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Gaining the animals' trust
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is an important part
of every keeper's job.
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Come on, Jim, station.
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Come on.
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Good.
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It's called conditioning,
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and it helps staff get up close
and take care of animals
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if they're suffering
from health problems.
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Well, our male Komodo Naga
is lame.
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We're going to try
to take some x-rays
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to see if there's
any orthopedic problems.
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It's also used
to help train animals
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to interact with keepers
in a safe manner.
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Hello.
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Do you want to do a session?
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And down at the seal enclosure,
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keepers are using
these techniques
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to help with their important
sea lion breeding program.
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Hello, Tani.
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Krystal has been working
with Nala,
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our Australian sea lion,
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on training her for ultrasound
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so we can check
on any potential pups.
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So Nala is already in.
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Nala, let's go.
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This is Nala,
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and she's a 10-year-old
Australian sea lion.
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She was born here at the zoo.
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She's a bit of a favorite
amongst us all.
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She's absolutely amazing.
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Australian sea lions
are the only seal species
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that lives in Australia.
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They're found off the coast of
southern and western Australia.
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And their numbers
are really, really low.
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They're a highly
endangered species,
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so the more we can have a lovely
breeding population here,
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the better it is
for the species as a whole.
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Good for us to start? Cheers.
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Her safe place is the water.
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So we always want to give her
a lot of room.
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It makes her feel a bit safer.
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She can just go to the water
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if she feels uncomfortable
at any time.
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And if she doesn't want
to participate,
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we won't push it at all.
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We want this to be
really positive.
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Today Lyndsay's
not only training Nala,
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she's also teaching
keeper Krystal a few tricks.
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All right, Nas, begin.
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So you just let me know
when you'd like me to come in.
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Yep.
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We have her up on here
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so that we can get this
pretend ultrasound probe
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to simulate what the real one
would be like.
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All right, Nala.
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All right, sit.
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You're all right
to come in, Lynds.
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Yep, coming in, Nala.
Coming in.
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Here I am. Touching.
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You gonna touch?
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Monitoring any future pregnancy
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is an important requirement
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so vets can intervene
should something go wrong.
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Excellent.
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Nice work, Nala.
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Luckily for keepers,
Nala is an excellent student.
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Nala absolutely
loves to learn.
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She's very cooperative
and very switched on,
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very intelligent.
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Umm, she's all comfortable
on your end?
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She's really relaxed.
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So what we want to do
is, maybe we'll bridge soon,
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do a short one.
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So as soon as you bridge,
I'll pull away.
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Good girl.
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So that bridge
just tells Nala
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that she's done the right thing
and that fish is on the way.
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If you want to give her a break
at anytime, too,
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that's quite okay.
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Good girl.
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One of the hardest
things for seals
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is to stay still,
so we like to break it up
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with a bit of energetic
stuff as well.
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Ooh!
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Good girl.
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All right, I am going to bring
her back if you're okay.
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That's good.
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And then we might just
try for a bit of a longer one.
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Maybe not quite as long as
what we were trying for before.
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Ready. That's it.
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Here we go. Touching.
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That's it.
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It's maybe
sort of a decent length,
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but not as long as what we were
pushing for before,
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and then we'll probably
leave it at that, I think.
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Yep.
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She's done really well.
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Good girl.
Excellent.
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Good job, sweetie.
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All right, might leave it there.
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Cool.
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While the ultrasound training
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went off without a hitch,
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keepers are hopeful
her upcoming introduction
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to the male sea lion Charlie
goes just as smoothly.
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Stay there, Nala.
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Good girl.
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The playful sea lions
have a great relationship
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with their keepers.
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But on the other side
of the zoo
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lives a collection of animals
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that could kill their keepers
in a heartbeat.
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A fact never too far
from keeper Chris's mind.
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So this is our
off-display
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venomous snake holding room.
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This is where we keep
all of our venomous snakes
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when we're not housing them
on display.
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At the zoo we have about
a dozen or so venomous snakes.
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Most of those
are native Australian.
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But the most
recognizable snake
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comes from Southeast Asia.
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So in this enclosure here
we have a monocled cobra.
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And they're quite a vocal snake.
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This species of snake
could be responsible
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for hundreds, if not thousands
of deaths every year.
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Their venom is quite toxic, and
they're not afraid to inject it.
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But what it's made up of
is largely neurotoxins
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that very quickly stop
our neurons firing
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in our nervous system.
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So that can mean
that the heart stops beating,
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the lungs stop breathing
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and all of those little
neurological processes
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can break down
very, very quickly.
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So I've got an interesting
little snake in here.
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This is a species of snake
that not many people know about.
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Now, this here is called
a broad-headed snake.
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It is another venomous snake,
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and it just goes to show
that in Australia
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it's not just
the big dangerous snakes
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that we need to be aware of.
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It's these smaller cryptic ones
that still pack a punch.
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The broad-headed snake has
a few records of human death.
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There isn't a specific
broad-headed snake antivenom,
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but tiger snake antivenom
has shown to be effective
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to treat bites of this species.
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But up the other end
of the room
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lives the most venomous
snake of all.
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So in here we've got
a species of snake
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that plenty of people
have heard of before
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and never had the privilege
of seeing.
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But they're
a very beautiful snake.
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These guys are at the top
of their game.
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Inland taipan.
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Considered the world's
most toxic land snake.
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We've got three
in this enclosure.
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We've got two boys and a female.
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They're only found
in western Queensland
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and parts of South Australia.
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So their venom is said
to pack the punch
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whereby one bite can be enough
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to knock out 200,000 mice
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and approximately 100 full-grown
men in an individual bite.
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Others right up there
in the count
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would be
the eastern brown snake
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and the tiger snake,
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and those two species
have been attributed
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to probably most Australian
snake bite envenomations,
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whereas this species
is simply encountered
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far less frequently
than the others.
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If you see any snake
here in Australia,
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you are really best
standing still,
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letting the snake pass you by.
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If you're far enough
away from it,
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it's safe to walk away,
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but definitely don't try
to catch a snake,
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definitely don't try
to kill the snake.
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Just enjoy the moment
that you've had with the snake
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if you can contain yourself
enough to,
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and then as I said
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if it's in your house
or in your yard
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to definitely call
a trained professional
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to come and safely remove
that snake.
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Thankfully not all snakes
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at Taronga are
stone cold killers.
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Hello, darling.
Hello.
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Like Olive,
the olive python.
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Found all across
northern Australia,
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these gentle giants can grow
up to 4 meters in length.
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Oh, you're all right.
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You're okay.
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But Olive has
a history of chronic back pain
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which is getting worse,
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and when your back is
more than 3 meters long,
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the question is, how do you
find where it hurts?
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Every year Taronga welcomes
new animals to their family.
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Some have just been born,
while others have just arrived.
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But today they're
celebrating an animal
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that has been around Taronga
from almost the start.
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Good morning, guys.
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Good morning, Ezzie.
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Hey, Lance, where are you going?
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Here, mate.
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Here at Taronga we have
two giant tortoises.
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They are giant
Aldabran tortoises.
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This is Lance.
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Lance is our male
Aldabran tortoise.
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Just giving him a bit
of a neck scratch at the moment.
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It is something
that he appears to like,
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for use of a better term.
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You know, he really tends
to stretch his neck out.
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We really like to get into
all his nooks and crannies.
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The Aldabran tortoises
are from the group of islands
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off the coast of Africa.
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A lot of people have heard
of Galapagos tortoises.
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But these are the other
existing giant tortoises
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that are found
on the earth today.
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As an adult they don't have any
predators really in the wild,
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but as a young tortoise
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there would be several animals
that would take them.
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Lance would weigh
about 180 kilos,
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but if he was to walk
into any water
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he would float like a cork.
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The structure in their shell
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is a honeycomb
that has air pockets.
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So they're able to actually
bob in the ocean,
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and that's how they would have
inhabited different islands.
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You might notice these lines
that are over his shell.
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This is one what we refer to
as a scute.
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Often in snakes and lizards
we have individual scales.
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Tortoises and turtles,
they have individual scutes.
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And these will shed off as
the tortoise is growing larger.
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The skin
on the Aldabran tortoise
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is so tough and so leathery.
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It's to make sure that it
is not getting damaged
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by the harsh land
that they're living in.
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It really is
a very strong leather.
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It's just like,
it's stronger than your boots.
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Are you hungry this morning?
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I tend to work a lot
with snakes.
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It can be a bit, you know,
a bit whippy,
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and these guys
are very controlled.
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Good girl.
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And they just go
about their business
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just slowly and steadily.
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They're not
an aggressive animal,
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very easy to feed, and no real
hazards when it comes to them.
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But if we think that the
Aldabran is getting too close,
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you just take a step to the left
or the right,
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and it takes them ten minutes
to reach you anyway,
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so you're out of danger.
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Now, Lance is a sort
of a young bloke.
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He's at approximately
70 years of age.
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And Esmeralda, she's
the old dame of the zoo.
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She would have arrived here
in the zoo in the forties,
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just after World War Two.
256
00:11:16,203 --> 00:11:18,283
They do guesstimate
that some giant tortoises
257
00:11:18,363 --> 00:11:20,763
can live to be 200 years of age.
258
00:11:20,843 --> 00:11:22,643
So she might only be
in that middle age,
259
00:11:22,723 --> 00:11:24,963
so she's right
in her prime, really.
260
00:11:25,043 --> 00:11:27,443
And with her birthday
just around the corner,
261
00:11:27,523 --> 00:11:30,123
the keepers have
a very special surprise
262
00:11:30,203 --> 00:11:33,723
for this 103-year-old dame.
263
00:11:40,683 --> 00:11:43,683
Olive the python has
a history of chronic back pain,
264
00:11:43,763 --> 00:11:45,443
which is getting worse.
265
00:11:45,523 --> 00:11:48,243
But when your back is
more than three meters long,
266
00:11:48,323 --> 00:11:50,123
it's a hard thing to manage,
267
00:11:50,203 --> 00:11:51,763
so it's off
to the animal hospital
268
00:11:51,843 --> 00:11:53,723
for some urgent x-rays.
269
00:11:53,803 --> 00:11:55,363
She has had some x-rays
in the past
270
00:11:55,443 --> 00:11:57,563
that have not looked great,
271
00:11:57,643 --> 00:11:59,003
but we just want to check
272
00:11:59,083 --> 00:12:01,883
that she is in
the best condition possible
273
00:12:01,963 --> 00:12:03,563
and she's doing well
for her age.
274
00:12:03,643 --> 00:12:06,203
So hopefully the x-rays
come back good
275
00:12:06,283 --> 00:12:11,523
and there's no further
spinal changes for her.
276
00:12:11,603 --> 00:12:13,803
Now, I don't know
what her personality is like.
277
00:12:13,883 --> 00:12:16,123
I don't know if she's bitey.
278
00:12:16,203 --> 00:12:17,483
I will just treat her
like a wild snake.
279
00:12:17,563 --> 00:12:18,563
Yes.
280
00:12:18,643 --> 00:12:21,043
We've got a 17-year-old
olive python,
281
00:12:21,123 --> 00:12:23,803
and Liz is going to restrain
her while I inject her
282
00:12:23,883 --> 00:12:25,883
to start off her anesthetic.
283
00:12:25,963 --> 00:12:29,123
So that we can radiograph her.
284
00:12:29,203 --> 00:12:31,163
Harmless or not,
the team know
285
00:12:31,243 --> 00:12:33,883
whenever you're handling
a snake of this size,
286
00:12:33,963 --> 00:12:36,203
you can never
let your guard down.
287
00:12:36,283 --> 00:12:39,323
A ten-kilo python
is extremely strong,
288
00:12:39,403 --> 00:12:42,803
so the way that they get their
prey is they constrict them.
289
00:12:42,883 --> 00:12:45,123
She's just ten kilos of muscle.
290
00:12:45,203 --> 00:12:48,083
So, yeah, it's not so much
her bitey bit,
291
00:12:48,163 --> 00:12:52,003
it's more her wrapping
herself around.
292
00:12:52,083 --> 00:12:54,523
And ten kilos
doesn't seem that big,
293
00:12:54,603 --> 00:12:57,163
but in a python
it's quite hefty.
294
00:12:57,243 --> 00:12:59,723
Sorry, love.
295
00:12:59,803 --> 00:13:05,003
See how she's...quite strong.
296
00:13:05,083 --> 00:13:08,283
She's bending the needle.
297
00:13:08,363 --> 00:13:09,723
Okay, that will do for now.
298
00:13:09,803 --> 00:13:13,003
That will sedate her somewhat.
299
00:13:13,083 --> 00:13:17,683
So the time is 10:49.
300
00:13:17,763 --> 00:13:20,243
A couple of years ago
she had her spine x-rayed,
301
00:13:20,323 --> 00:13:24,083
and in her neck region
in a snake
302
00:13:24,163 --> 00:13:26,763
she had some changes
on her x-rays
303
00:13:26,843 --> 00:13:31,403
where her spine was, ahh,
had extra bone in it
304
00:13:31,483 --> 00:13:33,283
and it was quite stiff.
305
00:13:33,363 --> 00:13:35,443
The team are hoping
that today's x-rays
306
00:13:35,523 --> 00:13:38,003
show no further deterioration,
307
00:13:38,083 --> 00:13:40,603
but judging by Olive's
recent behavior,
308
00:13:40,683 --> 00:13:43,043
they fear the worst.
309
00:13:48,523 --> 00:13:51,003
Esmerelda,
the giant Aldabra tortoise,
310
00:13:51,083 --> 00:13:54,523
is the oldest resident
of Taronga.
311
00:13:54,603 --> 00:13:59,243
She's been at the zoo since
just after World War Two.
312
00:13:59,323 --> 00:14:01,123
Being here at the zoo
for over 70 years,
313
00:14:01,203 --> 00:14:03,203
I think Esmeralda
would have met more people
314
00:14:03,283 --> 00:14:04,883
than any other animal
here at the zoo.
315
00:14:04,963 --> 00:14:07,923
She's met politicians,
movie stars,
316
00:14:08,003 --> 00:14:10,883
music stars, sports people.
317
00:14:10,963 --> 00:14:13,963
She's seen it all.
She's met all the VIPs.
318
00:14:14,043 --> 00:14:15,923
I mean, I remember visiting
the zoo as a young bloke,
319
00:14:16,003 --> 00:14:18,763
and I can specifically remember
seeing Esmerelda
320
00:14:18,843 --> 00:14:20,683
because she always had
a different shell
321
00:14:20,763 --> 00:14:22,763
to the other tortoises
that were in the exhibit.
322
00:14:22,843 --> 00:14:24,843
So I, I have fond memories
of Esmerelda
323
00:14:24,923 --> 00:14:26,523
as a young boy, definitely.
324
00:14:26,603 --> 00:14:31,243
And today
Esmerelda turns 103,
325
00:14:31,323 --> 00:14:34,163
so Stu has organized
the nutritionist team
326
00:14:34,243 --> 00:14:38,843
to make something
to celebrate the occasion.
327
00:14:38,923 --> 00:14:41,243
Quite a concoction,
I think.
328
00:14:41,323 --> 00:14:42,603
Very colorful.
329
00:14:42,683 --> 00:14:43,963
Very full.
330
00:14:44,043 --> 00:14:45,963
Lots of green leafy vegetables.
331
00:14:46,043 --> 00:14:47,123
All the vegetable
families here,
332
00:14:47,203 --> 00:14:51,643
tomatoes and açai, peas,
broccoli, capsicums.
333
00:14:51,723 --> 00:14:53,003
Yeah,
some beautiful squash
334
00:14:53,083 --> 00:14:55,443
and tomatoes shaped in flowers.
335
00:14:55,523 --> 00:14:58,443
Very, very exciting.
336
00:14:58,523 --> 00:15:00,883
And head chef
is Michelle Shaw,
337
00:15:00,963 --> 00:15:06,003
Australia's first, and only,
zoo nutritionist.
338
00:15:06,083 --> 00:15:08,123
Okay,
final finishing touches.
339
00:15:08,203 --> 00:15:09,083
Does it look good?
340
00:15:09,163 --> 00:15:10,403
It does.
341
00:15:10,483 --> 00:15:11,843
She's going to love it.
342
00:15:11,923 --> 00:15:15,603
So this is the birthday cake
for a wonderful animal,
343
00:15:15,683 --> 00:15:17,043
a very special animal.
344
00:15:17,123 --> 00:15:19,483
This cake is based
on her natural diet,
345
00:15:19,563 --> 00:15:22,243
but we've just designed it
in a way that's special for her.
346
00:15:22,323 --> 00:15:25,483
So she might get this variety of
vegetables three times a week,
347
00:15:25,563 --> 00:15:26,643
she gets meadow hay,
348
00:15:26,723 --> 00:15:29,683
which we've made the base
of the cake for,
349
00:15:29,763 --> 00:15:32,603
and that's a really good
high-fiber thing.
350
00:15:32,683 --> 00:15:34,443
We've got her carrots.
351
00:15:34,523 --> 00:15:35,643
Candles.
352
00:15:35,723 --> 00:15:37,283
Candles. Great idea.
353
00:15:37,363 --> 00:15:38,763
Oh, look at that.
354
00:15:38,843 --> 00:15:40,843
Oh. Oh.
355
00:15:40,923 --> 00:15:43,563
Okay, we're ready to go.
356
00:15:43,643 --> 00:15:45,923
Oh, she's gonna be thrilled.
I can't wait.
357
00:15:46,003 --> 00:15:48,163
I'm salivating
just thinking about it.
358
00:15:48,243 --> 00:15:50,603
And, like all
great surprise parties,
359
00:15:50,683 --> 00:15:53,323
Esmerelda has no idea.
360
00:15:59,203 --> 00:16:01,883
Taronga Zoo is taking part
in a breeding program
361
00:16:01,963 --> 00:16:03,643
designed to boost numbers
362
00:16:03,723 --> 00:16:07,203
of the endangered
Australian sea lion,
363
00:16:07,283 --> 00:16:09,883
and the first female
this season to be mated
364
00:16:09,963 --> 00:16:14,003
is one of the marine team's
favorites, Nala.
365
00:16:14,083 --> 00:16:15,483
She's absolutely amazing.
366
00:16:15,563 --> 00:16:17,123
She loves learning new things.
367
00:16:17,203 --> 00:16:19,163
She's so playful.
368
00:16:19,243 --> 00:16:21,963
Wash.
369
00:16:22,043 --> 00:16:24,483
Hey, that's it.
Keep going.
370
00:16:24,563 --> 00:16:26,483
Good girl, Nala.
371
00:16:26,563 --> 00:16:28,803
Nala is being paired
with Charlie,
372
00:16:28,883 --> 00:16:31,243
who's waiting patiently
in another pool
373
00:16:31,323 --> 00:16:33,643
at the opposite end
of the Marine Precinct.
374
00:16:33,723 --> 00:16:35,083
You did good.
375
00:16:35,163 --> 00:16:38,363
And the two
couldn't be more different.
376
00:16:38,443 --> 00:16:41,243
Nala here weighs
about 60 kilos, um,
377
00:16:41,323 --> 00:16:47,363
whereas her boyfriend Charlie
weighs about 260.
378
00:16:47,443 --> 00:16:49,563
What would you like
to check with Charlie today?
379
00:16:49,643 --> 00:16:51,363
We will just do
his general checks,
380
00:16:51,443 --> 00:16:53,043
but we'll just
double check those gums
381
00:16:53,123 --> 00:16:54,723
where he had those
little scratches
382
00:16:54,803 --> 00:16:56,443
and that scratch on his flipper.
383
00:16:56,523 --> 00:16:57,483
Okay.
384
00:16:57,563 --> 00:16:59,083
Just to make sure
it's healing up.
385
00:16:59,163 --> 00:17:00,603
Before they breed,
386
00:17:00,683 --> 00:17:03,203
animals at Taronga
must be in good health,
387
00:17:03,283 --> 00:17:06,843
so Charlie needs to undergo
a quick physical exam.
388
00:17:06,923 --> 00:17:08,443
Are you going to unlock?
389
00:17:08,523 --> 00:17:09,523
Yep.
390
00:17:13,203 --> 00:17:15,803
Charlie, rock.
391
00:17:15,883 --> 00:17:17,323
Good boy.
392
00:17:25,883 --> 00:17:29,563
All right, Brad, what I might do
is I'll put him in the water.
393
00:17:29,643 --> 00:17:31,163
In the water.
394
00:17:31,243 --> 00:17:33,243
Charlie, water, water.
395
00:17:35,883 --> 00:17:39,283
Luckily Charlie
is as well behaved as Nala,
396
00:17:39,363 --> 00:17:42,123
because you can't give
a sea lion a health check
397
00:17:42,203 --> 00:17:44,323
if he doesn't want one.
398
00:17:44,403 --> 00:17:47,123
Hello, big fella.
399
00:17:47,203 --> 00:17:48,483
Would you like to come out?
400
00:17:49,643 --> 00:17:51,283
Good.
401
00:17:51,363 --> 00:17:52,563
That's it.
402
00:17:52,643 --> 00:17:54,803
Come over here, big boy.
403
00:17:54,883 --> 00:17:57,363
I love everything about Charlie.
404
00:17:57,443 --> 00:17:59,643
Australian sea lions are one
of my most favorite animals
405
00:17:59,723 --> 00:18:00,883
in the entire world.
406
00:18:00,963 --> 00:18:03,683
I've been working with them
for 23 years.
407
00:18:03,763 --> 00:18:06,483
He's big.
He's gorgeous.
408
00:18:06,563 --> 00:18:08,603
He's just like a big, wet dog.
409
00:18:08,683 --> 00:18:09,603
Have a look
at the gums first.
410
00:18:09,683 --> 00:18:13,243
Check his mouth? Okay.
411
00:18:13,323 --> 00:18:15,403
Just checking
behind the two lower canines
412
00:18:15,483 --> 00:18:17,203
where he had a little rub mark.
413
00:18:17,283 --> 00:18:20,363
Checking that has worn down
a bit there, Brad.
414
00:18:20,443 --> 00:18:23,003
Charlie plays quite rough
with toys,
415
00:18:23,083 --> 00:18:25,403
and so we just keep an eye
on his teeth.
416
00:18:25,483 --> 00:18:28,643
he had a little scratch on one
of his gums earlier this week,
417
00:18:28,723 --> 00:18:31,163
but it's all healed up
and pretty much gone.
418
00:18:31,243 --> 00:18:33,123
Good. Down.
419
00:18:33,203 --> 00:18:34,443
Good boy. That's it.
420
00:18:34,523 --> 00:18:37,203
Over. That's it.
421
00:18:37,283 --> 00:18:38,483
We want him
to be comfortable
422
00:18:38,563 --> 00:18:39,883
being touched all over
423
00:18:39,963 --> 00:18:42,163
so if us or the vets need
to have a look at them,
424
00:18:42,243 --> 00:18:43,963
but it also gives us
the opportunity to see
425
00:18:44,043 --> 00:18:46,483
if there is any tenderness or
if we see a different response
426
00:18:46,563 --> 00:18:48,043
from day to day,
427
00:18:48,123 --> 00:18:49,763
we know that potentially
there could be a problem,
428
00:18:49,843 --> 00:18:52,363
but this is all part
of their conditioning.
429
00:18:52,443 --> 00:18:54,043
We want them to be
pretty much bomb-proof
430
00:18:54,123 --> 00:18:55,883
in all of their health care.
431
00:18:55,963 --> 00:18:57,323
I think someone
was mentioning
432
00:18:57,403 --> 00:19:00,763
he had some rake marks
on his flippers, Brad.
433
00:19:00,843 --> 00:19:02,483
On the rear ones.
434
00:19:02,563 --> 00:19:05,443
So his rear flippers here
are unique in the fact they,
435
00:19:05,523 --> 00:19:06,483
a lot of people are surprised
436
00:19:06,563 --> 00:19:09,443
by these little nails
that they have.
437
00:19:09,523 --> 00:19:12,003
And these are used
for grooming that fur coat.
438
00:19:12,083 --> 00:19:14,483
So exposing them by bending
their rear flippers over
439
00:19:14,563 --> 00:19:15,643
exposes them.
440
00:19:15,723 --> 00:19:17,043
They can groom and scratch
441
00:19:17,123 --> 00:19:20,123
pretty much most of
their body with them.
442
00:19:20,203 --> 00:19:22,563
Oh, nothing too bad?
443
00:19:22,643 --> 00:19:24,323
Good.
444
00:19:24,403 --> 00:19:26,283
It's all good news
for Charlie,
445
00:19:26,363 --> 00:19:29,403
and he's been given
a clean bill of health.
446
00:19:29,483 --> 00:19:33,683
So Nala, our beautiful
female Australian sea lion,
447
00:19:33,763 --> 00:19:35,963
is about a quarter
the size of Charlie.
448
00:19:36,043 --> 00:19:38,563
She is going to come down
and have a play date with him.
449
00:19:38,643 --> 00:19:41,763
They will spend maybe the day,
sometimes overnight,
450
00:19:41,843 --> 00:19:43,963
depending on how
they're both feeling.
451
00:19:44,043 --> 00:19:46,443
Because we're hoping
that they will contribute
452
00:19:46,523 --> 00:19:49,963
to our Australian sea lion
breeding program.
453
00:19:50,043 --> 00:19:51,643
With date night looming,
454
00:19:51,723 --> 00:19:56,203
the question is will Charlie
and Nala find love?
455
00:20:05,603 --> 00:20:07,403
Esmerelda the giant tortoise
456
00:20:07,483 --> 00:20:09,683
is turning 103,
457
00:20:09,763 --> 00:20:13,643
and Taronga staff have
organized a surprise for her.
458
00:20:13,723 --> 00:20:15,563
We're so happy to see you, Stu.
459
00:20:15,643 --> 00:20:17,163
That looks amazing.
460
00:20:17,243 --> 00:20:19,243
I'll jump over if you guys
want to pass it over to me.
461
00:20:19,323 --> 00:20:20,963
Just watch out
where you're walking here.
462
00:20:21,043 --> 00:20:23,043
Esmerelda has been here
the longest amount of time,
463
00:20:23,123 --> 00:20:25,403
more than any other animal
here at Taronga,
464
00:20:25,483 --> 00:20:27,523
and so for that we are going
to give her a special treat.
465
00:20:27,603 --> 00:20:29,403
We're gonna do
something special for her.
466
00:20:33,003 --> 00:20:35,043
Here we go.
467
00:20:35,123 --> 00:20:37,963
Happy birthday, Esmerelda.
468
00:20:37,963 --> 00:20:39,923
Happy 103rd birthday, Stewy?
469
00:20:40,003 --> 00:20:41,123
103rd birthday
for Esmerelda.
470
00:20:41,203 --> 00:20:42,483
103.
471
00:20:42,563 --> 00:20:44,643
You know what, she doesn't
look a day over 95...
472
00:20:44,723 --> 00:20:46,883
She doesn't.
...to be honest.
473
00:20:46,963 --> 00:20:48,843
We do like to put on
a special sort of celebration
474
00:20:48,923 --> 00:20:50,843
for these milestone times
475
00:20:50,923 --> 00:20:52,923
and especially for our
very iconic animals,
476
00:20:53,003 --> 00:20:54,723
and Esmerelda is one
of our most iconic species
477
00:20:54,803 --> 00:20:57,083
in the reptile department.
478
00:20:57,163 --> 00:20:58,643
A real variety today.
479
00:20:58,723 --> 00:21:02,363
Oh, yeah, endive and
broccoli and so many goodies.
480
00:21:02,443 --> 00:21:04,443
Beautiful hibiscus flowers,
one of their favorites.
481
00:21:04,523 --> 00:21:06,083
Which is one of the best foods
for them as well,
482
00:21:06,163 --> 00:21:07,083
hibiscus flowers, yeah.
483
00:21:07,163 --> 00:21:08,763
Yeah.
Definitely.
484
00:21:08,843 --> 00:21:11,323
Esmerelda came
to the zoo in 1947,
485
00:21:11,403 --> 00:21:13,363
and her diet previous to that
would have been, you know,
486
00:21:13,443 --> 00:21:15,083
she would have had
been having a natural diet,
487
00:21:15,163 --> 00:21:17,803
really high-fiber plants
and things.
488
00:21:17,883 --> 00:21:19,363
Coming into a zoo environment,
489
00:21:19,443 --> 00:21:22,243
she would have received really
high fruit diets in the past
490
00:21:22,323 --> 00:21:23,243
and they would love it,
491
00:21:23,323 --> 00:21:24,403
but it's like us
eating chocolate
492
00:21:24,483 --> 00:21:26,043
every single day, right?
493
00:21:26,123 --> 00:21:29,003
So it causes them to have
digestive upset,
494
00:21:29,083 --> 00:21:31,243
they get really gassy
and bloated,
495
00:21:31,323 --> 00:21:32,763
but you know, we've learned
a lot about nutrition
496
00:21:32,843 --> 00:21:34,643
in the last 100 years.
497
00:21:37,323 --> 00:21:38,883
She's absolutely
loving that celery, isn't she?
498
00:21:38,963 --> 00:21:40,163
Absolutely.
Listen to that crunch.
499
00:21:40,243 --> 00:21:42,523
Yeah.
500
00:21:42,603 --> 00:21:44,683
Oh, it's
a very happy day for her.
501
00:21:44,763 --> 00:21:46,043
But, you know,
I don't think we can say
502
00:21:46,123 --> 00:21:47,803
this is the happiest
birthday for her.
503
00:21:47,883 --> 00:21:49,563
Next year might be better.
504
00:21:49,643 --> 00:21:51,083
You know, we always think
next year's going to be better.
505
00:21:51,163 --> 00:21:52,883
See, but now
you've set a standard.
506
00:21:52,963 --> 00:21:54,883
So next year
we're gonna expect more,
507
00:21:54,963 --> 00:21:56,163
and the year after that, more.
508
00:21:56,243 --> 00:21:57,843
So just be careful.
509
00:21:57,923 --> 00:21:59,283
Challenge accepted.
510
00:21:59,363 --> 00:22:01,483
Okay, great.
511
00:22:01,563 --> 00:22:04,683
Many happy returns, Esmerelda.
512
00:22:11,643 --> 00:22:13,763
Olive, the olive python,
was brought
513
00:22:13,843 --> 00:22:17,403
to the animal hospital
with chronic back pain.
514
00:22:17,483 --> 00:22:21,803
Now it's a waiting game, as
the anesthetic takes effect.
515
00:22:21,883 --> 00:22:23,843
Let's have another look.
516
00:22:23,923 --> 00:22:28,243
So it's been 15, 16 minutes.
517
00:22:31,403 --> 00:22:32,843
Nice and still there.
518
00:22:32,923 --> 00:22:34,323
We are concerned about her,
519
00:22:34,403 --> 00:22:37,203
and we've had some other snakes
with similar issues.
520
00:22:37,283 --> 00:22:42,283
So once they have this syndrome,
it tends to progress
521
00:22:42,363 --> 00:22:46,683
and then to the point where they
can't move very well at all.
522
00:22:46,763 --> 00:22:48,843
Oh, no, oh, no, oh.
523
00:22:48,923 --> 00:22:51,363
She's a little bit,
yeah, she's quite sedated,
524
00:22:51,443 --> 00:22:55,083
but she can't support her
own head, but she's trying to.
525
00:22:55,163 --> 00:22:58,483
So I reckon we can try
and get her out.
526
00:22:58,563 --> 00:23:00,403
As with any spinal injury,
527
00:23:00,483 --> 00:23:04,403
the staff know they must handle
Olive with great care.
528
00:23:04,483 --> 00:23:06,083
Big girl.
529
00:23:06,163 --> 00:23:07,683
They feel
heavier than ten kilos.
530
00:23:07,763 --> 00:23:13,003
Liz is gonna change sides
and I'm gonna intubate her.
531
00:23:13,083 --> 00:23:15,123
That is a lot of snake.
532
00:23:15,203 --> 00:23:16,283
You may have to
hang on to the back.
533
00:23:16,363 --> 00:23:20,203
Because she will
probably start moving.
534
00:23:20,283 --> 00:23:23,083
You can see that there is
lots of very, very fine teeth.
535
00:23:23,163 --> 00:23:25,003
Their teeth are quite sharp
536
00:23:25,083 --> 00:23:27,843
and they're all very fine,
just like fish bones.
537
00:23:27,923 --> 00:23:32,283
So if you get bitten,
it would be quite painful.
538
00:23:32,363 --> 00:23:33,523
There we go, beautiful.
539
00:23:33,603 --> 00:23:35,123
Very snug.
540
00:23:35,203 --> 00:23:38,643
Every part of this
procedure takes great skill.
541
00:23:38,723 --> 00:23:42,923
So what we're going
to do now is connect her up
542
00:23:43,003 --> 00:23:46,923
to the anesthetic machine,
put the anesthetic gas...
543
00:23:47,003 --> 00:23:47,723
I can see
her tongue coming out.
544
00:23:47,803 --> 00:23:49,923
...on.
545
00:23:50,003 --> 00:23:51,483
Shall we turn her
just to find her heart
546
00:23:51,563 --> 00:23:52,643
and then we can put
the Doppler on her?
547
00:23:52,723 --> 00:23:54,483
Yes.
Yep.
548
00:23:54,563 --> 00:23:56,363
We're going to look along here,
549
00:23:56,443 --> 00:23:59,043
around this area
to look for her heart,
550
00:23:59,123 --> 00:24:00,483
and then we're going to attach
a Doppler to it
551
00:24:00,563 --> 00:24:04,363
because you can't use
a stethoscope to hear it,
552
00:24:04,443 --> 00:24:06,243
and this is a good way of
monitoring her anesthesia.
553
00:24:06,323 --> 00:24:08,203
So we need to make sure
she's breathing,
554
00:24:08,283 --> 00:24:12,843
and we need to make sure
her heart is of course going.
555
00:24:12,923 --> 00:24:16,203
I reckon
it must be around here.
556
00:24:16,283 --> 00:24:17,603
Actually I'd turn her up.
557
00:24:17,683 --> 00:24:18,843
There you go.
558
00:24:20,083 --> 00:24:21,603
That's her heart beating.
559
00:24:26,363 --> 00:24:28,243
Her heart rate
sounds really good.
560
00:24:28,323 --> 00:24:29,763
Nice and steady.
561
00:24:29,843 --> 00:24:31,203
Take that off.
562
00:24:31,283 --> 00:24:33,603
It's always nice
to hear the heart.
563
00:24:33,683 --> 00:24:37,003
Okay, so we are going
to take her in and weigh her.
564
00:24:37,083 --> 00:24:39,443
It's rare that Olive
has been sedated,
565
00:24:39,523 --> 00:24:43,083
so the team take full advantage
while she sleeps.
566
00:24:43,163 --> 00:24:45,123
She is 10.9 kilos.
567
00:24:45,203 --> 00:24:47,643
And we will take her back
and measure her.
568
00:24:47,723 --> 00:24:48,883
Yep, measure her.
569
00:24:48,963 --> 00:24:51,163
Straight out
along the floor.
570
00:24:51,243 --> 00:24:53,483
We're measuring her
just for the records
571
00:24:53,563 --> 00:24:55,563
because snakes keep growing.
572
00:24:55,643 --> 00:24:59,643
So for data, but also to assess
her body condition
573
00:24:59,723 --> 00:25:03,523
compared to what
a wild snake would be.
574
00:25:03,603 --> 00:25:05,403
Pretty long, isn't she?
575
00:25:07,883 --> 00:25:10,803
130 at her vent.
576
00:25:10,883 --> 00:25:12,963
Importantly the team now know
577
00:25:13,043 --> 00:25:15,603
Olive's exact weight
and length.
578
00:25:15,683 --> 00:25:17,083
What they don't know
579
00:25:17,163 --> 00:25:21,003
is which part of her
three-meter spine is injured.
580
00:25:27,963 --> 00:25:29,243
Like the huge collection
581
00:25:29,323 --> 00:25:31,163
of animals on display,
582
00:25:31,243 --> 00:25:34,603
Taronga's staff come
from all walks of life.
583
00:25:34,683 --> 00:25:36,523
Oh, lost it.
584
00:25:36,603 --> 00:25:39,363
Come on, Miles, go get it.
585
00:25:39,443 --> 00:25:42,043
I never really liked seafood
even from a young age.
586
00:25:42,123 --> 00:25:44,323
I absolutely hated
the smell of it,
587
00:25:44,403 --> 00:25:47,843
and now here I am elbows deep
in seafood every day.
588
00:25:49,643 --> 00:25:50,643
But I am just really lucky.
589
00:25:50,723 --> 00:25:52,363
I feel really lucky
to be able to work
590
00:25:52,443 --> 00:25:54,683
with these incredible animals
every day
591
00:25:54,763 --> 00:25:57,003
and inspire visitors
about how important they are
592
00:25:57,083 --> 00:25:59,483
in the ocean they live in.
593
00:25:59,563 --> 00:26:01,363
So for me,
I'm an ungulate keeper.
594
00:26:01,443 --> 00:26:04,083
So an ungulate is just a fancy
name for a hooved mammal.
595
00:26:04,163 --> 00:26:06,843
So here at Taronga Zoo
I am looking after the bongo,
596
00:26:06,923 --> 00:26:11,123
I look after giraffes and I
also look after pygmy hippos.
597
00:26:11,203 --> 00:26:12,923
I used to work,
funny enough, as a butcher
598
00:26:13,003 --> 00:26:15,043
before I started as a zookeeper.
599
00:26:15,123 --> 00:26:16,883
A butcher to working at the zoo,
but I tell you what,
600
00:26:16,963 --> 00:26:19,163
I know a cut of meat
like you wouldn't believe.
601
00:26:19,243 --> 00:26:21,403
I am very green in regards
to the environment,
602
00:26:21,483 --> 00:26:23,483
but at the end of the day
I'm still a carnivore,
603
00:26:23,563 --> 00:26:26,723
I like to eat meat,
so saying that I'm a butcher
604
00:26:26,803 --> 00:26:29,483
has no disrespect to the animals
or the environment.
605
00:26:29,563 --> 00:26:31,883
It just means that I know them
more inside and out
606
00:26:31,963 --> 00:26:33,883
than other keepers, you know.
607
00:26:33,963 --> 00:26:37,043
Erica, can you
release that for us?
608
00:26:37,123 --> 00:26:38,603
I was one of those
annoying little girls
609
00:26:38,683 --> 00:26:40,283
when I was sort of
two or three years old
610
00:26:40,363 --> 00:26:41,763
was determined to be a vet,
611
00:26:41,843 --> 00:26:44,083
but I don't think, you know,
certainly not at that stage,
612
00:26:44,163 --> 00:26:46,283
and not even through vet school,
613
00:26:46,363 --> 00:26:48,403
imagined that I will be
lucky enough to work in a zoo,
614
00:26:48,483 --> 00:26:50,643
but I have always been
interested in wildlife,
615
00:26:50,723 --> 00:26:52,363
so I feel really, really lucky
616
00:26:52,443 --> 00:26:54,083
to be working
in an environment like this.
617
00:26:54,163 --> 00:26:56,723
It's such a great zoo,
so very lucky.
618
00:26:56,803 --> 00:26:58,683
You wouldn't want
those teeth sinking in
619
00:26:58,763 --> 00:27:02,843
to anything other
than a nice piece of fruit.
620
00:27:02,923 --> 00:27:04,323
Hi.
621
00:27:04,403 --> 00:27:06,963
What are you doing?
622
00:27:07,043 --> 00:27:08,603
Best job in the world,
hands down.
623
00:27:08,683 --> 00:27:10,003
I guess most people,
624
00:27:10,083 --> 00:27:12,883
it's just a reaction
of wow, that's so cool.
625
00:27:12,963 --> 00:27:14,563
Umm, people are, yeah,
pretty impressed,
626
00:27:14,643 --> 00:27:16,003
but we're very lucky.
627
00:27:16,083 --> 00:27:18,123
This meerkat just here,
his name is Kumho.
628
00:27:18,203 --> 00:27:19,803
So he's actually part
of our largest litter.
629
00:27:19,883 --> 00:27:22,323
We had six meerkats in a litter,
630
00:27:22,403 --> 00:27:25,163
and he is what I call
a pickpocketer.
631
00:27:25,243 --> 00:27:27,363
So any time you sit down
in the exhibit,
632
00:27:27,443 --> 00:27:29,643
he loves to come up and explore
what's in your pockets.
633
00:27:29,723 --> 00:27:31,083
If you ever have a pen,
634
00:27:31,163 --> 00:27:33,123
your pen will only last
a few seconds in your pocket
635
00:27:33,203 --> 00:27:35,323
before he's scratched it out.
636
00:27:35,403 --> 00:27:36,643
He's pretty disappointed,
I think,
637
00:27:36,723 --> 00:27:38,723
because I don't have
a pen today.
638
00:27:38,803 --> 00:27:40,403
We have 18 meerkats.
639
00:27:40,483 --> 00:27:42,443
So we have a huge mob here.
640
00:27:42,523 --> 00:27:45,603
Um, I've worked with all but two
since the day they were born.
641
00:27:45,683 --> 00:27:48,803
So to me they all
look completely different,
642
00:27:48,883 --> 00:27:50,283
believe or not, but, um, yeah,
643
00:27:50,363 --> 00:27:53,043
to most people obviously
they all look exactly the same.
644
00:27:53,123 --> 00:27:54,083
What are you doing?
645
00:27:54,163 --> 00:27:56,683
What is Louasi doing?
646
00:27:56,763 --> 00:27:58,283
He's so noisy.
647
00:28:01,123 --> 00:28:03,043
But it's not only
the living animals
648
00:28:03,123 --> 00:28:05,163
that the team at Taronga
care for.
649
00:28:05,243 --> 00:28:08,043
This here is
like Taronga's morgue,
650
00:28:08,123 --> 00:28:12,083
and what we do every day
is conduct post mortems
651
00:28:12,163 --> 00:28:14,843
to find out cause of death
of any animals in our care.
652
00:28:14,923 --> 00:28:16,083
I think there were
some signs early on
653
00:28:16,163 --> 00:28:18,523
that I might have been
cut out for this job.
654
00:28:18,603 --> 00:28:21,443
Always wanted to be a vet
since a little kid.
655
00:28:21,523 --> 00:28:23,283
I didn't think
I'd end up working
656
00:28:23,363 --> 00:28:25,203
in the post mortem room here.
657
00:28:25,283 --> 00:28:26,563
I knew I was probably
going to end up
658
00:28:26,643 --> 00:28:28,963
working with the zoo
in some way.
659
00:28:29,043 --> 00:28:33,083
I think just having
that fascination for animals
660
00:28:33,163 --> 00:28:34,763
and a bit of the morbid
kind of gave the game away.
661
00:28:34,843 --> 00:28:36,203
And how they work.
662
00:28:36,283 --> 00:28:37,803
Because you can't really
determine how an animal works
663
00:28:37,883 --> 00:28:40,243
unless you get right in there.
664
00:28:40,323 --> 00:28:41,723
Here at Taronga Zoo
665
00:28:41,803 --> 00:28:43,803
I'm the supervisor of the
reptile amphibian department.
666
00:28:43,883 --> 00:28:47,283
And here in my hands is a little
female southern corroboree frog.
667
00:28:47,363 --> 00:28:48,363
She's a gorgeous little frog.
668
00:28:48,443 --> 00:28:50,043
One of Australia's
most iconic species
669
00:28:50,123 --> 00:28:51,803
and one of our most
critically endangered,
670
00:28:51,883 --> 00:28:53,043
and at the moment
they're on the,
671
00:28:53,123 --> 00:28:55,003
right at the brink
of extinction.
672
00:28:55,083 --> 00:28:56,123
There's a lot
of interesting quirks
673
00:28:56,203 --> 00:28:57,563
about the frogs
and also about myself.
674
00:28:57,643 --> 00:28:59,403
But one of the interesting
things about these little guys
675
00:28:59,483 --> 00:29:01,043
is how we survey for them.
676
00:29:01,123 --> 00:29:03,163
We actually yell at the habitat
where the frogs are
677
00:29:03,243 --> 00:29:04,843
and if there's a male
sitting in the nest,
678
00:29:04,923 --> 00:29:06,763
he calls back at us because
he thinks we're another male.
679
00:29:06,843 --> 00:29:08,003
He is saying get away
from my girls,
680
00:29:08,083 --> 00:29:09,763
get away from my pond,
this is my area.
681
00:29:09,843 --> 00:29:12,683
So we give off, I guess,
a real loud, deep "yeah,"
682
00:29:12,763 --> 00:29:14,003
and then these little guys
683
00:29:14,083 --> 00:29:16,603
give of their little
"rr, rr, rr, rr" back at us.
684
00:29:16,683 --> 00:29:18,323
Yeah!
685
00:29:18,403 --> 00:29:20,363
Rr, rr, rr, rr.
686
00:29:20,443 --> 00:29:22,403
And that's how we know how many
there are in the wild,
687
00:29:22,483 --> 00:29:24,243
where they're positioned,
and so forth.
688
00:29:30,643 --> 00:29:32,523
Back at the wildlife hospital,
689
00:29:32,603 --> 00:29:35,403
vets are trying to find
the exact position
690
00:29:35,483 --> 00:29:38,163
of Olive's chronic back pain
691
00:29:38,243 --> 00:29:40,443
and check if there's been
any further damage
692
00:29:40,523 --> 00:29:42,963
to her already painful spine.
693
00:29:43,043 --> 00:29:44,963
She has some changes
in her spine,
694
00:29:45,043 --> 00:29:47,643
so sort of like arthritis,
695
00:29:47,723 --> 00:29:49,163
and it makes the part
of her spine
696
00:29:49,243 --> 00:29:52,403
quite stiff in the neck region,
697
00:29:52,483 --> 00:29:56,083
and so we're doing
repeat x-rays on her today
698
00:29:56,163 --> 00:29:58,763
to ensure that it's
not getting worse.
699
00:29:58,843 --> 00:30:01,523
The reality is
if it is worse,
700
00:30:01,603 --> 00:30:04,323
she may not be able to survive.
701
00:30:04,403 --> 00:30:05,803
Okay, so we are going
to start the x-ray.
702
00:30:05,883 --> 00:30:07,083
Yep.
703
00:30:07,163 --> 00:30:09,003
And so you want to go
from head first?
704
00:30:09,083 --> 00:30:10,443
And dorsal, ventral.
705
00:30:09,083 --> 00:30:12,043
Yes.
706
00:30:10,523 --> 00:30:12,043
Okay.
707
00:30:14,683 --> 00:30:16,003
X-ray.
708
00:30:16,083 --> 00:30:18,163
There's quite a lot
of the animal to x-ray,
709
00:30:18,243 --> 00:30:22,083
so we have to do a lot more
x-rays on snakes in particular.
710
00:30:22,163 --> 00:30:24,723
Do we want to put tape on there
so you know where we are going?
711
00:30:24,803 --> 00:30:25,523
At 40 centimeters.
712
00:30:25,603 --> 00:30:26,923
At 40.
713
00:30:27,003 --> 00:30:28,763
If we just make sure we have
our routine down
714
00:30:28,843 --> 00:30:32,243
and make sure we do it properly,
it works out well.
715
00:30:32,323 --> 00:30:33,243
Number two.
716
00:30:33,323 --> 00:30:34,923
Yep. X-ray.
717
00:30:35,003 --> 00:30:35,883
We can turn her off
at the neck.
718
00:30:35,963 --> 00:30:37,043
That's much better.
719
00:30:37,123 --> 00:30:39,003
We can go to the next one,
number three.
720
00:30:39,083 --> 00:30:41,843
Well, we do in this job
do a lot of radiographs.
721
00:30:41,923 --> 00:30:43,723
That's part
of our diagnostic work.
722
00:30:43,803 --> 00:30:47,243
She's a bit
twisted at the front.
723
00:30:47,323 --> 00:30:48,963
And that's how
we determine, you know,
724
00:30:49,043 --> 00:30:50,163
what's wrong with the animal,
725
00:30:50,243 --> 00:30:51,803
if there is anything wrong
or not
726
00:30:51,883 --> 00:30:53,403
and rule out certain things.
727
00:30:53,483 --> 00:30:55,643
Next x-ray.
Yep.
728
00:30:55,723 --> 00:30:57,363
They are
a really good diagnostic tool,
729
00:30:57,443 --> 00:31:01,283
so really taking them to me
is quite interesting.
730
00:31:01,363 --> 00:31:03,603
Yep, that's...
that's good.
731
00:31:03,683 --> 00:31:05,083
Good?
Yep, all right.
732
00:31:05,163 --> 00:31:06,523
So we've finished taking
733
00:31:06,603 --> 00:31:08,603
our radiographs of the python,
734
00:31:08,683 --> 00:31:11,643
and so now is just the wait
for her to recover.
735
00:31:11,723 --> 00:31:15,043
We've given her
a reversal agent,
736
00:31:15,123 --> 00:31:17,803
but she has also had
anesthetic gas,
737
00:31:17,883 --> 00:31:22,083
and so she just needs to
metabolize those anesthetics
738
00:31:22,163 --> 00:31:25,163
until she wakes up,
and it can be a number of hours,
739
00:31:25,243 --> 00:31:26,603
and we're giving her the heat
740
00:31:26,683 --> 00:31:29,723
because that will speed up
her recovery.
741
00:31:29,803 --> 00:31:31,243
Being a reptile,
742
00:31:31,323 --> 00:31:34,083
they can't control
their own body temperature,
743
00:31:34,163 --> 00:31:36,243
so this is a,
it's called a bear hugger.
744
00:31:36,323 --> 00:31:37,883
It's full of hot air,
745
00:31:37,963 --> 00:31:40,763
and she's also on top
of a heat mat as well,
746
00:31:40,843 --> 00:31:44,123
and that will maximize
her recovery.
747
00:31:44,203 --> 00:31:46,403
She looks all snug
under her little doona.
748
00:31:46,483 --> 00:31:47,603
Little blankie.
749
00:31:47,683 --> 00:31:49,763
Just got to get her a pillow.
750
00:31:49,843 --> 00:31:51,883
So today has gone really well.
751
00:31:51,963 --> 00:31:53,043
It's always a pleasure to work
752
00:31:53,123 --> 00:31:55,043
with a beautiful snake
like an olive python
753
00:31:55,123 --> 00:31:57,083
because not many people
get to do that.
754
00:31:57,163 --> 00:31:58,403
Just got to have a look
through the radiographs
755
00:31:58,483 --> 00:32:03,403
to see what kind of changes
she has in her spine,
756
00:32:03,483 --> 00:32:06,283
and if the changes she had
from about four years ago
757
00:32:06,363 --> 00:32:08,443
are the same
or if they've progressed.
758
00:32:08,523 --> 00:32:10,203
But all will be revealed shortly
759
00:32:10,283 --> 00:32:14,723
when I can have a look
at her three meters of spine.
760
00:32:14,803 --> 00:32:17,243
And as the first
x-rays come through,
761
00:32:17,323 --> 00:32:19,323
it's not looking good
for Olive.
762
00:32:27,163 --> 00:32:28,483
Today is
a really exciting day.
763
00:32:28,563 --> 00:32:31,643
We're hoping to introduce Nala,
our female Australian sea lion,
764
00:32:31,723 --> 00:32:34,723
with Charlie, our big male
Australian sea lion.
765
00:32:34,803 --> 00:32:36,163
We are hoping
that they are going
766
00:32:36,243 --> 00:32:38,643
to absolutely love each other
from the get-go,
767
00:32:38,723 --> 00:32:41,523
but it's not always the case,
so it's going to be exciting
768
00:32:41,603 --> 00:32:44,043
to see how they interact with
each other and how things go,
769
00:32:44,123 --> 00:32:45,923
which is really exciting.
770
00:32:46,003 --> 00:32:48,203
But first,
Nala must get to the other end
771
00:32:48,283 --> 00:32:52,123
of the Marine Precinct,
and the only way is to walk.
772
00:32:55,643 --> 00:32:57,763
Good girl.
Ahh, what a good girl.
773
00:32:57,843 --> 00:32:59,843
Where are we gonna go?
774
00:32:59,923 --> 00:33:01,563
What are we doing?
775
00:33:01,643 --> 00:33:04,683
So, it's not a very easy task
to get Nala down to Charlie.
776
00:33:04,763 --> 00:33:07,403
Nala's exhibit is at the top
of a set of stairs
777
00:33:07,483 --> 00:33:09,363
on a completely different level.
778
00:33:09,443 --> 00:33:12,403
Thankfully Nala is trained
to walk outside of her exhibit.
779
00:33:12,483 --> 00:33:15,603
We take her outside regularly
for her own enrichment,
780
00:33:15,683 --> 00:33:17,083
something different
for her to see,
781
00:33:17,163 --> 00:33:18,683
and she does that quite happily
782
00:33:18,763 --> 00:33:20,763
because she enjoys
going out for walks.
783
00:33:20,843 --> 00:33:22,363
Good girl.
784
00:33:22,443 --> 00:33:23,843
What's out here?
785
00:33:23,923 --> 00:33:25,763
Eh?
786
00:33:25,843 --> 00:33:27,523
Who are we going to go see?
787
00:33:27,603 --> 00:33:29,163
She definitely will know
what's happening
788
00:33:29,243 --> 00:33:31,163
when we get in the proximity
of where Charlie is.
789
00:33:31,243 --> 00:33:33,803
She'll probably smell him
before she sees him.
790
00:33:33,883 --> 00:33:36,403
Charlie probably has no idea
what's about to happen.
791
00:33:36,483 --> 00:33:39,283
He's probably in his own mindset
just enjoying a day in the pool
792
00:33:39,363 --> 00:33:40,923
and all of a sudden a female
is going to arrive,
793
00:33:41,003 --> 00:33:44,243
so that's going to make him
pretty excited.
794
00:33:44,323 --> 00:33:45,803
Nice work.
Up you go.
795
00:33:45,883 --> 00:33:49,003
Good girl.
796
00:33:49,083 --> 00:33:50,483
So it's really important for us
797
00:33:50,563 --> 00:33:52,163
whenever we introduce
two animals,
798
00:33:52,243 --> 00:33:53,883
we want to make sure
both animals are happy
799
00:33:53,963 --> 00:33:56,523
and comfortable
throughout the entire process.
800
00:33:56,603 --> 00:33:58,243
If they're not
comfortable or happy,
801
00:33:58,323 --> 00:33:59,803
we simply separate them again
802
00:33:59,883 --> 00:34:01,643
and we try again
at another date.
803
00:34:08,483 --> 00:34:10,763
But fortunately
for Charlie and Nala,
804
00:34:10,843 --> 00:34:13,523
love is definitely in the air
805
00:34:13,603 --> 00:34:17,283
and the water.
806
00:34:17,363 --> 00:34:19,163
The introduction
between Charlie and Nala
807
00:34:19,243 --> 00:34:21,603
has been as fantastic
as we could have imagined.
808
00:34:21,683 --> 00:34:25,843
They are both really comfortable
in each other's presence.
809
00:34:25,923 --> 00:34:28,323
There's no aggressive behavior,
810
00:34:28,403 --> 00:34:30,163
anything to suggest
that it's going to escalate,
811
00:34:30,243 --> 00:34:31,363
which is great.
812
00:34:31,443 --> 00:34:33,083
Definitely feeling the love.
813
00:34:33,163 --> 00:34:34,483
Charlie has even been clucking,
814
00:34:34,563 --> 00:34:37,883
with is a natural vocal or sound
that the boys make
815
00:34:37,963 --> 00:34:40,043
to let the girls know they're
very interested in them,
816
00:34:40,123 --> 00:34:42,363
which is really great
for us to hear.
817
00:34:44,283 --> 00:34:46,123
And Nala's been
quite receptive to that.
818
00:34:46,203 --> 00:34:48,283
So a lot of
the nose-to-nose touching
819
00:34:48,363 --> 00:34:51,243
that's really interesting
and great for us to see.
820
00:34:51,323 --> 00:34:53,963
Absolutely stoked
that this has gone so well.
821
00:34:54,043 --> 00:34:56,083
It's what we aim to do
in the breeding program
822
00:34:56,163 --> 00:34:57,763
of this incredibly rare species.
823
00:34:57,843 --> 00:35:01,203
So to see two seals getting
along so well with each other
824
00:35:01,283 --> 00:35:04,323
really gives us high hopes
for our breeding season.
825
00:35:04,403 --> 00:35:06,883
So the loved-up pair
will be left overnight
826
00:35:06,963 --> 00:35:08,883
for some private time.
827
00:35:08,963 --> 00:35:10,523
Fingers crossed
we'll be able to end up
828
00:35:10,603 --> 00:35:12,843
with an Australian sea lion pup,
which is the ultimate goal here.
829
00:35:21,283 --> 00:35:22,763
Yesterday Taronga's vets
830
00:35:22,843 --> 00:35:24,683
conducted a series of x-rays
831
00:35:24,763 --> 00:35:30,003
on the zoo's 17-year-old
female olive python.
832
00:35:30,083 --> 00:35:31,283
She recovered from
the anesthetic really well
833
00:35:31,363 --> 00:35:32,523
and she was awake.
834
00:35:32,603 --> 00:35:34,603
But there is a large water body
in her enclosure,
835
00:35:34,683 --> 00:35:36,803
so we didn't want to send her
back to her enclosure
836
00:35:36,883 --> 00:35:38,403
just in case she went
swimming overnight
837
00:35:38,483 --> 00:35:40,123
and had a nap under water.
838
00:35:40,203 --> 00:35:41,963
So we allowed her to recover
here in the hospital
839
00:35:42,043 --> 00:35:43,523
and she has stayed
nice and warm,
840
00:35:43,603 --> 00:35:45,683
recovered really
beautifully overnight.
841
00:35:45,763 --> 00:35:47,803
She is bright and alert now,
842
00:35:47,883 --> 00:35:50,443
and we're happy for her
to go swimming if she chooses,
843
00:35:50,523 --> 00:35:52,243
and so the reptile keepers
are going to come down,
844
00:35:52,323 --> 00:35:55,083
collect her and take her
back to their collection.
845
00:35:55,163 --> 00:35:57,043
But first,
keeper Emma is keen
846
00:35:57,123 --> 00:35:58,803
to get the results
of the x-ray,
847
00:35:58,883 --> 00:36:00,923
which Gabby has spent the night
848
00:36:01,003 --> 00:36:03,163
painstakingly stitching together.
849
00:36:03,243 --> 00:36:05,123
So here is Olive,
her radiographs,
850
00:36:05,203 --> 00:36:06,603
and we're just going to go
down her body,
851
00:36:06,683 --> 00:36:09,843
and I'll show you some of
the changes that we've found.
852
00:36:09,923 --> 00:36:12,483
So you can see
in this radiograph
853
00:36:12,563 --> 00:36:15,963
that you've got lots of detail
of the individual vertebrae,
854
00:36:16,043 --> 00:36:19,043
so up here you can see a little
space between each unit
855
00:36:19,123 --> 00:36:22,283
and then along here they all
start to join together
856
00:36:22,363 --> 00:36:25,763
and you also get increased
bone development underneath.
857
00:36:25,843 --> 00:36:29,123
And it's reflected on this view
looking down on her back
858
00:36:29,203 --> 00:36:32,523
where you get these widening,
which are called paddles.
859
00:36:32,603 --> 00:36:34,763
It is actually getting worse.
860
00:36:34,843 --> 00:36:36,003
That's...
861
00:36:38,563 --> 00:36:40,883
No one really knows
what causes this in snakes.
862
00:36:40,963 --> 00:36:42,643
It doesn't just happen
in pythons.
863
00:36:42,723 --> 00:36:46,603
It happens in venomous snakes
like rattlesnakes overseas.
864
00:36:46,683 --> 00:36:49,043
We used to think
it was just from handling,
865
00:36:49,123 --> 00:36:50,763
but the fact that
it's found often
866
00:36:50,843 --> 00:36:53,603
in venomous snakes that are
not handled very often
867
00:36:53,683 --> 00:36:55,203
makes that unlikely.
868
00:36:55,283 --> 00:36:57,403
So what we are going to do
with Olive
869
00:36:57,483 --> 00:37:00,123
is we're going to put her
on a treatment trial
870
00:37:00,203 --> 00:37:03,043
of anti-inflammatories, which
is essentially pain relief,
871
00:37:03,123 --> 00:37:04,803
and you are going
to monitor where she,
872
00:37:04,883 --> 00:37:07,563
how she uses her enclosure.
873
00:37:07,643 --> 00:37:10,643
If she starts moving around
with the pain relief on board,
874
00:37:10,723 --> 00:37:12,363
that tells me
that she was painful.
875
00:37:12,443 --> 00:37:13,363
Yeah.
876
00:37:13,443 --> 00:37:14,883
If there is
no difference,
877
00:37:14,963 --> 00:37:17,643
then we may have to consider
her quality of life
878
00:37:17,723 --> 00:37:20,563
because we can't help her
move around more.
879
00:37:20,643 --> 00:37:23,203
If she's just spending
all her life in one area
880
00:37:23,283 --> 00:37:25,323
and not doing anything,
881
00:37:25,403 --> 00:37:28,003
I think it's a welfare issue
that we have to consider.
882
00:37:28,083 --> 00:37:31,443
So we'll reconvene
in about a week
883
00:37:31,523 --> 00:37:33,723
when she's finished
her medication.
884
00:37:33,803 --> 00:37:35,043
Okay.
Okay.
885
00:37:39,123 --> 00:37:41,163
We're going
to pop her back.
886
00:37:41,243 --> 00:37:43,563
It's a sad result for Olive,
887
00:37:43,643 --> 00:37:47,283
who's called Taronga home
for the last eight years.
888
00:37:47,363 --> 00:37:49,723
Prognosis for her is not great.
889
00:37:49,803 --> 00:37:53,363
The fact that it's deteriorated
over the five years
890
00:37:53,443 --> 00:37:55,043
means it's probably
gonna continue to do so
891
00:37:55,123 --> 00:37:57,923
no matter what we do,
unfortunately,
892
00:37:58,003 --> 00:38:00,163
and with her welfare
being our primary concern,
893
00:38:00,243 --> 00:38:03,283
if we think that
her quality of life is poor
894
00:38:03,363 --> 00:38:05,483
or that she is in any kind
of discomfort,
895
00:38:05,563 --> 00:38:08,803
then euthanasia will
likely be the end result.
896
00:38:20,003 --> 00:38:21,083
It's been two months
897
00:38:21,163 --> 00:38:22,883
since sea lions
Charlie and Nala
898
00:38:22,963 --> 00:38:25,803
spent a quiet night together.
899
00:38:25,883 --> 00:38:27,483
So her rear flippers
will be here,
900
00:38:27,563 --> 00:38:29,923
uh, front flippers will be here,
rear flippers will be there.
901
00:38:30,003 --> 00:38:31,563
If possible it would be
better for you
902
00:38:31,643 --> 00:38:33,963
to be on this side.
903
00:38:34,043 --> 00:38:35,483
We can shuffle that
however you want.
904
00:38:35,563 --> 00:38:38,483
Just so she's got a clear,
clear access to the water.
905
00:38:38,563 --> 00:38:40,923
Vet Larry has come
down to her enclosure
906
00:38:41,003 --> 00:38:43,203
to conduct
the first ultrasound,
907
00:38:43,283 --> 00:38:47,283
to see if the mating encounter
was successful.
908
00:38:47,363 --> 00:38:48,483
Sit.
909
00:38:48,563 --> 00:38:49,843
What is happening out here.
910
00:38:49,923 --> 00:38:51,523
Hey, sweetie.
Hey.
911
00:38:51,603 --> 00:38:53,243
Thankfully we've been doing
some training sessions
912
00:38:53,323 --> 00:38:55,163
with Nala
in preparation for this
913
00:38:55,243 --> 00:38:56,403
in the hopes that we are going
914
00:38:56,483 --> 00:38:58,483
to be potentially seeing
a pup today.
915
00:38:58,563 --> 00:39:01,363
Fingers crossed,
that's the dream.
916
00:39:01,443 --> 00:39:02,563
Hey, beautiful girl.
917
00:39:02,643 --> 00:39:04,763
Come here.
918
00:39:04,843 --> 00:39:06,403
Good girl.
919
00:39:06,483 --> 00:39:08,483
Ready to go when you are, Larry.
920
00:39:08,563 --> 00:39:10,003
Good girl.
921
00:39:14,083 --> 00:39:15,603
So we've got
a really good scan
922
00:39:15,683 --> 00:39:16,483
of her whole abdomen here.
923
00:39:16,563 --> 00:39:17,643
Good job.
924
00:39:17,723 --> 00:39:18,843
Nice work, Nala.
925
00:39:18,923 --> 00:39:19,803
She is
an incredible animal.
926
00:39:19,883 --> 00:39:21,803
I mean, look at her,
just perfect.
927
00:39:21,883 --> 00:39:23,803
That's it. Good girl.
928
00:39:23,883 --> 00:39:25,123
Nothing obvious yet.
929
00:39:25,203 --> 00:39:27,563
I mean, I can see organs,
her abdominal organs.
930
00:39:27,643 --> 00:39:30,323
I've got a great image
of her bladder.
931
00:39:30,403 --> 00:39:31,923
So it would be good, actually,
if we turn her around, so...
932
00:39:32,003 --> 00:39:33,403
Okay.
933
00:39:33,483 --> 00:39:34,403
Just this whole set-up,
so she's facing that way.
934
00:39:34,483 --> 00:39:35,563
Yep. All right.
935
00:39:35,643 --> 00:39:37,603
With no luck
on the right side,
936
00:39:37,683 --> 00:39:41,283
Larry is hoping the left-hand
side gives him a better view.
937
00:39:41,363 --> 00:39:42,643
All right, Nala, sit.
938
00:39:43,963 --> 00:39:44,883
Come on.
939
00:39:44,963 --> 00:39:47,123
Nala, that's it.
That's it.
940
00:39:47,203 --> 00:39:49,163
It might be handy
if she is wetter, but let's see.
941
00:39:49,243 --> 00:39:50,763
Good girl. That's it.
942
00:39:50,843 --> 00:39:52,043
It's always exciting.
943
00:39:52,123 --> 00:39:54,003
I mean, you know,
and always hopeful,
944
00:39:54,083 --> 00:39:56,203
and I suppose, you know,
when you don't see something,
945
00:39:56,283 --> 00:39:57,683
in the back of my mind,
I'm going
946
00:39:57,763 --> 00:39:59,083
have I missed it,
have I missed it?
947
00:39:59,163 --> 00:40:01,643
And you know, there is
always hope that maybe I have.
948
00:40:01,723 --> 00:40:03,083
Oh, hang on a second.
949
00:40:03,163 --> 00:40:05,723
Just hold on.
950
00:40:05,803 --> 00:40:09,283
And suddenly
something catches Larry's eye.
951
00:40:09,363 --> 00:40:11,723
So I'm just scanning
her left side of her abdomen,
952
00:40:11,803 --> 00:40:13,283
the lower abdomen here,
953
00:40:13,363 --> 00:40:15,163
and just not far
from the bladder
954
00:40:15,243 --> 00:40:20,363
I just spotted a sort
of a circular vesicle.
955
00:40:20,443 --> 00:40:22,483
Okay, so that's a still image.
956
00:40:22,563 --> 00:40:26,283
So that there
957
00:40:26,363 --> 00:40:30,243
is very likely to be
an embryonic vesicle
958
00:40:30,323 --> 00:40:32,003
with the little embryo in it.
959
00:40:32,083 --> 00:40:33,203
So this is very exciting.
960
00:40:33,283 --> 00:40:36,083
I think she's pregnant.
961
00:40:36,163 --> 00:40:37,803
Potentially we are seeing something?
962
00:40:37,883 --> 00:40:38,803
Yeah, I'll show you guys.
963
00:40:38,883 --> 00:40:40,003
Are you kidding? Really?
964
00:40:40,083 --> 00:40:41,043
No, I'm not
kidding at all.
965
00:40:41,123 --> 00:40:44,123
Wow, that's incredible. Wow.
966
00:40:44,203 --> 00:40:46,523
So, you know,
that's very typical
967
00:40:46,603 --> 00:40:49,643
of what you would expect
with an embryonic vesicle,
968
00:40:49,723 --> 00:40:53,403
and that little spot inside
is probably the embryo.
969
00:40:53,483 --> 00:40:54,803
So I've just
measured it there,
970
00:40:54,883 --> 00:40:58,923
and you can see it's only
2.4 by 3 centimeters.
971
00:40:59,003 --> 00:41:01,363
So it's only small,
very early days.
972
00:41:01,443 --> 00:41:04,283
Pretty, pretty good evidence
that she's pregnant.
973
00:41:04,363 --> 00:41:06,203
Yay.
974
00:41:06,283 --> 00:41:08,363
I definitely didn't expect it.
975
00:41:08,443 --> 00:41:11,243
Obviously we always hope,
and being this early on
976
00:41:11,323 --> 00:41:14,243
we haven't seen any signs of her
being potentially pregnant,
977
00:41:14,323 --> 00:41:16,643
and obviously you wouldn't
because it's still so early,
978
00:41:16,723 --> 00:41:18,843
um, but yeah,
this is incredible news.
979
00:41:18,923 --> 00:41:20,443
Sea lion pregnancies
980
00:41:20,523 --> 00:41:23,123
are just a few weeks shorter
than a human's,
981
00:41:23,203 --> 00:41:25,163
so it's still early days.
982
00:41:25,243 --> 00:41:27,803
But Nala's pregnancy
is a glimmer of hope
983
00:41:27,883 --> 00:41:30,163
for an endangered species.
984
00:41:30,243 --> 00:41:32,003
It is fantastic news for,
985
00:41:32,083 --> 00:41:34,683
obviously for Nala
and the keepers and us,
986
00:41:34,763 --> 00:41:37,163
and so having this pregnancy
987
00:41:37,243 --> 00:41:39,203
and you know, hopefully
a little pup in the future
988
00:41:39,283 --> 00:41:41,803
is going to be a very, very
important contribution
989
00:41:41,883 --> 00:41:44,243
to the conservation program
for the species.
990
00:41:47,883 --> 00:41:49,563
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