No, they're not.
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MEL: Keepers are much nicer.
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NARRATOR: Sydney's Taronga Zoo
and its sister location
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Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo
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are home
to over 300 unique animal species.
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(shrieking)
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KEEPER: What are we doing?
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LIBBY: The zoo itself is not only the zoo
with the best view in the world,
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but so many fantastic animals as well
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that we are lucky enough
to look after every day.
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KEEPER: Is that sore to touch?
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NARRATOR: And they are world leaders
in the conservation,
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care, and presentation of wildlife.
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GREY: When you're ready, Brendan.
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I love being a bird keeper.
They're so amazing.
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I always give the other keepers
in the zoo a hard time
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because I say ours are better than theirs.
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NARRATOR: And keeping
all these animals healthy
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takes a team of passionate
and dedicated staff.
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MICHELLE: Nice and steady.
Good, strong beat.
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KIMBERLY: I'm Kimberly.
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I'm one of the veterinary officers
here at Taronga Zoo.
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I'm originally from New York.
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Best part of the job?
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Oh, I live in Australia.
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I still can't believe it. I pinch myself.
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Everyone works together and brilliantly.
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We have to face emergencies together.
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So I don't want to cry,
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but we have to go through highs and lows.
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And sometimes that's really hard.
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I've had such a long week,
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it's going to make me
actually a bit emotional.
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Um, but everyone's there for each other,
which is the beautiful thing.
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- WOMAN 1: What's she weigh?
- WOMAN 2: 6.4.
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KIMBERLY: It's just a big family.
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KEEPER 1: Amazing family.
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So it's not only teamwork
within my division that I work,
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but it's teamwork
throughout the whole zoo.
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KEEPER 2: Best job in the world,
hands down.
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KEEPER 3: It is the best zoo
in the world, no bias.
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KEEPER 4: Yeah, look,
it's definitely up there
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with one of the coolest jobs, I think.
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I feel really lucky to be able to work
with these incredible animals every day.
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KEEPER 1: I pinch myself every morning
to think that this is what I'm doing.
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NARRATOR: And it's not just
the animals on display
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that they care about, it's all animals.
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A side of Taronga Zoo
that's rarely seen by the public
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is its rehab center.
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They take in sick and injured animals
found by the public
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and offer them medical care
and rehabilitation
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until they are well enough
to be released back into the wild.
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LIBBY: We do get attached to some
of the animals that come into care,
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especially when they've been here
for a long time,
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but we know that they're going
to go back out into the wild.
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So it's one of the greatest joys
to release these animals.
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NARRATOR: While they care
for a lot of common animals
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found all over Sydney
like possums, turtles and owls,
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they're also called on to help wildlife
rarely seen in the area.
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SARAH: We believe we have
a shy albatross here.
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He was brought in on the weekend
with another albatross.
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He's been in intensive care
for the past couple of days.
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How are you today?
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NARRATOR: A wildlife rescue team
found two albatrosses
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battered on the rocks
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after a particularly violent storm
forced the birds ashore.
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The younger albatross
was in good condition
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and sent straight to rehabilitation,
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but things don't look as good
for the older bird.
237
00:11:52,843 --> 00:11:54,243
SARAH: We're not quite sure
of the diagnosis
238
00:11:54,323 --> 00:11:56,203
of why he's actually here yet.
239
00:11:56,283 --> 00:11:59,603
We have taken x-rays and he has
no foreign bodies inside him.
240
00:11:59,683 --> 00:12:02,323
So that's one good thing that we've seen.
241
00:12:03,043 --> 00:12:05,523
He does look maybe like quite an old bird.
242
00:12:05,603 --> 00:12:09,363
His feathers are quite tatty
and not as nice and new
243
00:12:09,443 --> 00:12:11,723
as a juvenile or
a sub-adult bird would be.
244
00:12:11,803 --> 00:12:15,403
So, you know, maybe he's just kind of
got to the end of his journey,
245
00:12:15,483 --> 00:12:17,003
and he just wasn't strong enough
246
00:12:17,083 --> 00:12:19,523
to, you know, battle the storms
that are out there,
247
00:12:19,603 --> 00:12:22,083
and that's how he's ended up
coming into us.
248
00:12:23,843 --> 00:12:27,043
NARRATOR: While Sarah keeps a watchful eye
on the sick albatross...
249
00:12:27,923 --> 00:12:29,083
KIMBERLY: Hey, girls.
250
00:12:29,163 --> 00:12:33,403
NARRATOR: ...Vet Kimberly is down in rehab
checking on the younger bird.
251
00:12:33,723 --> 00:12:36,483
KIMBERLY: So we need
to have a look at it today.
252
00:12:38,163 --> 00:12:39,443
Check if it's eating okay,
253
00:12:39,523 --> 00:12:42,043
'cause it had been force-fed
for a couple days already, right?
254
00:12:42,123 --> 00:12:43,003
KEEPER: Yes, correct.
255
00:12:43,083 --> 00:12:44,763
KIMBERLY: And is it eating
anything on its own yet?
256
00:12:44,843 --> 00:12:45,803
KEEPER: No, not yet.
257
00:12:45,883 --> 00:12:48,403
KIMBERLY: Not yet.
Okay, it'll happen. It'll happen.
258
00:12:53,243 --> 00:12:55,883
Oh, he's right here. He's right here.
259
00:12:55,963 --> 00:12:58,483
KEEPER (off screen): Hey, gorgeous.
Okay, I'm just going to grab you.
260
00:12:58,563 --> 00:12:59,723
Don't go into the water, please.
261
00:12:59,803 --> 00:13:01,243
KIMBERLY: You can see
how he's really gray.
262
00:13:01,323 --> 00:13:03,763
KEEPER: Don't go into the water, darling.
Stay there.
263
00:13:03,843 --> 00:13:05,043
KIMBERLY: It's your friend that feeds you.
264
00:13:05,123 --> 00:13:06,203
(albatross groans)
265
00:13:06,283 --> 00:13:08,843
KEEPER: I know, I know.
It's okay. It's okay.
266
00:13:08,923 --> 00:13:12,643
(groaning)
267
00:13:13,843 --> 00:13:15,363
KIMBERLY: The reason
this albatross came in
268
00:13:15,443 --> 00:13:19,163
was he was found in really high seas
during a stormy time.
269
00:13:19,243 --> 00:13:22,763
It's probably a juvenile that just got
bashed up a bit in the storm.
270
00:13:23,963 --> 00:13:25,483
NARRATOR: For a bird that spends its life
271
00:13:25,563 --> 00:13:28,603
in the vast and inhospitable
Southern Ocean,
272
00:13:28,683 --> 00:13:32,843
making sure he's 100%
before release is critical.
273
00:13:32,923 --> 00:13:35,123
KIMBERLY: Okay, let me look at his feet.
274
00:13:37,763 --> 00:13:39,683
Very strong. That's perfect.
275
00:13:41,203 --> 00:13:43,203
This guy should be on the water
most of the time,
276
00:13:43,283 --> 00:13:45,643
but because he's on the ground in here,
277
00:13:45,723 --> 00:13:51,483
he's starting to get slight abrasions
under that middle toe.
278
00:13:51,563 --> 00:13:55,803
We don't want that to develop
into a bumblefoot or infection lesion.
279
00:13:56,243 --> 00:13:58,003
Let's feed him,
and then we'll let him down,
280
00:13:58,083 --> 00:13:59,883
because he's starting to get stressed.
281
00:14:01,843 --> 00:14:04,363
So he hasn't eaten on his own
for about 24 hours,
282
00:14:04,443 --> 00:14:07,563
so we're giving him
some assisted feeding now.
283
00:14:08,283 --> 00:14:10,883
NARRATOR: Life in
the Southern Ocean is brutal,
284
00:14:10,963 --> 00:14:13,563
and the fact that this bird
isn't feeding on his own
285
00:14:13,643 --> 00:14:15,163
is a real concern.
286
00:14:15,243 --> 00:14:17,683
KIMBERLY (off screen): So, if you see,
as she's putting the fish in,
287
00:14:17,763 --> 00:14:19,323
he's swallowing on his own.
288
00:14:19,403 --> 00:14:20,883
So he wants that fish.
289
00:14:21,563 --> 00:14:24,483
Can you see how he's swallowing
when the fish goes in?
290
00:14:24,563 --> 00:14:26,603
Look under here.
You can see him gulping it.
291
00:14:28,283 --> 00:14:29,683
See, he is swallowing.
292
00:14:29,763 --> 00:14:31,003
Watch this right in here.
293
00:14:31,963 --> 00:14:32,963
Last one.
294
00:14:33,603 --> 00:14:37,043
He's swallowing that nicely.
He's gulping it down.
295
00:14:37,123 --> 00:14:39,963
We just need to get him
to eat it on his own.
296
00:14:44,363 --> 00:14:45,523
(squawks)
297
00:14:45,603 --> 00:14:47,723
See how the water is just rolling off him?
298
00:14:47,803 --> 00:14:49,963
That's a good indication
that he's waterproof.
299
00:14:50,723 --> 00:14:53,563
Sometimes birds that get stuck
in oil or have things on them
300
00:14:53,643 --> 00:14:55,163
will lose their waterproofing.
301
00:14:55,243 --> 00:14:58,043
And you can see then
the feathers are really wet.
302
00:14:58,123 --> 00:14:59,923
So what they have, they have an oil gland
303
00:15:00,003 --> 00:15:02,763
at the base of their tail,
and they use that,
304
00:15:02,843 --> 00:15:05,483
and they get some oil with their beak
and then they preen their feathers,
305
00:15:05,563 --> 00:15:07,483
and that puts the oil on the feathers.
306
00:15:07,563 --> 00:15:09,323
That's how they waterproof themselves.
307
00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:11,763
He is so pretty, isn't he?
308
00:15:12,443 --> 00:15:16,083
NARRATOR: An ocean bird needs more space
than a zoo can provide,
309
00:15:16,163 --> 00:15:19,603
so the race is on
to get him fit for release.
310
00:15:19,683 --> 00:15:22,963
KIMBERLY: He's in good condition.
He wasn't skinny when he came in.
311
00:15:23,043 --> 00:15:26,683
He just needs a little bit of rehab,
so we want to get him out.
312
00:15:28,763 --> 00:15:31,163
♪ ♪
313
00:15:33,403 --> 00:15:37,083
NARRATOR: Kibali, Taronga's
silverback gorilla, has been sick,
314
00:15:37,683 --> 00:15:40,323
and the only way for vets to work out why
315
00:15:40,403 --> 00:15:43,643
is a full examination
under a general anesthetic.
316
00:15:45,083 --> 00:15:47,723
LARRY: Knocking out
or anesthetizing a large gorilla
317
00:15:47,803 --> 00:15:52,203
is certainly
a pretty significant undertaking.
318
00:15:53,283 --> 00:15:55,843
Just got to draw it out into the syringe.
319
00:15:55,923 --> 00:15:58,403
A very convenient drug because
it does come as a powder,
320
00:15:58,483 --> 00:16:02,563
so we have that capacity
to make it into a very concentrated form.
321
00:16:02,643 --> 00:16:05,843
So the smaller the volume,
the better it is
322
00:16:06,763 --> 00:16:08,763
for the keepers to be able to inject him.
323
00:16:10,163 --> 00:16:14,163
Kibali, you know, he weighs
really about 190 kilos.
324
00:16:14,243 --> 00:16:16,843
So, he's a big, heavy animal,
a powerful animal,
325
00:16:16,923 --> 00:16:19,843
and if he wakes up during the procedure,
326
00:16:19,923 --> 00:16:22,883
that would be a difficult thing
to deal with,
327
00:16:22,963 --> 00:16:25,203
and of course very frightening
for everyone.
328
00:16:29,563 --> 00:16:31,723
- You good to go?
- AMY: Yes, please.
329
00:16:31,803 --> 00:16:33,643
- LARRY: You pumped?
- AMY: Yeah, we're ready.
330
00:16:33,723 --> 00:16:35,203
- LARRY: You want the drugs?
- MEL: Drugs, please.
331
00:16:35,283 --> 00:16:39,443
LARRY: Took a bit of effort
to concentrate it into the volume.
332
00:16:39,523 --> 00:16:42,163
AMY (off screen): Oh, really? Yeah.
Oh, thank you, though.
333
00:16:42,243 --> 00:16:43,283
Kibali will appreciate it.
334
00:16:43,363 --> 00:16:44,843
MEL: All right, thanks, guys.
335
00:16:44,923 --> 00:16:47,523
- LARRY: Okay, we'll see you soon.
- AMY: See you soon.
336
00:16:47,603 --> 00:16:50,483
- LARRY: With a sleepy gorilla.
- AMY: Hopefully.
337
00:16:50,563 --> 00:16:54,403
NARRATOR: Handling a dangerous animal
is extremely risky,
338
00:16:54,483 --> 00:16:58,003
and Taronga Zoo
plans all procedures of this nature
339
00:16:58,083 --> 00:17:00,403
outside of zoo opening hours.
340
00:17:01,203 --> 00:17:03,363
LARRY: A large gorilla procedure
is fairly significant.
341
00:17:03,443 --> 00:17:04,523
A lot of people are involved.
342
00:17:04,603 --> 00:17:08,123
Obviously, we've got our vet team here,
three vet nurses and myself.
343
00:17:08,203 --> 00:17:10,883
Plus a few other staff that are going
to be helping out during the morning,
344
00:17:10,963 --> 00:17:12,723
and of course the keeper team.
345
00:17:12,803 --> 00:17:14,003
They have got several people there,
346
00:17:14,083 --> 00:17:17,283
but we're going to need
a few people to carry him as well.
347
00:17:17,363 --> 00:17:20,563
So we've recruited some big burly blokes
from our works team.
348
00:17:20,643 --> 00:17:22,283
Whenever we do these dangerous procedures,
349
00:17:22,363 --> 00:17:24,443
and particularly if we're transporting
the animal through the zoo,
350
00:17:24,523 --> 00:17:26,443
we always have a gun person present.
351
00:17:27,883 --> 00:17:29,643
Thankfully, we've never had to use it,
352
00:17:29,723 --> 00:17:31,603
but it's always important
to have it as a backup
353
00:17:31,683 --> 00:17:33,723
just in case something goes wrong.
354
00:17:34,483 --> 00:17:35,963
All right, we good to go?
355
00:17:36,043 --> 00:17:37,723
- NURSE: Yep.
- LARRY: Excellent. Let's go.
356
00:17:41,323 --> 00:17:46,323
NARRATOR: A team of 17 vets,
hospital and support staff are on standby,
357
00:17:46,403 --> 00:17:49,323
positioned far from the gorilla enclosure,
358
00:17:49,403 --> 00:17:53,883
giving the keepers all the space needed
to administer the injection.
359
00:17:56,123 --> 00:17:57,723
LARRY: Basically, we just want
to make sure
360
00:17:57,803 --> 00:18:01,283
there's no disturbance
in that area, nothing unusual.
361
00:18:01,363 --> 00:18:04,363
You know, they're very sensitive animals,
362
00:18:04,443 --> 00:18:08,283
and, you know, if he senses
anything different this morning
363
00:18:08,363 --> 00:18:11,363
to any other morning,
it could put the whole thing off.
364
00:18:14,283 --> 00:18:16,483
NARRATOR: Kibali and his family
have been moved
365
00:18:16,563 --> 00:18:19,443
from the enclosure into a holding area,
366
00:18:19,523 --> 00:18:23,963
so Head of Primates, Mel Shipway,
can administer the anesthetic.
367
00:18:24,483 --> 00:18:25,523
MEL: Kibali...
368
00:18:25,963 --> 00:18:27,043
...come on.
369
00:18:29,683 --> 00:18:32,523
It's always a bit nerve-racking
going into a procedure like this.
370
00:18:32,603 --> 00:18:36,083
Obviously, you want it to go so smoothly,
you've been planning it for so long.
371
00:18:40,203 --> 00:18:41,163
MEL: Kibali...
372
00:18:41,243 --> 00:18:42,203
...come on.
373
00:18:47,843 --> 00:18:51,403
NARRATOR: As the anxious zookeepers
and vets wait outside...
374
00:18:52,643 --> 00:18:53,603
MEL: Kibali...
375
00:18:53,683 --> 00:18:54,643
...come on.
376
00:18:55,363 --> 00:18:59,323
NARRATOR: ...it's only the years
of trust Mel has built up with Kibali
377
00:18:59,403 --> 00:19:02,723
that will determine
if today will be a success.
378
00:19:05,243 --> 00:19:07,523
It all comes down to this moment.
379
00:19:16,523 --> 00:19:18,683
NARRATOR: Two injured albatrosses
have been brought
380
00:19:18,763 --> 00:19:23,683
into Taronga Zoo's wildlife hospital
after a large storm washed them ashore.
381
00:19:24,523 --> 00:19:27,603
But unfortunately for
the senior of the two birds,
382
00:19:27,683 --> 00:19:31,003
fighting the storm just took
too much out of him,
383
00:19:31,083 --> 00:19:33,843
and overnight, he had to be euthanized.
384
00:19:35,283 --> 00:19:36,523
KIMBERLY: Yeah, it's very sad
385
00:19:36,603 --> 00:19:38,563
because we were really hoping
to be able to fix it up
386
00:19:38,643 --> 00:19:40,483
and get it back out to the wild.
387
00:19:41,083 --> 00:19:45,643
So, sometimes we're not able to do that,
and this can be the result.
388
00:19:45,723 --> 00:19:48,003
♪ ♪
389
00:19:51,323 --> 00:19:52,843
NARRATOR: But down in rehab,
390
00:19:52,923 --> 00:19:55,563
it's a different story
for the younger albatross.
391
00:19:56,363 --> 00:19:59,243
FRANCES: This bird's actually
feeding itself quite well.
392
00:19:59,323 --> 00:20:01,563
- LIBBY: It is, unusually for an albatross.
- FRANCES: Yeah.
393
00:20:01,643 --> 00:20:04,323
NARRATOR: Happy with his progress
over the last eight days
394
00:20:04,403 --> 00:20:08,163
and keen to get the bird
back out in the wild as soon as possible,
395
00:20:08,243 --> 00:20:11,803
seabird expert Libby
and Taronga vet Frances
396
00:20:11,883 --> 00:20:15,163
are doing what they hope
will be their final exam.
397
00:20:15,243 --> 00:20:16,883
LIBBY: While it's
in the wildlife hospital,
398
00:20:16,963 --> 00:20:20,083
it's in the rehab pool,
which is a special area
399
00:20:20,163 --> 00:20:23,883
where it has a deep pool to swim in
and a very soft, spongy floor
400
00:20:23,963 --> 00:20:27,323
that will help to alleviate
pressure sores on its feet.
401
00:20:27,403 --> 00:20:29,523
Wish me luck. (laughs)
402
00:20:29,603 --> 00:20:32,123
FRANCES: Don't get wet. Or not too wet.
403
00:20:33,123 --> 00:20:35,003
LIBBY: So you see the way
he's sitting on his feet?
404
00:20:35,083 --> 00:20:38,923
FRANCES (off screen): Yeah, yeah, I do.
Sitting back on his hocks a little bit.
405
00:20:39,003 --> 00:20:42,283
LIBBY (off screen): Albatross are probably
my favorite species,
406
00:20:42,363 --> 00:20:43,923
and that's saying something,
407
00:20:44,003 --> 00:20:46,523
having worked with so many animals
over so many years.
408
00:20:46,923 --> 00:20:52,323
FRANCES: I'll just kind of wait
until you have him nice and quiet.
409
00:20:52,403 --> 00:20:53,963
(albatross groaning)
410
00:20:54,043 --> 00:20:57,643
NARRATOR: Albatross have been
known to fly thousands of miles,
411
00:20:57,723 --> 00:21:03,163
only landing on the ocean surface to feed
before taking off to the skies once more.
412
00:21:03,243 --> 00:21:04,323
FRANCES: The sooner we get him out,
413
00:21:04,403 --> 00:21:06,683
the more comfortable
the bird's going to be.
414
00:21:06,763 --> 00:21:09,523
NARRATOR: So, before they'll give
this bird the all-clear,
415
00:21:09,603 --> 00:21:11,803
Libby and Frances need to be certain
416
00:21:11,883 --> 00:21:16,043
he will be able to survive and thrive
in the harsh Southern Ocean.
417
00:21:16,803 --> 00:21:18,683
FRANCES: Let me see that nostril there.
418
00:21:18,763 --> 00:21:22,123
LIBBY: The bird certainly
seems waterproofed.
419
00:21:22,203 --> 00:21:23,363
FRANCES: Waterproofed.
420
00:21:24,043 --> 00:21:25,843
LIBBY: We must be very careful
with their feathers
421
00:21:25,923 --> 00:21:28,363
so that we don't damage
any of their feathers.
422
00:21:28,443 --> 00:21:29,923
They live in such a cold environment
423
00:21:30,003 --> 00:21:33,163
so they must have
perfect feathers on release.
424
00:21:33,723 --> 00:21:36,883
FRANCES: So we've just done
a quick check-over of the bird
425
00:21:36,963 --> 00:21:40,203
to make sure that we're happy
with his, um, condition
426
00:21:40,283 --> 00:21:43,003
and make sure that it's ready for release.
427
00:21:43,083 --> 00:21:46,203
We want to get it back out
into the ocean as soon as possible.
428
00:21:46,963 --> 00:21:49,603
LIBBY: He's come along so well,
very happy.
429
00:21:49,683 --> 00:21:53,003
FRANCES: Yeah. Oh, I think it would be
fantastic to get him back out there.
430
00:21:56,723 --> 00:21:58,003
LIBBY (off screen): Trying to bite me.
431
00:21:58,683 --> 00:22:00,163
That's a face washing.
432
00:22:01,283 --> 00:22:04,763
He's washing his face
and now he's going to start preening,
433
00:22:04,843 --> 00:22:05,803
which is perfect.
434
00:22:06,523 --> 00:22:10,963
But what I want him to do is swim around,
and he doesn't.
435
00:22:11,043 --> 00:22:12,403
He's reluctant to swim.
436
00:22:13,203 --> 00:22:15,963
So I am just going to encourage
the bird into the water.
437
00:22:16,443 --> 00:22:20,283
NARRATOR: This is an important step
in seabird rehabilitation.
438
00:22:20,643 --> 00:22:22,203
LIBBY: Sweetie, are you going
to go in the water?
439
00:22:24,003 --> 00:22:26,283
(albatross squawking)
440
00:22:26,363 --> 00:22:27,963
(Libby laughing)
441
00:22:28,043 --> 00:22:29,603
LIBBY: It's a great sound, isn't it?
442
00:22:30,323 --> 00:22:31,323
The best.
443
00:22:31,883 --> 00:22:33,803
The best sound in the world, albatross.
444
00:22:34,163 --> 00:22:37,443
NARRATOR: If he won't swim,
then he can't be released.
445
00:22:38,003 --> 00:22:41,083
LIBBY (off screen): I want him swimming
and I want him preening in the water.
446
00:22:41,763 --> 00:22:44,963
Obviously, there's not going to be
any land where he's going.
447
00:22:45,043 --> 00:22:46,763
He's going to live in the open ocean,
448
00:22:47,523 --> 00:22:51,683
and he needs to preen to make sure
all his feathers are in perfect condition.
449
00:22:52,483 --> 00:22:55,563
Otherwise, he'll get very, very cold
in the water.
450
00:22:56,683 --> 00:22:59,883
Albatross are endangered.
They're in serious trouble.
451
00:22:59,963 --> 00:23:04,243
Their numbers are dropping dramatically,
all species.
452
00:23:04,643 --> 00:23:08,363
So, these are special birds,
and every one of these birds counts.
453
00:23:10,283 --> 00:23:11,683
(squawking)
454
00:23:17,323 --> 00:23:21,043
NARRATOR: Taronga's silverback gorilla,
Kibali, has been unwell.
455
00:23:21,123 --> 00:23:24,083
MEL: He has had a few issues
over the last few months,
456
00:23:24,163 --> 00:23:27,483
drinking too much, and his appetite
has been up and down.
457
00:23:28,883 --> 00:23:30,043
MEL: Good
458
00:23:30,123 --> 00:23:32,323
NARRATOR: And Kibali needs
to be completely anesthetized
459
00:23:32,403 --> 00:23:33,643
to properly examine him.
460
00:23:33,723 --> 00:23:34,923
MEL: Good.
461
00:23:35,563 --> 00:23:37,363
LARRY: We're doing
a full health check on him.
462
00:23:37,443 --> 00:23:38,643
MEL: Good.
463
00:23:38,723 --> 00:23:41,323
LARRY: We've got some specialists
coming in to examine his heart,
464
00:23:41,403 --> 00:23:43,643
because heart disease is something
465
00:23:43,723 --> 00:23:46,483
that is seen relatively commonly
in gorillas.
466
00:23:47,043 --> 00:23:49,443
NARRATOR: But first he needs
to be put to sleep.
467
00:23:49,523 --> 00:23:50,443
MEL: Good.
468
00:23:50,523 --> 00:23:52,203
AMY: Whenever you're ready Mel.
469
00:24:03,683 --> 00:24:04,563
MEL: Touch.
470
00:24:06,803 --> 00:24:08,123
MEL: Lovely, done.
471
00:24:08,203 --> 00:24:10,683
AMY: Excellent, good boy.
Give him a reward.
472
00:24:10,763 --> 00:24:12,923
MEL: Little taste there. Lovely.
473
00:24:13,003 --> 00:24:13,883
AMY: Oh my God.
474
00:24:13,963 --> 00:24:16,043
MEL: Excellent work guys.
475
00:24:16,123 --> 00:24:17,803
Lex, you can tell them.
476
00:24:19,043 --> 00:24:21,003
He did not even react.
477
00:24:22,043 --> 00:24:24,083
LEX (over radio): Lex to Liz Arthur.
478
00:24:24,163 --> 00:24:25,043
LIZ: Go ahead.
479
00:24:26,283 --> 00:24:29,243
LEX (over radio): He's received
his injection at 8:01.
480
00:24:29,603 --> 00:24:30,483
LARRY: Excellent.
481
00:24:30,563 --> 00:24:32,603
MICHELLE: Excellent, that's great.
I'll head on down.
482
00:24:33,323 --> 00:24:36,563
MEL: So we're just coming up
to six and a half minutes now, guys.
483
00:24:37,723 --> 00:24:39,203
MEL: You're ok...
484
00:24:39,883 --> 00:24:41,163
...good boy.
485
00:24:44,363 --> 00:24:45,803
LARRY (off screen): We're just waiting
for the keepers
486
00:24:45,883 --> 00:24:47,643
to get the other gorillas
out of the house.
487
00:24:47,723 --> 00:24:50,883
Obviously, they're not with Kibali,
because he's been separated from them,
488
00:24:50,963 --> 00:24:54,923
but all the activity in there
will disturb the other gorillas.
489
00:24:55,003 --> 00:24:56,723
So it's better that they're just outside
490
00:24:56,803 --> 00:24:59,443
while we are removing Kibali
from the gorilla house.
491
00:25:00,003 --> 00:25:01,283
LEX (over radio):
You can head on down now.
492
00:25:01,363 --> 00:25:02,923
LARRY: Okay, we'll be there shortly.
493
00:25:03,003 --> 00:25:04,003
All right, let's go.
494
00:25:04,923 --> 00:25:07,563
♪ ♪
495
00:25:07,643 --> 00:25:08,883
WOMAN: Synchronized.
496
00:25:15,483 --> 00:25:18,043
LARRY: Good to come in? Good to come in?
497
00:25:18,123 --> 00:25:20,003
KEEPER: On the count of three,
we'll be lifting.
498
00:25:20,083 --> 00:25:21,803
So on the count of three,
499
00:25:21,883 --> 00:25:24,563
one, two, and three, we lift together.
500
00:25:24,643 --> 00:25:25,523
MAN: Yep.
501
00:25:28,843 --> 00:25:31,643
♪ ♪
502
00:25:33,043 --> 00:25:34,923
LARRY: Don't worry about
the footpath. Straight out.
503
00:25:35,003 --> 00:25:39,443
NARRATOR: While Kibali may be asleep,
the sedative is only temporary.
504
00:25:39,523 --> 00:25:41,563
LARRY: Straight to
the stretcher over here.
505
00:25:41,643 --> 00:25:43,043
NARRATOR: So they need to move quickly
506
00:25:43,123 --> 00:25:48,563
to transport this nearly 200-kilogram
silverback gorilla to the hospital.
507
00:25:49,523 --> 00:25:50,723
LARRY: Nicely on the stretcher.
508
00:25:51,963 --> 00:25:52,843
Okay.
509
00:25:52,923 --> 00:25:54,283
Okay, cool.
510
00:25:54,363 --> 00:25:55,403
Drop him down.
511
00:25:55,923 --> 00:25:58,963
Now I'm just going to come over here,
cover him with the net.
512
00:25:59,683 --> 00:26:00,563
Okay.
513
00:26:02,043 --> 00:26:04,203
Just we need access
to his head at all times.
514
00:26:04,803 --> 00:26:06,563
All right, now, in the van. Okay.
515
00:26:10,523 --> 00:26:11,843
WOMAN 1: All right, the shackles are on.
516
00:26:11,923 --> 00:26:13,603
LARRY: Okay. We're good to go.
517
00:26:17,363 --> 00:26:18,563
- WOMAN 1: Close the van.
- WOMAN 2: Yep.
518
00:26:18,643 --> 00:26:21,323
NARRATOR: With the zoo opening
in less than an hour,
519
00:26:21,843 --> 00:26:23,323
the clock is ticking.
520
00:26:23,843 --> 00:26:25,363
LARRY: Okay, let's get out of here.
521
00:26:37,523 --> 00:26:38,483
NICK: Come on, then, girls.
522
00:26:40,083 --> 00:26:41,003
Hello, little one.
523
00:26:44,523 --> 00:26:45,403
Let's go.
524
00:26:45,763 --> 00:26:48,083
NARRATOR: Out at
Taronga's Western Plains Zoo,
525
00:26:48,163 --> 00:26:52,003
a newborn white rhinoceros calf
is taking her first steps
526
00:26:52,083 --> 00:26:54,123
to joining the herd on exhibit.
527
00:26:54,683 --> 00:26:55,763
NICK (off screen): Come on, Mopani.
528
00:26:57,003 --> 00:26:57,883
Let's go.
529
00:27:01,203 --> 00:27:03,443
NARRATOR: For two weeks
protective mum Mopani
530
00:27:03,523 --> 00:27:07,043
has been keeping her calf
in the back of house area.
531
00:27:07,123 --> 00:27:08,283
NICK: Good girls.
532
00:27:08,363 --> 00:27:10,763
NARRATOR: But keeper Nick
is hoping the time has come
533
00:27:10,843 --> 00:27:15,283
for mum to bring her calf into the open
where everyone can see her.
534
00:27:15,363 --> 00:27:16,683
NICK: They haven't ventured out
on exhibit yet.
535
00:27:16,763 --> 00:27:18,043
Hopefully, today is the day.
536
00:27:18,363 --> 00:27:19,323
They look pretty keen.
537
00:27:19,883 --> 00:27:21,523
Come on, Mopani. Let's go.
538
00:27:25,283 --> 00:27:26,683
They will eventually go straight through,
539
00:27:26,763 --> 00:27:29,163
and the lives will change
for the girls out on exhibit,
540
00:27:29,243 --> 00:27:32,443
and the calf obviously will grow
bigger and stronger and more confident.
541
00:27:32,523 --> 00:27:34,243
Righty-O, girls. Here we go.
542
00:27:34,923 --> 00:27:36,923
♪ ♪
543
00:27:46,803 --> 00:27:47,843
NICK (off screen): Good girls.
544
00:27:48,563 --> 00:27:49,443
Come on, little one.
545
00:27:51,003 --> 00:27:53,003
♪ ♪
546
00:27:55,203 --> 00:27:57,603
NICK: Good girls.
This is pretty cool, isn't it?
547
00:27:59,003 --> 00:28:00,763
They are going to go out
and explore their exhibit.
548
00:28:01,763 --> 00:28:03,643
A bit of rain out there yesterday,
549
00:28:03,723 --> 00:28:07,763
so a few muddy patches for the little girl
to test out her feet in.
550
00:28:08,323 --> 00:28:09,803
She's not going to get
too far away from mum.
551
00:28:09,883 --> 00:28:11,043
They're going to be side by side.
552
00:28:11,123 --> 00:28:14,243
White rhinos' calves out in the wild
always stay in front of their mums,
553
00:28:14,323 --> 00:28:17,323
so mums always got their eyes
firmly fixed on their little calf.
554
00:28:17,403 --> 00:28:18,523
There will be a lot of communication
555
00:28:18,603 --> 00:28:21,083
between mum
and the older rhino girls on exhibit,
556
00:28:21,163 --> 00:28:24,083
uh, letting them know their boundaries,
where they're allowed to go.
557
00:28:24,163 --> 00:28:26,483
It's very exciting now that mum and calf
are out on exhibit.
558
00:28:27,803 --> 00:28:31,283
We've been waiting 16 months,
the gestation period for white rhino calf.
559
00:28:32,123 --> 00:28:36,123
It's a great opportunity for us
to educate and engage, I guess,
560
00:28:36,203 --> 00:28:38,163
the visiting public about white rhinos
561
00:28:38,243 --> 00:28:39,803
and how we need to help them
out in the wild.
562
00:28:41,083 --> 00:28:42,603
So, an exciting day for us.
563
00:28:42,683 --> 00:28:44,403
Relief as well as excitement.
564
00:28:49,803 --> 00:28:51,523
♪ ♪
565
00:28:51,603 --> 00:28:52,803
NARRATOR: Back in Sydney...
566
00:28:53,203 --> 00:28:55,443
KEEPER: Ready? One, two, three.
567
00:28:55,523 --> 00:28:58,683
NARRATOR: ...Kibali has just arrived
at the wildlife hospital.
568
00:28:59,763 --> 00:29:00,643
KEEPER: Get it going.
569
00:29:01,123 --> 00:29:04,243
NARRATOR: A team of vets and specialists
are all on hand
570
00:29:04,323 --> 00:29:06,963
for this once-in-a-decade procedure.
571
00:29:07,723 --> 00:29:10,203
- LARRY: Okay, on the scales.
- WOMAN: 200.
572
00:29:10,283 --> 00:29:12,803
LARRY: 200 kilos. Okay, so we've got to
weigh all that other stuff.
573
00:29:12,883 --> 00:29:16,443
The procedure today, even though
it's part of an investigation
574
00:29:16,523 --> 00:29:19,563
of his mild illness
over the last few weeks,
575
00:29:19,643 --> 00:29:21,843
it is part of
our preventative medicine program.
576
00:29:21,923 --> 00:29:23,403
We're going to give him
a full health check,
577
00:29:23,483 --> 00:29:25,803
take samples, you know,
routine blood samples,
578
00:29:25,883 --> 00:29:27,203
we're going to vaccinate him.
579
00:29:27,283 --> 00:29:30,243
But particularly I suppose
with an animal like a gorilla,
580
00:29:30,323 --> 00:29:31,723
it's an endangered species,
581
00:29:31,803 --> 00:29:35,043
they play a significant role
in conservation of the species.
582
00:29:35,123 --> 00:29:38,883
So we want to make sure
that they are in peak health at all times.
583
00:29:39,443 --> 00:29:42,723
So, he is likely to move, cough, splutter.
584
00:29:42,803 --> 00:29:45,803
If he does, just hang on to him
and keep calm.
585
00:29:45,883 --> 00:29:47,963
Probably the most stressful part
of the whole procedure
586
00:29:48,043 --> 00:29:51,643
is knocking him down, getting him up here,
and getting a tube into the airway.
587
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:52,723
Wide open.
588
00:29:54,003 --> 00:29:56,283
He's a massive animal, big head.
589
00:29:56,363 --> 00:29:58,483
You know, we have to prize his jaws open.
590
00:29:59,043 --> 00:29:59,923
Get him on the gas.
591
00:30:03,683 --> 00:30:05,083
Nice of him not to cough and splutter.
592
00:30:05,163 --> 00:30:06,763
(equipment buzzing)
593
00:30:06,843 --> 00:30:08,003
Always scares the hell out of us.
594
00:30:08,403 --> 00:30:10,163
Okay, you guys can relax a little bit.
595
00:30:10,803 --> 00:30:13,283
Now we want him on his back, okay.
596
00:30:14,083 --> 00:30:17,323
So, that good there, guys?
597
00:30:17,883 --> 00:30:18,763
Um...
598
00:30:19,563 --> 00:30:22,003
Maybe bring the whole thing
up this way a little bit.
599
00:30:22,643 --> 00:30:24,843
♪ ♪
600
00:30:30,483 --> 00:30:32,003
NURSE: 36.2, Larry.
601
00:30:32,083 --> 00:30:34,123
LARRY: Okay, 36.2, so it's a bit low.
602
00:30:37,123 --> 00:30:39,603
There are a few important diseases
of gorillas
603
00:30:39,683 --> 00:30:41,483
that we need to look out for.
604
00:30:41,563 --> 00:30:43,843
Infections, bacterial infections,
605
00:30:43,923 --> 00:30:46,723
parasitic infections
in his gastrointestinal tract.
606
00:30:47,043 --> 00:30:47,963
That's actually interesting,
607
00:30:48,043 --> 00:30:50,483
I have just discovered he's got
a little injury on this eye.
608
00:30:50,563 --> 00:30:52,203
Something that's happened in the past.
609
00:30:52,283 --> 00:30:53,763
There's a little scar on there.
610
00:30:54,123 --> 00:30:57,803
Must have been quite a deep wound
because it's scarred his iris as well.
611
00:30:58,403 --> 00:31:01,843
Heart disease is a well-recognized problem
in gorillas.
612
00:31:01,923 --> 00:31:04,763
Similar sorts of problems that people get,
in fact, which is interesting
613
00:31:04,843 --> 00:31:09,563
considering that the risk factors
for heart disease in people, uh,
614
00:31:09,643 --> 00:31:13,203
such as, you know, obviously smoking,
high blood pressure, poor diet,
615
00:31:13,283 --> 00:31:16,003
are not risk factors for gorillas.
616
00:31:16,083 --> 00:31:19,923
Uh, but still they are a species
where heart disease is seen.
617
00:31:25,523 --> 00:31:28,603
Hey, mate. How are you?
I'll shake your hand after, okay.
618
00:31:29,163 --> 00:31:31,763
NARRATOR: With heart disease
such a major concern,
619
00:31:31,843 --> 00:31:36,723
the Taronga vets have called in
a cardiac specialist to examine Kibali.
620
00:31:36,803 --> 00:31:37,803
SPECIALIST: So at the moment
621
00:31:37,883 --> 00:31:41,003
what we're doing
is looking at the heart with ultrasound.
622
00:31:41,083 --> 00:31:44,963
So we're trying to determine
if the heart is normal or abnormal.
623
00:31:45,043 --> 00:31:48,363
And if it is abnormal,
what disease is present
624
00:31:48,443 --> 00:31:50,083
and what we need to do about it.
625
00:31:52,563 --> 00:31:54,563
So what I'm looking at here is blood flow.
626
00:31:54,643 --> 00:31:57,683
So this is something called
Doppler echocardiography.
627
00:31:57,763 --> 00:32:02,603
But basically it's using ultrasound
to look at blood flow through the heart.
628
00:32:03,963 --> 00:32:05,523
LARRY (off screen): They're getting
some great images.
629
00:32:06,683 --> 00:32:10,443
So just a couple more things to do
after this and then take him back home.
630
00:32:12,043 --> 00:32:14,323
NARRATOR: With the examination
coming to an end
631
00:32:14,403 --> 00:32:17,603
and no obvious signs
of why Kibali is unwell...
632
00:32:18,083 --> 00:32:21,243
LARRY: Checking his hip joints
and his knee joint.
633
00:32:21,323 --> 00:32:24,723
NARRATOR: ...the team now
has to rely on the scans and blood work
634
00:32:24,803 --> 00:32:27,283
to find out what's really going on.
635
00:32:27,363 --> 00:32:28,923
LARRY: Okay, we are going
to move him out now.
636
00:32:29,403 --> 00:32:32,203
Okay, open the doors.
637
00:32:33,683 --> 00:32:36,083
A procedure like today
where you get to touch
638
00:32:36,163 --> 00:32:40,363
and you smell and feel
this magnificent creature is mind-blowing,
639
00:32:40,443 --> 00:32:42,563
in fact, and you know,
you walk away from it and you go,
640
00:32:42,643 --> 00:32:44,403
"My God, it's just unbelievable
641
00:32:44,483 --> 00:32:48,243
that we have this opportunity
to work with such amazing animals."
642
00:32:57,203 --> 00:32:59,083
NARRATOR: The usual sparkling
Sydney Harbour
643
00:32:59,163 --> 00:33:02,643
has been replaced with
gray skies and rough weather.
644
00:33:03,523 --> 00:33:06,203
Normally people avoid going out
on a day like this,
645
00:33:06,763 --> 00:33:08,323
but for seabird expert Libby,
646
00:33:08,403 --> 00:33:11,363
no amount of rain will dampen her mood.
647
00:33:11,443 --> 00:33:12,403
LIBBY: We're all set now.
648
00:33:16,483 --> 00:33:18,723
NARRATOR: After ten days
of rehabilitation,
649
00:33:18,803 --> 00:33:22,603
the juvenile albatross
is finally swimming on his own,
650
00:33:22,683 --> 00:33:26,963
so the decision has been made
to release him back into the wild.
651
00:33:27,043 --> 00:33:28,643
LIBBY: These days are the best days,
652
00:33:28,723 --> 00:33:30,603
because we're getting the bird
ready to go out to sea,
653
00:33:30,683 --> 00:33:32,883
which is the best part of my job.
654
00:33:32,963 --> 00:33:34,763
So I'm really happy this morning.
655
00:33:37,323 --> 00:33:40,923
NARRATOR: Surprisingly,
the stormy conditions may even help
656
00:33:41,003 --> 00:33:43,803
with the release
of the juvenile albatross.
657
00:33:44,923 --> 00:33:47,163
LIBBY: So the ideal conditions
for an albatross
658
00:33:47,243 --> 00:33:49,443
are big seas and lots of wind.
659
00:33:49,523 --> 00:33:53,723
Albatross need about 25 knots to fly.
That's where they live.
660
00:33:54,123 --> 00:33:59,163
So, for us, it might be rough on the boat,
but for the albatross, it'll be perfect.
661
00:34:01,163 --> 00:34:03,603
(squawking)
662
00:34:04,323 --> 00:34:06,203
TAMMY: Just dealing with your sharp bits.
663
00:34:07,043 --> 00:34:08,963
- Okay.
-(albatross groans)
664
00:34:10,443 --> 00:34:11,323
LIBBY: Beautiful.
665
00:34:12,483 --> 00:34:13,363
Are you all right?
666
00:34:14,763 --> 00:34:16,923
Don't slip on the poo.
667
00:34:18,723 --> 00:34:21,403
NARRATOR: But before the albatross
tastes freedom again,
668
00:34:21,483 --> 00:34:23,843
he needs to be fitted
with an identity band
669
00:34:23,923 --> 00:34:27,603
to help scientists learn even more
about the life and travels
670
00:34:27,683 --> 00:34:29,403
of these amazing birds.
671
00:34:29,883 --> 00:34:33,043
LIBBY: These are metal bands
which we put on the albatross,
672
00:34:33,123 --> 00:34:35,523
and this will stay
on the albatross for life.
673
00:34:36,083 --> 00:34:38,603
- You have to check this with me, Tammy.
- TAMMY: Yep.
674
00:34:38,683 --> 00:34:40,523
- LIBBY: Four-eight-nine.
- TAMMY: Four-eight-nine.
675
00:34:40,603 --> 00:34:43,403
- LIBBY: Six-five.
- TAMMY: Six-five. Yep, correct.
676
00:34:43,483 --> 00:34:45,083
LIBBY: So we always check the band.
677
00:34:45,163 --> 00:34:48,363
It's important to enable
the birds to be monitored
678
00:34:48,443 --> 00:34:50,403
when they're released into the wild.
679
00:34:50,483 --> 00:34:55,683
This is an Australian band,
and, um, globally we understand
680
00:34:55,763 --> 00:34:58,763
what happens with birds
around the world through these bands.
681
00:35:00,043 --> 00:35:01,883
(albatross groaning)
682
00:35:01,963 --> 00:35:03,283
LIBBY: Seems feisty, Tammy.
683
00:35:03,363 --> 00:35:05,443
TAMMY: Very strong. (laughing)
684
00:35:05,523 --> 00:35:06,763
LIBBY: Okay, that's perfect.
685
00:35:06,843 --> 00:35:09,683
That's his band on his leg, ready to go.
686
00:35:09,763 --> 00:35:11,763
♪ ♪
687
00:35:16,483 --> 00:35:18,363
(albatross squawking)
688
00:35:18,923 --> 00:35:20,723
LIBBY: Complaining to the end.
689
00:35:21,363 --> 00:35:22,243
Okay.
690
00:35:25,683 --> 00:35:27,643
Just taking him up into the hospital
691
00:35:27,723 --> 00:35:31,323
to put him on the scales
to weigh him for the final time.
692
00:35:34,443 --> 00:35:38,243
Special bird, but all animals
get weighed, banded, looked at
693
00:35:38,323 --> 00:35:40,003
before they get out into the wild.
694
00:35:42,123 --> 00:35:43,043
Final weight.
695
00:35:46,243 --> 00:35:47,203
3.9.
696
00:35:48,883 --> 00:35:49,763
I don't know.
697
00:35:50,603 --> 00:35:52,043
3.9, which is great.
698
00:35:52,523 --> 00:35:55,163
He's put on 0.9 of a kilo
since he's been here,
699
00:35:55,723 --> 00:35:56,763
which is really great.
700
00:35:57,123 --> 00:35:59,203
He's been weighed,
he's got his band on him,
701
00:35:59,283 --> 00:36:00,683
he's all ready to go.
702
00:36:01,123 --> 00:36:03,163
He's going into our hospital van,
703
00:36:03,243 --> 00:36:05,403
and then he's going on
the water police boat
704
00:36:05,483 --> 00:36:07,843
and out through Sydney Harbour
out into the wild.
705
00:36:12,843 --> 00:36:14,963
Okay, loaded and ready to go.
706
00:36:16,043 --> 00:36:16,923
Great.
707
00:36:21,443 --> 00:36:23,323
NARRATOR: Releasing an animal
back into the wild
708
00:36:23,403 --> 00:36:25,843
is often a multi-agency event.
709
00:36:26,643 --> 00:36:29,083
LIBBY: The water police have come
to pick us up at the wharf
710
00:36:29,163 --> 00:36:32,203
to take the albatross out to sea.
So, very kind of them.
711
00:36:32,283 --> 00:36:35,403
They help us out with releases
of birds and turtles.
712
00:36:36,323 --> 00:36:38,163
- How are you?
- OFFICER: Yeah, good.
713
00:36:40,163 --> 00:36:42,963
LIBBY: Yeah, I'm really excited.
It's a really good day.
714
00:36:44,003 --> 00:36:46,163
♪ ♪
715
00:36:51,283 --> 00:36:52,403
So, not long now.
716
00:36:52,483 --> 00:36:55,403
♪ ♪
717
00:37:04,963 --> 00:37:06,803
♪ ♪
718
00:37:10,603 --> 00:37:12,523
NARRATOR: With Kibali back with his family
719
00:37:12,603 --> 00:37:14,563
and fully recovered from his exam,
720
00:37:14,643 --> 00:37:18,883
Larry and Mel are keen to go over
the results of all of his tests.
721
00:37:18,963 --> 00:37:21,723
LARRY: Good, I'm just actually
looking at his results now,
722
00:37:21,803 --> 00:37:23,403
and you know, everything
checked out normal.
723
00:37:23,483 --> 00:37:25,643
His blood work was normal, all the...
724
00:37:25,723 --> 00:37:28,283
You know, we did some cultures
from his gastrointestinal tract,
725
00:37:28,363 --> 00:37:29,603
that was all normal.
726
00:37:29,683 --> 00:37:33,363
The cardiology report was great.
No abnormalities found there.
727
00:37:33,443 --> 00:37:35,203
How is he? Has he recovered okay?
728
00:37:35,283 --> 00:37:38,203
MEL: Yeah, he has.
Um, he recovered quite well.
729
00:37:38,283 --> 00:37:40,403
His water consumption,
that we were concerned about,
730
00:37:40,483 --> 00:37:41,843
has definitely decreased again,
731
00:37:41,923 --> 00:37:43,683
so that seems to have gone back to normal.
732
00:37:43,763 --> 00:37:47,283
So that's good, and we're just keeping
a really close eye on his appetite still,
733
00:37:47,363 --> 00:37:49,283
and I guess we'll just stay
in touch with you.
734
00:37:49,363 --> 00:37:51,043
LARRY: Yeah, yeah. For sure, for sure.
735
00:37:51,123 --> 00:37:54,923
Obviously, we still got nothing
to explain these odd sort of signs
736
00:37:55,003 --> 00:37:58,443
that Kibali's been showing
over the last few weeks or so.
737
00:37:58,523 --> 00:38:02,163
So let's hope that, you know,
whatever's happening is passing
738
00:38:02,243 --> 00:38:04,283
and, you know, he'll make a full recovery.
739
00:38:04,363 --> 00:38:06,163
MEL: Okay, great. Thank you.
740
00:38:07,243 --> 00:38:08,763
NARRATOR: Despite early concerns,
741
00:38:08,843 --> 00:38:13,083
the keepers will continue
to monitor Kibali over the coming months,
742
00:38:13,843 --> 00:38:16,123
hopeful that this very important gorilla
743
00:38:16,203 --> 00:38:20,843
continues to lead and support his family
for many years to come.
744
00:38:29,923 --> 00:38:32,563
NARRATOR: It's release day
for the juvenile albatross
745
00:38:32,643 --> 00:38:36,203
that has spent the last week
in Taronga's rehabilitation center
746
00:38:36,283 --> 00:38:40,603
gaining strength after being forced ashore
during a wild storm.
747
00:38:40,683 --> 00:38:42,683
OFFICER: How long has the albatross
been with you guys?
748
00:38:42,763 --> 00:38:45,123
- LIBBY: About ten days.
- OFFICER: Ten days, okay.
749
00:38:45,203 --> 00:38:47,963
LIBBY: So, short a time as possible
for these birds.
750
00:38:48,523 --> 00:38:50,443
NARRATOR: For seabird expert Libby,
751
00:38:50,523 --> 00:38:54,683
today is what makes her job
at Taronga Zoo so special.
752
00:38:56,923 --> 00:38:58,683
LIBBY: It's looking good. (laughing)
753
00:39:00,003 --> 00:39:03,243
So he's traveling really well,
really calm, just sitting there.
754
00:39:03,323 --> 00:39:07,603
Sure, he doesn't know what's happening,
so he is just being still and quiet.
755
00:39:08,243 --> 00:39:11,363
A lot of noise in the boat, so, yeah.
756
00:39:11,443 --> 00:39:12,883
So, not long now.
757
00:39:15,603 --> 00:39:18,123
It's a good day, though.
I'm happy with the day.
758
00:39:18,203 --> 00:39:21,323
I don't like those blue days
where it's really still.
759
00:39:21,763 --> 00:39:22,883
A bird just... They just sit--
760
00:39:22,963 --> 00:39:24,523
OFFICER: They just sit there
and don't want to go.
761
00:39:24,603 --> 00:39:25,763
LIBBY: They just sit in the water.
762
00:39:27,483 --> 00:39:29,843
And then we got to wait
for like an hour and a half
763
00:39:29,923 --> 00:39:31,083
till they fly away.
764
00:39:34,563 --> 00:39:37,883
So today we're going about
three kilometers offshore.
765
00:39:39,643 --> 00:39:40,883
- Are we 3
- K?
766
00:39:42,803 --> 00:39:43,923
DRIVER (off screen): No, not yet.
767
00:39:44,003 --> 00:39:44,883
LIBBY: Okay, thanks.
768
00:39:46,563 --> 00:39:48,083
NARRATOR: With the boat well off the coast
769
00:39:48,163 --> 00:39:51,003
and an abundance
of other seabirds in the area...
770
00:39:51,083 --> 00:39:53,283
LIBBY: So albatross are all around now.
771
00:39:53,363 --> 00:39:56,443
NARRATOR: ...it's finally time
for this young albatross
772
00:39:56,523 --> 00:39:59,083
to return to the great Southern Ocean,
773
00:39:59,163 --> 00:40:03,763
where he has at least 50 years of living,
hunting and breeding ahead of him.
774
00:40:05,923 --> 00:40:08,123
LIBBY: I'm very excited.
We're going to let the bird go.
775
00:40:08,203 --> 00:40:11,963
So I'm just going to get him out
of his box and release him into the wind.
776
00:40:12,043 --> 00:40:16,203
It's pretty rough out here,
so we get what we get, really.
777
00:40:17,923 --> 00:40:18,803
Hi, beautiful.
778
00:40:22,883 --> 00:40:24,323
(albatross squawking)
779
00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:30,763
LIBBY: Just got to get his beak
and then we'll...
780
00:40:32,803 --> 00:40:35,123
I know, I know. What's his wing doing?
781
00:40:36,643 --> 00:40:38,043
So I'm going to let him go.
782
00:40:38,763 --> 00:40:40,243
Very exciting. Whoa.
783
00:40:41,843 --> 00:40:42,883
I know, beautiful.
784
00:40:47,883 --> 00:40:49,763
(squawking)
785
00:40:50,763 --> 00:40:51,843
(Libby laughing)
786
00:40:52,923 --> 00:40:54,923
♪ ♪
787
00:40:57,763 --> 00:41:01,003
LIBBY: Not very graceful, was it?
(laughing)
788
00:41:01,083 --> 00:41:03,323
There he goes. Woo-hoo!
789
00:41:03,403 --> 00:41:05,723
Woo! (laughing)
790
00:41:06,683 --> 00:41:08,163
He's running on the water.
791
00:41:09,523 --> 00:41:10,563
Woo!
792
00:41:12,723 --> 00:41:13,763
Yay!
793
00:41:15,403 --> 00:41:16,923
How amazing.
794
00:41:19,963 --> 00:41:22,843
So good, the way he just
took off, it was incredible.
795
00:41:23,603 --> 00:41:24,683
How awesome.
796
00:41:26,803 --> 00:41:28,603
Perfect day for an albatross.
797
00:41:31,203 --> 00:41:33,443
Oh, well, where he goes we won't know.
798
00:41:33,523 --> 00:41:37,403
He'll roam the oceans for years and years
before he comes ashore again.
799
00:41:38,283 --> 00:41:39,483
Fantastic day.
800
00:41:39,563 --> 00:41:41,523
This is definitely
the best part of my job,
801
00:41:41,603 --> 00:41:44,763
and I have an amazing job
in the hospital at Taronga.
802
00:41:45,323 --> 00:41:47,683
Being out at sea, releasing an albatross,
803
00:41:47,763 --> 00:41:49,203
doesn't get much better than that.
804
00:41:52,483 --> 00:41:53,483
Captioned by Point.360