1 00:00:04,123 --> 00:00:06,963 Taronga has such a diverse number of species 2 00:00:07,043 --> 00:00:08,843 across their zoos 3 00:00:08,923 --> 00:00:10,963 that the only way to give them the care they need 4 00:00:11,043 --> 00:00:14,203 is to split them up into groups. 5 00:00:14,283 --> 00:00:16,723 While the names of the groups are pretty common, 6 00:00:16,803 --> 00:00:18,323 like carnivores, 7 00:00:18,403 --> 00:00:19,603 primates, 8 00:00:19,683 --> 00:00:21,283 aviary, 9 00:00:21,363 --> 00:00:23,323 and reptiles, 10 00:00:23,403 --> 00:00:25,483 there's also more obscure names, 11 00:00:25,563 --> 00:00:27,843 such as Australian fauna, 12 00:00:27,923 --> 00:00:29,563 invertebrates, 13 00:00:29,643 --> 00:00:33,283 and the oddly named but extremely common ungulates. 14 00:00:35,683 --> 00:00:38,123 So here at Taronga Zoo, I'm an ungulate keeper, 15 00:00:38,203 --> 00:00:39,403 and an ungulate is just a fancy name 16 00:00:39,483 --> 00:00:40,803 for a hooved mammal. 17 00:00:40,883 --> 00:00:42,923 So at the zoo here, we've got giraffe. 18 00:00:43,003 --> 00:00:44,563 They're our biggest draw card. 19 00:00:44,643 --> 00:00:46,363 But I also look after pygmy hippo, 20 00:00:46,443 --> 00:00:48,003 I also look after bongo, 21 00:00:48,083 --> 00:00:49,883 and we're soon to get zebra back again. 22 00:00:49,963 --> 00:00:51,483 Every morning, 23 00:00:51,563 --> 00:00:53,363 like all the other teams across the zoo, 24 00:00:53,443 --> 00:00:55,283 Jimmy and his team do the rounds 25 00:00:55,363 --> 00:00:58,243 of all the animals in their care. 26 00:00:58,323 --> 00:00:59,923 My day starts really early. 27 00:01:00,003 --> 00:01:01,563 We arrive at the barn, obviously set up their food. 28 00:01:01,643 --> 00:01:02,603 But that's not the bulk of their day. 29 00:01:02,683 --> 00:01:04,283 The bulk of their day for me 30 00:01:04,363 --> 00:01:06,843 would be their training and also the care of them. 31 00:01:06,923 --> 00:01:08,923 What I'm making up here is the giraffe training pouches. 32 00:01:09,003 --> 00:01:11,403 So this is the giraffe's daily food intake. 33 00:01:11,483 --> 00:01:13,123 What we do is divide this up 34 00:01:13,203 --> 00:01:15,123 amongst as many training sessions as we're having. 35 00:01:15,203 --> 00:01:17,643 So today I think we've got three training sessions on, 36 00:01:17,723 --> 00:01:19,523 so we need to spread this out amongst three training pouches. 37 00:01:21,283 --> 00:01:23,683 All right. 38 00:01:23,763 --> 00:01:25,243 Let's do this. 39 00:01:25,323 --> 00:01:26,763 I love giraffe, and I've always loved giraffe. 40 00:01:26,843 --> 00:01:28,323 I never once in my wildest dreams 41 00:01:28,403 --> 00:01:30,323 believed I'd be working with them, 42 00:01:30,403 --> 00:01:32,323 let alone up this close and this personal with them 43 00:01:32,403 --> 00:01:34,323 and actually caring for them. 44 00:01:34,403 --> 00:01:35,523 Here you go, buddy. 45 00:01:37,603 --> 00:01:39,603 Good boy. 46 00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:40,563 Good. 47 00:01:44,003 --> 00:01:45,323 Target. 48 00:01:45,403 --> 00:01:47,683 Hold. Hold. 49 00:01:47,763 --> 00:01:50,163 Good boy. 50 00:01:50,243 --> 00:01:52,643 But there's also the less glamorous, 51 00:01:52,723 --> 00:01:55,403 but equally important work to be done, 52 00:01:55,483 --> 00:01:58,283 before the zoo opens to the public. 53 00:01:58,363 --> 00:01:59,883 Our typical morning, 54 00:01:59,963 --> 00:02:01,563 obviously we've started off here this morning, 55 00:02:01,643 --> 00:02:03,643 we've done our training, the paddock's been cleaned. 56 00:02:03,723 --> 00:02:05,603 Now we put up their food. 57 00:02:05,683 --> 00:02:07,243 So obviously you'll see how high this goes. 58 00:02:07,323 --> 00:02:09,803 You've got to get it up pretty high for these giraffes. 59 00:02:09,883 --> 00:02:11,363 Our male here is nearly 5.5 meters 60 00:02:11,443 --> 00:02:13,563 so you can't feed him at ground level. 61 00:02:13,643 --> 00:02:15,043 You have to feed him up high. 62 00:02:15,123 --> 00:02:16,803 We put out feed and we pick up their poo. 63 00:02:16,883 --> 00:02:19,523 That's the cycle of life here at the zoo. 64 00:02:19,603 --> 00:02:21,923 And voilĂ --done. 65 00:02:22,003 --> 00:02:24,723 Every animal needs food and water, 66 00:02:24,803 --> 00:02:26,763 but the ungulates have a unique need 67 00:02:26,843 --> 00:02:29,883 that no other animal at the zoo has. 68 00:02:29,963 --> 00:02:32,083 Now, my main thing for these guys 69 00:02:32,163 --> 00:02:34,723 or for being an ungulate keeper is hoof care. 70 00:02:34,803 --> 00:02:37,043 Naiota here is just on a ton, 71 00:02:37,123 --> 00:02:39,003 and those tiny little hooves have to hold up a ton. 72 00:02:39,083 --> 00:02:41,403 So for me, every morning, I'll come in 73 00:02:41,483 --> 00:02:43,603 and the first thing I want to do is check out their hooves. 74 00:02:43,683 --> 00:02:47,283 It'd be like being a podiatrist for giraffe really. 75 00:02:47,363 --> 00:02:49,843 For us, hoof care is the most vital thing, 76 00:02:49,923 --> 00:02:51,083 especially for a giraffe, 77 00:02:51,163 --> 00:02:52,763 a massive animal carrying all that weight 78 00:02:52,843 --> 00:02:54,283 on what looks like a dinner plate. 79 00:02:54,363 --> 00:02:56,363 That dinner plate needs to be maintained. 80 00:02:56,443 --> 00:02:59,923 So I'm just going to assemble this hoof block. 81 00:03:00,003 --> 00:03:01,723 But what we want our male to do, 82 00:03:01,803 --> 00:03:03,963 we want him to come in, we want him to present his foot, 83 00:03:04,043 --> 00:03:05,563 and then basically, 84 00:03:05,643 --> 00:03:07,843 he needs to roll his ankle or his hock onto here 85 00:03:07,923 --> 00:03:11,563 so we can actually work on the underside of his hoof. 86 00:03:11,643 --> 00:03:13,003 All right, Jimmiu. 87 00:03:13,083 --> 00:03:14,803 Station. 88 00:03:14,883 --> 00:03:16,443 Jimmiu, who's our youngest male, 89 00:03:16,523 --> 00:03:18,163 he's also our biggest, 90 00:03:18,243 --> 00:03:19,603 he does have a tendency for his hooves to roll a little bit, 91 00:03:19,683 --> 00:03:22,683 so he's our priority for hoof care at the moment. 92 00:03:22,763 --> 00:03:24,603 Foot. 93 00:03:24,683 --> 00:03:25,563 Good. 94 00:03:27,363 --> 00:03:28,643 Touch. 95 00:03:28,723 --> 00:03:31,363 Roll. 96 00:03:31,443 --> 00:03:33,203 Good. Good. 97 00:03:37,283 --> 00:03:38,843 Station. 98 00:03:38,923 --> 00:03:41,443 Brush. 99 00:03:41,523 --> 00:03:44,323 Excellent boy, Jimmiu. 100 00:03:44,403 --> 00:03:46,323 Good job, Jim. 101 00:03:46,403 --> 00:03:48,563 This is to me like being a rock star in the zoo. 102 00:03:48,643 --> 00:03:50,083 You know what I mean? 103 00:03:50,163 --> 00:03:51,643 Every kid's dream is to work with a giraffe 104 00:03:51,723 --> 00:03:53,723 or to work with megafauna. 105 00:03:53,803 --> 00:03:55,563 It's a dream-come-true job for me. 106 00:03:55,643 --> 00:03:58,883 But Jimmy's day is only just starting, 107 00:03:58,963 --> 00:04:02,563 and already this rock-star has another gig to attend. 108 00:04:08,603 --> 00:04:11,363 Australia is world-renowned for its wildlife, 109 00:04:11,443 --> 00:04:13,483 the likes of which can't be found 110 00:04:13,563 --> 00:04:14,883 anywhere else on the planet. 111 00:04:17,643 --> 00:04:20,123 We've been isolated as a continent for such a long time 112 00:04:20,203 --> 00:04:22,043 that our animals have evolved, 113 00:04:22,123 --> 00:04:24,283 and they're crazy to look at, definitely. 114 00:04:27,683 --> 00:04:30,563 Kangaroos, the way they move... 115 00:04:30,643 --> 00:04:33,923 Koalas, a giant sort of cuddly thing up in a tree... 116 00:04:34,003 --> 00:04:36,203 Yeah, it's wild, definitely. 117 00:04:36,283 --> 00:04:38,843 But one animal that's a little misunderstood 118 00:04:38,923 --> 00:04:41,523 and doesn't get the same international exposure 119 00:04:41,603 --> 00:04:43,323 as the other Aussie icons 120 00:04:43,403 --> 00:04:44,523 is the wombat. 121 00:04:47,603 --> 00:04:49,243 Wombats are not slow and clumsy. 122 00:04:49,323 --> 00:04:51,163 They're fast. 123 00:04:51,243 --> 00:04:53,603 They can run 40 kilometers an hour when they want to, 124 00:04:53,683 --> 00:04:57,403 and they've got this curiosity about them. 125 00:04:57,483 --> 00:05:00,643 We've got southern hairy-nosed wombats here at the zoo, 126 00:05:00,723 --> 00:05:04,203 and we've got a family of four. 127 00:05:04,283 --> 00:05:06,843 Southern hairy-nosed wombats have this hairy nose. 128 00:05:06,923 --> 00:05:08,803 So when you see it, it's kind of a boxy nose, 129 00:05:08,883 --> 00:05:10,763 and they definitely, even from young joeys, 130 00:05:10,843 --> 00:05:13,443 they've got this considerable fur around their nose. 131 00:05:13,523 --> 00:05:15,043 They're a bit of a smaller wombat 132 00:05:15,123 --> 00:05:16,443 and potentially a little bit less aggressive 133 00:05:16,523 --> 00:05:18,043 than the common wombats. 134 00:05:19,683 --> 00:05:22,443 This is incredibly rare for a male wombat. 135 00:05:22,523 --> 00:05:23,523 He seeks it out. 136 00:05:23,603 --> 00:05:24,923 So he comes to me, 137 00:05:25,003 --> 00:05:26,923 and he loves a scratch behind the ear, 138 00:05:27,003 --> 00:05:29,763 and then he voluntarily rolls over 139 00:05:29,843 --> 00:05:32,683 and just loves this scratch on his belly. 140 00:05:32,763 --> 00:05:34,363 Southern hairy-nosed wombats 141 00:05:34,443 --> 00:05:38,123 are found in arid parts of Australia, down south. 142 00:05:38,203 --> 00:05:40,123 They're vulnerable, as well as the other species, 143 00:05:40,203 --> 00:05:42,203 due to mange, 144 00:05:42,283 --> 00:05:45,123 which is a mite that infests the skin of the wombat, 145 00:05:45,203 --> 00:05:47,003 and they really suffer before-- 146 00:05:47,083 --> 00:05:50,003 in the end, they, you know, they can die from it. 147 00:05:50,083 --> 00:05:51,083 Want a scratch? 148 00:05:51,163 --> 00:05:53,403 Oh, you love a scratch, don't ya? 149 00:05:53,483 --> 00:05:55,523 They've been a challenging animal to learn how to breed. 150 00:05:55,603 --> 00:05:57,203 Oh, a belly scratch. 151 00:05:57,283 --> 00:06:00,563 We've been fortunate enough to have bred six joeys 152 00:06:00,643 --> 00:06:03,803 over the past eight years, nine years. 153 00:06:03,883 --> 00:06:07,403 Surprisingly, we've had all females up until now. 154 00:06:07,483 --> 00:06:08,363 Yeah. 155 00:06:13,483 --> 00:06:16,563 Kora, which has been the mother of also the other joeys, 156 00:06:16,643 --> 00:06:18,243 unfortunately she passed 157 00:06:18,323 --> 00:06:21,043 while her little boy was inside her pouch, 158 00:06:21,123 --> 00:06:23,323 and keepers have had to hand-raise that joey 159 00:06:23,403 --> 00:06:24,243 from now on. 160 00:06:26,203 --> 00:06:28,323 Hi, little man. 161 00:06:28,403 --> 00:06:29,803 Hello, Waru. 162 00:06:29,883 --> 00:06:31,563 You waking up? What do you think? 163 00:06:31,643 --> 00:06:34,043 So this little guy is Waru. 164 00:06:34,123 --> 00:06:36,563 He's about seven months old now. 165 00:06:36,643 --> 00:06:38,843 Andrew and myself here 166 00:06:38,923 --> 00:06:41,123 are very lucky to be able to be helping him 167 00:06:41,203 --> 00:06:43,603 and hand-raising him at the moment. 168 00:06:43,683 --> 00:06:45,443 Oh, good boy. 169 00:06:45,523 --> 00:06:47,923 We would only ever hand-raise a wombat joey 170 00:06:48,003 --> 00:06:52,763 if we absolutely needed to to ensure his survival. 171 00:06:52,843 --> 00:06:54,043 He will be particularly important 172 00:06:54,123 --> 00:06:55,683 because he's the first boy that's been born 173 00:06:55,763 --> 00:06:57,203 part of the breeding program here at Taronga Zoo. 174 00:07:00,363 --> 00:07:02,443 Waru actually means fire 175 00:07:02,523 --> 00:07:04,523 in a number of indigenous dialects, 176 00:07:04,603 --> 00:07:06,283 and he was given that name 177 00:07:06,363 --> 00:07:08,083 pretty much because of his personality. 178 00:07:08,163 --> 00:07:10,683 He's a very feisty little guy, 179 00:07:10,763 --> 00:07:13,443 and he is definitely very cheeky already, 180 00:07:13,523 --> 00:07:17,043 and we call him "the little terror," 181 00:07:17,123 --> 00:07:19,003 in the most loving way possible. 182 00:07:19,083 --> 00:07:21,683 Yeah, he's just full of energy when he's out. 183 00:07:21,763 --> 00:07:24,563 It's almost feed time, bud. 184 00:07:24,643 --> 00:07:27,083 So we are feeding him, at the moment, every four hours. 185 00:07:27,163 --> 00:07:28,763 He's getting milk feeds. 186 00:07:28,843 --> 00:07:31,923 He also gets a water feed a couple of times a day as well. 187 00:07:32,003 --> 00:07:36,523 We obviously have to keep him nice and clean and dry and warm, 188 00:07:36,603 --> 00:07:37,763 so changing pouch whenever we need it. 189 00:07:37,843 --> 00:07:39,003 Lots of laundry. 190 00:07:39,083 --> 00:07:42,803 Lots of laundry. Tons of laundry. 191 00:07:42,883 --> 00:07:44,123 Are you going to take it? 192 00:07:44,203 --> 00:07:46,403 Yeah, good boy. 193 00:07:46,483 --> 00:07:48,683 He's such a heart-melter. 194 00:07:48,763 --> 00:07:51,003 He is just the cutest little thing. 195 00:07:51,083 --> 00:07:52,843 You're really smashing that, buddy. 196 00:07:52,923 --> 00:07:54,123 It would be normally about a year 197 00:07:54,203 --> 00:07:55,683 before they're fully independent from mom, 198 00:07:55,763 --> 00:07:57,723 so we'll be looking after him 199 00:07:57,803 --> 00:08:00,123 until about that 12-month stage. 200 00:08:00,203 --> 00:08:03,363 Oh, buddy. 201 00:08:03,443 --> 00:08:04,643 Very, very cute. 202 00:08:04,723 --> 00:08:06,403 In the wild, 203 00:08:06,483 --> 00:08:08,603 a wombat joey would not be able to survive on its own. 204 00:08:08,683 --> 00:08:10,723 They're dependent on mom for up to two years of age. 205 00:08:10,803 --> 00:08:14,163 So these guys need 24-7 care. 206 00:08:14,243 --> 00:08:15,683 Time to go home. 207 00:08:18,243 --> 00:08:22,403 Care for Waru isn't just confined to the zoo. 208 00:08:22,483 --> 00:08:23,403 You ready? 209 00:08:23,483 --> 00:08:25,083 So, I'm taking Waru, 210 00:08:25,163 --> 00:08:28,163 the southern hairy-nosed wombat joey home with me tonight. 211 00:08:28,243 --> 00:08:30,763 That's part of the job when you're hand-raising an animal 212 00:08:30,843 --> 00:08:32,643 is they often do need to go home with you. 213 00:08:32,723 --> 00:08:34,483 Have you got everything you need? 214 00:08:34,563 --> 00:08:35,523 You have his milk, 215 00:08:35,603 --> 00:08:37,043 you've got his diaper bag, 216 00:08:37,123 --> 00:08:38,323 and clean pouches. 217 00:08:38,403 --> 00:08:39,643 I've got all his pouches, 218 00:08:39,723 --> 00:08:40,723 his records, his bag. 219 00:08:40,803 --> 00:08:42,043 The problem is 220 00:08:42,123 --> 00:08:45,603 the hairy-nosed wombat is nocturnal, 221 00:08:45,683 --> 00:08:48,643 so Andrew is in for another restless night. 222 00:08:48,723 --> 00:08:50,563 You be good for Andrew. 223 00:08:50,643 --> 00:08:51,403 I doubt that. 224 00:08:55,563 --> 00:08:57,563 At Taronga, 225 00:08:57,643 --> 00:09:00,403 there are more birds than any other animal in the zoo. 226 00:09:00,483 --> 00:09:02,603 Wow! 227 00:09:02,683 --> 00:09:04,123 Many were injured animals 228 00:09:04,203 --> 00:09:08,843 that came through Taronga's rehab facility. 229 00:09:08,923 --> 00:09:11,203 Those that couldn't be released back into the wild 230 00:09:11,283 --> 00:09:14,803 are integrated into the zoo as ambassadors for their species. 231 00:09:14,883 --> 00:09:16,323 Looks like she's going to go in. 232 00:09:16,403 --> 00:09:18,603 Yay! 233 00:09:18,683 --> 00:09:20,643 Leslie, an Andean condor, 234 00:09:20,723 --> 00:09:22,843 is one such ambassador, 235 00:09:22,923 --> 00:09:26,843 but lately she's started to lose her mojo. 236 00:09:26,923 --> 00:09:28,963 While Matt has been working with her closely, 237 00:09:29,043 --> 00:09:31,563 he's asked Taronga's bird expert, Grey, 238 00:09:31,643 --> 00:09:32,763 who used to run the bird team, 239 00:09:32,843 --> 00:09:35,243 to come down and have a look. 240 00:09:35,323 --> 00:09:36,923 We'll get Leslie, 241 00:09:37,003 --> 00:09:40,243 and I think just release her from up on the grass. 242 00:09:40,323 --> 00:09:42,443 We're about to work Leslie, the Andean condor. 243 00:09:42,523 --> 00:09:44,603 She's been out of shows for a few days 244 00:09:44,683 --> 00:09:46,443 because she had some issues. 245 00:09:46,523 --> 00:09:49,283 She took about 30 minutes to fly from her release the other day. 246 00:09:49,363 --> 00:09:51,003 In you go. 247 00:09:51,083 --> 00:09:53,563 All the way. 248 00:09:53,643 --> 00:09:55,563 When I started at the zoo 15 years ago, 249 00:09:55,643 --> 00:09:58,683 Leslie was two years old and still living with her parents. 250 00:09:58,763 --> 00:10:01,323 Luckily she very quickly came around, 251 00:10:01,403 --> 00:10:04,443 and because I started working with her at such a young age, 252 00:10:04,523 --> 00:10:06,443 we've developed a really good relationship 253 00:10:06,523 --> 00:10:08,723 where I completely trust her. 254 00:10:08,803 --> 00:10:10,043 Rebuilding a bird's confidence 255 00:10:10,123 --> 00:10:11,643 can be a slow process. 256 00:10:11,723 --> 00:10:13,443 Any time we train a behavior, 257 00:10:13,523 --> 00:10:14,923 whether it's a new behavior 258 00:10:15,003 --> 00:10:16,963 or an old behavior that's broken down, 259 00:10:17,043 --> 00:10:18,523 we always want to break everything down 260 00:10:18,603 --> 00:10:21,083 into small, very easily achievable steps. 261 00:10:21,163 --> 00:10:23,483 So we need to build up her confidence again, 262 00:10:23,563 --> 00:10:24,963 get her working a lot faster. 263 00:10:25,043 --> 00:10:26,923 So, currently Matt is getting ready to release her. 264 00:10:27,003 --> 00:10:29,603 We're going to take her up and release her from the lawns 265 00:10:29,683 --> 00:10:31,523 that are just above the theater. 266 00:10:31,603 --> 00:10:33,763 So that helps to build their confidence 267 00:10:33,843 --> 00:10:35,123 with what we're asking them to do. 268 00:10:35,203 --> 00:10:38,403 It may not be easy to ask her to fly 50 meters, 269 00:10:38,483 --> 00:10:40,923 but it is easy to get her to fly five meters. 270 00:10:41,003 --> 00:10:43,443 And so we slowly build those steps up, 271 00:10:43,523 --> 00:10:44,963 build that confidence 272 00:10:45,043 --> 00:10:46,363 until she's willing to take the last step 273 00:10:46,443 --> 00:10:48,683 and do her full routine from her release tower 274 00:10:48,763 --> 00:10:50,483 all the way down the stage. 275 00:10:50,563 --> 00:10:52,003 Hopefully today, 276 00:10:52,083 --> 00:10:53,363 because she's had a little bit of time off, 277 00:10:53,443 --> 00:10:54,683 today will go smoothly. 278 00:10:54,763 --> 00:10:56,443 You ready, Grey? 279 00:10:56,523 --> 00:10:57,323 Yeah, we're ready. 280 00:11:05,003 --> 00:11:06,803 Jimmy is continuing 281 00:11:06,883 --> 00:11:08,843 his daily rounds of the ungulates, 282 00:11:08,923 --> 00:11:12,563 and next up is an animal that's nearing extinction. 283 00:11:12,643 --> 00:11:13,683 Morning, boys. 284 00:11:17,843 --> 00:11:19,963 So, for me, the best part of being a zookeeper 285 00:11:20,043 --> 00:11:21,643 is knowing that I'm making a difference. 286 00:11:21,723 --> 00:11:22,763 We get to do a lot of stuff here, 287 00:11:22,843 --> 00:11:24,043 and we get to educate the public, 288 00:11:24,123 --> 00:11:25,963 and we get to do animal care here, 289 00:11:26,043 --> 00:11:28,843 but we also get to take a lot of what we learn to the wild, 290 00:11:28,923 --> 00:11:31,163 and that's really, really important. 291 00:11:31,243 --> 00:11:33,603 So, we're off to feed the bongo and clean the bongo exhibit. 292 00:11:33,683 --> 00:11:34,763 Bongos are the largest 293 00:11:34,843 --> 00:11:37,163 forest-dwelling antelope in the world. 294 00:11:37,243 --> 00:11:38,883 But before I do the bongo exhibit, 295 00:11:38,963 --> 00:11:40,523 I have to feed our lovely little chickens. 296 00:11:40,603 --> 00:11:42,523 We can't miss out on them. 297 00:11:42,603 --> 00:11:44,803 Chook, chook, chook, chook, chooks. 298 00:11:44,883 --> 00:11:46,523 Chook, chook, chook, chook, chooks. 299 00:11:46,603 --> 00:11:47,763 There you go, guys. 300 00:11:47,843 --> 00:11:50,363 Breakfast is served. 301 00:11:50,443 --> 00:11:53,643 And now we go and do the bongo. 302 00:11:53,723 --> 00:11:55,683 Like the giraffe, 303 00:11:55,763 --> 00:11:58,523 the bongo is a massive consumer of hay. 304 00:11:58,603 --> 00:12:00,003 It's dinner time. 305 00:12:00,083 --> 00:12:01,403 And for the bongos at Taronga, 306 00:12:01,483 --> 00:12:03,403 it's nothing but the best. 307 00:12:03,483 --> 00:12:05,043 This is lucerne hay. 308 00:12:05,123 --> 00:12:06,883 There's a couple of different varieties of hay, 309 00:12:06,963 --> 00:12:09,163 but bongo like lucerne hay, and you know what? 310 00:12:09,243 --> 00:12:10,923 I never ever dreamed 311 00:12:11,003 --> 00:12:12,923 that I would look at the different qualities of hay 312 00:12:13,003 --> 00:12:14,283 and appreciate it. 313 00:12:14,363 --> 00:12:15,683 This is really, really good hay. 314 00:12:15,763 --> 00:12:17,483 I can tell you what, 315 00:12:17,563 --> 00:12:20,403 if I was a hoof stock or a grass-eating animal, 316 00:12:20,483 --> 00:12:22,203 I'd prefer this. 317 00:12:22,283 --> 00:12:23,683 You can sometimes get hay that's really, really stalky. 318 00:12:23,763 --> 00:12:25,443 This is really, really fluffy, 319 00:12:25,523 --> 00:12:26,883 which is really, really good hay. 320 00:12:26,963 --> 00:12:28,563 I'm not sure if you can appreciate it, 321 00:12:28,643 --> 00:12:31,643 but I'm sure he's going to appreciate it. 322 00:12:31,723 --> 00:12:34,963 So here is the browse for out male bongo, Akundu. 323 00:12:35,043 --> 00:12:37,283 He really likes it. This is celtis. 324 00:12:37,363 --> 00:12:39,083 We try and give him as much variety as possible. 325 00:12:39,163 --> 00:12:40,963 But I can tell you what, he's going to love today. 326 00:12:41,043 --> 00:12:43,483 With that good hay and this good browse, 327 00:12:43,563 --> 00:12:45,123 it's gonna be a good day for him. 328 00:12:45,203 --> 00:12:47,643 But before the food comes a body check. 329 00:12:47,723 --> 00:12:48,883 It gives me a good indication 330 00:12:48,963 --> 00:12:50,563 to have a good look all over him 331 00:12:50,643 --> 00:12:51,563 and make sure his body is in good condition, 332 00:12:51,643 --> 00:12:53,283 there's nothing going wrong, 333 00:12:53,363 --> 00:12:55,083 there's nothing unusual that's happened overnight, 334 00:12:55,163 --> 00:12:56,603 he has no ticks on his body. 335 00:12:56,683 --> 00:12:58,123 It's all about their welfare, 336 00:12:58,203 --> 00:12:59,163 and we want to keep him as comfortable as possible, 337 00:12:59,243 --> 00:13:00,043 you know. 338 00:13:02,363 --> 00:13:03,523 Good boy, darling. 339 00:13:03,603 --> 00:13:04,483 Door. 340 00:13:08,963 --> 00:13:11,563 You're all right. Good boy. 341 00:13:11,643 --> 00:13:13,763 Good boy. Impressive, huh? 342 00:13:13,843 --> 00:13:15,443 Touch. Thank you. 343 00:13:18,283 --> 00:13:20,163 So what I'm doing here 344 00:13:20,243 --> 00:13:21,883 is I'm not just brushing him to make him look good. 345 00:13:21,963 --> 00:13:24,643 It's a great way for us keepers to give a body condition 346 00:13:24,723 --> 00:13:26,563 and check on his body condition, 347 00:13:26,643 --> 00:13:28,603 make sure there's no parasites. 348 00:13:28,683 --> 00:13:30,963 And it's also a good way for him to get used to us touching him. 349 00:13:31,043 --> 00:13:32,443 So if we ever need to do blood draws 350 00:13:32,523 --> 00:13:33,643 or veterinary procedures, 351 00:13:33,723 --> 00:13:35,083 he's already used to people being around him 352 00:13:35,163 --> 00:13:36,443 and touching him. 353 00:13:36,523 --> 00:13:38,523 But at the same time, I still have to watch my safety. 354 00:13:38,603 --> 00:13:41,643 I don't want to get between those big horns and these bars. 355 00:13:41,723 --> 00:13:43,323 Spray. 356 00:13:43,403 --> 00:13:45,283 So what I'm doing now, this stuff here is Repel-X. 357 00:13:45,363 --> 00:13:46,683 So you can use this on your dogs at home, 358 00:13:46,763 --> 00:13:47,843 you can use it on yourself. 359 00:13:47,923 --> 00:13:50,163 It's basically a fly repellent. 360 00:13:50,243 --> 00:13:51,843 Um, spray. 361 00:13:51,923 --> 00:13:53,643 You can see I cued that. 362 00:13:53,723 --> 00:13:55,683 We don't do anything as a surprise. 363 00:13:55,763 --> 00:13:57,843 So anything that is any behavior I'm asking, 364 00:13:57,923 --> 00:13:59,963 even though I'm only asking him to stand still, 365 00:14:00,043 --> 00:14:02,043 I want him to know that I'm about to spray him. 366 00:14:02,123 --> 00:14:04,043 So you'll see when I started, I said "spray." 367 00:14:04,123 --> 00:14:06,603 Nothing is a surprise for him. 368 00:14:06,683 --> 00:14:08,443 You want a scratch? Scratch? 369 00:14:08,523 --> 00:14:09,843 Good boy. So this is Akundu. 370 00:14:09,923 --> 00:14:12,443 He is our male bongo here at Taronga Zoo. 371 00:14:12,523 --> 00:14:15,763 I know that there-- his ex-girlfriend, Djembi, 372 00:14:15,843 --> 00:14:17,523 is out at Western Plains Zoo, 373 00:14:17,603 --> 00:14:19,043 and I've heard on the grapevine, mate, 374 00:14:19,123 --> 00:14:21,883 that she might have a bun in the oven, so to speak. 375 00:14:21,963 --> 00:14:23,603 So don't feel jealous about that, mate. 376 00:14:23,683 --> 00:14:25,643 Feel proud for the species, eh? 377 00:14:25,723 --> 00:14:27,083 A bongo pregnancy 378 00:14:27,163 --> 00:14:29,683 is massive news for the species, 379 00:14:29,763 --> 00:14:32,923 as they're doing it extremely tough in the wild. 380 00:14:33,003 --> 00:14:34,363 Bongo numbers are really, really low in the wild. 381 00:14:34,443 --> 00:14:36,923 I think they're less than a hundred. 382 00:14:37,003 --> 00:14:38,243 So you can think that animal 383 00:14:38,323 --> 00:14:39,963 is critically, critically endangered. 384 00:14:40,043 --> 00:14:41,563 They'll be gone from the wild soon. 385 00:14:41,643 --> 00:14:43,403 So it's up to us to breed up, 386 00:14:43,483 --> 00:14:45,923 and then hopefully one day we can secure their habitat 387 00:14:46,003 --> 00:14:47,243 and release them back into the wild. 388 00:14:47,323 --> 00:14:48,763 But that's a really, really big hope, 389 00:14:48,843 --> 00:14:50,763 and that's what half the problem is. 390 00:14:50,843 --> 00:14:52,523 We can breed these animals, which is fantastic. 391 00:14:52,603 --> 00:14:54,723 We've got nowhere to release them yet. 392 00:14:54,803 --> 00:14:56,323 So until we can fix the problem 393 00:14:56,403 --> 00:14:59,363 of them being poached in the wild, 394 00:14:59,443 --> 00:15:00,683 we are just at a standstill. 395 00:15:00,763 --> 00:15:03,363 But such exciting news for bongos 396 00:15:03,443 --> 00:15:04,683 that we've got a new one on the way. 397 00:15:10,523 --> 00:15:12,163 Keeper Andrew 398 00:15:12,243 --> 00:15:15,803 is traveling with some very precious cargo. 399 00:15:15,883 --> 00:15:19,443 He's taken Waru home for the night. 400 00:15:19,523 --> 00:15:23,603 Waru was in a pretty dire situation, I guess. 401 00:15:23,683 --> 00:15:25,923 When he came to us, he'd just lost his mom, 402 00:15:26,003 --> 00:15:28,283 so we've got to do whatever it takes 403 00:15:28,363 --> 00:15:29,203 to get him through. 404 00:15:32,683 --> 00:15:35,923 It's vital that Waru survives. 405 00:15:36,003 --> 00:15:37,403 He'll be a really important part 406 00:15:37,483 --> 00:15:39,603 of our breeding program. 407 00:15:39,683 --> 00:15:42,923 He's the first male we've had born here in five years, 408 00:15:43,003 --> 00:15:44,603 so it's up to us to make sure 409 00:15:44,683 --> 00:15:48,203 that we give him the best chance of growing up healthfully 410 00:15:48,283 --> 00:15:50,403 and making sure we're doing whatever we need to do 411 00:15:50,483 --> 00:15:52,243 to get him through. 412 00:15:52,323 --> 00:15:53,603 Out you go, little man. 413 00:15:53,683 --> 00:15:55,283 Sound asleep. 414 00:15:55,363 --> 00:15:57,323 Whether that's getting up at 2 AM to feed him, 415 00:15:57,403 --> 00:15:59,883 whether that's giving up all our free time 416 00:15:59,963 --> 00:16:01,603 to make sure he's supervised 417 00:16:01,683 --> 00:16:02,763 and we know what's going on with him, 418 00:16:02,843 --> 00:16:04,443 but, you know, that's part and parcel, 419 00:16:04,523 --> 00:16:05,923 that's the job, 420 00:16:06,003 --> 00:16:07,483 and while that sounds like a lot of work, 421 00:16:07,563 --> 00:16:08,363 it's also a lot of fun. 422 00:16:10,803 --> 00:16:12,483 So this is home for little Waru, 423 00:16:12,563 --> 00:16:14,923 or home within a home. 424 00:16:15,003 --> 00:16:19,003 So he's got a nice, nice big bed here. 425 00:16:19,083 --> 00:16:20,563 So we've got a little bit of grass here, 426 00:16:20,643 --> 00:16:22,323 a little bit of turf, 427 00:16:22,403 --> 00:16:24,203 and it's really important for him to transition to solid foods 428 00:16:24,283 --> 00:16:28,563 and grass and vegetation is what he'd be eating out in the wild. 429 00:16:28,643 --> 00:16:30,363 I have a little chew toy here for Waru. 430 00:16:30,443 --> 00:16:32,483 Honestly, it's a dog toy. 431 00:16:32,563 --> 00:16:34,203 He loves to chew things, 432 00:16:34,283 --> 00:16:36,123 so it works just as well for baby wombats as well, 433 00:16:36,203 --> 00:16:38,763 and then a little soft toy for him as well. 434 00:16:38,843 --> 00:16:41,083 So, you know, I'd like to say he cuddles it, 435 00:16:41,163 --> 00:16:43,883 but he probably chews that just as much as well. 436 00:16:43,963 --> 00:16:46,243 So, it's early evening, coming up to six o'clock, 437 00:16:46,323 --> 00:16:49,163 so time for Waru to have another bottle of milk very soon, 438 00:16:49,243 --> 00:16:53,003 and then he'll probably fall straight back asleep. 439 00:16:53,083 --> 00:16:56,403 Wombats are nocturnal. 440 00:16:56,483 --> 00:17:00,443 So while Andrew gets ready for bed, 441 00:17:00,523 --> 00:17:02,603 Waru is just waking up. 442 00:17:14,483 --> 00:17:16,443 Yeah, life's pretty strange sometimes 443 00:17:16,523 --> 00:17:18,203 when you're a zookeeper 444 00:17:18,283 --> 00:17:20,483 and you're bringing an animal home to your apartment. 445 00:17:20,563 --> 00:17:22,283 You ready? 446 00:17:22,363 --> 00:17:24,563 Here you go. 447 00:17:24,643 --> 00:17:27,163 To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm mom, dad, 448 00:17:27,243 --> 00:17:30,243 or, you know, just the milkman for little Waru here. 449 00:17:30,323 --> 00:17:31,763 Good job, buddy. 450 00:17:31,843 --> 00:17:33,043 It's a lot of work bringing him home, 451 00:17:33,123 --> 00:17:35,283 but hopefully he pulls through, 452 00:17:35,363 --> 00:17:37,003 makes it to adulthood, 453 00:17:37,083 --> 00:17:38,603 and, you know, contributes to the breeding program 454 00:17:38,683 --> 00:17:41,403 for this, you know, it's a vulnerable species. 455 00:17:41,483 --> 00:17:43,683 Well done. 456 00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:46,203 Now a big scratch. 457 00:17:46,283 --> 00:17:48,403 So he's a very important little fella, 458 00:17:48,483 --> 00:17:51,203 and we're going to do everything we can to get him there. 459 00:17:51,283 --> 00:17:54,643 Right now, life looks good for little Waru. 460 00:17:54,723 --> 00:17:57,203 Looks like you're going into a milk coma. 461 00:17:57,283 --> 00:17:59,203 Are you a little bit milk drunk? 462 00:17:59,283 --> 00:18:02,763 But unfortunately, that's all about to change. 463 00:18:07,963 --> 00:18:09,923 Leslie, the Andean condor, 464 00:18:10,003 --> 00:18:13,123 has lost her mojo and is refusing to fly. 465 00:18:13,203 --> 00:18:15,163 So we need to build up her confidence again, 466 00:18:15,243 --> 00:18:16,963 get her working a lot faster. 467 00:18:17,043 --> 00:18:18,483 So Matt and Grey 468 00:18:18,563 --> 00:18:20,643 are trying to get her back on track. 469 00:18:20,723 --> 00:18:23,243 We're ready. 470 00:18:23,323 --> 00:18:25,243 And they plan to do this 471 00:18:25,323 --> 00:18:26,963 by starting small. 472 00:18:27,043 --> 00:18:30,723 It may not be easy to ask her to fly 50 meters, 473 00:18:30,803 --> 00:18:32,923 but it is easy to get her to fly five meters. 474 00:18:33,003 --> 00:18:34,963 And so we slowly build those steps up, 475 00:18:35,043 --> 00:18:36,443 build that confidence 476 00:18:36,523 --> 00:18:38,123 until she's willing to take the last step. 477 00:18:38,203 --> 00:18:39,643 You ready, Grey? 478 00:18:39,723 --> 00:18:40,603 Yeah, we're ready. 479 00:18:47,723 --> 00:18:49,003 There she is. 480 00:18:52,043 --> 00:18:54,363 Give her a little wave. Here she comes. 481 00:18:56,603 --> 00:18:58,363 Yeah. 482 00:18:58,443 --> 00:18:59,603 You're all right. 483 00:18:59,683 --> 00:19:01,043 It's early days, 484 00:19:01,123 --> 00:19:03,483 but at least Leslie is back in the air. 485 00:19:03,563 --> 00:19:05,043 Good girl. 486 00:19:05,123 --> 00:19:07,003 My concerns with Leslie's performance today 487 00:19:07,083 --> 00:19:09,683 was that she would be slow to come down to stage 488 00:19:09,763 --> 00:19:11,323 and slow to exit. 489 00:19:11,403 --> 00:19:13,803 She's a little bit nervous today. 490 00:19:13,883 --> 00:19:15,963 She did have a little bit of concern 491 00:19:16,043 --> 00:19:18,083 over some novel objects in the environment, 492 00:19:18,163 --> 00:19:20,443 but what I appreciated about this session 493 00:19:20,523 --> 00:19:22,443 was she recovered very quickly from that. 494 00:19:22,523 --> 00:19:24,003 Come on. 495 00:19:24,083 --> 00:19:26,643 She very quickly put her attention back on me. 496 00:19:26,723 --> 00:19:28,563 I was able to get her back on track 497 00:19:28,643 --> 00:19:30,163 and finish off the routine, 498 00:19:30,243 --> 00:19:33,283 and this is hopefully... 499 00:19:33,363 --> 00:19:34,683 job done. 500 00:19:34,763 --> 00:19:36,763 She was very quick out, quick down the stage, 501 00:19:36,843 --> 00:19:39,043 she exited really well, so I'm happy with that. 502 00:19:39,123 --> 00:19:40,443 I think that Leslie 503 00:19:40,523 --> 00:19:42,483 has definitely done a great job today. 504 00:19:42,563 --> 00:19:44,243 I have every confidence 505 00:19:44,323 --> 00:19:46,283 that we're going to be able to have her back in shows, 506 00:19:46,363 --> 00:19:49,523 flying from a release tower hopefully within the next week. 507 00:19:57,883 --> 00:19:59,323 Over the last few weeks, 508 00:19:59,403 --> 00:20:02,723 substitute mum Suzie has noticed that Waru, 509 00:20:02,803 --> 00:20:04,923 the orphaned southern hairy-nosed wombat, 510 00:20:05,003 --> 00:20:07,803 is having trouble walking. 511 00:20:07,883 --> 00:20:09,643 So she's taken him to the animal hospital 512 00:20:09,723 --> 00:20:11,003 to investigate. 513 00:20:11,083 --> 00:20:12,203 The last couple of days 514 00:20:12,283 --> 00:20:13,963 his gait's just changed a little bit, 515 00:20:14,043 --> 00:20:15,763 the way he walks is a little bit different, 516 00:20:15,843 --> 00:20:17,243 so we just want to have a good look at him 517 00:20:17,323 --> 00:20:18,883 and see what's going on. 518 00:20:18,963 --> 00:20:21,563 So as far as this sort of lameness goes, 519 00:20:21,643 --> 00:20:23,283 how was he over the weekend? 520 00:20:23,363 --> 00:20:25,803 I wouldn't say there's been much improvement, 521 00:20:25,883 --> 00:20:28,923 and last night maybe a little bit less inactive 522 00:20:29,003 --> 00:20:30,723 after we spoke. 523 00:20:30,803 --> 00:20:32,523 Like he still is able to get around. 524 00:20:32,603 --> 00:20:36,403 He just, yeah, he likes to sit down a lot. 525 00:20:36,483 --> 00:20:38,163 So maybe before we anesthetize him, 526 00:20:38,243 --> 00:20:40,683 let's see him just walking around. 527 00:20:40,763 --> 00:20:42,363 Yeah. Come on, bub. Up you get. 528 00:20:42,443 --> 00:20:43,323 Good boy. 529 00:20:45,443 --> 00:20:49,603 A really stiff, shuffly sort of gait. 530 00:20:49,683 --> 00:20:51,643 OK. We'll pop him back in the pouch, 531 00:20:51,723 --> 00:20:54,363 and we'll just mask him down with the anesthetic. 532 00:20:54,443 --> 00:20:56,163 With his walk, 533 00:20:56,243 --> 00:20:58,323 he was just a little bit less active than he usually is 534 00:20:58,403 --> 00:20:59,963 and just seemed a little bit stiff 535 00:21:00,043 --> 00:21:02,203 and a little bit tentative on his back legs. 536 00:21:02,283 --> 00:21:05,443 So, that's why we sort of want to have a look 537 00:21:05,523 --> 00:21:06,723 whilst he's doing a wee. 538 00:21:09,243 --> 00:21:11,643 Yeah, I mean, I'm definitely concerned. 539 00:21:11,723 --> 00:21:13,883 Seeing that change in behavior 540 00:21:13,963 --> 00:21:16,763 and the way that he's walking is a little bit unusual. 541 00:21:16,843 --> 00:21:19,003 But I know he's in the best hands here 542 00:21:19,083 --> 00:21:20,443 so he's going to get a good check-up, 543 00:21:20,523 --> 00:21:22,923 and we'll find out what's going on. 544 00:21:23,003 --> 00:21:25,083 While he's still going to sleep, 545 00:21:25,163 --> 00:21:27,043 just give him a quick exam. 546 00:21:27,123 --> 00:21:29,643 So just feeling if there's any lumps or bumps, 547 00:21:29,723 --> 00:21:31,763 any what we call crepitus, 548 00:21:31,843 --> 00:21:35,883 so crunching feeling or grating feeling in the joints. 549 00:21:35,963 --> 00:21:39,523 Yeah, so certainly none of that is evident at the moment. 550 00:21:39,603 --> 00:21:41,563 Is it normal for their ankle bones 551 00:21:41,643 --> 00:21:43,883 to be quite prominent like that? 552 00:21:43,963 --> 00:21:45,923 It is prominent, 553 00:21:46,003 --> 00:21:48,843 and actually--look--his elbows are very prominent as well. 554 00:21:48,923 --> 00:21:52,163 But I'm pretty sure that would be a normal thing. 555 00:21:52,243 --> 00:21:53,563 But let's do some X-rays. 556 00:21:53,643 --> 00:21:56,483 We probably don't need to intubate him. 557 00:21:56,563 --> 00:21:59,363 So the X-ray is going to be very useful 558 00:21:59,443 --> 00:22:02,563 to evaluate particularly his skeleton, 559 00:22:02,643 --> 00:22:06,603 just make sure all his bones are developing properly. 560 00:22:06,683 --> 00:22:09,803 For keeper Suzie, Waru's protective mom, 561 00:22:09,883 --> 00:22:12,763 it's hard to see him in such a helpless state. 562 00:22:12,843 --> 00:22:14,603 I guess I feel a little bit anxious, 563 00:22:14,683 --> 00:22:17,963 seeing him sort of splayed out like that. 564 00:22:18,043 --> 00:22:19,883 It's a little bit confronting. 565 00:22:19,963 --> 00:22:21,003 All right, let's take this x-ray. 566 00:22:30,523 --> 00:22:34,403 So you can see all these sort of dark spots 567 00:22:34,483 --> 00:22:36,083 here in the intestines, 568 00:22:36,163 --> 00:22:37,683 and that's gas. 569 00:22:37,763 --> 00:22:40,443 So the black bits, and then all the whiter bits 570 00:22:40,523 --> 00:22:42,403 are actually his feces. 571 00:22:42,483 --> 00:22:46,363 So he's got a lot of feces and a lot of gas. 572 00:22:46,443 --> 00:22:48,523 Um, does he fart a lot? 573 00:22:48,603 --> 00:22:50,443 Not that often. 574 00:22:50,523 --> 00:22:51,843 Um, yeah. 575 00:22:53,923 --> 00:22:55,963 A couple of times, yeah. 576 00:22:56,043 --> 00:22:58,323 OK, let's just get his skull, 577 00:22:58,403 --> 00:23:00,083 but actually I might do a skull... 578 00:23:00,163 --> 00:23:02,923 just turn him over and do a DV. 579 00:23:03,003 --> 00:23:05,003 Since he's in a good position, and then we can... 580 00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:08,883 I guess it's just the unknown, 581 00:23:08,963 --> 00:23:11,603 not knowing what is going on 582 00:23:11,683 --> 00:23:14,643 and why he might be showing this change in gait 583 00:23:14,723 --> 00:23:16,763 and a little bit of potential soreness. 584 00:23:16,843 --> 00:23:19,963 But, yeah, it's just having spent the last five months 585 00:23:20,043 --> 00:23:21,923 looking after him 24-7, 586 00:23:22,003 --> 00:23:23,443 you know, we just want him to do well 587 00:23:23,523 --> 00:23:25,123 and get to adulthood 588 00:23:25,203 --> 00:23:28,283 so we're just hoping that, yeah, that he does well. 589 00:23:28,363 --> 00:23:29,643 Did you want to come and have a look, Suze? 590 00:23:29,723 --> 00:23:30,603 Yep. 591 00:23:32,763 --> 00:23:35,203 OK. There are certain things here 592 00:23:35,283 --> 00:23:37,923 that don't seem quite right. 593 00:23:47,603 --> 00:23:49,283 Hello, beautiful boy. 594 00:23:49,363 --> 00:23:50,843 Animal husbandry 595 00:23:50,923 --> 00:23:52,803 is the practice of caring for animals 596 00:23:52,883 --> 00:23:54,923 and is one of the most important aspects 597 00:23:55,003 --> 00:23:56,643 of running a zoo. 598 00:23:56,723 --> 00:23:58,403 How are you doing? 599 00:23:58,483 --> 00:24:00,563 Are we going to do your teeth? 600 00:24:00,643 --> 00:24:01,723 While the majority of care 601 00:24:01,803 --> 00:24:03,363 happens behind the scenes... 602 00:24:03,443 --> 00:24:04,323 Open. 603 00:24:06,683 --> 00:24:08,963 Good. 604 00:24:09,043 --> 00:24:11,603 ...one of the most visible examples at Taronga 605 00:24:11,683 --> 00:24:13,323 is the daily elephant bath. 606 00:24:19,403 --> 00:24:21,963 So we give our elephants a bath every day. 607 00:24:22,043 --> 00:24:23,603 It's just an activity that they really enjoy. 608 00:24:23,683 --> 00:24:25,403 Elephants actually love water. 609 00:24:25,483 --> 00:24:28,243 Diesel. Jaidee. Move up. 610 00:24:28,323 --> 00:24:30,043 Good boy. 611 00:24:30,123 --> 00:24:31,603 We do our baths roughly about the same time 612 00:24:31,683 --> 00:24:33,483 so they know it's going to happen, 613 00:24:33,563 --> 00:24:35,123 and it's entirely their choice. 614 00:24:35,203 --> 00:24:36,963 If they don't want to participate in something, 615 00:24:37,043 --> 00:24:38,283 they don't have to. 616 00:24:38,363 --> 00:24:40,283 But they know the baths are about to happen. 617 00:24:40,363 --> 00:24:42,403 We ask them to come in if they want to. 618 00:24:42,483 --> 00:24:43,563 Every day they come in. 619 00:24:43,643 --> 00:24:45,083 Jaidee, move up. 620 00:24:45,163 --> 00:24:46,643 That a boy. 621 00:24:46,723 --> 00:24:47,883 We've got the three Asian elephants 622 00:24:47,963 --> 00:24:50,563 that are joining us for the bath today. 623 00:24:50,643 --> 00:24:52,403 So we've got our matriarch, Pakboo. 624 00:24:52,483 --> 00:24:54,243 She's the eldest. 625 00:24:54,323 --> 00:24:56,563 And then we've got her son, Jaidee, 626 00:24:56,643 --> 00:24:58,163 who just turned two, 627 00:24:58,243 --> 00:25:00,763 and his name means "good heart" in Thai. 628 00:25:00,843 --> 00:25:02,563 And then our other elephant is Taimo, 629 00:25:02,643 --> 00:25:04,923 and she loves her bath as well, 630 00:25:05,003 --> 00:25:06,643 but she doesn't quite stick to the routine 631 00:25:06,723 --> 00:25:08,163 that the other elephants do. 632 00:25:08,243 --> 00:25:10,643 She's got her own way of laying down, 633 00:25:10,723 --> 00:25:12,283 and I'd rather do it this way. 634 00:25:12,363 --> 00:25:14,403 They've each got their own little quirks and personalities 635 00:25:14,483 --> 00:25:15,603 and like certain things, 636 00:25:15,683 --> 00:25:17,683 so, yeah, it's always fun. 637 00:25:17,763 --> 00:25:19,283 Jaidee, move up. Come on, buddy. 638 00:25:19,363 --> 00:25:20,683 The point of the bath 639 00:25:20,763 --> 00:25:22,603 isn't to get them clean, necessarily. 640 00:25:22,683 --> 00:25:25,403 It's just for us to have a look at the skin, 641 00:25:25,483 --> 00:25:27,723 make sure they're in good condition. 642 00:25:27,803 --> 00:25:29,683 Good girl, move up. 643 00:25:29,763 --> 00:25:31,443 Good girl, Pakboo. Move up. 644 00:25:31,523 --> 00:25:33,203 Come on, big boy. Good girl. 645 00:25:33,283 --> 00:25:35,563 Come on, bud. 646 00:25:35,643 --> 00:25:37,883 So this is our two-year-old elephant Jaidee, 647 00:25:37,963 --> 00:25:39,803 and he's enjoying his daily shower. 648 00:25:39,883 --> 00:25:42,603 Some of our keepers just giving him a good scrub, 649 00:25:42,683 --> 00:25:43,763 trying to exfoliate the skin, 650 00:25:43,843 --> 00:25:45,363 making sure it's in good condition, 651 00:25:45,443 --> 00:25:46,923 but also looking it over 652 00:25:47,003 --> 00:25:49,243 and making sure that everything's looking good, 653 00:25:49,323 --> 00:25:52,003 there's no scrapes or cuts that we need to attend to. 654 00:25:52,083 --> 00:25:55,203 It allows us to inspect everything 655 00:25:55,283 --> 00:25:56,803 and seeing how they're moving and how their attitude is. 656 00:25:59,923 --> 00:26:01,123 All right, Jaidee. 657 00:26:01,203 --> 00:26:02,763 Good boy, trunk up. 658 00:26:02,843 --> 00:26:04,763 Good. 659 00:26:04,843 --> 00:26:06,603 Good. Trunk up. 660 00:26:06,683 --> 00:26:08,003 Good boy. Open. 661 00:26:08,083 --> 00:26:09,403 Good boy. 662 00:26:09,483 --> 00:26:11,683 Steady. Good. 663 00:26:11,763 --> 00:26:13,963 That's it, big girl. 664 00:26:14,043 --> 00:26:15,163 That's it, Pakboo. 665 00:26:15,243 --> 00:26:17,043 So this is Pakboo, our matriarch, 666 00:26:17,123 --> 00:26:18,043 and she's Jaidee's mother. 667 00:26:18,123 --> 00:26:19,523 She's 27 years old. 668 00:26:19,603 --> 00:26:21,763 Now it is her turn to enjoy the bath, 669 00:26:21,843 --> 00:26:25,003 and she absolutely loves it. 670 00:26:25,083 --> 00:26:26,723 Everything is based on trust. 671 00:26:26,803 --> 00:26:29,043 In order to lay down, 672 00:26:29,123 --> 00:26:30,923 that can be a very vulnerable position for an elephant. 673 00:26:31,003 --> 00:26:32,523 So they're only going to do it 674 00:26:32,603 --> 00:26:35,323 if they feel safe and comfortable around you. 675 00:26:35,403 --> 00:26:36,523 That's it, Pakboo. 676 00:26:38,443 --> 00:26:40,603 That a girl. 677 00:26:40,683 --> 00:26:44,203 We invest a lot in that positive reinforcement training 678 00:26:44,283 --> 00:26:46,923 and building that bond and respect. 679 00:26:47,003 --> 00:26:48,123 Good. 680 00:26:48,203 --> 00:26:49,963 And once we've established that, 681 00:26:50,043 --> 00:26:53,163 then they're totally willing, they trust us. 682 00:26:53,243 --> 00:26:55,363 Steady, girl. 683 00:26:55,443 --> 00:26:57,563 All right, look. 684 00:26:57,643 --> 00:27:00,443 This is Tangmo, which means watermelon in Thai. 685 00:27:00,523 --> 00:27:02,803 So the biggest watermelon you've ever seen. 686 00:27:02,883 --> 00:27:06,763 And she's just enjoying a drink from the hose. 687 00:27:06,843 --> 00:27:08,443 Because we use warm water for the baths, 688 00:27:08,523 --> 00:27:10,643 it's kind of novel for them to drink warm water, 689 00:27:10,723 --> 00:27:12,883 so we always offer them a drink. 690 00:27:12,963 --> 00:27:14,763 It's like having a little cup of tea 691 00:27:14,843 --> 00:27:16,523 to start the bath. 692 00:27:16,603 --> 00:27:18,763 So, uh, yeah, we give her time to enjoy that 693 00:27:18,843 --> 00:27:20,003 before we actually start the bath. 694 00:27:23,123 --> 00:27:25,443 We also look at the elephants' feet, 695 00:27:25,523 --> 00:27:27,203 very important to an elephant. 696 00:27:27,283 --> 00:27:29,483 We want to make sure they're in the best of condition possible 697 00:27:29,563 --> 00:27:31,483 so we have a look at the bottom, that pad, 698 00:27:31,563 --> 00:27:34,243 make sure that there's no stones or anything stuck in them, 699 00:27:34,323 --> 00:27:36,843 because elephants' feet are very important to them, 700 00:27:36,923 --> 00:27:40,923 and we want to make sure they're in the best condition. 701 00:27:41,003 --> 00:27:42,763 So the final step in the bath 702 00:27:42,843 --> 00:27:44,883 is asking the elephant to open their mouth nice and wide 703 00:27:44,963 --> 00:27:46,763 so that we can visualize the teeth, 704 00:27:46,843 --> 00:27:49,123 'cause teeth are very important to an elephant. 705 00:27:49,203 --> 00:27:51,483 So they've got big massive molars. 706 00:27:51,563 --> 00:27:52,643 They've got four teeth in their mouth 707 00:27:52,723 --> 00:27:54,603 on each corner of the jaw. 708 00:27:54,683 --> 00:27:57,003 And they are grinding food day in, day out. 709 00:27:57,083 --> 00:27:59,083 They eat about 18 hours a day. 710 00:27:59,163 --> 00:28:00,643 We have to make sure they're fully functional, 711 00:28:00,723 --> 00:28:02,043 they're not impacted 712 00:28:02,123 --> 00:28:03,803 because that's its livelihood, 713 00:28:03,883 --> 00:28:07,003 is being able to eat all that hard, dry stuff. 714 00:28:07,083 --> 00:28:08,843 Everything that we do with our elephants 715 00:28:08,923 --> 00:28:10,643 is based on positive reinforcement, 716 00:28:10,723 --> 00:28:12,083 and it's entirely their choice. 717 00:28:12,163 --> 00:28:13,643 If they don't want to participate in something, 718 00:28:13,723 --> 00:28:15,443 they don't have to, 719 00:28:15,523 --> 00:28:16,923 but they know the baths are about to happen, 720 00:28:17,003 --> 00:28:18,483 every day they come in. 721 00:28:18,563 --> 00:28:19,883 So that lets us know 722 00:28:19,963 --> 00:28:20,723 that they actually do like the activity 723 00:28:20,803 --> 00:28:22,403 and love interacting with us. 724 00:28:22,483 --> 00:28:24,523 As far as the elephant is concerned, 725 00:28:24,603 --> 00:28:26,203 it's just a daily spa treatment 726 00:28:26,283 --> 00:28:28,203 and they're just getting a nice scrub, exfoliation, 727 00:28:28,283 --> 00:28:29,843 and fed treats at the same time. 728 00:28:29,923 --> 00:28:31,323 So they love it. Yeah, it's always fun. 729 00:28:37,683 --> 00:28:39,123 Out at Dubbo, 730 00:28:39,203 --> 00:28:41,323 Taronga keepers are maintaining a close eye 731 00:28:41,403 --> 00:28:43,603 on one of the most important pregnancies they've had 732 00:28:43,683 --> 00:28:46,603 in the last few years. 733 00:28:46,683 --> 00:28:47,603 Djembi! 734 00:28:47,683 --> 00:28:49,603 Hey, little girl. 735 00:28:49,683 --> 00:28:52,883 What we're going to do is we're going to give them some lunch. 736 00:28:52,963 --> 00:28:55,723 So we'll put their lunch out with some extra treats. 737 00:28:55,803 --> 00:28:57,603 I've been working with the bongo 738 00:28:57,683 --> 00:29:00,243 for approximately four years now. 739 00:29:00,323 --> 00:29:02,643 We just let them approach us. 740 00:29:02,723 --> 00:29:05,363 Good girl. 741 00:29:05,443 --> 00:29:07,363 Good. 742 00:29:07,443 --> 00:29:08,603 This is Djembi, 743 00:29:08,683 --> 00:29:10,803 our eldest breeding female. 744 00:29:10,883 --> 00:29:15,003 Djembi was actually born here at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. 745 00:29:15,083 --> 00:29:17,283 She's very good with her high-value treats 746 00:29:17,363 --> 00:29:19,843 but that's when you're her favorite. 747 00:29:19,923 --> 00:29:22,403 Otherwise, outside food, she likes to do her own thing. 748 00:29:22,483 --> 00:29:23,883 She's a gorgeous girl, 749 00:29:23,963 --> 00:29:25,643 and she's the one that's in calf, 750 00:29:25,723 --> 00:29:27,203 due any time. 751 00:29:27,283 --> 00:29:30,283 So, yeah, she's looking really well. 752 00:29:30,363 --> 00:29:32,603 She's got a nice little body condition. 753 00:29:32,683 --> 00:29:34,723 The calf actually gets quite active in the afternoon. 754 00:29:34,803 --> 00:29:36,163 You can see it kicking, 755 00:29:36,243 --> 00:29:37,803 and you'll see its little legs push out, 756 00:29:37,883 --> 00:29:39,923 and she'll feel a little uncomfortable. 757 00:29:40,003 --> 00:29:43,243 But she's doing so well. So, so well. 758 00:29:43,323 --> 00:29:46,443 And it's no wonder the baby is active, 759 00:29:46,523 --> 00:29:50,403 as Djembi is due to give birth any day now. 760 00:29:50,483 --> 00:29:52,563 Breeding bongo here at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, 761 00:29:52,643 --> 00:29:54,283 it is not extremely scientific, 762 00:29:54,363 --> 00:29:56,763 but you do have to orchestrate it quite well. 763 00:29:56,843 --> 00:29:58,603 Sometimes you'll see them mate through the day. 764 00:29:58,683 --> 00:30:00,563 With Djembi, she's a little bit more private, 765 00:30:00,643 --> 00:30:02,643 so we think she gets mated overnight, 766 00:30:02,723 --> 00:30:04,643 which does make an accurate due date for her 767 00:30:04,723 --> 00:30:06,163 a little difficult to gauge. 768 00:30:06,243 --> 00:30:09,643 So the calf could come pretty much any day, 769 00:30:09,723 --> 00:30:12,643 however, gestation is about 286 days. 770 00:30:12,723 --> 00:30:15,363 That was from mating to birth. 771 00:30:15,443 --> 00:30:19,203 So the earliest possible calving would be the end of this week. 772 00:30:19,283 --> 00:30:21,523 However, it could be in the next few weeks as well. 773 00:30:21,603 --> 00:30:23,843 We're just praying for a little female. 774 00:30:23,923 --> 00:30:27,083 The region needs a little female so she can be a little warrior, 775 00:30:27,163 --> 00:30:29,603 so we can hopefully buddy her up with a potential breeding male 776 00:30:29,683 --> 00:30:31,523 in the future. 777 00:30:31,603 --> 00:30:33,523 A healthy female bongo baby 778 00:30:33,603 --> 00:30:36,403 will go a long way to helping this species, 779 00:30:36,483 --> 00:30:38,443 as the numbers of this beautiful animal 780 00:30:38,523 --> 00:30:40,643 are in serious decline. 781 00:30:40,723 --> 00:30:42,003 The eastern bongo is found 782 00:30:42,083 --> 00:30:45,083 within the forested areas within Mount Kenya. 783 00:30:45,163 --> 00:30:47,563 However, they're a critically endangered species. 784 00:30:47,643 --> 00:30:48,923 Predation for the eastern bongo 785 00:30:49,003 --> 00:30:52,003 would be primarily leopards within the area, 786 00:30:52,083 --> 00:30:54,523 of course, snaring from man-made snares. 787 00:30:54,603 --> 00:30:56,803 Deforestation is another huge issue, 788 00:30:56,883 --> 00:31:00,243 and also domestic cattle diseases 789 00:31:00,323 --> 00:31:02,843 that is wiping out this remarkable species. 790 00:31:02,923 --> 00:31:05,043 But we'd just be very thankful 791 00:31:05,123 --> 00:31:07,883 for any healthy calf at this stage, 792 00:31:07,963 --> 00:31:09,723 so, yeah, it's super exciting. 793 00:31:09,803 --> 00:31:11,923 There's nothing better than a baby, 794 00:31:12,003 --> 00:31:13,563 so we have to watch this space. 795 00:31:19,683 --> 00:31:21,803 Wombat orphan Waru 796 00:31:21,883 --> 00:31:23,683 is having trouble walking. 797 00:31:24,763 --> 00:31:27,083 After a series of x-rays, 798 00:31:27,163 --> 00:31:30,563 Larry has found some worrying signs. 799 00:31:30,643 --> 00:31:31,803 Did you want to come have a look, Suze? 800 00:31:31,883 --> 00:31:33,363 Yep. 801 00:31:33,443 --> 00:31:34,643 You know, there are certain things here 802 00:31:34,723 --> 00:31:37,563 that don't seem quite right. 803 00:31:37,643 --> 00:31:40,123 See how dense the teeth are? 804 00:31:40,203 --> 00:31:41,603 And then some of these skull bones 805 00:31:41,683 --> 00:31:44,563 and the rest of his bones are quite gray. 806 00:31:44,643 --> 00:31:46,763 So it's possible 807 00:31:46,843 --> 00:31:48,683 that there's just not enough calcium in his bones, 808 00:31:48,763 --> 00:31:50,203 which shouldn't be the case 809 00:31:50,283 --> 00:31:51,283 because his diet is specifically formulated 810 00:31:51,363 --> 00:31:52,963 for wombats. 811 00:31:53,043 --> 00:31:54,643 But sometimes there are other factors 812 00:31:54,723 --> 00:31:56,523 which influence the amount of absorption 813 00:31:56,603 --> 00:31:58,883 of the calcium as well. 814 00:31:58,963 --> 00:32:00,403 Got a good comparison here 815 00:32:00,483 --> 00:32:03,283 with this very dense feces in his intestines. 816 00:32:03,363 --> 00:32:06,683 Then if you look at the density of the bone, 817 00:32:06,763 --> 00:32:09,843 it's not, uh, not quite there. 818 00:32:09,923 --> 00:32:12,603 And so, yeah, low calcium in the bones 819 00:32:12,683 --> 00:32:16,163 is certainly a risk for Waru 820 00:32:16,243 --> 00:32:19,163 in that the bones may not develop properly. 821 00:32:19,243 --> 00:32:21,283 They might be more susceptible to injury as well. 822 00:32:21,363 --> 00:32:22,803 They can fracture, they're a bit weak, 823 00:32:22,883 --> 00:32:24,683 the bones are a bit weak and brittle, 824 00:32:24,763 --> 00:32:27,523 and they can also be a little bit deformed 825 00:32:27,603 --> 00:32:28,483 in their shape as well. 826 00:32:28,563 --> 00:32:30,963 They can bend a bit. 827 00:32:31,043 --> 00:32:33,243 Unfortunately today, 828 00:32:33,323 --> 00:32:37,523 there's no quick fix for Waru's problem. 829 00:32:37,603 --> 00:32:39,363 Suzie is well aware 830 00:32:39,443 --> 00:32:42,803 there's a big fight ahead for this little battler. 831 00:32:42,883 --> 00:32:44,483 Yeah, you know, you want an answer, 832 00:32:44,563 --> 00:32:45,723 you want to know what's going on, 833 00:32:45,803 --> 00:32:47,683 so still a bit of apprehension. 834 00:32:47,763 --> 00:32:48,763 That's for sure. 835 00:32:55,563 --> 00:32:57,163 Just worried about him. 836 00:33:19,363 --> 00:33:21,923 Suze, I think we got everything we need today. 837 00:33:22,003 --> 00:33:24,643 I'll go have another look at the x-rays, 838 00:33:24,723 --> 00:33:27,243 compare it with similar aged bare-nosed wombats we've got. 839 00:33:27,323 --> 00:33:30,203 Unfortunately we don't have other hairy-nosed wombat x-rays. 840 00:33:30,283 --> 00:33:31,683 And the blood work. 841 00:33:31,763 --> 00:33:32,923 So that will come through sometime today, 842 00:33:33,003 --> 00:33:34,563 and we'll be able to look at all of that, 843 00:33:34,643 --> 00:33:37,603 and then hopefully a bit of a diagnosis and a plan. 844 00:33:37,683 --> 00:33:40,003 I mean, at least, you know, 845 00:33:40,083 --> 00:33:42,243 there's nothing like dramatically obvious 846 00:33:42,323 --> 00:33:44,043 on the bones. 847 00:33:44,123 --> 00:33:47,243 They're not sort of broken or bent or anything like that. 848 00:33:47,323 --> 00:33:49,283 I spend a lot of time with this guy, you know. 849 00:33:49,363 --> 00:33:51,523 He comes with me everywhere 850 00:33:51,603 --> 00:33:54,283 and do everything for him, 851 00:33:54,363 --> 00:33:57,803 so, yeah, just, just a worried mum. 852 00:33:57,883 --> 00:33:59,523 I do have a feeling 853 00:33:59,603 --> 00:34:03,043 that his bone development is not where it should be. 854 00:34:03,123 --> 00:34:04,683 You know, there are things we can do to fix that. 855 00:34:04,763 --> 00:34:06,843 We can supplement his diet. 856 00:34:06,923 --> 00:34:08,963 Obviously the gut problem 857 00:34:09,043 --> 00:34:12,523 is also probably something that we can fix 858 00:34:12,603 --> 00:34:15,963 by hopefully re-establishing a normal gut flora. 859 00:34:16,043 --> 00:34:17,283 He does have a big road ahead. 860 00:34:17,363 --> 00:34:19,643 It's been a bit of a tough journey for him, 861 00:34:19,723 --> 00:34:22,403 but, yeah, you know, he's got the best care 862 00:34:22,483 --> 00:34:24,083 that he could possibly have 863 00:34:24,163 --> 00:34:25,563 and considering everything that he's gone through, 864 00:34:25,643 --> 00:34:27,643 he's doing incredibly well. 865 00:34:34,843 --> 00:34:36,883 Leslie the Andean condor 866 00:34:36,963 --> 00:34:38,843 has lost her confidence. 867 00:34:38,923 --> 00:34:41,083 Leslie has been having some issues lately. 868 00:34:41,163 --> 00:34:44,763 She has not wanted to fly from her release tower. 869 00:34:44,843 --> 00:34:47,803 She stood up in there for about 30 minutes the other day. 870 00:34:47,883 --> 00:34:50,563 But there's no one better to get her back on track 871 00:34:50,643 --> 00:34:52,523 than Grey, 872 00:34:52,603 --> 00:34:54,563 who has worked with Leslie for the last fifteen years. 873 00:34:54,643 --> 00:34:56,283 So, over the last week, 874 00:34:56,363 --> 00:34:58,243 we've been doing a lot of repetitions with Leslie, 875 00:34:58,323 --> 00:34:59,723 building up her confidence. 876 00:34:59,803 --> 00:35:01,803 I think she has that confidence back now. 877 00:35:01,883 --> 00:35:05,363 That means that once we get her into the release box today, 878 00:35:05,443 --> 00:35:07,683 what I'm looking for is that when the door opens, 879 00:35:07,763 --> 00:35:09,563 she flies straight down the stage, 880 00:35:09,643 --> 00:35:10,803 perfect routine, 881 00:35:10,883 --> 00:35:14,843 and then exiting without any hesitation. 882 00:35:14,923 --> 00:35:19,043 Matt is also quietly optimistic about her recovery. 883 00:35:19,123 --> 00:35:20,323 So, Leslie's been really good 884 00:35:20,403 --> 00:35:22,043 for the last couple of days. 885 00:35:22,123 --> 00:35:24,563 It looks like her confidence has built back up again, 886 00:35:24,643 --> 00:35:27,963 so the last step is popping her up in the tower. 887 00:35:28,043 --> 00:35:29,323 All right, Les. 888 00:35:29,403 --> 00:35:30,203 In you get. 889 00:35:32,443 --> 00:35:33,883 That a girl. 890 00:35:33,963 --> 00:35:35,243 It's about 15 meters off the ground 891 00:35:35,323 --> 00:35:37,843 and probably another 30 over the stage. 892 00:35:37,923 --> 00:35:40,323 She's ready to be getting close back into shows. 893 00:35:40,403 --> 00:35:42,963 This is the last step of checking where her head's at. 894 00:35:43,043 --> 00:35:44,523 We have every confidence 895 00:35:44,603 --> 00:35:46,283 that she'll come out and do her thing, 896 00:35:46,363 --> 00:35:48,083 but if not, you know, this is part of what we do. 897 00:35:48,163 --> 00:35:49,523 Any breakdowns, 898 00:35:49,603 --> 00:35:50,723 we'll work on it, build her confidence, 899 00:35:50,803 --> 00:35:52,443 and she'll be back on track again. 900 00:35:52,523 --> 00:35:53,763 I'm always a little bit nervous 901 00:35:53,843 --> 00:35:55,523 when I'm putting a bird back in shows 902 00:35:55,603 --> 00:35:56,803 after they've had some time off. 903 00:35:56,883 --> 00:35:59,283 Condors are incredible creatures, 904 00:35:59,363 --> 00:36:02,083 and she's a very unique bird to get to see fly in a show. 905 00:36:02,163 --> 00:36:05,323 So we're very heavily invested in her success. 906 00:36:05,403 --> 00:36:07,323 We've had a lot of really good training sessions 907 00:36:07,403 --> 00:36:08,523 over the last week, 908 00:36:08,603 --> 00:36:10,003 so I think we're good to go. 909 00:36:10,083 --> 00:36:11,643 You ready? 910 00:36:11,723 --> 00:36:13,203 And after days of preparation, 911 00:36:13,283 --> 00:36:16,523 all Grey and Matt can do now is watch. 912 00:36:18,163 --> 00:36:20,083 It's all up to Leslie. 913 00:36:23,683 --> 00:36:25,563 There we go. 914 00:36:25,643 --> 00:36:26,523 Here she comes. 915 00:36:30,843 --> 00:36:32,363 Beautifully done. 916 00:36:34,803 --> 00:36:36,323 Leslie did great. 917 00:36:36,403 --> 00:36:38,003 I couldn't be happier with that. 918 00:36:38,083 --> 00:36:40,883 She came out of the tower as soon as the door was opened. 919 00:36:40,963 --> 00:36:43,203 She had really nice flight down. 920 00:36:43,283 --> 00:36:45,123 Got a bit of height on her way down, 921 00:36:45,203 --> 00:36:46,963 which was really good 922 00:36:47,043 --> 00:36:49,203 because an Andean condor has a very impressive wing span, 923 00:36:49,283 --> 00:36:52,603 so getting to see that in action is always an amazing thing. 924 00:36:52,683 --> 00:36:55,763 Once she was on stage, she was very focused on me, 925 00:36:55,843 --> 00:36:58,323 focused on what she needed to do. 926 00:36:58,403 --> 00:37:00,123 Let's go this way. 927 00:37:00,203 --> 00:37:02,723 It couldn't have gone better, as far as I'm concerned. 928 00:37:02,803 --> 00:37:03,963 Good job, Leslie. Come on. 929 00:37:06,523 --> 00:37:08,523 Good girl. 930 00:37:08,603 --> 00:37:10,243 Here she comes. 931 00:37:10,323 --> 00:37:12,843 Leslie has definitely built up that confidence 932 00:37:12,923 --> 00:37:14,363 that we've been working so hard on 933 00:37:14,443 --> 00:37:16,043 over the past few weeks. 934 00:37:16,123 --> 00:37:17,643 That was perfect. 935 00:37:17,723 --> 00:37:19,443 She's ready for shows. 936 00:37:19,523 --> 00:37:21,443 She's ready to face an audience again. 937 00:37:28,003 --> 00:37:30,003 Starting to get a big nose, aren't you, buddy? 938 00:37:30,083 --> 00:37:31,243 A big schnoz. 939 00:37:31,323 --> 00:37:33,483 But he's starting to grow into it. 940 00:37:33,563 --> 00:37:35,243 It's been a month 941 00:37:35,323 --> 00:37:37,763 since Waru was diagnosed with bone development issues. 942 00:37:37,843 --> 00:37:39,723 Good boy. 943 00:37:39,803 --> 00:37:42,403 But Suzie and Andrew aren't giving up. 944 00:37:42,483 --> 00:37:46,523 He hit 5.8 kilos yesterday, 945 00:37:46,603 --> 00:37:49,163 so almost at six kilos. 946 00:37:49,243 --> 00:37:52,243 They're tackling Waru's problem head on. 947 00:37:52,323 --> 00:37:54,323 I was pretty upset last time, 948 00:37:54,403 --> 00:37:55,803 you know, very worried about him 949 00:37:55,883 --> 00:37:56,923 because he's our little guy 950 00:37:57,003 --> 00:37:59,723 and want him to do really well, 951 00:37:59,803 --> 00:38:01,483 but, yeah, really hopeful 952 00:38:01,563 --> 00:38:04,563 that he's going to be a nice, strong adult wombat. 953 00:38:04,643 --> 00:38:07,283 But Waru still has a fight ahead of him 954 00:38:07,363 --> 00:38:10,443 if he's to rejoin his family of southern hairy-nosed wombats 955 00:38:10,523 --> 00:38:13,083 in the coming months. 956 00:38:13,163 --> 00:38:14,763 Waru went back down to the vets 957 00:38:14,843 --> 00:38:16,843 to have a follow-up procedure 958 00:38:16,923 --> 00:38:18,883 just to see how he was progressing 959 00:38:18,963 --> 00:38:20,723 on the new diet and diet changes, 960 00:38:20,803 --> 00:38:22,643 and his x-rays showed 961 00:38:22,723 --> 00:38:25,163 that he has had some development in calcification, 962 00:38:25,243 --> 00:38:26,763 so that's a good thing, 963 00:38:26,843 --> 00:38:29,123 that he's starting to get some good bone growth. 964 00:38:29,203 --> 00:38:31,283 But they did notice that he has some small fractures 965 00:38:31,363 --> 00:38:35,763 in his growth plates in the hind legs. 966 00:38:35,843 --> 00:38:38,043 So that's why he's still a little bit shuffly 967 00:38:38,123 --> 00:38:40,763 and that sort of thing. 968 00:38:40,843 --> 00:38:43,763 Basically, we just have to get his bones strong enough 969 00:38:43,843 --> 00:38:47,923 so that they can assess how to move forward with that. 970 00:38:48,003 --> 00:38:49,643 It was hard to hear 971 00:38:49,723 --> 00:38:51,323 that he does have some small little fractures 972 00:38:51,403 --> 00:38:52,643 in those back legs, 973 00:38:52,723 --> 00:38:57,683 but, you know, it's... 974 00:38:57,763 --> 00:38:58,643 I don't really know how to... 975 00:38:58,723 --> 00:39:00,243 It's tough. 976 00:39:00,323 --> 00:39:03,203 Umm... 977 00:39:03,283 --> 00:39:04,083 yeah. 978 00:39:07,883 --> 00:39:09,803 Yeah. 979 00:39:09,883 --> 00:39:11,803 We keep doing what we're doing, 980 00:39:11,883 --> 00:39:14,003 and we keep hoping that we see the improvement 981 00:39:14,083 --> 00:39:16,643 that we saw in his last set of x-rays 982 00:39:16,723 --> 00:39:19,283 in terms of the calcification and mineralization. 983 00:39:22,523 --> 00:39:25,603 So, we keep doing what we're doing 984 00:39:25,683 --> 00:39:28,203 and hope that he keeps improving. 985 00:39:28,283 --> 00:39:31,163 That's a good boy. 986 00:39:31,243 --> 00:39:33,923 And although Waru has problems walking, 987 00:39:34,003 --> 00:39:36,203 as long as he's at Taronga, 988 00:39:36,283 --> 00:39:38,563 he will never walk alone. 989 00:39:38,643 --> 00:39:40,243 He's got a whole team supporting him. 990 00:39:40,323 --> 00:39:41,723 The whole zoo's behind him. 991 00:39:41,803 --> 00:39:43,443 Um, so, yeah, 992 00:39:43,523 --> 00:39:46,643 we're just doing our best for you, aren't we, buddy? 993 00:39:54,283 --> 00:39:56,203 Back at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, 994 00:39:56,283 --> 00:39:58,883 keeper Carolene is eagerly awaiting 995 00:39:58,963 --> 00:40:01,483 the birth of an endangered bongo. 996 00:40:01,563 --> 00:40:02,723 Hey, Djembi. 997 00:40:02,803 --> 00:40:04,403 Good girl. 998 00:40:04,483 --> 00:40:06,323 Good. 999 00:40:06,403 --> 00:40:08,363 By the zoo's calculations, 1000 00:40:08,443 --> 00:40:11,443 Djembi is now four weeks overdue, 1001 00:40:11,523 --> 00:40:13,843 but she's taking it in her stride. 1002 00:40:13,923 --> 00:40:15,443 We are still waiting on the birth 1003 00:40:15,523 --> 00:40:16,963 of this incredible calf. 1004 00:40:17,043 --> 00:40:19,043 It feels like it's been forever. 1005 00:40:19,123 --> 00:40:21,723 But naturally, calves will come when they're ready, 1006 00:40:21,803 --> 00:40:23,963 as you know, like any pregnancy, 1007 00:40:24,043 --> 00:40:26,043 which is going to make it even more rewarding 1008 00:40:26,123 --> 00:40:29,363 and even more spectacular and beautiful and magical. 1009 00:40:29,443 --> 00:40:31,083 Good. 1010 00:40:31,163 --> 00:40:33,843 Where's our little moo? 1011 00:40:33,923 --> 00:40:35,803 She's been a fantastic mom. 1012 00:40:35,883 --> 00:40:38,083 She's been very calm, very settled. 1013 00:40:38,163 --> 00:40:41,003 All the physical signs are now present. 1014 00:40:41,083 --> 00:40:44,883 Her abdomen is quite extended now. 1015 00:40:44,963 --> 00:40:46,723 It's a lot lower, 1016 00:40:46,803 --> 00:40:51,243 but also that vulva swelling, which is a really big sign. 1017 00:40:51,323 --> 00:40:54,123 Her behavior is starting to change. 1018 00:40:54,203 --> 00:40:58,643 She has very clear guidelines of what we can and can't do. 1019 00:40:58,723 --> 00:41:01,043 So we basically take all the cues from her, 1020 00:41:01,123 --> 00:41:02,883 which is a clear indication 1021 00:41:02,963 --> 00:41:05,043 that we are getting so much more closer. 1022 00:41:06,923 --> 00:41:09,003 In anticipation of the big day, 1023 00:41:09,083 --> 00:41:12,443 the zoo has prepared a birthing suite. 1024 00:41:12,523 --> 00:41:14,883 This is a purposely-built 1025 00:41:14,963 --> 00:41:18,123 calving yard for a bongo. 1026 00:41:18,203 --> 00:41:23,323 We need to offer Djembi a area that's quite private, 1027 00:41:23,403 --> 00:41:25,523 very protected for her as well, 1028 00:41:25,603 --> 00:41:27,083 because they do give birth in privacy. 1029 00:41:27,163 --> 00:41:31,283 So we need to make her feel secure, enclosed, 1030 00:41:31,363 --> 00:41:35,563 and that way she has time to imprint and bond with her calf 1031 00:41:35,643 --> 00:41:38,403 at that very significant period of time. 1032 00:41:38,483 --> 00:41:41,363 And also it needs to be soft and comfortable. 1033 00:41:41,443 --> 00:41:44,283 We do need to make sure that she's secure, 1034 00:41:44,363 --> 00:41:46,803 it's draft-free as well. 1035 00:41:46,883 --> 00:41:50,603 We do make sure we provide lots of extra heat 1036 00:41:50,683 --> 00:41:52,723 if we go get a cold snap. 1037 00:41:52,803 --> 00:41:56,363 Newborn calves or neonates can't control their body temperature, 1038 00:41:56,443 --> 00:41:58,003 so all these little things 1039 00:41:58,083 --> 00:41:59,483 we just need to make sure we're prepared for. 1040 00:41:59,563 --> 00:42:00,763 So we're ready to go. 1041 00:42:00,843 --> 00:42:02,043 Hopefully Djembi is too. 1042 00:42:06,123 --> 00:42:09,283 And Taronga keepers didn't have to wait too long, 1043 00:42:09,363 --> 00:42:12,563 with mother Djembi giving birth to baby Jabali 1044 00:42:12,643 --> 00:42:14,363 only two days later. 1045 00:42:18,803 --> 00:42:21,283 And word of the newborn male bongo 1046 00:42:21,363 --> 00:42:23,243 has traveled quickly to Sydney. 1047 00:42:23,323 --> 00:42:24,883 We've just had some really exciting news 1048 00:42:24,963 --> 00:42:26,243 come through. 1049 00:42:26,323 --> 00:42:27,723 The bongo in Dubbo, she's had a baby. 1050 00:42:27,803 --> 00:42:29,923 So that's fantastic, 1051 00:42:30,003 --> 00:42:31,683 because as you know with any pregnancies, 1052 00:42:31,763 --> 00:42:33,323 they can go hit or miss, 1053 00:42:33,403 --> 00:42:37,843 and this is an incredible accomplishment for the species. 1054 00:42:37,923 --> 00:42:39,843 For the regional breeding program, 1055 00:42:39,923 --> 00:42:41,083 it's fantastic 1056 00:42:41,163 --> 00:42:43,603 because it means the numbers are growing. 1057 00:42:43,683 --> 00:42:45,163 Their numbers are really, really low in the wild, 1058 00:42:45,243 --> 00:42:47,243 so what we can do here is increase them, 1059 00:42:47,323 --> 00:42:49,643 increase the breeding program, start to disperse them, 1060 00:42:49,723 --> 00:42:51,123 get their genetics out there 1061 00:42:51,203 --> 00:42:53,563 and just create a bigger, bigger bongo population, 1062 00:42:53,643 --> 00:42:56,363 and that's what we're doing. 1063 00:42:56,443 --> 00:42:59,363 But just that one being born is so special for everyone 1064 00:42:59,443 --> 00:43:02,363 and so special for us, special for him as a species, 1065 00:43:02,443 --> 00:43:03,603 special for everyone. 1066 00:43:03,683 --> 00:43:05,683 Couldn't be more happier for those guys. 1067 00:43:05,763 --> 00:43:07,443 Captioned by Side Door Media Services