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NARRATOR: At Taronga Zoo,
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the health and welfare of
all animals is paramount.
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From the big exotics,
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all the way down to
the weird and wonderful.
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KEEPER: Frances, we've got
the bats for you.
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FRANCES: We've got ghost bats,
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which are an Australian
species of bat, very special.
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And two of those animals are
gonna have a full health exam
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in preparation for them participating
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in a regional breeding program
at another wildlife park.
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We're going to put the bat
into this chamber
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and feed a little bit of
anesthetic gas in here
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so that the bat gets sleepy, and
that will make it easier for us
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to safely get its face
into the anesthetic mask.
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LIZ: All right, if you can take that out.
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FRANCES: Any bat in Australia
potentially could carry a virus,
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and so nobody should handle a bat
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unless they're adequately
trained and experienced
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and vaccinated against rabies
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and know that they have
a protective titer.
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So we follow special procedures
when we're dealing with bats.
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Tell me when you're comfortable.
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LIZ: Yep.
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FRANCES: Liz has got
special protective gloves,
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because she is going to be the one
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to restrain the head of the bat
while it's in the mask.
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So you'll notice she's got covered sleeves
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and she's got special gloves there.
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FRANCES: Come under my fingers.
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LIZ: Yep.
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FRANCES: And that's going onto there.
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Robert, I'm going to get you
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to bring that examination light around.
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I will hold his head in
while you get your gloves off.
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An important part of our examination,
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funny as it may seem,
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is to make sure that the bat
is reproductively healthy.
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Fit for service.
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There you go.
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And so it is important that we can see
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the male external genitalia and
that we know that it's normal.
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So, Liz, I want to look at
his, his head and his face
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and teeth and so on now,
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so you're happy if
we take him out of here?
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LIZ: Yeah, that's fine.
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FRANCES: So might need to
just take that monitor off.
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So, his little face,
um, has got lots of folds
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and things like that.
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We're just conscious at the moment
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that he's not breathing
any anesthetic gas,
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and so if we take too long,
he will wake up.
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Let's just have a look here.
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The teeth are amazing.
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Pretty fierce teeth
for such a small animal,
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if you look at the size of those canines.
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ROBERT: There's so much
about them to appreciate.
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They're the largest
carnivorous bat in the country,
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found in some really weird places,
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from tropical rain forests out
into the sort of desert areas,
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but unfortunately, like
so much more of our wildlife,
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they're in a lot of trouble
out there in the wild.
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So, importance of breeding programs
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is just getting more and more
as the years go on.
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FRANCES: Okay, Liz, would you like to
take him over and weigh him?
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LIZ: Sure.
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FRANCES: And then we'll wake him up.
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So Liz is restraining his head
all the time,
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weigh him and then we'll wake him up.
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LIZ: All right, so his body weight
is 111.9 grams.
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FRANCES: Are you recording that, Rob?
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ROBERT: Yep. 111.9.
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FRANCES: Only a mother
or a ghost bat would love.
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LIZ: I agree.
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ROBERT: They're really cute on that theory
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of ugly but interesting.
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FRANCES: Okay, so this
little guy is really healthy.
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He's in super body condition,
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can't find anything wrong with him.
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Everything in its right place,
and I'm quite happy with him.
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LIZ: Yeah, Batman, Batgirl
to go off to their new home,
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hopefully to make more baby ghost bats
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to increase the population as a whole.
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Any animal that is going to be
moving between wildlife parks
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or zoological institutions
need to be in great health,
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and obviously we aim to keep them
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in tip-top health here, yeah.
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- Let's just give it air.
- Sure.
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FRANCES: Oh, oh, oh.
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- FRANCES: All right?
- LIZ: Yep.
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FRANCES: Only 'cause
I could see its ears move.
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(Liz and Rob laughing)
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ROBERT: "I'm awake!"
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These are just now going into
their own separate space,
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so they're not interacting with the others
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until such point that they travel off.
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NARRATOR: While the ghost bats
wait to start their journey
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to their new facility,
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another species is at the end
of their journey to Taronga.
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FRANCES: Cheers.
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TIM: How long is the flight
from Wellington?
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Three or four hours?
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Oh, I think it's only two and a half.
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I think the zoo itself
is like another hour away.
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They've been in the box
for four hours now.
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TIM: Yeah.
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NARRATOR:
Today, for the first time in its history,
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Taronga is receiving five
South American capybaras
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who've just landed on
a flight from New Zealand.
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TIM: We have just been like spitballing
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a whole bunch of like
South American names.
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GRANT: I wouldn't even know what
a South American name... Pedro?
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TIM: Like Diego and Pedro and...
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- GRANT: Maradona.
- TIM: Yeah.
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NARRATOR:
The first stop for these newcomers
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is with Tim from exotics,
who's been waiting anxiously
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for their arrival.
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And is excited to get his first glimpse.
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TIM: Struggling to get
a little peek inside,
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but you can see a little
glimpse of movement,
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which is always very exciting.
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Our first little glance at their new life.
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So, should be really good.
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Capybara are actually
the largest rodent in the world.
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They come from Central and South America.
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Definitely a nice little
smell to them already,
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so that'll be fun.
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Normally throughout the day
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I actually look after our elephants.
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So it's going to be a bit of
a learning curve for all of us,
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but we've got a really great team
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who's really confident
we're going to be able
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to take some really good care
of these animals.
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NARRATOR: Australia has some of
the toughest quarantine laws in the world.
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These are in place to protect
the unique native animals
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from diseases like rabies.
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The container should come to about here.
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TIM: Because it's
an international transfer,
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we have to be very, very strict.
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Anytime we bring an animal
in from overseas,
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we want to make sure
they're nice and healthy,
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and any parasites or diseases
they might be bringing in,
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we want to be able to check them
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before they enter the greater population.
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GRANT: One, two, three.
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This one's leaking urine.
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That is why we have the quarantine status,
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because that's why we've got
to put the tarp down.
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'Cause he's obviously excited to be here
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and the urine is coming out.
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So they're mopping up the urine,
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or they've cleaned up the urine now,
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so these boxes will go
into quarantine as well,
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so they're all cleaned properly.
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Last one. Very exciting.
Nearly ready to go.
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Um, we have just found out
that the Wellington keepers
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have put a few names on top of the crates.
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There's some good ones,
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and there's some questionable
names floating around out here.
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NARRATOR: Like humans, when
animals fly around the world,
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it can be stressful,
so the team is hoping to get
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the capybaras back to Taronga
as quickly as possible.
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Oh, definitely time's critical,
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because the animals have been in the crate
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for probably four hours.
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We want to get them back into
quarantine and released,
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so they can check on
their condition and stuff
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and get them out of the box.
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No one wants to be stuck
in a box for a long time.
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All right, guys, I think we're
ready to rock and roll.
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TIM: Let's do it.
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So the quicker we can
get them back on the road
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and get them back to the zoo,
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the better it is that
it's going to be for them,
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and we can get them settled
into a new home
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where they'll be nice and comfortable.
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NARRATOR: 400 kilometers away
at Taronga's other zoo,
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one of their most loved species
is the ring-tailed lemur.
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So, lemurs are a lower-order primate.
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They are our very distant relatives.
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NARRATOR:
While they may look small and cute,
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their personalities are
actually big and boisterous.
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SASHA: Ring-tailed lemurs
are a matriarchal species,
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so they are run by females,
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and they have a very strict hierarchy.
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I sometimes think it's a little
bit like Bold and The Beautiful
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because they can be so dramatic.
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NARRATOR: The ring-tailed
lemurs are one of Taronga's
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biggest breeding success stories.
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SASHA: We established a breeding
program for them in 2013.
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Just in the last few weeks we've
had two female babies born,
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which is really, really exciting.
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We're not sure on the sex of the
third one that we have pending,
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but we'll find out pretty quickly.
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NARRATOR: But the Animal Kingdom moves
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to the beat of its own drum...
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MICHELLE: I've just got
to find the nurse now.
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NARRATOR: ...as vet Michelle
is about to find out.
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MICHELLE: I've had a call from Sasha
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who's one of our primate keepers.
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I'll just grab a primate form.
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And she was concerned that
she'd observed a big fight
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in our ring-tailed lemur group.
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And the individual who seemed
to come off second best in the fight
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was one of our adult females,
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and she's actually due
to give birth any day now.
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The ring-tailed lemur Noah
is possibly in labor
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and has been beaten up.
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She's missing a finger.
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Her lip is torn completely open
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and there is a lot of blood
from her vulva.
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So the question is,
is the blood from the vulva
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due to the pregnancy or is it a bite?
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She's had stillborns before.
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Yeah.
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So there is a potential that it
could end up being a caesarean.
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Okay, so just surgery kits.
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It sounds like she sustained
some pretty nasty injuries,
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and given she's at a pretty
precarious stage of her pregnancy,
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we need to be
really careful with this one.
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We have had incidents
of fights in the past,
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particularly in breeding groups
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where obviously emotions and
hormones can be pretty high.
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Hi, again.
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I brought a net, too,
did you want that or...
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-...a towel will be enough?
- Yeah. We will skip the net for now.
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MICHELLE: The first thing I noticed
was that she had blood
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around her vulva,
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which meant that she could
have been in labor.
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So, we were all a little bit worried,
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because she is the last
of our three females
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that was needing to give birth.
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So the timing was pretty terrible.
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MICHELLE: You want a towel
or prefer not a towel?
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SASHA: No, not a towel is easier, I think,
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and then obviously if she grabs
the door, the mesh...
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MICHELLE: I'll give you a hand.
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Ordinarily with a routine health exam,
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we get the animals familiar with
being put into a transport box,
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so that when the day comes
it's all very non-stressful,
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but in an emergency, unfortunately,
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we don't have the time to do that.
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Want me to move down the other end?
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MICHELLE: Okay.
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All right, baby girl.
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NARRATOR:
Covered in blood, missing a finger,
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and heavily pregnant,
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the mum-to-be, Noah,
has the odds stacked against her.
248
00:10:33,803 --> 00:10:35,363
MAN ON RADIO: Go ahead.
249
00:10:35,443 --> 00:10:37,203
GRANT: Starting to hear the radio,
we're getting close to the zoo.
250
00:10:37,283 --> 00:10:38,283
TIM: Yeah.
251
00:10:38,363 --> 00:10:39,363
GRANT: It's just over the water.
252
00:10:39,443 --> 00:10:42,203
NARRATOR: Five capybaras
have arrived in Australia
253
00:10:42,283 --> 00:10:43,403
from New Zealand.
254
00:10:44,763 --> 00:10:46,523
GRANT: Here we go, boys.
255
00:10:46,603 --> 00:10:48,403
TIM: First big trip over
that Giant Coat Hanger.
256
00:10:48,483 --> 00:10:50,723
- GRANT: Welcome to Australia.
-(Tim laughs)
257
00:10:57,443 --> 00:10:58,763
NARRATOR:
And while their journey to Taronga
258
00:10:58,843 --> 00:11:00,843
may almost be over...
259
00:11:00,923 --> 00:11:02,443
GRANT: Oh, this is better
looking than New Zealand.
260
00:11:02,523 --> 00:11:03,763
TIM: It is.
261
00:11:03,843 --> 00:11:06,763
NARRATOR: ...their longer
quarantine process is about to begin.
262
00:11:11,403 --> 00:11:14,003
We've just arrived at the
vet hospital here at Taronga Zoo
263
00:11:14,883 --> 00:11:17,243
and now we're just about to move
them into the quarantine dens
264
00:11:17,323 --> 00:11:19,123
where they're going to spend
the next two weeks.
265
00:11:21,243 --> 00:11:23,963
FELICITY: Plan is we're going
to offload them from the truck.
266
00:11:24,043 --> 00:11:26,243
- People lifting out here...
- Yep.
267
00:11:26,323 --> 00:11:27,443
...in regular uniform
268
00:11:27,523 --> 00:11:29,323
will pass through the double green doors
269
00:11:29,403 --> 00:11:31,843
to quarantine staff in gowns.
270
00:11:31,923 --> 00:11:33,003
TIM: Beautiful.
271
00:11:33,083 --> 00:11:35,323
FELICITY: We'll put them on the
scales we have in quarantine,
272
00:11:35,403 --> 00:11:37,043
get a weight of the animal in the crate,
273
00:11:37,123 --> 00:11:39,163
and then take the crate into the den,
274
00:11:39,803 --> 00:11:42,563
unload the animal, we're gonna check
the microchip of each one as we go.
275
00:11:43,123 --> 00:11:44,123
GRANT: You got 'em?
276
00:11:45,603 --> 00:11:46,843
Got me finger, too.
277
00:11:47,883 --> 00:11:49,643
(laughs)
278
00:11:49,723 --> 00:11:52,163
This is the quarantine for the zoo.
279
00:11:52,243 --> 00:11:55,003
So, any new animals coming
into the zoo get quarantined,
280
00:11:55,083 --> 00:11:57,923
but these animals because
they've come from overseas,
281
00:11:58,003 --> 00:11:59,763
quarantine is particularly strict.
282
00:12:00,283 --> 00:12:02,363
That's why we've got
the quarantine officers here
283
00:12:02,443 --> 00:12:05,163
to oversee the whole process of unloading.
284
00:12:08,203 --> 00:12:09,923
- WOMAN: Want me to lock it?
- LIZ: Yes, please.
285
00:12:16,283 --> 00:12:17,803
GRANT: This is the last part,
286
00:12:17,883 --> 00:12:19,083
we're just disinfecting everything
287
00:12:19,163 --> 00:12:20,803
that came in contact with the boxes.
288
00:12:20,883 --> 00:12:23,403
Because we had a bit of urine
spill on the floor,
289
00:12:23,483 --> 00:12:24,723
so we're just cleaning up,
290
00:12:24,803 --> 00:12:28,123
making sure everything is
nice and safe and good.
291
00:12:29,443 --> 00:12:31,763
Things have to be done,
they have to be done.
292
00:12:31,843 --> 00:12:34,003
NARRATOR: A lot of work goes
into bringing an animal
293
00:12:34,083 --> 00:12:36,443
into the zoo from overseas...
294
00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:40,843
- VET: 7-8...
- LIZ: 78.9. And do we have a name?
295
00:12:40,923 --> 00:12:42,643
VET: This is Diego.
296
00:12:42,723 --> 00:12:43,723
Diego.
297
00:12:44,203 --> 00:12:46,763
NARRATOR: ...especially
considering no one from Taronga
298
00:12:46,843 --> 00:12:49,763
has even laid eyes on
their new capybaras yet.
299
00:12:51,123 --> 00:12:53,043
LARRY: I haven't seen these
animals. They're very cool.
300
00:12:53,123 --> 00:12:56,043
They're like giant guinea pigs,
except they're just one color.
301
00:12:56,123 --> 00:12:58,883
So if you can imagine
a guinea pig about that size,
302
00:12:58,963 --> 00:13:02,443
these guys are that big; 30 kilos.
303
00:13:02,523 --> 00:13:05,043
They're really cool, charismatic animals.
304
00:13:05,683 --> 00:13:07,003
LIZ: We can't wait to open up the boxes
305
00:13:07,083 --> 00:13:08,363
and see who we have in there.
306
00:13:08,443 --> 00:13:10,083
We're going to give them
some food, some greens,
307
00:13:10,163 --> 00:13:11,843
and some cubes and hay ready to go.
308
00:13:11,923 --> 00:13:14,203
So that'll settle them down,
see how they are.
309
00:13:14,283 --> 00:13:17,123
Come on. Come on.
310
00:13:17,203 --> 00:13:19,643
NARRATOR: With the capybaras
now in their temporary home
311
00:13:19,723 --> 00:13:21,243
for the next two weeks,
312
00:13:23,323 --> 00:13:25,563
it's a long wait for the rest of the zoo
313
00:13:25,643 --> 00:13:29,003
to catch their first look
at this playful species.
314
00:13:44,763 --> 00:13:47,643
NARRATOR: After suffering
serious wounds in a fight,
315
00:13:47,723 --> 00:13:49,323
pregnant lemur Noah has arrived
316
00:13:49,403 --> 00:13:52,243
at the Western Plains wildlife hospital.
317
00:13:52,323 --> 00:13:54,803
MICHELLE: Just try and help you
and work out what you've done.
318
00:13:59,203 --> 00:14:00,323
NURSE: Are you going to
give her an injection
319
00:14:00,403 --> 00:14:01,403
or are you going to...?
320
00:14:01,483 --> 00:14:03,643
No, we're just going
to go straight to gas, yeah.
321
00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,323
NARRATOR: Before Noah can be examined,
322
00:14:06,403 --> 00:14:07,763
she needs to be sedated.
323
00:14:09,803 --> 00:14:11,563
Whilst we would always
like to avoid anesthesia
324
00:14:11,643 --> 00:14:12,963
at this late stage of pregnancy,
325
00:14:13,043 --> 00:14:16,443
in this case it's important that
we determine what's going on
326
00:14:16,523 --> 00:14:18,363
and we will do our best
to make it as quick
327
00:14:18,443 --> 00:14:19,883
and smooth for her as possible.
328
00:14:19,963 --> 00:14:21,283
Let's just check...
329
00:14:22,003 --> 00:14:23,563
NARRATOR: Now Noah's calm,
330
00:14:23,643 --> 00:14:26,883
Michelle can turn her attention
to the source of the bleeding.
331
00:14:26,963 --> 00:14:28,683
MICHELLE: This feels okay.
332
00:14:36,483 --> 00:14:38,723
I have to go all the way up.
That's a bit worrying.
333
00:14:38,803 --> 00:14:41,603
If we've got internal bleeding
and it's uncontrolled,
334
00:14:41,683 --> 00:14:43,203
then obviously that
can be life-threatening.
335
00:14:44,003 --> 00:14:47,243
And in this case we're dealing
with both the mum and the baby,
336
00:14:47,323 --> 00:14:49,403
so we've got two lives that
we're concerned about here,
337
00:14:49,483 --> 00:14:51,483
and we need to really make decisions
338
00:14:51,563 --> 00:14:52,883
based on what's best for both.
339
00:14:55,563 --> 00:14:57,523
Yeah, I think it's a torn vulva.
340
00:14:58,123 --> 00:14:59,323
It's not really ideal
341
00:14:59,403 --> 00:15:01,683
just before you're about
to give birth, is it?
342
00:15:01,763 --> 00:15:02,923
Thank you.
343
00:15:03,003 --> 00:15:06,163
She has sustained
a nasty injury to the vulva.
344
00:15:06,243 --> 00:15:08,363
That's certainly better news in terms of
345
00:15:08,443 --> 00:15:10,243
life-threatening
illnesses right at this stage.
346
00:15:10,323 --> 00:15:12,483
It looks like she's very close
to giving birth,
347
00:15:12,563 --> 00:15:16,523
and we'd like her to go through
that process naturally if possible.
348
00:15:17,483 --> 00:15:18,523
We will just start clipping this up.
349
00:15:18,603 --> 00:15:21,003
NARRATOR: But first they'll
need to use ultrasound
350
00:15:21,083 --> 00:15:24,243
to determine if the baby
has survived the attack.
351
00:15:24,323 --> 00:15:26,243
-(Lemur cries)
- MICHELLE: Oh, darling.
352
00:15:27,003 --> 00:15:29,163
It's a bit of a pitiful sound, isn't it?
353
00:15:30,603 --> 00:15:32,723
Can you flick the lights off
for me, please?
354
00:15:34,043 --> 00:15:35,683
Thank you. Just, yep, that's the one.
355
00:15:40,843 --> 00:15:43,403
How confident were you
about the abdomen size
356
00:15:43,483 --> 00:15:44,923
going down overnight?
357
00:15:45,003 --> 00:15:46,123
SASHA: Just before when I came in
358
00:15:46,203 --> 00:15:47,723
and I found that they'd had the fight,
359
00:15:47,803 --> 00:15:50,283
my main concern was making sure
that she still had the baby
360
00:15:50,363 --> 00:15:52,123
and she hadn't dropped it somewhere.
361
00:15:52,203 --> 00:15:53,763
So I did gently palpate her stomach
362
00:15:53,843 --> 00:15:55,203
to try and feel for the baby,
363
00:15:55,283 --> 00:15:58,163
and usually the head is the most
obvious thing that you can touch
364
00:15:58,243 --> 00:15:59,683
and know what it is,
365
00:15:59,763 --> 00:16:01,723
and it didn't feel anything
like it did yesterday.
366
00:16:02,963 --> 00:16:06,163
MICHELLE: We need to confirm
that the baby is alive and well.
367
00:16:06,243 --> 00:16:09,083
NARRATOR: So while the vets in
Dubbo fight to save the life
368
00:16:09,163 --> 00:16:11,483
of this lemur and its unborn baby,
369
00:16:12,963 --> 00:16:13,963
back in Sydney...
370
00:16:15,283 --> 00:16:17,843
ADAM: These three are the elusive ones.
371
00:16:17,923 --> 00:16:20,403
NARRATOR: Taronga keeper Adam
is fighting to save
372
00:16:20,483 --> 00:16:25,323
an entire species:
the Bellinger River turtle.
373
00:16:25,403 --> 00:16:26,283
ADAM: They're amazing.
374
00:16:26,363 --> 00:16:27,723
They are a really pretty turtle.
375
00:16:27,803 --> 00:16:30,323
The bright yellow in them
makes them quite attractive.
376
00:16:30,403 --> 00:16:31,883
They're definitely one of Australia's,
377
00:16:31,963 --> 00:16:33,403
you know, prettier turtles.
378
00:16:33,483 --> 00:16:34,883
The adults, the females,
379
00:16:34,963 --> 00:16:38,163
get about that size, so in proportion.
380
00:16:38,243 --> 00:16:41,523
They get up to like 1.5 kilos,
maybe a little bit bigger.
381
00:16:41,603 --> 00:16:44,523
The boys are generally
a bit smaller, the males.
382
00:16:44,603 --> 00:16:47,603
And they're around the 600-gram mark.
383
00:16:47,683 --> 00:16:49,403
A lot bigger than these guys,
a lot bigger.
384
00:16:49,483 --> 00:16:52,683
NARRATOR: The reason these
turtles are so special
385
00:16:52,763 --> 00:16:54,603
is that Taronga Zoo hold
386
00:16:54,683 --> 00:16:57,923
the only Bellinger River
breeding turtles in the world.
387
00:17:00,603 --> 00:17:02,323
Named after the Bellinger River
388
00:17:02,403 --> 00:17:04,603
on the New South Wales north coast,
389
00:17:04,683 --> 00:17:08,243
these turtles were decimated
when a disease outbreak
390
00:17:08,323 --> 00:17:10,683
swept through their once-pristine habitat.
391
00:17:12,243 --> 00:17:15,523
KARRIE: February 18, 2015,
a group of young men were kayaking
392
00:17:15,603 --> 00:17:17,763
along the river and
they came across a pond
393
00:17:17,843 --> 00:17:19,883
with 53 sick and dying turtles.
394
00:17:21,483 --> 00:17:24,723
NARRATOR: But this was only
the tip of the iceberg.
395
00:17:24,803 --> 00:17:27,283
KARRIE: Every animal that was
infected went on to die,
396
00:17:28,043 --> 00:17:30,683
and over a period of five to six weeks,
397
00:17:30,763 --> 00:17:33,243
the species was driven
to functional extinction.
398
00:17:34,603 --> 00:17:38,003
Probably about 90% to 95%
of the population was lost.
399
00:17:39,643 --> 00:17:41,643
NARRATOR: Finding out exactly
what was happening
400
00:17:41,723 --> 00:17:42,843
fell on the shoulders
401
00:17:42,923 --> 00:17:45,883
of Taronga pathologist Karrie Rose.
402
00:17:46,603 --> 00:17:49,003
KARRIE: You can see the damage right here.
It's just dead.
403
00:17:49,723 --> 00:17:54,203
So, within two days we had
received animals to investigate
404
00:17:54,283 --> 00:17:56,603
and try to find out what was going on
405
00:17:56,683 --> 00:17:58,083
with those poor turtles.
406
00:17:58,163 --> 00:18:02,283
Here we go. This is one of the animals
that had incredibly swollen eyes.
407
00:18:02,363 --> 00:18:04,203
The turtles were turning up blind,
408
00:18:04,283 --> 00:18:06,443
they were pawing at their eyes,
409
00:18:06,523 --> 00:18:10,243
some of them had the skin
ulcerated all around their eyes.
410
00:18:10,323 --> 00:18:12,123
So it was really a grisly finding.
411
00:18:14,443 --> 00:18:15,563
This is the spleen.
412
00:18:17,083 --> 00:18:18,723
It's meant to be full of lymphocytes,
413
00:18:18,803 --> 00:18:20,203
so really quite blue.
414
00:18:21,163 --> 00:18:23,043
So much damage to this tissue.
415
00:18:23,123 --> 00:18:24,643
You can't even tell what
it's supposed to look like.
416
00:18:25,403 --> 00:18:28,923
We knew we were dealing with a
large-scale explosive outbreak
417
00:18:29,003 --> 00:18:30,003
right from the very beginning.
418
00:18:32,763 --> 00:18:35,443
NARRATOR: The decision was made
that Taronga would lead
419
00:18:35,523 --> 00:18:37,523
an expedition to the Bellinger River
420
00:18:37,603 --> 00:18:40,083
to rescue the remaining turtles.
421
00:18:40,163 --> 00:18:42,763
KARRIE: Our biggest worry
was that the species would go extinct
422
00:18:42,843 --> 00:18:44,963
before we had a chance to
even find out what was happening.
423
00:18:45,683 --> 00:18:48,403
So the last group of adult animals
424
00:18:48,483 --> 00:18:52,803
from the last pond upstream were taken
into a captive breeding program
425
00:18:52,883 --> 00:18:55,283
before the virus swept through.
426
00:18:57,363 --> 00:18:59,283
Really only a few more days
427
00:18:59,363 --> 00:19:01,203
and the species would have been extinct.
428
00:19:01,883 --> 00:19:04,563
NARRATOR: So, this out-of-the-way,
fenced-off section
429
00:19:04,643 --> 00:19:08,363
of Taronga Zoo is the last hope
for the Bellinger River turtle.
430
00:19:08,443 --> 00:19:10,483
MAN: Where there's more rock,
then they're really active.
431
00:19:10,563 --> 00:19:11,763
ADAM: In the wild there's no breeding,
432
00:19:12,363 --> 00:19:15,643
so we have the last 16 remaining
breedable adults
433
00:19:15,723 --> 00:19:16,923
in this facility.
434
00:19:17,003 --> 00:19:19,683
This is it, this is the future
of this species.
435
00:19:28,643 --> 00:19:31,323
NARRATOR: Pregnant lemur Noah
has been brutally attacked
436
00:19:31,403 --> 00:19:33,483
just days before giving birth.
437
00:19:33,563 --> 00:19:34,963
SASHA: We were all a little bit worried,
438
00:19:35,043 --> 00:19:36,603
because she is the last
of our three females
439
00:19:36,683 --> 00:19:37,963
that was needing to give birth.
440
00:19:38,043 --> 00:19:40,763
We've already had two successful
young to the other two females
441
00:19:40,843 --> 00:19:42,323
in that group a few weeks prior.
442
00:19:42,403 --> 00:19:43,923
She was the last piece of the puzzle,
443
00:19:44,003 --> 00:19:46,123
so the timing was pretty terrible.
444
00:19:46,203 --> 00:19:48,403
MICHELLE: Can you just flick the lights
off for me, please?
445
00:19:48,483 --> 00:19:50,443
NARRATOR: With Noah now stabilized,
446
00:19:50,523 --> 00:19:52,123
Michelle turns her attention
447
00:19:52,203 --> 00:19:54,883
to finding her unborn baby's heartbeat.
448
00:19:54,963 --> 00:19:57,323
MICHELLE: In the past
she has had a stillbirth,
449
00:19:57,403 --> 00:20:00,083
and she also has had infants
that haven't survived
450
00:20:00,163 --> 00:20:02,443
after the first week or two of life,
451
00:20:02,523 --> 00:20:04,243
and in this case we're critically looking
452
00:20:04,323 --> 00:20:05,603
for whether or not
there might be a heartbeat
453
00:20:05,683 --> 00:20:07,803
and the baby's still thriving in there.
454
00:20:15,563 --> 00:20:16,883
SASHA: Just really nervous.
455
00:20:16,963 --> 00:20:18,163
She is a really good mum.
456
00:20:18,243 --> 00:20:20,483
I have seen her pine
for lost infants before,
457
00:20:20,563 --> 00:20:21,923
and it's a pretty heartbreaking
thing to see.
458
00:20:28,843 --> 00:20:30,003
MICHELLE: Got a heartbeat.
459
00:20:31,723 --> 00:20:32,843
Baby's still alive.
460
00:20:36,603 --> 00:20:38,243
- Do you want to see it?
- SASHA: Yes.
461
00:20:39,403 --> 00:20:42,043
We might be, we might try
and be super quick anyway.
462
00:20:43,003 --> 00:20:44,243
- That little flutter, yep.
- MICHELLE: Yep.
463
00:20:46,283 --> 00:20:47,883
The baby has a heartbeat.
464
00:20:47,963 --> 00:20:50,363
Doesn't quite look as vigorous
as we would expect,
465
00:20:50,443 --> 00:20:53,643
but that may be just because she
was just about to give birth,
466
00:20:53,723 --> 00:20:55,843
and now mum has been
put through an anesthetic.
467
00:20:55,923 --> 00:20:57,203
The only other thing that might be handy
468
00:20:57,283 --> 00:20:59,443
is for us just to get a quick x-ray
469
00:20:59,523 --> 00:21:00,803
just to see the position where it is.
470
00:21:03,643 --> 00:21:06,443
So that's the head there,
just heading towards the pelvis,
471
00:21:06,523 --> 00:21:08,723
and then there's the spine down the middle
472
00:21:08,803 --> 00:21:10,203
and the limbs coming off at the side.
473
00:21:10,283 --> 00:21:12,043
So, in perfect birth position.
474
00:21:13,683 --> 00:21:14,963
So, fingers crossed, everyone.
475
00:21:17,003 --> 00:21:18,443
SASHA: Just because it has a heartbeat now
476
00:21:18,523 --> 00:21:20,763
doesn't necessarily mean
that things will go smoothly,
477
00:21:20,843 --> 00:21:22,203
but it's obviously a step
in the right direction.
478
00:21:23,323 --> 00:21:25,043
(lemur whining)
479
00:21:25,123 --> 00:21:26,563
MICHELLE: It's all right, darling.
480
00:21:26,643 --> 00:21:29,403
I've just given her an injection
of an antibiotic
481
00:21:29,483 --> 00:21:31,003
and it's safe for the baby as well.
482
00:21:34,843 --> 00:21:36,723
The lip tear and the finger injury,
483
00:21:36,803 --> 00:21:38,003
although they look quiet nasty,
484
00:21:38,083 --> 00:21:39,483
they're certainly not life-threatening.
485
00:21:40,123 --> 00:21:41,363
- MICHELLE: Hey, Sasha?
- SASHA: Yes?
486
00:21:41,443 --> 00:21:42,603
MICHELLE: What do you reckon
the chances of her
487
00:21:42,683 --> 00:21:44,323
keeping staples in her face are?
488
00:21:44,883 --> 00:21:45,883
Pretty slim?
489
00:21:45,963 --> 00:21:47,563
SASHA: Um, well, it depends.
490
00:21:47,643 --> 00:21:49,843
Do you think she's going to do
more damage taking it out
491
00:21:49,923 --> 00:21:50,963
or do it will be much more...
492
00:21:51,043 --> 00:21:52,043
MICHELLE: No, I think it would
just be back to how it was.
493
00:21:52,123 --> 00:21:52,963
No harm in trying?
494
00:21:53,043 --> 00:21:54,083
SASHA: No harm in trying.
495
00:21:54,163 --> 00:21:55,643
'Cause she'll be kept either on her own
496
00:21:55,723 --> 00:21:56,803
or just with one other individual.
497
00:21:57,283 --> 00:21:58,483
MICHELLE: Yep, okay.
498
00:21:58,563 --> 00:22:00,323
Let's just clean those wounds.
499
00:22:01,443 --> 00:22:05,243
(lemur whining)
500
00:22:06,243 --> 00:22:07,803
Have you got the stapler handy?
501
00:22:13,563 --> 00:22:16,323
It's just a lot quicker to do
this than try and stitch it.
502
00:22:18,723 --> 00:22:20,683
And we can worry about trying
to remove them later.
503
00:22:22,003 --> 00:22:24,203
Oh, goodness.
504
00:22:25,683 --> 00:22:27,243
Just give you a little bit
more gas, Missy.
505
00:22:27,963 --> 00:22:29,083
BEN: How's it going?
506
00:22:29,163 --> 00:22:32,563
MICHELLE: Good. So we've got,
um, it is a vulva tear
507
00:22:32,643 --> 00:22:33,923
and a lip tear and all the rest of it.
508
00:22:34,003 --> 00:22:35,363
The baby's got a heartbeat.
509
00:22:35,443 --> 00:22:37,323
So I'm tempted to just wake her up.
510
00:22:37,403 --> 00:22:40,203
BEN: Can you determine whether
the cervix is open or opening?
511
00:22:40,283 --> 00:22:42,563
MICHELLE: I think it probably is.
512
00:22:42,643 --> 00:22:44,083
I can get to the length of my finger,
513
00:22:44,163 --> 00:22:45,963
my small finger, so, yeah.
514
00:22:46,043 --> 00:22:47,563
So she may deliver
the baby overnight.
515
00:22:47,643 --> 00:22:49,283
She might and I'm thinking
if she doesn't,
516
00:22:49,363 --> 00:22:51,723
then maybe we need to intervene.
Do you agree?
517
00:22:51,803 --> 00:22:54,003
Yeah, yeah. I mean, it'd
be, I presume you're thinking
518
00:22:54,083 --> 00:22:55,123
that it'd be better for her to do that
519
00:22:55,203 --> 00:22:56,883
up in the facility where she's familiar.
520
00:22:58,083 --> 00:23:00,003
- MICHELLE: I think so.
- SASHA: Separate.
521
00:23:00,083 --> 00:23:01,323
- MICHELLE: Yeah.
- BEN: Okay.
522
00:23:01,403 --> 00:23:03,043
MICHELLE: I mean, I'd like to
see it moving a little bit more
523
00:23:03,123 --> 00:23:06,083
than it is, but the head is
getting close to that pelvis.
524
00:23:06,163 --> 00:23:07,283
It's in the right position.
525
00:23:07,363 --> 00:23:10,003
BEN: That's... that's
the baby starting to move in
526
00:23:10,083 --> 00:23:11,483
towards the birth canal and getting ready.
527
00:23:11,563 --> 00:23:13,563
MICHELLE: All right, let's get her
back in pet pack, then,
528
00:23:13,643 --> 00:23:15,043
and we'll reconvene in the morning.
529
00:23:15,123 --> 00:23:16,563
BEN: Very good. Sounds like a plan.
530
00:23:16,923 --> 00:23:18,163
MICHELLE: I think mum is going to be fine.
531
00:23:18,243 --> 00:23:19,803
I think it's a bit
touch and go for the bub,
532
00:23:19,883 --> 00:23:22,683
and Noah has had
a stillborn baby in the past,
533
00:23:22,763 --> 00:23:24,603
so that is in her history.
534
00:23:24,683 --> 00:23:27,043
So it's not outside
the realms of possibility
535
00:23:27,123 --> 00:23:28,723
that things might not go that well,
536
00:23:28,803 --> 00:23:31,203
but so far everything is looking okay.
537
00:23:31,283 --> 00:23:33,563
She could have done without
the injuries for sure,
538
00:23:33,643 --> 00:23:36,003
but anyway, they are what they are,
539
00:23:36,083 --> 00:23:37,723
and we've given her
the treatment she needs.
540
00:23:40,763 --> 00:23:42,803
SASHA: Fingers crossed that
she gives birth naturally,
541
00:23:42,883 --> 00:23:44,563
because the stress that
she's just gone through
542
00:23:44,643 --> 00:23:45,843
because of all the fights and everything
543
00:23:45,923 --> 00:23:48,443
and obviously the additional
stress of having the GA
544
00:23:48,523 --> 00:23:51,963
can cause complications, but
obviously the fact that the baby
545
00:23:52,043 --> 00:23:54,843
is currently alive right now
is hugely promising,
546
00:23:54,923 --> 00:23:56,403
so we'll just have to see how it goes.
547
00:23:57,523 --> 00:23:59,283
Ready?
548
00:23:59,363 --> 00:24:00,563
Yeah?
549
00:24:11,123 --> 00:24:13,163
NARRATOR: The vets have given
Noah every chance
550
00:24:13,243 --> 00:24:14,763
to have a natural birth.
551
00:24:15,883 --> 00:24:17,283
SASHA: Yeah, okay.
552
00:24:17,363 --> 00:24:20,363
NARRATOR: And it's a nervous
night's wait for Sasha.
553
00:24:29,323 --> 00:24:33,083
In 2015, the Bellinger River
turtle was pushed
554
00:24:33,163 --> 00:24:36,203
to near extinction when
a virus swept through
555
00:24:36,283 --> 00:24:38,563
the river system they call home.
556
00:24:47,803 --> 00:24:49,083
ADAM: This is our quarantine facility
557
00:24:49,163 --> 00:24:51,323
of our Bellinger River snapping turtles.
558
00:24:51,403 --> 00:24:53,483
They're classified
as critically endangered,
559
00:24:53,563 --> 00:24:57,483
and this is where we house all
our 16 adults of this species.
560
00:24:57,563 --> 00:24:59,883
NARRATOR: Year-round
these turtles are kept
561
00:24:59,963 --> 00:25:03,163
in an environment purpose built
to encourage breeding.
562
00:25:03,243 --> 00:25:05,883
ADAM: So, listen, what I need
you to do is take off your boots
563
00:25:05,963 --> 00:25:07,083
and I want you to step
into these white boots
564
00:25:07,163 --> 00:25:08,003
and come forward.
565
00:25:08,083 --> 00:25:09,683
So don't take the boots to you.
566
00:25:09,763 --> 00:25:11,043
You step in and come forward to me.
567
00:25:11,683 --> 00:25:13,003
Today we're going to ultrasound
568
00:25:13,083 --> 00:25:15,203
six of our female Bellinger River turtles
569
00:25:15,283 --> 00:25:18,683
and see if they have eggs.
570
00:25:18,763 --> 00:25:21,083
LARRY: I'll grab that
off you now, Charlotte.
571
00:25:21,163 --> 00:25:23,923
NARRATOR: Senior Vet Larry
has come down to ultrasound
572
00:25:24,003 --> 00:25:27,243
the females in the hope that
the previous mating season
573
00:25:27,323 --> 00:25:28,323
has been successful.
574
00:25:28,923 --> 00:25:30,003
LARRY: The most important thing
575
00:25:30,083 --> 00:25:31,643
is that the screen is in the shade.
576
00:25:32,163 --> 00:25:33,683
Who are we doing first, Adam?
577
00:25:33,763 --> 00:25:34,843
ADAM: Number 11.
578
00:25:34,923 --> 00:25:36,723
She is my favorite turtle here.
579
00:25:36,803 --> 00:25:40,163
From day one, like when
we enter the facility,
580
00:25:40,243 --> 00:25:41,963
she used to live in the tank behind me,
581
00:25:42,043 --> 00:25:44,203
so she would greet us as I would come in.
582
00:25:44,283 --> 00:25:45,883
She'd sort of look up and look at you.
583
00:25:45,963 --> 00:25:49,443
So she's the only one that's
really shown any interest in us,
584
00:25:49,523 --> 00:25:50,523
so to speak.
585
00:25:50,603 --> 00:25:52,123
So, I sort of like her.
There's something about her.
586
00:25:52,203 --> 00:25:53,323
I just find her pretty cool.
587
00:25:54,683 --> 00:25:55,683
Okay.
588
00:25:55,763 --> 00:25:58,123
She's bulging. Yeah.
589
00:25:59,403 --> 00:26:00,643
I don't think I've ever not been happy
590
00:26:00,723 --> 00:26:03,243
to see eggs turn up on this screen,
591
00:26:03,323 --> 00:26:05,563
because you know that
you are doing things right.
592
00:26:05,643 --> 00:26:06,643
You know that the animals are happy.
593
00:26:06,723 --> 00:26:08,363
Animals won't breed if
they're not in condition
594
00:26:08,443 --> 00:26:10,203
or they're not, if they're stressed.
595
00:26:10,283 --> 00:26:13,123
It's so crucial that every one
of these girls lay eggs for us,
596
00:26:13,203 --> 00:26:14,963
because there's no other
Bellinger River turtles
597
00:26:15,043 --> 00:26:17,883
producing in the world,
only the ones that we have here.
598
00:26:23,203 --> 00:26:25,763
LARRY: So we've got
a great situation here.
599
00:26:26,163 --> 00:26:28,323
Straightaway we can see she's got eggs,
600
00:26:29,083 --> 00:26:30,723
and this is amazing, this is brilliant.
601
00:26:31,363 --> 00:26:34,043
ADAM: So these female Bellinger
River turtles are so important
602
00:26:34,123 --> 00:26:35,123
for what we're doing.
603
00:26:35,203 --> 00:26:36,483
LARRY: All right, we're done with her.
604
00:26:36,563 --> 00:26:38,963
ADAM: From the original animals
that we brought in from the wild
605
00:26:39,043 --> 00:26:41,563
back in 2015 during the die-off event.
606
00:26:41,643 --> 00:26:42,723
LARRY: Shazam.
607
00:26:44,003 --> 00:26:49,483
So again, a nice lot of eggs
there in this one.
608
00:26:49,563 --> 00:26:53,363
ADAM: And we've got four girls
that are pretty good.
609
00:26:54,203 --> 00:26:56,403
LARRY: It's always very exciting
to see this,
610
00:26:56,483 --> 00:26:59,883
and, of course, now that we know
these guys have got eggs,
611
00:26:59,963 --> 00:27:02,723
Adam will start preparing
for them laying their eggs.
612
00:27:02,803 --> 00:27:04,003
There's quite a bit of
preparation to be done,
613
00:27:04,083 --> 00:27:06,283
isn't there, Adam, for laying the eggs,
614
00:27:06,363 --> 00:27:09,603
and then of course beyond that,
the incubation of the eggs.
615
00:27:10,403 --> 00:27:12,523
ADAM:
These are the hardest ones to catch, too.
616
00:27:13,363 --> 00:27:15,323
NARRATOR: But it's the two youngest ones
617
00:27:15,403 --> 00:27:17,123
that have never produced eggs before
618
00:27:17,203 --> 00:27:19,323
that has the team on edge.
619
00:27:23,323 --> 00:27:24,563
ADAM: Okay, so this is number three.
620
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:25,723
LARRY: Number three.
621
00:27:26,523 --> 00:27:28,243
All right, this will be exciting.
622
00:27:28,323 --> 00:27:30,723
All right, so this is one
of the younger girls.
623
00:27:30,803 --> 00:27:33,723
ADAM: If we get eggs out of these girls,
624
00:27:33,803 --> 00:27:35,123
it means that they're happy,
625
00:27:35,203 --> 00:27:38,403
it feels like we're doing
everything right for them.
626
00:27:38,483 --> 00:27:40,523
It's so important for what we're doing.
627
00:27:40,603 --> 00:27:42,043
It's so important for this program
628
00:27:42,123 --> 00:27:46,043
to have all our potential
breeding girls producing eggs.
629
00:27:46,123 --> 00:27:47,763
It's really important.
630
00:27:48,483 --> 00:27:50,643
You're so excited you're
not holding the animal still.
631
00:27:50,723 --> 00:27:52,883
I know, I'm actually like,
a bit, um, shaky
632
00:27:52,963 --> 00:27:54,683
'cause I'm like really excited.
633
00:27:55,123 --> 00:27:56,163
Fingers crossed.
634
00:28:02,243 --> 00:28:05,763
NARRATOR: Taronga has welcomed
five capybaras to the zoo,
635
00:28:05,843 --> 00:28:07,683
and the world's largest rodents
636
00:28:07,763 --> 00:28:10,483
are halfway through their
two-week quarantine stay.
637
00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:13,083
TIM: Hey. G'day, Larry.
How are you going, mate?
638
00:28:13,163 --> 00:28:15,043
- Good, how are they?
- TIM: They're good.
639
00:28:15,123 --> 00:28:16,443
So I've just come up
to the wildlife hospital
640
00:28:16,523 --> 00:28:19,483
this morning to come and check on
our capybara boys in quarantine.
641
00:28:20,043 --> 00:28:21,683
I have to fight everyone else
off to come up here and see them
642
00:28:21,763 --> 00:28:22,763
so it should be great.
643
00:28:22,843 --> 00:28:24,363
Well, they're your babies.
644
00:28:24,443 --> 00:28:25,683
- They are.
- Yeah, yes.
645
00:28:25,763 --> 00:28:28,683
NARRATOR: Although Tim will
be responsible for the capybaras
646
00:28:28,763 --> 00:28:30,483
once they go on exhibit,
647
00:28:30,563 --> 00:28:33,283
with such strict quarantine laws in place,
648
00:28:33,363 --> 00:28:35,843
he's still yet to even see them.
649
00:28:36,643 --> 00:28:39,123
TIM: It will be nice to get in there
and kind of check them out,
650
00:28:39,203 --> 00:28:41,443
give them a bit of a scratch,
should be great.
651
00:28:41,523 --> 00:28:43,203
- LARRY: All right.
- TIM: Let's do it.
652
00:28:46,323 --> 00:28:47,803
TIM: So, all the keepers
have been, like, dying
653
00:28:47,883 --> 00:28:51,243
to get up here, like Gabe
and everyone, like.
654
00:28:51,323 --> 00:28:54,483
KEEPER: So I can open up
and let them into this den
655
00:28:54,563 --> 00:28:56,003
so you can get a closer look.
656
00:29:00,483 --> 00:29:02,603
And now they're all going
to go back to bed.
657
00:29:02,683 --> 00:29:05,243
No, no, it's time to
rise and shine, pretties.
658
00:29:05,323 --> 00:29:06,403
TIM: Come on, boys.
659
00:29:06,923 --> 00:29:08,243
KEEPER: Hi, everybody.
660
00:29:09,003 --> 00:29:10,123
Good boys.
661
00:29:10,203 --> 00:29:11,483
LARRY: Here is the first one coming.
662
00:29:12,763 --> 00:29:14,403
TIM: How are you doing, big boys?
663
00:29:15,283 --> 00:29:17,483
It was great to finally
get into the dens with them
664
00:29:17,563 --> 00:29:19,123
and kind of see how they're going.
665
00:29:19,843 --> 00:29:22,803
Took a little bit of reluctant
few steps for them to come in
666
00:29:22,883 --> 00:29:24,843
and get nice and close to us,
667
00:29:24,923 --> 00:29:26,763
but they're getting nice and strong
668
00:29:26,843 --> 00:29:28,723
and the water was
a great motivator for them.
669
00:29:30,883 --> 00:29:32,203
Hi, buddy.
670
00:29:34,163 --> 00:29:36,403
Their little noises are so cute.
671
00:29:39,763 --> 00:29:40,883
They're doing a lot of really cool
672
00:29:40,963 --> 00:29:41,963
natural behaviors in there.
673
00:29:42,043 --> 00:29:43,803
They're slowly settling in.
674
00:29:45,523 --> 00:29:46,763
Having a little bit of a snack
is always good,
675
00:29:46,843 --> 00:29:48,643
means they're getting
nice and comfortable.
676
00:29:50,043 --> 00:29:51,563
Oh, yummy.
677
00:29:52,323 --> 00:29:53,923
A little bit of kale as
some bribery is always fun
678
00:29:54,003 --> 00:29:56,723
to get them nice and close so we
can get a good check on them.
679
00:29:57,243 --> 00:29:58,643
What about more?
680
00:29:59,203 --> 00:30:00,363
Here, boys.
681
00:30:02,643 --> 00:30:03,883
No?
682
00:30:05,403 --> 00:30:06,403
LARRY: So Tim is still in there.
683
00:30:06,483 --> 00:30:08,723
We can't prize him away from the capybara,
684
00:30:08,803 --> 00:30:09,883
he loves them so much,
685
00:30:09,963 --> 00:30:11,803
so we'll just have to wait a sec for him.
686
00:30:15,843 --> 00:30:17,243
TIM: Hi.
687
00:30:19,323 --> 00:30:21,083
NARRATOR: Putting a new species on display
688
00:30:21,163 --> 00:30:23,643
is a big event for the zoo.
689
00:30:23,723 --> 00:30:24,843
JOHNY: Just going to do
a quick run-through.
690
00:30:24,923 --> 00:30:27,923
Make sure everything is
ready for their arrival.
691
00:30:28,003 --> 00:30:30,323
NARRATOR:
And soon-to-be capybara keeper Johny
692
00:30:30,403 --> 00:30:33,643
is making sure everything is just right.
693
00:30:33,723 --> 00:30:36,723
JOHNY: As you can see here, we've got
everything a capybara might want in life.
694
00:30:36,803 --> 00:30:38,723
They've got a nice mud wallow over here,
695
00:30:38,803 --> 00:30:42,283
which we'll refresh just before
they get into the exhibit.
696
00:30:42,363 --> 00:30:45,243
Capybara love to be in water
and they love to interact
697
00:30:45,323 --> 00:30:46,963
and kind of play with each other in water.
698
00:30:47,043 --> 00:30:49,523
So it's a nice social area
for them to play in.
699
00:30:49,603 --> 00:30:51,763
The water is almost like
a second home for them.
700
00:30:52,803 --> 00:30:54,763
Here we have a couple of lean-to shelters,
701
00:30:54,843 --> 00:30:57,163
which will provide them
with a bit of shade,
702
00:30:57,243 --> 00:30:58,963
but also a bit of protection
from the rain,
703
00:30:59,043 --> 00:31:00,843
and we've installed a couple
of heat mats underneath them
704
00:31:00,923 --> 00:31:02,883
as well just to give them
that extra bit of warmth
705
00:31:02,963 --> 00:31:04,883
on those slightly colder Sydney days.
706
00:31:05,803 --> 00:31:08,683
So with capybara being very
gregarious and social animals,
707
00:31:08,763 --> 00:31:10,563
they're very playful animals as well,
708
00:31:10,643 --> 00:31:13,203
we will hopefully see them
running in and out of this log.
709
00:31:13,283 --> 00:31:15,043
And being rodents,
they will gnaw on this log
710
00:31:15,123 --> 00:31:17,483
and on this wood to keep
their teeth in really good nick
711
00:31:17,563 --> 00:31:18,803
and also to help keep their teeth
712
00:31:18,883 --> 00:31:20,363
to an appropriate length as well.
713
00:31:21,763 --> 00:31:23,563
I think they're going
to absolutely love this.
714
00:31:23,643 --> 00:31:27,643
As far as real estate goes, this
is prime capybara real estate.
715
00:31:27,723 --> 00:31:30,003
Just making sure that there's
nothing that's blown in here
716
00:31:30,083 --> 00:31:31,803
from the wind in the last few days.
717
00:31:31,883 --> 00:31:33,563
I think once they get their bearings
718
00:31:33,643 --> 00:31:36,243
and once they become comfortable
they're going to be very playful
719
00:31:36,323 --> 00:31:37,763
and they're going to really
interact with the environment
720
00:31:37,843 --> 00:31:39,283
and the habitat really well.
721
00:31:40,563 --> 00:31:42,283
NARRATOR: With everything in place
722
00:31:42,363 --> 00:31:45,403
and anticipation amongst
the zoo staff high,
723
00:31:45,483 --> 00:31:48,323
all that's left to do now is wait.
724
00:31:48,803 --> 00:31:50,083
TIM: Yeah, buddy.
725
00:31:52,443 --> 00:31:53,803
NARRATOR: Facing extinction,
726
00:31:53,883 --> 00:31:57,123
the Bellinger River turtle's
last hope at survival
727
00:31:57,203 --> 00:32:00,683
is the breeding program
operating out of Taronga Zoo.
728
00:32:02,643 --> 00:32:04,083
To ensure the genetic diversity
729
00:32:04,163 --> 00:32:07,203
required to keep the population viable,
730
00:32:07,283 --> 00:32:11,443
each of the six breeding age
females needs to carry eggs.
731
00:32:11,523 --> 00:32:13,763
LARRY: I mean, this is
a critically endangered species,
732
00:32:13,843 --> 00:32:18,203
and every single hatchling
that we get out of these guys
733
00:32:18,283 --> 00:32:21,643
is contributing to the survival
of the population.
734
00:32:21,723 --> 00:32:24,723
NARRATOR: So far, each of
the four turtles examined
735
00:32:24,803 --> 00:32:26,923
have been found carrying eggs,
736
00:32:27,003 --> 00:32:29,483
but it's a nervous wait for the final two,
737
00:32:29,563 --> 00:32:31,603
who after several years of trying
738
00:32:31,683 --> 00:32:33,603
are yet to fall pregnant.
739
00:32:34,643 --> 00:32:37,963
ADAM: I'm... really...
740
00:32:38,043 --> 00:32:40,043
You're so excited you're
not holding the animal still.
741
00:32:40,123 --> 00:32:42,923
I know, I'm actually like,
a bit, um, shaky.
742
00:32:48,043 --> 00:32:49,043
Fingers crossed.
743
00:32:49,123 --> 00:32:50,403
- LARRY: Okay.
- ADAM: Yes.
744
00:32:50,483 --> 00:32:52,083
LARRY: She's got eggs as well.
745
00:32:52,163 --> 00:32:53,563
ADAM: Woo-hoo.
746
00:32:53,643 --> 00:32:55,923
That makes me smile a lot.
747
00:32:56,003 --> 00:32:58,843
NARRATOR:
With five out of six turtles pregnant,
748
00:32:58,923 --> 00:33:00,963
it's been a successful day,
749
00:33:01,043 --> 00:33:04,323
but for Adam, the result
of this final ultrasound
750
00:33:04,403 --> 00:33:07,163
could make it truly a day to remember.
751
00:33:07,563 --> 00:33:09,123
ADAM: All right, here we go.
752
00:33:12,123 --> 00:33:13,523
LARRY: Okay.
753
00:33:13,603 --> 00:33:15,443
ADAM: I'm containing my excitement.
754
00:33:15,523 --> 00:33:17,163
LARRY: Adam's always excited.
755
00:33:18,603 --> 00:33:19,683
But today particularly.
756
00:33:19,763 --> 00:33:20,683
Are you ready, Adam?
757
00:33:21,923 --> 00:33:23,723
ADAM: Yes! I knew it!
758
00:33:23,803 --> 00:33:25,283
(laughs)
759
00:33:25,363 --> 00:33:27,003
LARRY: I mean, this is
the great thing with this,
760
00:33:27,083 --> 00:33:28,523
you know, doing the ultrasound,
761
00:33:28,603 --> 00:33:33,003
you get this instant result
with these guys. It's just...
762
00:33:33,083 --> 00:33:34,763
Her eggs look fantastic.
763
00:33:34,843 --> 00:33:36,363
ADAM: I know. Look how nice they are.
764
00:33:36,803 --> 00:33:37,883
LARRY: Photograph that.
765
00:33:37,963 --> 00:33:39,243
So you can see, you know,
766
00:33:39,323 --> 00:33:41,203
the perfect structure of the egg there.
767
00:33:42,203 --> 00:33:43,803
ADAM: I never get sick of seeing those.
768
00:33:43,883 --> 00:33:47,683
LARRY: No, it's such a buzz,
isn't it, to see these eggs?
769
00:33:47,763 --> 00:33:49,523
ADAM: I want that on the fridge.
770
00:33:49,603 --> 00:33:51,563
LARRY: Hopefully they are
fertile and they will hatch
771
00:33:51,643 --> 00:33:54,923
and we'll get another bunch of hatchlings.
772
00:33:55,003 --> 00:33:57,803
ADAM: So this is just like
one part of the process.
773
00:33:57,883 --> 00:33:59,043
We find that we have eggs,
774
00:33:59,123 --> 00:34:00,723
then they've got to lay the eggs,
775
00:34:00,803 --> 00:34:02,963
and then we have to incubate
and hatch the eggs.
776
00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:08,043
So it's a long process,
and each process has its risks.
777
00:34:08,123 --> 00:34:09,963
So this is just part of that journey now.
778
00:34:10,043 --> 00:34:12,163
And this is where we start
getting a bit anxious
779
00:34:12,243 --> 00:34:14,003
and a bit, you know, really
want them to do well.
780
00:34:16,323 --> 00:34:18,283
NARRATOR: With all six
Bellinger River turtles
781
00:34:18,363 --> 00:34:22,203
now carrying eggs,
it's a great result for Adam
782
00:34:22,283 --> 00:34:24,163
and the species as a whole.
783
00:34:24,243 --> 00:34:25,363
ADAM: She's carrying the future.
784
00:34:26,003 --> 00:34:27,163
I like those mornings.
785
00:34:27,243 --> 00:34:30,043
They're the things that keep you
going when it's raining
786
00:34:30,123 --> 00:34:31,243
and you're up here working on them
787
00:34:31,323 --> 00:34:33,683
or, you know, it's really hot.
788
00:34:33,763 --> 00:34:37,323
Just first time things happen
is really amazing.
789
00:34:38,243 --> 00:34:40,363
I've got to stop saying
it's really amazing.
790
00:34:40,443 --> 00:34:42,203
It's really amazing that
I say it's really amazing.
791
00:34:54,683 --> 00:34:55,883
SASHA: What's going on?
792
00:34:55,963 --> 00:34:58,843
NARRATOR: Yesterday pregnant
lemur Noah was attacked,
793
00:34:58,923 --> 00:35:02,723
losing a finger and raising
fears for her unborn baby,
794
00:35:02,803 --> 00:35:04,483
but after a stressful night,
795
00:35:04,563 --> 00:35:08,163
keeper Sasha finally has
something to smile about.
796
00:35:08,243 --> 00:35:09,723
So I came in to check on Noah again
797
00:35:09,803 --> 00:35:11,123
at about 10:00 PM last night.
798
00:35:11,843 --> 00:35:13,043
Hey, Noah.
799
00:35:16,243 --> 00:35:19,123
I had my fingers crossed,
but I was a little bit nervous.
800
00:35:20,763 --> 00:35:22,683
But I came in to find
that she had had the baby
801
00:35:22,763 --> 00:35:24,723
since I had been last there to check.
802
00:35:25,363 --> 00:35:27,923
How are you going, beautiful girl?
803
00:35:29,563 --> 00:35:31,203
The baby was alive.
804
00:35:31,283 --> 00:35:33,363
It seemed to be thriving.
She seemed to be pretty happy.
805
00:35:33,923 --> 00:35:35,163
It was just the best outcome possible.
806
00:35:41,083 --> 00:35:43,043
I was just incredibly relieved.
807
00:35:43,123 --> 00:35:45,323
Definitely a couple
of small tears were shed.
808
00:35:45,403 --> 00:35:47,363
I was very, very proud of her,
809
00:35:47,443 --> 00:35:49,843
and I don't think that I
realized just how stressed I was
810
00:35:49,923 --> 00:35:52,283
until that stress was no longer required.
811
00:35:55,043 --> 00:35:56,083
MICHELLE: Trust everything has gone well.
812
00:35:56,163 --> 00:35:57,803
SASHA: Um, yeah, she looks good.
813
00:35:57,883 --> 00:35:59,763
The baby is in the right
position for suckling,
814
00:35:59,843 --> 00:36:00,963
so I assume that she is.
815
00:36:03,963 --> 00:36:05,083
MICHELLE:
Gee, she looks well, doesn't she?
816
00:36:05,163 --> 00:36:06,163
SASHA: Yeah.
817
00:36:06,243 --> 00:36:07,443
Her finger looks pretty good.
818
00:36:07,523 --> 00:36:09,443
It is swollen but everything looks clean.
819
00:36:09,523 --> 00:36:10,883
MICHELLE: Staples are still in,
aren't they?
820
00:36:10,963 --> 00:36:12,243
SASHA: Yeah, yeah, she took her meds fine.
821
00:36:12,323 --> 00:36:14,043
MICHELLE: Have you seen her vulva?
822
00:36:14,123 --> 00:36:15,363
SASHA: I haven't. Not yet.
823
00:36:15,443 --> 00:36:17,403
But I can, I can definitely achieve that
824
00:36:17,483 --> 00:36:18,483
by the end of the day.
825
00:36:18,563 --> 00:36:19,843
MICHELLE: Okay, all right.
826
00:36:19,923 --> 00:36:22,283
I won't go in and disturb her
at this stage.
827
00:36:22,363 --> 00:36:24,243
Everything looks perfect.
828
00:36:24,323 --> 00:36:25,363
Mum looks strong.
829
00:36:25,443 --> 00:36:27,003
She looks settled.
830
00:36:27,083 --> 00:36:28,723
She's really holding her in
the right position, isn't she?
831
00:36:28,803 --> 00:36:30,163
SASHA: Yep. Looks great.
832
00:36:30,243 --> 00:36:33,003
MICHELLE: Baby is in the right
position for suckling.
833
00:36:33,083 --> 00:36:34,603
Sasha tells me she got
a pretty close look,
834
00:36:34,683 --> 00:36:36,443
thinks the baby's a little girl.
835
00:36:36,523 --> 00:36:38,883
This is a great result.
And this is her dad.
836
00:36:38,963 --> 00:36:40,603
- SASHA: Yeah, so he's just chilling.
- MICHELLE: Yep, great.
837
00:36:40,683 --> 00:36:41,683
SASHA: He's good.
838
00:36:42,283 --> 00:36:43,523
MICHELLE: You being a good daddy?
839
00:36:43,883 --> 00:36:46,643
Hopefully in a week's time her
injuries will heal even further
840
00:36:46,723 --> 00:36:49,923
and we'll have a baby who's
feeling stronger and thriving
841
00:36:50,003 --> 00:36:51,923
and reintegrated into that group.
842
00:36:52,403 --> 00:36:53,763
Okay.
843
00:36:53,843 --> 00:36:55,003
SASHA: Yeah, and she doesn't
seem overly stressed,
844
00:36:55,083 --> 00:36:56,763
like she's handling it pretty well.
845
00:36:56,843 --> 00:36:58,723
So, yeah. She's doing all right.
846
00:36:58,803 --> 00:37:01,763
And we'll put some of the others
in with her later today.
847
00:37:02,723 --> 00:37:05,043
But just not the main
instigators, of course.
848
00:37:05,123 --> 00:37:06,883
So the last couple of days
have certainly been
849
00:37:06,963 --> 00:37:09,003
an emotional roller coaster.
850
00:37:09,083 --> 00:37:11,683
I do find that if you work with
ring-tailed lemurs long enough
851
00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:15,283
that you're not unfamiliar
with that range of emotions.
852
00:37:15,363 --> 00:37:16,723
MICHELLE: Great stuff.
853
00:37:16,803 --> 00:37:18,723
- SASHA: I know. Very exciting.
- MICHELLE: Very exciting.
854
00:37:18,803 --> 00:37:20,683
SASHA: Yeah, every day is
a good day being a lemur keeper,
855
00:37:20,763 --> 00:37:23,803
but, yeah, baby season is always
a really exciting time of year.
856
00:37:23,883 --> 00:37:25,363
MICHELLE: Good work, Noah.
857
00:37:25,443 --> 00:37:26,883
- SASHA: Yeah.
- MICHELLE: Good job in the end.
858
00:37:26,963 --> 00:37:29,003
SASHA: Yep. She sure did.
859
00:37:29,083 --> 00:37:32,723
NARRATOR: It's early days, but
mum and bub are both doing well
860
00:37:32,803 --> 00:37:35,603
and the endangered
ring-tailed lemur population
861
00:37:35,683 --> 00:37:37,963
has another birth to celebrate.
862
00:37:44,803 --> 00:37:48,323
The Bellinger River turtle's
future is contained entirely
863
00:37:48,403 --> 00:37:50,843
in the breeding pools of Taronga Zoo.
864
00:37:52,443 --> 00:37:53,523
I just have to be careful
865
00:37:53,603 --> 00:37:57,483
that I don't squish anyone as I jump in.
866
00:37:57,563 --> 00:38:00,003
NARRATOR:
Now six days after the ultrasounds,
867
00:38:00,083 --> 00:38:02,643
Adam is doing his daily checks.
868
00:38:02,723 --> 00:38:03,723
ADAM: All right.
869
00:38:08,563 --> 00:38:11,163
You know what? I think we have some eggs.
870
00:38:12,323 --> 00:38:15,763
She hasn't closed up her nest completely
871
00:38:15,843 --> 00:38:17,763
and there's quite a few in here.
872
00:38:18,483 --> 00:38:19,883
We're happy.
873
00:38:20,923 --> 00:38:22,843
So I'm just sort of digging out this nest
874
00:38:23,483 --> 00:38:26,643
to open up some space
to get my hand in it.
875
00:38:26,723 --> 00:38:29,043
I don't want it to collapse
on me halfway through,
876
00:38:29,123 --> 00:38:32,123
just makes it a little bit
harder to get the eggs out.
877
00:38:32,963 --> 00:38:34,803
And I'm just going to start
pulling them out.
878
00:38:37,963 --> 00:38:39,843
This is the nerve-racking part.
879
00:38:39,923 --> 00:38:41,523
I have to be really careful of doing this.
880
00:38:42,883 --> 00:38:46,163
Each one of these little eggs
indicates the species surviving.
881
00:38:46,243 --> 00:38:48,363
So each one of them is
critically important.
882
00:38:50,683 --> 00:38:53,443
I'm even more excited because
there's still so many in here.
883
00:38:53,523 --> 00:38:54,643
It's like I'm going to need
another container.
884
00:38:54,723 --> 00:38:55,763
This is great.
885
00:38:57,443 --> 00:38:58,963
So this is the last one.
886
00:38:59,603 --> 00:39:02,523
Wow, that's exciting, we got 13
Bellinger River turtle eggs,
887
00:39:02,603 --> 00:39:03,603
which is amazing.
888
00:39:04,563 --> 00:39:07,163
So now I'm going to take these
off to our incubator
889
00:39:07,243 --> 00:39:09,123
to give them every single chance to hatch,
890
00:39:09,203 --> 00:39:10,643
and you know, what's remarkable
891
00:39:10,723 --> 00:39:13,123
is we've still got another
five girls to lay eggs,
892
00:39:13,203 --> 00:39:16,243
so potentially we have
a chance of increasing
893
00:39:16,323 --> 00:39:17,443
our wild population
894
00:39:17,523 --> 00:39:21,763
by, you know, 50% or more
from this season,
895
00:39:21,843 --> 00:39:24,003
which is truly amazing.
896
00:39:24,083 --> 00:39:25,123
It's pretty hard to believe.
897
00:39:25,843 --> 00:39:27,203
NARRATOR:
While it's still a long way to go
898
00:39:27,283 --> 00:39:28,843
for these tiny little eggs,
899
00:39:28,923 --> 00:39:30,683
Adam couldn't be more proud
900
00:39:30,763 --> 00:39:33,283
of the conservation efforts
of Taronga Zoo.
901
00:39:33,923 --> 00:39:36,523
ADAM: It just shows that zoos
are worthy places
902
00:39:36,603 --> 00:39:40,323
to care for animals and to look
at repopulating the wild.
903
00:39:40,403 --> 00:39:44,483
This is why we're here is to
showcase we do do this stuff
904
00:39:44,563 --> 00:39:45,723
and we do do it well.
905
00:39:52,523 --> 00:39:55,723
NARRATOR: The arrival of a new
species is always a huge moment
906
00:39:55,803 --> 00:39:58,443
at Taronga, and after months of planning,
907
00:39:58,523 --> 00:40:00,883
the zoo's newest furry celebrities
908
00:40:00,963 --> 00:40:03,483
are about to take center stage.
909
00:40:03,563 --> 00:40:05,883
JOHNY: They're very similar
to their guinea pig cousins.
910
00:40:05,963 --> 00:40:06,963
MAN: Biggest guinea pig in the world?
911
00:40:07,043 --> 00:40:08,043
JOHNY: Pretty much, yeah.
912
00:40:08,123 --> 00:40:09,123
MAN: Yeah, unreal.
913
00:40:09,763 --> 00:40:10,843
SARAH: Sarah to Gabe.
914
00:40:11,403 --> 00:40:12,803
GABE: Go ahead, Sarah.
915
00:40:12,883 --> 00:40:14,563
We're ready to roll.
916
00:40:14,963 --> 00:40:16,003
GABE: Okay, thank you.
917
00:40:17,203 --> 00:40:18,643
TIM: Today is the big day.
918
00:40:18,723 --> 00:40:20,763
The capybara are finally going
to come out of quarantine,
919
00:40:20,843 --> 00:40:23,483
and we're going to move them
down to their exhibit within the zoo.
920
00:40:24,163 --> 00:40:26,323
Then we can start doting on them
as much as we possibly can.
921
00:40:26,403 --> 00:40:27,763
50.5.
922
00:40:29,723 --> 00:40:31,283
LUCY: The capys themselves
are quite large,
923
00:40:31,363 --> 00:40:33,083
but then the purpose-built crates
924
00:40:33,163 --> 00:40:35,443
that they're going to be into
are even heavier.
925
00:40:35,523 --> 00:40:38,883
So at this point we're here
to provide some muscle support.
926
00:40:38,963 --> 00:40:40,603
(indistinct)
927
00:40:40,683 --> 00:40:44,403
FELICITY: Big relief to have this
trickier part of the job done
928
00:40:44,883 --> 00:40:47,243
and I just can't wait
to get them in the exhibit
929
00:40:47,323 --> 00:40:48,883
and get them the fresh air and sunshine
930
00:40:48,963 --> 00:40:51,883
and deeper pool to swim in,
yeah, and enjoy them.
931
00:40:52,483 --> 00:40:54,563
- GABE: Gabe to Johny.
- JOHNY: This is Johny.
932
00:40:54,643 --> 00:40:57,563
Johny, we're just coming
down the road towards you now.
933
00:40:58,003 --> 00:41:00,123
JOHNY: Copy that. We're all here waiting.
934
00:41:02,483 --> 00:41:03,563
GABE: Grant's even here.
935
00:41:03,643 --> 00:41:06,243
Wouldn't have missed it
for the world, would he?
936
00:41:06,323 --> 00:41:08,243
There's a new species
for us as keepers,
937
00:41:08,323 --> 00:41:10,003
it's a very exciting day.
938
00:41:10,083 --> 00:41:11,723
We've been looking forward
to this for some time.
939
00:41:14,643 --> 00:41:15,883
We're looking forward to getting a chance
940
00:41:15,963 --> 00:41:17,403
to start caring for them,
941
00:41:17,483 --> 00:41:19,243
and learn a bit more
about them as individuals
942
00:41:19,323 --> 00:41:21,243
and find out a bit more about
their individual characters
943
00:41:21,323 --> 00:41:24,563
and personalities and really
start to bond with them as well.
944
00:41:25,203 --> 00:41:26,523
Three, two.
945
00:41:27,323 --> 00:41:29,483
GABE: So the plan is we're
going to let these two
946
00:41:29,563 --> 00:41:32,163
out of the crates, and then
when they're far enough away,
947
00:41:32,243 --> 00:41:34,963
we'll move these crates out,
put another two in position,
948
00:41:35,043 --> 00:41:36,883
and then repeat until
all five have been released.
949
00:41:39,963 --> 00:41:41,803
TIM: Sanchez and Carlos.
950
00:41:43,003 --> 00:41:45,243
Capybara can be quite flighty animals,
951
00:41:45,323 --> 00:41:47,163
so we don't want to go in there
with lots of energy
952
00:41:47,243 --> 00:41:48,883
and try pushing them around too much.
953
00:41:48,963 --> 00:41:50,163
It's all very much going
to be on their terms
954
00:41:50,243 --> 00:41:51,763
and how comfortable they are.
955
00:41:52,963 --> 00:41:54,043
This is their new home now.
956
00:41:54,123 --> 00:41:56,243
So they don't look too agitated,
957
00:41:56,323 --> 00:41:58,643
and they're being so adorable for us,
958
00:41:58,723 --> 00:42:01,603
so it's kind of exactly
what we want to see in them.
959
00:42:03,203 --> 00:42:04,683
It's great. It's exciting.
960
00:42:05,523 --> 00:42:07,403
When we picked them up,
they were just in the box,
961
00:42:07,483 --> 00:42:11,523
so this is the first time I've
seen them out of the crate,
962
00:42:11,603 --> 00:42:13,043
so they're quite a beautiful animal.
963
00:42:13,123 --> 00:42:14,563
And they're just so cute, look at them.
964
00:42:14,643 --> 00:42:15,643
How can you not like them?
965
00:42:16,323 --> 00:42:17,803
They're very inquisitive, so.
966
00:42:17,883 --> 00:42:19,643
GABE: Okay, everyone's in position.
967
00:42:19,723 --> 00:42:22,163
It's time to let the capys onto exhibit.
968
00:42:27,083 --> 00:42:30,963
MAN: Well, I'm very happy
to officially declare
969
00:42:31,043 --> 00:42:34,443
Taronga Zoo's capybara habitat
officially open.
970
00:42:34,523 --> 00:42:35,923
There you go.
971
00:42:36,003 --> 00:42:40,083
(cheering and applause)
972
00:42:46,723 --> 00:42:48,763
- MAN ON RADIO: Tim Bennett.
- TIM: Go ahead.
973
00:42:48,843 --> 00:42:50,723
MAN ON RADIO:
I think you're scaring them there.
974
00:42:52,883 --> 00:42:54,283
TIM:
They were very tentative.
975
00:42:54,363 --> 00:42:55,683
Some of them were a little bit more wary,
976
00:42:55,763 --> 00:42:57,243
but that's completely fine,
they're all different.
977
00:43:02,483 --> 00:43:04,323
You're a big, brave boy, huh?
978
00:43:04,403 --> 00:43:05,883
You big, brave boy.
979
00:43:09,523 --> 00:43:10,683
Want a little bum scratch?
980
00:43:11,363 --> 00:43:12,403
Yeah.
981
00:43:15,083 --> 00:43:17,843
LUCY: Yeah, really looking
forward to looking after them.
982
00:43:17,923 --> 00:43:19,923
Capys are great little animals.
983
00:43:20,003 --> 00:43:21,283
They're very social.
984
00:43:22,243 --> 00:43:24,363
They'll be displaying
a lot of natural behaviors.
985
00:43:24,443 --> 00:43:27,923
The exhibit is suited for that,
so they can be grazing,
986
00:43:28,003 --> 00:43:29,683
they can be in the water,
they're very aquatic,
987
00:43:29,763 --> 00:43:31,203
so they love the water.
988
00:43:31,283 --> 00:43:33,003
TIM: Ooh. That's deep.
989
00:43:33,523 --> 00:43:35,283
That's the deepest water they've been in.
990
00:43:36,003 --> 00:43:38,043
LUCY: So it'll be good to see
the five of them out there
991
00:43:38,123 --> 00:43:39,843
and doing what capys do.
992
00:43:39,923 --> 00:43:42,603
TIM: Oh, they must love being
able to actually submerge.
993
00:43:44,003 --> 00:43:46,243
They're like, yeah,
play-fighting in the water.
994
00:43:47,043 --> 00:43:49,923
I feel great. It's been
a pretty unbelievable day.
995
00:43:50,003 --> 00:43:52,283
Like it's a massive "we did it" moment.
996
00:43:52,363 --> 00:43:55,163
Like we're so proud of everyone:
like the vet teams, our teams,
997
00:43:55,243 --> 00:43:56,963
the drivers, Grant did a fantastic job.
998
00:43:57,043 --> 00:43:58,323
Yeah, we're over the moon.
999
00:43:58,403 --> 00:44:00,523
Like, I couldn't have pictured
this day going any better.
1000
00:44:01,163 --> 00:44:02,963
Captioned by Visual Data Media Services