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00:00:09,203 --> 00:00:11,803
KIMBERLY
Just having a good listen
to his heart and his lungs.
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00:00:11,883 --> 00:00:13,483
Sounds really good.
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00:00:13,563 --> 00:00:15,403
Taronga Zoo hospital
is responsible
4
00:00:15,483 --> 00:00:19,843
for the health and welfare
of nearly 5,000 animals.
5
00:00:19,923 --> 00:00:21,323
KEEPER 10.8 kilos.
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00:00:21,403 --> 00:00:22,843
So he's lost a bit of weight.
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00:00:22,923 --> 00:00:26,603
From over 350 species.
8
00:00:26,683 --> 00:00:30,283
LARRY
Poor koalas have copped
a bit, unfortunately.
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00:00:30,363 --> 00:00:32,043
The hospital
also plays a vital role
10
00:00:32,123 --> 00:00:34,003
in the treatment
and rehabilitation
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00:00:34,083 --> 00:00:36,683
of over 1,400 injured wildlife
12
00:00:36,763 --> 00:00:39,843
brought in by the
public each year.
13
00:00:39,923 --> 00:00:41,603
LARRY Very
obviously a nasty wound there,
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00:00:41,683 --> 00:00:43,923
which is already a few days
old by the look of it.
15
00:00:44,003 --> 00:00:45,883
And never
has this been more obvious
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00:00:45,963 --> 00:00:48,563
than in the aftermath
of the savage bushfires
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00:00:48,643 --> 00:00:51,003
that swept through
Australia this year,
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00:00:51,083 --> 00:00:55,363
killing and injuring
more than a billion animals.
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00:00:55,923 --> 00:00:58,723
Understandably all this
makes the emergency room
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00:00:58,803 --> 00:01:01,243
a very busy place.
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00:01:01,323 --> 00:01:04,123
So rather than bring
every animal to the hospital,
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00:01:04,203 --> 00:01:07,643
sometimes they need to take
the hospital to the animals.
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00:01:07,723 --> 00:01:09,163
This morning
I'm on outside rounds.
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00:01:09,243 --> 00:01:12,323
So I'm the veterinarian that is
designated to go out in the zoo
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00:01:12,403 --> 00:01:16,003
and look at any of the animals
that need veterinary assistance.
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00:01:16,083 --> 00:01:17,683
We'll take this bag of goodies
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00:01:17,763 --> 00:01:19,643
with all kinds
of different supplies in it.
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So some antibiotics,
stethoscope,
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00:01:21,683 --> 00:01:22,963
needles and syringes,
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00:01:23,043 --> 00:01:24,483
so if we need something
while we're out there,
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00:01:24,563 --> 00:01:27,563
we can treat some
of the animals on site.
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00:01:27,643 --> 00:01:30,923
So I have a list with all
of our different departments.
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00:01:31,003 --> 00:01:33,043
The reptiles are probably
the most important,
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00:01:33,123 --> 00:01:35,043
so I'm going
to start with them.
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00:01:35,123 --> 00:01:37,043
The first patient
on today's rounds
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00:01:37,123 --> 00:01:40,123
is a freshwater crocodile
with a respiratory problem.
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00:01:40,203 --> 00:01:41,443
KIMBERLY Let's
look at this freshwater croc
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00:01:41,523 --> 00:01:43,203
that we wrestled last week.
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00:01:43,283 --> 00:01:45,643
Found all over
northern Australia,
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00:01:45,723 --> 00:01:47,323
the freshwater crocodile,
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00:01:47,403 --> 00:01:49,843
unlike its much larger
saltwater cousin,
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00:01:49,923 --> 00:01:52,363
isn't prone to attack humans.
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00:01:52,443 --> 00:01:55,843
But it still packs
one hell of a punch.
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00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:58,923
So that's her there.
She's just cruising round now.
45
00:01:59,003 --> 00:02:02,123
Oh.
The female freshwater crocodile,
46
00:02:02,203 --> 00:02:05,563
she's been having
some nasal discharge
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00:02:05,643 --> 00:02:07,203
and some ocular discharge
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00:02:07,283 --> 00:02:09,163
and opening her mouth
quite a bit
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00:02:09,243 --> 00:02:11,603
and having trouble
seemingly breathing.
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00:02:11,683 --> 00:02:14,363
We are treating her
for a respiratory infection.
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00:02:14,443 --> 00:02:17,403
Hopefully it's not
a fungal respiratory disease,
52
00:02:17,483 --> 00:02:19,923
but we do have to keep in the
back of our mind it could be.
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00:02:20,003 --> 00:02:22,163
Well, we got to keep her
on antibiotics,
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00:02:22,243 --> 00:02:24,243
so Emma thought you could
just inject her.
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00:02:24,323 --> 00:02:25,523
KEEPER Yeah,
we should be able to.
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00:02:25,603 --> 00:02:26,923
If I left
the pole syringe for you.
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00:02:27,003 --> 00:02:28,643
KEEPER
Yeah, we'll do that.
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00:02:28,723 --> 00:02:30,123
KIMBERLY The
keepers actually are able
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00:02:30,203 --> 00:02:32,323
to do the injection for us.
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00:02:32,403 --> 00:02:33,643
So it's probably
a little bit better
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00:02:33,723 --> 00:02:35,243
because I'm not used
to working with her,
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00:02:35,323 --> 00:02:36,803
they're used to working
with crocs,
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00:02:36,883 --> 00:02:39,643
and it will be a lot more safe
than me going in there.
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00:02:39,723 --> 00:02:41,403
So we need to give her
an injection,
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00:02:41,483 --> 00:02:43,883
and so we're going to fill
this up with antibiotics,
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00:02:43,963 --> 00:02:45,123
he'll put a needle on the end,
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00:02:45,203 --> 00:02:47,883
and then he'll go in and he can
just jab her in the muscle
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00:02:47,963 --> 00:02:49,603
with the antibiotic.
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00:02:49,683 --> 00:02:51,603
So we need to do that
about every three days for her.
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00:02:51,683 --> 00:02:52,683
Yeah, sure.
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00:02:52,763 --> 00:02:55,003
KIMBERLY
So that's the antibiotic
and there's the sterile water.
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00:02:55,083 --> 00:02:56,803
You can keep all of that.
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00:02:56,883 --> 00:02:58,683
Since the crocodile
isn't due to be fed
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00:02:58,763 --> 00:03:00,443
for a few more days,
75
00:03:00,523 --> 00:03:03,443
the injection
will have to wait.
76
00:03:03,523 --> 00:03:05,523
So Kimberly's off
to her next stop
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00:03:05,603 --> 00:03:09,163
to unravel the mystery
of a lame meerkat.
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00:03:16,443 --> 00:03:19,163
All across Taronga Zoo
there are countless examples
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00:03:19,243 --> 00:03:22,723
of animals that are
from the same family.
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00:03:23,643 --> 00:03:26,123
Kangaroos and pademelons.
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00:03:26,203 --> 00:03:28,883
Gorillas and chimpanzees.
82
00:03:28,963 --> 00:03:32,003
Turtles and tortoises.
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00:03:32,083 --> 00:03:36,963
But there is actually only one
species of bear at Taronga.
84
00:03:38,563 --> 00:03:41,123
The Malayan sun bear.
85
00:03:43,763 --> 00:03:46,163
ELLEN We're in
our Malayan sun bear exhibit.
86
00:03:46,243 --> 00:03:47,523
We have two bears here.
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00:03:47,603 --> 00:03:49,483
So we have Mr. Hobbs,
who is 24 years of age,
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00:03:49,563 --> 00:03:52,443
and Mary, who is 8 years of age.
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00:03:52,523 --> 00:03:54,243
So one of the amazing things
about sun bears
90
00:03:54,323 --> 00:03:56,523
is that they do have a beautiful
crest on their chest,
91
00:03:56,603 --> 00:03:58,603
which makes it look
like the sun is rising.
92
00:03:58,683 --> 00:04:00,883
Each sun bear has
a unique marking.
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00:04:00,963 --> 00:04:03,163
Mary has what looks
like a necklace,
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00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:04,683
so it's a full crest,
95
00:04:04,763 --> 00:04:06,923
and Mr. Hobbs
actually has a crest
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00:04:07,003 --> 00:04:08,363
that has a little break in it
97
00:04:08,443 --> 00:04:10,683
that makes it look
like it's a bow tie.
98
00:04:10,763 --> 00:04:13,763
Sun bears are the
smallest of all bear species,
99
00:04:13,843 --> 00:04:16,843
but their looks and size
can be deceiving.
100
00:04:16,923 --> 00:04:18,643
ELLEN We
definitely should not be fooled
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00:04:18,723 --> 00:04:21,323
by the sun bear's
cute and cuddly looks.
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00:04:21,403 --> 00:04:23,163
They have incredibly large
canine teeth
103
00:04:23,243 --> 00:04:24,723
as well as other teeth,
104
00:04:24,803 --> 00:04:27,683
and they also have those
incredibly long claws as well.
105
00:04:27,763 --> 00:04:30,803
So built for getting and
ripping in to rocks and to logs.
106
00:04:30,883 --> 00:04:33,163
The claws make them
excellent climbers,
107
00:04:33,243 --> 00:04:35,843
which sees keepers
take a novel approach
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00:04:35,923 --> 00:04:39,163
to stopping them
from scaling the walls.
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00:04:39,243 --> 00:04:42,523
So, this wall is meant
to be non-climbable.
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00:04:45,443 --> 00:04:47,083
One of the reasons
you will notice
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00:04:47,163 --> 00:04:49,683
we've got Vaseline along here
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00:04:49,763 --> 00:04:53,403
is to prevent her
from physically climbing it.
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00:04:53,483 --> 00:04:57,003
And although Mary is at
the moment about 90 kilos,
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00:04:57,083 --> 00:05:00,843
she can still lift her entire
body weight just on those claws.
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00:05:02,083 --> 00:05:04,363
But despite how
powerful they may be,
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00:05:04,443 --> 00:05:07,803
that doesn't mean they're not
doing it tough in the wild.
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00:05:07,883 --> 00:05:09,323
ELLEN They
do live in the same area
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00:05:09,403 --> 00:05:12,723
as larger predators than
themselves, things like tigers.
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00:05:12,803 --> 00:05:14,123
One of their cool adaptations
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00:05:14,203 --> 00:05:16,603
is they have a lot of excess
skin on the back of their neck.
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00:05:16,683 --> 00:05:18,043
They'll use that
if a bigger bear than them
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00:05:18,123 --> 00:05:20,643
or another predator like
a tiger comes up behind them.
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00:05:20,723 --> 00:05:21,923
If they latch on to their back,
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00:05:22,003 --> 00:05:24,043
they can basically almost
turn around their own skin
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00:05:24,123 --> 00:05:27,003
to either roar at them
or to scare that species off,
126
00:05:27,083 --> 00:05:29,323
and then they have such
incredible climbing ability,
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00:05:29,403 --> 00:05:31,203
they're up the tree
in two seconds,
128
00:05:31,283 --> 00:05:34,003
and that bear or that tiger
can't catch up with them,
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00:05:34,083 --> 00:05:36,283
which is pretty incredible.
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00:05:37,483 --> 00:05:39,563
Although sun bear numbers are low
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00:05:39,643 --> 00:05:41,683
and Taronga would love a cub,
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00:05:41,763 --> 00:05:45,243
for most of the year,
the sun bears do not mix.
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00:05:45,323 --> 00:05:46,643
ELLEN Keeping the
bears separate here at Taronga
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00:05:46,723 --> 00:05:48,403
is kind of a safety aspect.
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00:05:48,483 --> 00:05:50,123
Mary being bigger than Hobbsy
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00:05:50,203 --> 00:05:52,163
and Hobbsy being
quite a bit older than her,
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00:05:52,243 --> 00:05:55,323
those things are great
and bad in some ways.
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00:05:55,403 --> 00:05:57,083
So her being a bit boisterous,
a bit younger
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00:05:57,163 --> 00:05:59,163
means that she can
overpower him for food,
140
00:05:59,243 --> 00:06:01,243
so we just want him to be able
to get his nutritional value
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00:06:01,323 --> 00:06:03,883
from all of his foods
as best as we possibly can,
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00:06:03,963 --> 00:06:06,683
and having them separate
is one of those ways.
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00:06:06,763 --> 00:06:09,163
But as keeper Ellen
is about to find out,
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00:06:09,243 --> 00:06:14,163
Mary is ready to mingle
and is making no secret
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00:06:14,243 --> 00:06:18,763
of the fact that she's
keen to end her and
Mr. Hobbs' segregation.
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00:06:19,283 --> 00:06:20,643
ELLEN Ahh, okay.
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00:06:20,723 --> 00:06:23,043
Wow.
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00:06:23,123 --> 00:06:25,963
Another sign that she
is coming in to estrus.
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00:06:26,043 --> 00:06:29,643
So, she hasn't really dug
anything this big since April.
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00:06:29,723 --> 00:06:31,923
Umm, so we've got
to fill that in.
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00:06:32,003 --> 00:06:34,483
I might go grab
a shovel, actually.
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00:06:34,563 --> 00:06:36,523
Today is a very exciting time
at Taronga.
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00:06:36,603 --> 00:06:38,883
Our female sun bear Mary
is coming in to estrus,
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00:06:38,963 --> 00:06:40,803
which basically means
she is ready to mate
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00:06:40,883 --> 00:06:43,483
with our male, Mr. Hobbs.
156
00:06:43,563 --> 00:06:45,043
So one of the signs she
is coming in to estrus
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00:06:45,123 --> 00:06:47,163
is she actually thinks
that this is one of the walls
158
00:06:47,243 --> 00:06:49,203
that is to Mr. Hobbs.
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00:06:49,283 --> 00:06:50,363
It is not quite.
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00:06:50,443 --> 00:06:53,003
So we'll dig here, or she will
often even head up to the doors.
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00:06:53,083 --> 00:06:55,763
She has actually tried
to climb them before
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00:06:55,843 --> 00:06:58,003
because she can sense
that he is near.
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00:06:58,083 --> 00:07:00,363
This digging is basically
a sign of that from overnight
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00:07:00,443 --> 00:07:03,443
that she has wanted
to get to him.
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00:07:04,083 --> 00:07:06,363
There is another sign
up here as well.
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00:07:06,443 --> 00:07:08,483
Shows how powerful she is.
167
00:07:08,563 --> 00:07:12,443
Has pulled that away
from the door.
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00:07:15,043 --> 00:07:16,723
Which is quite a feat,
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00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:19,563
displaying just
how strong they are.
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00:07:19,643 --> 00:07:21,043
Mary and Mr. Hobbs
have been separate
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00:07:21,123 --> 00:07:23,683
since her last estrus cycle
back in April.
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00:07:23,763 --> 00:07:26,163
Because they are
a dangerous animal,
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00:07:26,243 --> 00:07:28,923
bringing the two bears together
for that first introduction
174
00:07:29,003 --> 00:07:30,483
as she is coming in to estrus
175
00:07:30,563 --> 00:07:32,563
is always a little bit
of a wary time for us,
176
00:07:32,643 --> 00:07:35,843
and Mary being a good 15 kilos
heavier than Mr. Hobbs
177
00:07:35,923 --> 00:07:39,083
means she has that
overpowering ability.
178
00:07:39,163 --> 00:07:42,483
So despite zookeeper
concerns about what may happen,
179
00:07:42,563 --> 00:07:46,123
preparations have started
to get them together.
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00:07:50,483 --> 00:07:52,603
Back at
the Wildlife Hospital...
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00:07:52,683 --> 00:07:54,563
Alright,
so I'm giving him
182
00:07:54,643 --> 00:07:56,043
what I gave him yesterday
pretty much.
183
00:07:56,123 --> 00:07:59,843
Vet Gabby is
preparing for emergency surgery
184
00:07:59,923 --> 00:08:04,443
on a lace monitor, commonly
known as a tree goanna.
185
00:08:06,123 --> 00:08:08,763
It was brought to the zoo
with a gruesome injury,
186
00:08:08,843 --> 00:08:12,803
and vets have decided the only
way to save it is surgery.
187
00:08:12,883 --> 00:08:15,243
He was
found with a skewer,
188
00:08:15,323 --> 00:08:17,843
a metal skewer sticking
out of his abdomen.
189
00:08:17,923 --> 00:08:19,923
And he was taken to a local vet
190
00:08:20,003 --> 00:08:22,843
where they took radiographs
and sent here.
191
00:08:22,923 --> 00:08:25,283
The x-rays
are pretty spectacular.
192
00:08:25,363 --> 00:08:28,883
So you can see
a metal barbecue skewer,
193
00:08:28,963 --> 00:08:31,483
that's what it looks like,
with a round ring on the end.
194
00:08:31,563 --> 00:08:34,883
So we can't just pull it out
because it's stuck in his body,
195
00:08:34,963 --> 00:08:37,243
and I can't see where
it's stuck in his body,
196
00:08:37,323 --> 00:08:39,683
I can't see if it's within
his gastrointestinal tract
197
00:08:39,763 --> 00:08:42,243
or whether it's moved out
of his gastrointestinal tract
198
00:08:42,323 --> 00:08:43,923
and just sitting free.
199
00:08:44,003 --> 00:08:46,643
So he needs surgery
to remove it.
200
00:08:46,723 --> 00:08:49,243
So I am going to draw up
the atipamezole.
201
00:08:49,323 --> 00:08:51,923
While they don't know
the skewer's precise location,
202
00:08:52,003 --> 00:08:55,283
they do know they
have to move fast.
203
00:08:55,363 --> 00:08:59,763
But first they have the not
so easy task of sedating him.
204
00:09:00,283 --> 00:09:02,683
So he
was quite feisty yesterday
205
00:09:02,763 --> 00:09:03,803
when Bell picked him up.
206
00:09:03,883 --> 00:09:05,763
Was he?
Yep.
207
00:09:05,843 --> 00:09:08,643
Umm, he's probably feeling
a bit better after his fluids.
208
00:09:08,723 --> 00:09:10,003
So I need gloves?
209
00:09:10,083 --> 00:09:12,323
Yes.
210
00:09:12,403 --> 00:09:14,923
So lace monitors
are quite gnarly.
211
00:09:15,003 --> 00:09:17,523
They can be defensive.
212
00:09:17,603 --> 00:09:19,563
So obviously he's scared,
213
00:09:19,643 --> 00:09:21,803
and so he's going to try
and get me with his mouth,
214
00:09:21,883 --> 00:09:26,123
his both front and rear claws
and his tail.
215
00:09:26,203 --> 00:09:27,963
So whip you with their tails.
216
00:09:28,043 --> 00:09:30,043
So I am just putting
some protection on
217
00:09:30,123 --> 00:09:33,723
because I have been bitten
by these guys before.
218
00:09:36,283 --> 00:09:37,363
LIBBY Where is he?
219
00:09:37,443 --> 00:09:39,843
GABRIELLE
He is right up to the
left corner, up the wall.
220
00:09:39,923 --> 00:09:42,763
LIBBY
Probably going to go in
each arm, front arm.
221
00:09:48,843 --> 00:09:51,763
KEEPER Can someone
just get me that shovel as well
222
00:09:51,843 --> 00:09:54,643
that's on the wall,
the red one, orange one.
223
00:09:58,843 --> 00:10:00,323
Ok, I need someone.
224
00:10:07,483 --> 00:10:09,123
KEEPER I can hold
his feet if you want.
225
00:10:09,203 --> 00:10:11,603
LIBBY
Okay, thanks.
226
00:10:14,403 --> 00:10:16,763
GABRIELLE Okay, we
are going to start scrubbing.
227
00:10:16,843 --> 00:10:18,403
LIBBY They're not
the biggest but they're just...
228
00:10:18,483 --> 00:10:21,563
they're clever.
229
00:10:26,643 --> 00:10:28,923
It's the first chance
for Gabby to look at the injury
230
00:10:29,003 --> 00:10:32,763
and she doesn't like
what she sees.
231
00:10:32,843 --> 00:10:34,483
GABRIELLE The
animal is quite compromised,
232
00:10:34,563 --> 00:10:37,563
he is quite thin, so getting him
through the surgery
233
00:10:37,643 --> 00:10:39,363
is a challenge definitely,
234
00:10:39,443 --> 00:10:42,243
and removing it will be
a challenge as well.
235
00:10:42,323 --> 00:10:45,883
I'll be very pleased
if he survives the surgery.
236
00:10:54,283 --> 00:10:56,563
Kimberly is doing
rounds of the zoo
237
00:10:56,643 --> 00:11:00,643
and is about to check out an
injured meerkat called Zalani,
238
00:11:00,723 --> 00:11:04,923
who is receiving treatment
for a mysterious limp.
239
00:11:05,603 --> 00:11:06,923
Can you point her out?
DEB Yeah, yeah.
240
00:11:07,003 --> 00:11:08,283
Is she the one
with the green?
241
00:11:08,363 --> 00:11:10,763
DEB She's
one of the ones with the
blue food dye on her.
242
00:11:10,843 --> 00:11:13,723
So Zalani is in the middle
at the moment and...
243
00:11:13,803 --> 00:11:15,283
KIMBERLY Yeah, the
one with the food coloring.
244
00:11:15,363 --> 00:11:17,483
DEB
Yeah, so she has got the
blue food dye on her.
245
00:11:17,563 --> 00:11:20,283
She is being very nervous
of everyone coming around her.
246
00:11:20,363 --> 00:11:22,883
KIMBERLY So we
have one of our female meerkats
247
00:11:22,963 --> 00:11:25,443
that's quite high ranking
in the group.
248
00:11:25,523 --> 00:11:28,163
She is lame
on her left front foot,
249
00:11:28,243 --> 00:11:30,723
and she's had this lameness
for a few days now.
250
00:11:30,803 --> 00:11:34,923
It doesn't seem to be responding
to treatment very well.
251
00:11:35,003 --> 00:11:36,763
I have
some video for you.
252
00:11:36,843 --> 00:11:38,523
You can see she's completely...
253
00:11:38,603 --> 00:11:40,483
KIMBERLY Oh, she's
not putting it down at all.
254
00:11:40,563 --> 00:11:43,243
KEEPER Sometimes
she is, but mostly not at all.
255
00:11:43,323 --> 00:11:45,563
Okay, and that's
not really improved
256
00:11:45,643 --> 00:11:47,003
since she started?
257
00:11:47,083 --> 00:11:50,603
DEB Well, she is
noticeably still quite lame.
258
00:11:50,683 --> 00:11:52,603
And because
of Zalani's injury,
259
00:11:52,683 --> 00:11:54,883
another problem has arisen.
260
00:11:54,963 --> 00:11:56,283
We're just noticing
this morning
261
00:11:56,363 --> 00:11:57,763
that there's a little bit
of conflict in the group
262
00:11:57,843 --> 00:12:00,403
just because they are noticing
that she is obviously lame
263
00:12:00,483 --> 00:12:01,883
and then they are taking
the opportunity
264
00:12:01,963 --> 00:12:03,803
to try and increase
their status in the group.
265
00:12:03,883 --> 00:12:05,883
And she is quite high ranking.
266
00:12:05,963 --> 00:12:08,163
KIMBERLY So
they're picking on her because
she's got a problem.
267
00:12:08,243 --> 00:12:09,923
DEB Yeah.
268
00:12:10,003 --> 00:12:11,883
Meerkats are
a very social animal,
269
00:12:11,963 --> 00:12:13,843
and Taronga spend a lot of time
270
00:12:13,923 --> 00:12:17,123
making sure they have
a happy family group.
271
00:12:17,203 --> 00:12:19,563
DEB
We have quite a large,
dynamic group of meerkats
272
00:12:19,643 --> 00:12:20,963
with 18 individuals,
273
00:12:21,043 --> 00:12:22,923
and just like brothers
and sisters
274
00:12:23,003 --> 00:12:25,123
don't get along all the time,
meerkats are the same
275
00:12:25,203 --> 00:12:27,723
and they have a really
structured hierarchy
276
00:12:27,803 --> 00:12:29,763
on both the male side
and the female side.
277
00:12:29,843 --> 00:12:33,043
So they're looking
at any chance they can
278
00:12:33,123 --> 00:12:35,883
to try and increase
their status in the group.
279
00:12:35,963 --> 00:12:38,203
So we're sort of seeing
a little bit of a shift
280
00:12:38,283 --> 00:12:39,483
going on within the group,
281
00:12:39,563 --> 00:12:41,643
which we didn't really want
'cause we've done a lot of work
282
00:12:41,723 --> 00:12:44,923
to get them quite cohesive
at the moment.
283
00:12:45,003 --> 00:12:47,083
KIMBERLY Okay, so
let's increase her to .4 mils,
284
00:12:47,163 --> 00:12:49,363
the higher dose
of anti-inflammatory
285
00:12:49,443 --> 00:12:50,963
and see if that helps her.
286
00:12:51,043 --> 00:12:51,843
Yeah.
287
00:12:51,923 --> 00:12:53,203
Hopefully that will
help her stay in the group.
288
00:12:53,283 --> 00:12:54,803
If she's still lame
on Friday morning,
289
00:12:54,883 --> 00:12:56,243
we'll re-check her,
290
00:12:56,323 --> 00:12:58,083
but let's plan to grab her
and take an x-ray
291
00:12:58,163 --> 00:13:00,123
up at the hospital
if she's not better.
292
00:13:00,203 --> 00:13:01,563
Yep, absolutely.
293
00:13:01,643 --> 00:13:03,683
KIMBERLY
I'm just worried that
there may be a broken foot
294
00:13:03,763 --> 00:13:06,283
or something a little more
serious going on.
295
00:13:06,363 --> 00:13:08,443
Let's double check
that she hasn't been bitten
296
00:13:08,523 --> 00:13:10,283
and there's an abscess
or something else
297
00:13:10,363 --> 00:13:12,683
that we need to give her
additional treatment for.
298
00:13:12,763 --> 00:13:13,883
DEB Yep.
299
00:13:13,963 --> 00:13:15,443
To keep
the status quo,
300
00:13:15,523 --> 00:13:17,963
keepers know it's
crucial to get Zalani
301
00:13:18,043 --> 00:13:21,203
back to full health
as soon as possible.
302
00:13:21,283 --> 00:13:23,603
See you later.
303
00:13:29,163 --> 00:13:31,763
Mary and Mr. Hobbs,
the Malayan sun bears,
304
00:13:31,843 --> 00:13:33,603
are about to be
brought together
305
00:13:33,683 --> 00:13:36,203
in an attempt to breed.
306
00:13:36,283 --> 00:13:40,923
And Mary is keen to get to
Mr. Hobbs as soon as possible.
307
00:13:41,003 --> 00:13:42,683
ELLEN
So one of the signs
she's coming into estrus
308
00:13:42,763 --> 00:13:45,203
is she actually likes to
try and get to Hobbs
309
00:13:45,283 --> 00:13:47,323
a little more eagerly.
310
00:13:47,403 --> 00:13:49,523
But Mr. Hobbs
is an older bear
311
00:13:49,603 --> 00:13:53,203
and understandably needs
a bit more time to prepare.
312
00:13:53,283 --> 00:13:55,363
Hey, what's going on?
313
00:13:55,443 --> 00:13:57,283
Hey, Hobbsy.
314
00:13:57,363 --> 00:13:59,043
Are you good?
315
00:13:59,123 --> 00:14:00,923
You been resting somewhere.
316
00:14:01,003 --> 00:14:02,443
You can tell you
have been resting.
317
00:14:02,523 --> 00:14:04,723
Mr. Hobbs will scratch his back
pretty much every morning.
318
00:14:04,803 --> 00:14:07,283
I think it is a bit of a ritual
getting ready to go out.
319
00:14:07,363 --> 00:14:10,003
Good stretch, good scratch,
all that type of stuff.
320
00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:11,803
Similar to us, I suppose.
321
00:14:11,883 --> 00:14:12,963
Getting ready for the morning.
322
00:14:13,043 --> 00:14:15,443
And then he'll do his little
yoga poses at the door
323
00:14:15,523 --> 00:14:17,403
right before he goes out.
324
00:14:17,483 --> 00:14:18,923
You know he might be there
for five minutes,
325
00:14:19,003 --> 00:14:20,643
ten minutes...
326
00:14:20,723 --> 00:14:21,723
Twenty minutes.
327
00:14:21,803 --> 00:14:22,763
Twenty minutes.
328
00:14:22,843 --> 00:14:25,003
It's up to him.
329
00:14:27,963 --> 00:14:31,763
Mr. Hobbs' story
is an extraordinary one.
330
00:14:33,283 --> 00:14:35,683
DEB Mr. Hobbs had
a really rough start to life.
331
00:14:35,763 --> 00:14:37,323
He was a rescue bear,
332
00:14:37,403 --> 00:14:40,003
so his mum more than likely
would have been shot and killed
333
00:14:40,083 --> 00:14:42,283
in the wild by poachers,
334
00:14:42,363 --> 00:14:44,443
and then they take the cubs
and breed them,
335
00:14:44,523 --> 00:14:46,523
and then when they're old enough
336
00:14:46,603 --> 00:14:48,163
they sell them off
to restaurants
337
00:14:48,243 --> 00:14:50,843
and those sorts of things
for bear paw soup.
338
00:14:50,923 --> 00:14:53,363
And sadly his time
with the poachers has left
339
00:14:53,443 --> 00:14:57,603
some ongoing problems that
keepers need to take care of.
340
00:14:57,683 --> 00:14:59,843
Want to do your teeth?
341
00:14:59,923 --> 00:15:01,723
He was raised by the poachers
342
00:15:01,803 --> 00:15:03,363
and probably raised
on food items
343
00:15:03,443 --> 00:15:05,963
that are quite cheap
and readily available.
344
00:15:06,043 --> 00:15:08,763
So a lot of fruits that are
soft and, you know, sugary.
345
00:15:08,843 --> 00:15:11,363
So probably didn't get the best
diet and the best start to life
346
00:15:11,443 --> 00:15:14,483
and maybe hasn't experienced
other food items,
347
00:15:14,563 --> 00:15:17,043
which would naturally be
nature's toothbrush.
348
00:15:17,123 --> 00:15:19,923
Open.
349
00:15:20,003 --> 00:15:21,683
Touch.
350
00:15:21,763 --> 00:15:23,683
I still think it's amazing that
we brush our sun bear's teeth
351
00:15:23,763 --> 00:15:25,763
with an electric toothbrush.
352
00:15:25,843 --> 00:15:27,883
We have never lost one yet.
353
00:15:27,963 --> 00:15:29,323
Good.
354
00:15:29,403 --> 00:15:31,803
And yeah, sometimes
I think it's easier
355
00:15:31,883 --> 00:15:34,563
than brushing my own kids'
teeth at home.
356
00:15:34,643 --> 00:15:36,523
Hopefully he understands
357
00:15:36,603 --> 00:15:38,963
that we are actually
doing him a favor
358
00:15:39,043 --> 00:15:41,123
and providing him
the opportunity
359
00:15:41,203 --> 00:15:43,363
to get rid of that calculus
on his teeth
360
00:15:43,443 --> 00:15:47,163
so he has, you know,
a better long-term outcome.
361
00:15:47,243 --> 00:15:50,203
What a good boy.
362
00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:53,083
With teeth now clean,
it's time for Mr. Hobbs
363
00:15:53,163 --> 00:15:57,283
to get reacquainted
with his old flame, Mary.
364
00:16:03,163 --> 00:16:04,003
NURSE Still in.
Yep, tongue is about there.
365
00:16:04,083 --> 00:16:07,163
Yep, yep.
366
00:16:07,243 --> 00:16:08,563
A member of the public
367
00:16:08,643 --> 00:16:12,323
has brought in a lace monitor
with a terrible injury,
368
00:16:12,403 --> 00:16:13,923
and vet Gabby has decided
369
00:16:14,003 --> 00:16:17,523
that this poor lizard
needs immediate intervention.
370
00:16:17,603 --> 00:16:20,283
GABRIELLE He has
obviously ingested the skewer
371
00:16:20,363 --> 00:16:22,363
probably with meat on it,
372
00:16:22,443 --> 00:16:25,323
and it's gone into his stomach
and his intestine,
373
00:16:25,403 --> 00:16:28,083
and then the pointy end
has migrated out,
374
00:16:28,163 --> 00:16:31,323
dragging bacteria with it.
375
00:16:31,403 --> 00:16:33,883
And because of the
very threat of that bacteria,
376
00:16:33,963 --> 00:16:36,043
the team are taking no risks,
377
00:16:36,123 --> 00:16:38,883
wearing surgical gowns and masks
378
00:16:38,963 --> 00:16:43,483
for what they expect to be
a long and delicate operation.
379
00:16:44,203 --> 00:16:46,243
So the surgery
involves making
380
00:16:46,323 --> 00:16:49,243
a longitudinal incision
on his belly
381
00:16:49,323 --> 00:16:50,883
and opening him up
382
00:16:50,963 --> 00:16:54,323
and just having a look
for where the skewer is.
383
00:16:54,403 --> 00:16:56,163
Raising, like that.
384
00:16:56,243 --> 00:16:58,043
I'm just raising the skin up
385
00:16:58,123 --> 00:17:01,843
so that when I cut,
I don't cut into an organ.
386
00:17:01,923 --> 00:17:03,643
Got lots of fluid in here.
387
00:17:03,723 --> 00:17:04,843
Oh, really?
388
00:17:04,923 --> 00:17:07,483
So they'll have some fluid.
389
00:17:07,563 --> 00:17:10,683
So you can suction some of that.
390
00:17:11,203 --> 00:17:12,643
There we go.
391
00:17:12,723 --> 00:17:15,083
Do you want to swab it?
392
00:17:15,163 --> 00:17:17,043
LIBBY
There is just a lot of
fluid in the abdomen
393
00:17:17,123 --> 00:17:20,083
and in the cavity,
and we're not sure why.
394
00:17:20,163 --> 00:17:21,483
Just don't know why.
395
00:17:21,563 --> 00:17:23,283
Sucking lots of fluid out
and we're just going to see
396
00:17:23,363 --> 00:17:27,003
what, what it means
when we get in there.
397
00:17:27,083 --> 00:17:29,603
It's just awkies.
398
00:17:30,283 --> 00:17:32,643
With such
a tricky surgery underway,
399
00:17:32,723 --> 00:17:34,603
Senior Vet Larry has popped in
400
00:17:34,683 --> 00:17:37,683
to see if he can
offer Gabby any help.
401
00:17:37,763 --> 00:17:40,363
LARRY We see sort
of unusual, bizarre things
402
00:17:40,443 --> 00:17:42,803
quite often here
in the hospital.
403
00:17:42,883 --> 00:17:45,363
Animals that have
swallowed various things.
404
00:17:45,443 --> 00:17:47,603
To me it's just interesting
to see, you know,
405
00:17:47,683 --> 00:17:49,363
how we can deal with it.
406
00:17:49,443 --> 00:17:52,563
Gab's obviously doing
a great job getting down to it.
407
00:17:52,643 --> 00:17:54,883
So I can't see it.
I can only feel it.
408
00:17:54,963 --> 00:17:56,643
The challenge is that
because it has been there
409
00:17:56,723 --> 00:18:00,323
for a long time, it's
well embedded in and
surrounded by tissue.
410
00:18:00,403 --> 00:18:01,803
Probably the tissue has grown
411
00:18:01,883 --> 00:18:03,603
all around the top
of that skewer
412
00:18:03,683 --> 00:18:06,883
in probably an attempt
for the body to get rid of it.
413
00:18:09,363 --> 00:18:10,923
I can feel something.
414
00:18:11,003 --> 00:18:13,003
After some exploratory surgery,
415
00:18:13,083 --> 00:18:16,763
Gabby has finally found
the end of the metal skewer.
416
00:18:16,843 --> 00:18:19,243
That's the head
of it in his stomach.
417
00:18:19,323 --> 00:18:21,123
The stomach is twisted around,
418
00:18:21,203 --> 00:18:24,163
and then it goes, I can feel it,
but it's all encased in tissue.
419
00:18:24,243 --> 00:18:26,563
I can't feel any metal.
420
00:18:30,883 --> 00:18:32,923
Have you got
some big metal cutters?
421
00:18:33,003 --> 00:18:35,363
No, but we'll need some.
422
00:18:35,443 --> 00:18:36,603
LARRY Might be
worth preparing, like
423
00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:37,963
getting the big bolt cutters
424
00:18:38,043 --> 00:18:41,123
and putting, soaking the end
in some stuff.
425
00:18:41,203 --> 00:18:43,363
NURSE
Sterilizing them. Yeah.
426
00:18:46,443 --> 00:18:47,563
See, I just
want to make sure
427
00:18:47,643 --> 00:18:53,043
this is not intestine looped...
428
00:18:53,123 --> 00:18:54,963
So you mean there is
tissue inside that hole, Gabby?
429
00:18:55,043 --> 00:18:59,163
The tissue has
gone through the loop.
430
00:18:59,243 --> 00:19:04,163
Unfortunately for
the lizard, it looks like this
skewer is not going anywhere.
431
00:19:10,163 --> 00:19:12,443
Sun bear Mary is in estrus,
432
00:19:12,523 --> 00:19:14,763
meaning she is ready to mate
433
00:19:14,843 --> 00:19:17,843
with the male sun
bear, Mr. Hobbs,
434
00:19:17,923 --> 00:19:20,923
and this has got
the carnivore team excited.
435
00:19:21,003 --> 00:19:21,843
ELLEN
Fingers crossed.
436
00:19:21,923 --> 00:19:23,003
Yeah, fingers
crossed this time
437
00:19:23,083 --> 00:19:25,243
that we get
a little sun bear cub.
438
00:19:25,323 --> 00:19:27,883
Since the bears
are kept separate all year,
439
00:19:27,963 --> 00:19:30,363
this will be the first time
in five months
440
00:19:30,443 --> 00:19:32,243
that they'll be together,
441
00:19:32,323 --> 00:19:36,723
meaning keepers are unsure
of how they'll react.
442
00:19:36,803 --> 00:19:38,483
CAITLIN I haven't
seen the pairings yet.
443
00:19:38,563 --> 00:19:40,083
Do they normally
go well together
444
00:19:40,163 --> 00:19:41,763
when they are in together?
445
00:19:41,843 --> 00:19:44,323
Yeah, they're generally
pretty nice to each other.
446
00:19:44,403 --> 00:19:47,483
Mary is really nice to Mr. Hobbs
when she's in estrus.
447
00:19:47,563 --> 00:19:50,003
Not so much at any other time.
448
00:19:50,083 --> 00:19:52,523
As you know, Mr. Hobbs
is pretty old as well,
449
00:19:52,603 --> 00:19:55,683
so it really brings him
out of his shell a little bit
450
00:19:55,763 --> 00:19:58,923
and he becomes a bit more
active and more boisterous
451
00:19:59,003 --> 00:20:01,003
and it really gets the two
interested in each other.
452
00:20:01,083 --> 00:20:03,643
So yeah, it's
really nice to watch.
453
00:20:03,723 --> 00:20:05,483
Before bringing them together,
454
00:20:05,563 --> 00:20:08,203
they always conduct
a controlled introduction,
455
00:20:08,283 --> 00:20:10,003
behind closed doors,
456
00:20:10,083 --> 00:20:13,843
to make sure there'll be
no signs of aggression.
457
00:20:14,283 --> 00:20:17,483
We’ve got
Mr. Hobbs in Pen C...
458
00:20:19,043 --> 00:20:22,123
...and Mary has A & B.
459
00:20:22,563 --> 00:20:24,643
ELLEN
Mary basically gives all
the signs to Mr. Hobbs
460
00:20:24,723 --> 00:20:26,003
that she's in estrus.
461
00:20:26,083 --> 00:20:27,683
So if she is in estrus
462
00:20:27,763 --> 00:20:30,203
we see a lot of behaviors
like clucking between the two.
463
00:20:31,683 --> 00:20:33,443
Hobbsy will cluck
to us occasionally,
464
00:20:33,523 --> 00:20:34,843
but he will only cluck to her
465
00:20:34,923 --> 00:20:37,243
when she is in
that estrus cycle.
466
00:20:37,883 --> 00:20:39,923
It’s safe
to unlock B C.
467
00:20:41,603 --> 00:20:43,243
There’s some nice
clucking there...
468
00:20:43,323 --> 00:20:45,203
...from Mr. Hobbs towards Mary.
469
00:20:45,883 --> 00:20:48,243
Some nice friendly vocals.
470
00:20:48,323 --> 00:20:49,403
Ready guys?
471
00:20:54,883 --> 00:20:56,763
Ok, here he comes.
472
00:21:02,003 --> 00:21:03,523
And happily the keepers
473
00:21:03,603 --> 00:21:05,803
have no cause for concern
474
00:21:05,883 --> 00:21:08,603
as there is
an instant chemistry
475
00:21:08,683 --> 00:21:12,443
between Mary and Mr. Hobbs.
476
00:21:14,963 --> 00:21:16,483
This is good.
477
00:21:17,963 --> 00:21:19,043
This is really good.
478
00:21:25,243 --> 00:21:27,203
This is
similar to what it looks like...
479
00:21:27,283 --> 00:21:28,803
...when I've seen
her parents mate.
480
00:21:29,243 --> 00:21:31,003
BEN Yeah?
481
00:21:31,083 --> 00:21:32,483
CAITLIN They were
showing all the right signs
482
00:21:32,563 --> 00:21:34,443
at the slide and everything.
483
00:21:34,523 --> 00:21:38,123
I think it all went really well.
484
00:21:40,483 --> 00:21:41,763
We don't think
today was the day.
485
00:21:41,843 --> 00:21:43,643
We think maybe
our next couple of days
486
00:21:43,723 --> 00:21:46,523
might be the target
estrus period.
487
00:21:46,603 --> 00:21:49,083
So you kind of have a couple
of days to play with.
488
00:21:52,043 --> 00:21:54,403
There's always tomorrow,
so we'll try again.
489
00:21:54,483 --> 00:21:57,043
Come back in
and do it all again tomorrow.
490
00:21:57,123 --> 00:21:59,283
Fortunately it didn't take long
491
00:21:59,363 --> 00:22:02,043
for Mary to warm up
to Mr. Hobbs.
492
00:22:02,123 --> 00:22:03,603
CAITLIN
When it comes to breeding
with sun bears,
493
00:22:03,683 --> 00:22:05,763
we know that there is a lot
of anticipation on it.
494
00:22:05,843 --> 00:22:07,883
We always know
in our job sometimes
495
00:22:07,963 --> 00:22:09,643
it's just not going to happen
496
00:22:09,723 --> 00:22:11,323
and you can't get
too disheartened by it,
497
00:22:11,403 --> 00:22:13,163
but that makes it more exciting
when it does happen
498
00:22:13,243 --> 00:22:15,923
because that's always fantastic.
499
00:22:16,003 --> 00:22:17,683
So for the next week
500
00:22:17,763 --> 00:22:19,603
they'll spend
day and night together,
501
00:22:19,683 --> 00:22:21,403
which will hopefully end
502
00:22:21,483 --> 00:22:24,723
with an incredibly rare
sun bear pregnancy.
503
00:22:31,163 --> 00:22:33,203
At Taronga's Wildlife Hospital,
504
00:22:33,283 --> 00:22:35,483
vet Gabby has found
the end of the metal skewer
505
00:22:35,563 --> 00:22:37,803
that the lace monitor
has swallowed
506
00:22:37,883 --> 00:22:42,843
and is in the tricky process
of trying to remove it.
507
00:22:42,923 --> 00:22:44,563
It's just too tough.
508
00:22:44,643 --> 00:22:46,163
But after being
inside the lizard
509
00:22:46,243 --> 00:22:47,883
for the past month,
510
00:22:47,963 --> 00:22:51,363
the body has grown tissue
all around the metal loop,
511
00:22:51,443 --> 00:22:53,563
making it tough
to get ahold of
512
00:22:53,643 --> 00:22:56,803
without causing
any more damage.
513
00:22:56,883 --> 00:22:59,123
LARRY Once you get
it out, a lot of the healing
514
00:22:59,203 --> 00:23:01,003
is going to be up
to the animal, isn't it,
515
00:23:01,083 --> 00:23:03,723
because you're not going to be
able to repair all the...
516
00:23:05,603 --> 00:23:08,323
I suppose they're
pretty tough animals.
517
00:23:09,283 --> 00:23:11,083
But not as tough
as the metal,
518
00:23:11,163 --> 00:23:13,123
so Gabby has called
for the big guns
519
00:23:13,203 --> 00:23:17,083
to help try and extract
the skewer from the lizard.
520
00:23:18,323 --> 00:23:20,043
LARRY Where
do you want to cut down?
521
00:23:20,123 --> 00:23:23,043
Here.
522
00:23:24,443 --> 00:23:25,683
LARRY Okay?
GABRIELLE Yeah.
523
00:23:25,763 --> 00:23:28,163
Oh! That was easy.
524
00:23:28,243 --> 00:23:29,643
LARRY
That's interesting.
That's just all broken off.
525
00:23:29,723 --> 00:23:30,723
WOMAN
Take it away?
526
00:23:30,803 --> 00:23:31,803
GABRIELLE
Take it away.
527
00:23:31,883 --> 00:23:33,003
LARRY Okay.
528
00:23:33,083 --> 00:23:36,283
This is a part
of a skewer, a barbecue skewer,
529
00:23:36,363 --> 00:23:39,563
and this is part
of the round part of the skewer
530
00:23:39,643 --> 00:23:41,163
that's been cut off.
531
00:23:41,243 --> 00:23:43,003
With the round end now gone,
532
00:23:43,083 --> 00:23:44,963
Gabby is hoping
the rest of the skewer
533
00:23:45,043 --> 00:23:47,723
can be removed
without any resistance.
534
00:23:47,803 --> 00:23:49,563
GABRIELLE
Larry is going to pull it out
from the other side now.
535
00:23:49,643 --> 00:23:54,363
Okay, it's slipping
out really easily.
536
00:23:58,163 --> 00:23:59,563
Success.
537
00:23:59,643 --> 00:24:00,883
Gab's exposed the,
I suppose,
538
00:24:00,963 --> 00:24:04,203
the head of the skewer,
the ring part at the end of it,
539
00:24:04,283 --> 00:24:06,643
and we cut that off and just
pulled the rest of it out
540
00:24:06,723 --> 00:24:09,643
through where it was
coming through the skin.
541
00:24:09,723 --> 00:24:10,923
There you go.
542
00:24:11,003 --> 00:24:14,043
There's the whole thing.
543
00:24:14,123 --> 00:24:16,483
Amazingly clean, really,
when you consider
544
00:24:16,563 --> 00:24:19,843
it's been in there for probably
quite some time in that animal.
545
00:24:19,923 --> 00:24:22,083
I'm really happy
that the skewer is out
546
00:24:22,163 --> 00:24:23,603
because I thought
it was going to get stuck
547
00:24:23,683 --> 00:24:25,443
coming out of the body cavity.
548
00:24:25,523 --> 00:24:27,043
Because it was
wrapped in tissue.
549
00:24:27,123 --> 00:24:28,603
Reptiles are really tough.
550
00:24:28,683 --> 00:24:30,163
The fact that he's had this
going through his body
551
00:24:30,243 --> 00:24:31,883
is amazing.
552
00:24:31,963 --> 00:24:34,283
The biggest risk for him now,
aside from infection,
553
00:24:34,363 --> 00:24:37,883
will be food getting caught
in his intestine,
554
00:24:37,963 --> 00:24:39,363
like a blockage,
555
00:24:39,443 --> 00:24:42,683
just because it's been pulled
in different directions.
556
00:24:42,763 --> 00:24:44,523
The skewer may be out,
557
00:24:44,603 --> 00:24:48,163
but this lizard's survival
is far from guaranteed.
558
00:24:48,243 --> 00:24:49,643
His chance of survival
559
00:24:49,723 --> 00:24:52,563
is probably, say, 50/50
at this point.
560
00:24:52,643 --> 00:24:55,083
It's hard to say.
561
00:25:03,483 --> 00:25:04,883
Three days have passed,
562
00:25:04,963 --> 00:25:08,563
and meerkat Zalani's
injured leg is not healing.
563
00:25:08,643 --> 00:25:09,883
Alright. All good?
564
00:25:09,963 --> 00:25:11,883
So head of
carnivores, Louise,
565
00:25:11,963 --> 00:25:15,683
is taking her to the wildlife
hospital for a scan.
566
00:25:15,763 --> 00:25:17,123
Hello, my little ones.
567
00:25:17,203 --> 00:25:19,163
I know you're all starving.
568
00:25:19,243 --> 00:25:21,723
We haven't been able to
feed you yet, have we?
569
00:25:21,803 --> 00:25:24,123
'Cause our princess has to have
a little anesthetic.
570
00:25:24,203 --> 00:25:26,403
So this morning we've got
Zalani, our meerkat,
571
00:25:26,483 --> 00:25:28,603
who's going up
for an anesthetic.
572
00:25:28,683 --> 00:25:30,123
We just want to have
a look at that foot
573
00:25:30,203 --> 00:25:32,323
and see is there
anything going on.
574
00:25:32,403 --> 00:25:35,043
You know, maybe she's
got a little fractured
bone or something.
575
00:25:35,123 --> 00:25:38,083
We want to know why the lameness
keeps coming back.
576
00:25:38,163 --> 00:25:40,963
And because of the meerkats'
complex social structure,
577
00:25:41,043 --> 00:25:43,723
this is time-sensitive.
578
00:25:46,243 --> 00:25:48,683
LOUISE We cannot
afford to take her out of the
group for very long,
579
00:25:48,763 --> 00:25:51,123
so any anesthetic that we do,
any treatment we do,
580
00:25:51,203 --> 00:25:52,923
it has to be fairly quick
581
00:25:53,003 --> 00:25:55,123
so that she's not kept away
from her family for long.
582
00:25:55,203 --> 00:25:57,243
Because when you are living
in that strict social hierarchy,
583
00:25:57,323 --> 00:25:59,883
if you're missing for too long
you could lose your place,
584
00:25:59,963 --> 00:26:02,803
and that's going
to be disastrous.
585
00:26:04,443 --> 00:26:06,283
Alright, my baby girl.
586
00:26:09,403 --> 00:26:12,723
Alright, little miss,
let's get you in to see the vet.
587
00:26:13,523 --> 00:26:14,923
For vet Kimberly,
588
00:26:15,003 --> 00:26:17,643
the fact that Zalani's leg
isn't getting better
589
00:26:17,723 --> 00:26:19,003
has raised concerns
590
00:26:19,083 --> 00:26:21,963
that something more
serious is going on.
591
00:26:22,043 --> 00:26:24,723
Well, it's weird
that she keeps becoming lame
592
00:26:24,803 --> 00:26:26,243
when she goes off her treatment,
593
00:26:26,323 --> 00:26:29,003
so I just want to make sure
there's not an abscess
or a fracture there.
594
00:26:29,083 --> 00:26:30,403
Absolutely, yep.
595
00:26:30,483 --> 00:26:32,203
Alright, I will be interested
to hear what you find.
596
00:26:32,283 --> 00:26:33,083
Okay.
597
00:26:33,163 --> 00:26:34,723
LOUISE Thank you
so much, Kimberly. Thank you.
598
00:26:34,803 --> 00:26:37,123
Call you
when we're done. Thanks.
599
00:26:37,203 --> 00:26:38,603
She's not very happy.
600
00:26:40,843 --> 00:26:43,203
Well, she's sitting there
holding her left paw up.
601
00:26:43,283 --> 00:26:46,483
Her left front paw
is the paw that's lame.
602
00:26:54,443 --> 00:26:56,283
KIMBERLY Okay.
603
00:26:56,363 --> 00:26:58,563
Okay, oxygen.
604
00:26:58,643 --> 00:27:00,043
Do you want it higher?
605
00:27:00,123 --> 00:27:01,243
LIZ
Yeah, 5% is good.
606
00:27:01,323 --> 00:27:03,443
KIMBERLY
Then go to five.
607
00:27:03,523 --> 00:27:06,883
I'm just going to have a good
feel of this left, yeah.
608
00:27:06,963 --> 00:27:08,723
LIZ Sore.
609
00:27:08,803 --> 00:27:10,443
KIMBERLY
She's not happy with that.
610
00:27:10,523 --> 00:27:12,123
So the two things
I'm worried about
611
00:27:12,203 --> 00:27:15,323
is whether she's sprained
herself or has a fracture,
612
00:27:15,403 --> 00:27:19,123
and then the other thing
is whether she has an abscess,
613
00:27:19,203 --> 00:27:21,203
which would be an infection
under the skin.
614
00:27:21,283 --> 00:27:23,523
Sometimes these guys
bite each other
615
00:27:23,603 --> 00:27:25,403
when they are trying to,
616
00:27:25,483 --> 00:27:27,963
you know, move up and
gain hierarchy in the group.
617
00:27:28,043 --> 00:27:31,163
So it could be she has
an infection under her skin.
618
00:27:31,243 --> 00:27:33,163
We just want to make sure
that's not going on.
619
00:27:33,243 --> 00:27:35,763
So we'll take some x-rays
and see what we see.
620
00:27:44,123 --> 00:27:46,523
All I'm seeing
is the soft tissue swelling,
621
00:27:46,603 --> 00:27:49,643
so I don't think we're dealing
with a broken bone,
622
00:27:49,723 --> 00:27:51,323
which is good.
623
00:27:51,403 --> 00:27:52,803
Just maybe move it down
624
00:27:52,883 --> 00:27:54,843
so I have just the arms
in the center of the plate.
625
00:27:54,923 --> 00:27:59,243
And put them in this...
just a 90-degree...
626
00:27:59,323 --> 00:28:01,043
LIZ Okay, yeah.
627
00:28:01,123 --> 00:28:02,723
KIMBERLY ...hold.
628
00:28:02,803 --> 00:28:03,563
Alright,
that's all good to go.
629
00:28:03,643 --> 00:28:05,163
KIMBERLY
Great, thanks, Liz.
630
00:28:05,243 --> 00:28:07,043
I'm just looking for symmetry
in the two sides,
631
00:28:07,123 --> 00:28:10,043
and everything looks
equally balanced.
632
00:28:10,123 --> 00:28:13,923
I don't see any obvious
orthopedic problems,
633
00:28:14,003 --> 00:28:16,403
so I don't think
anything is broken.
634
00:28:16,483 --> 00:28:17,963
I'm happy with the x-rays.
635
00:28:18,043 --> 00:28:19,483
We'll wake her up,
get her back in the group.
636
00:28:19,563 --> 00:28:20,683
LIZ Yep.
637
00:28:20,763 --> 00:28:22,443
She's already
on her way back home,
638
00:28:22,523 --> 00:28:23,843
but there's still
no medical answer
639
00:28:23,923 --> 00:28:26,483
to explain Zalani's problem.
640
00:28:26,563 --> 00:28:28,723
KIMBERLY
I guess the verdict is
there is definitely
641
00:28:28,803 --> 00:28:31,083
still a lameness
in the left front leg.
642
00:28:31,163 --> 00:28:33,283
It seems to be isolated
more to the elbow.
643
00:28:33,363 --> 00:28:35,123
I don't know if it's a sprain
644
00:28:35,203 --> 00:28:37,403
or if there might be
some underlying infection
645
00:28:37,483 --> 00:28:39,403
in the tissues around the elbow.
646
00:28:39,483 --> 00:28:41,323
So we're going to leave her
on the anti-inflammatories
647
00:28:41,403 --> 00:28:43,683
and put her on some antibiotics,
648
00:28:43,763 --> 00:28:45,363
which we gave
the first shot today,
649
00:28:45,443 --> 00:28:48,083
and see how things progress.
650
00:28:48,163 --> 00:28:50,763
While the procedure
has taken less than an hour,
651
00:28:50,843 --> 00:28:53,363
it could be weeks
until this little meerkat
652
00:28:53,443 --> 00:28:56,683
is strong enough to hold
her position in the group,
653
00:28:56,763 --> 00:29:00,123
but keepers are hopeful
she'll be alright.
654
00:29:00,203 --> 00:29:03,203
Yep, take her back
to be with the group.
655
00:29:09,083 --> 00:29:10,443
One of the most iconic
656
00:29:10,523 --> 00:29:13,243
and instantly recognizable
animals in Australia
657
00:29:13,323 --> 00:29:17,083
is the koala.
658
00:29:17,163 --> 00:29:20,963
Taronga have a population
of 24 koalas,
659
00:29:21,043 --> 00:29:24,283
but that number is
constantly changing.
660
00:29:24,363 --> 00:29:25,883
LAURA So we're
really lucky here at Taronga,
661
00:29:25,963 --> 00:29:28,683
we have a really successful
koala breeding program.
662
00:29:28,763 --> 00:29:31,963
Right now is a fantastic time
to see our joeys.
663
00:29:32,043 --> 00:29:34,603
So mum here, Wattle,
she is a four-year-old female,
664
00:29:34,683 --> 00:29:36,123
and she's got little Matteo
665
00:29:36,203 --> 00:29:38,203
sitting on her back
at the moment.
666
00:29:38,283 --> 00:29:40,363
When Matteo is ready
to leave his mum,
667
00:29:40,443 --> 00:29:42,923
he'll go into a crèche
with the other young joeys
668
00:29:43,003 --> 00:29:45,283
to learn how to be a koala.
669
00:29:45,363 --> 00:29:47,643
He still piggybacks around on
mum when she's walking around,
670
00:29:47,723 --> 00:29:49,323
and when she sits still,
he'll get on her belly
671
00:29:49,403 --> 00:29:51,643
and they'll have
a nice little rest together.
672
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:53,163
You can see Matteo there
673
00:29:53,243 --> 00:29:55,083
awkwardly trying to get
onto her back.
674
00:29:55,163 --> 00:29:55,963
Getting into the backpack...
675
00:29:56,043 --> 00:29:57,963
You're facing
the wrong way, buddy.
676
00:30:00,083 --> 00:30:01,683
You never know
what they're going to do,
677
00:30:01,763 --> 00:30:03,803
but that's certainly not
the usual way to travel.
678
00:30:07,083 --> 00:30:09,923
He looks a little uncomfortable
about the whole thing, too.
679
00:30:10,003 --> 00:30:11,043
That's it, buddy.
680
00:30:11,123 --> 00:30:13,163
Good job.
681
00:30:13,243 --> 00:30:16,523
The one thing
you can be sure a koala will do
682
00:30:16,603 --> 00:30:18,163
is sleep.
683
00:30:18,243 --> 00:30:19,523
They do sleep
20 hours a day.
684
00:30:19,603 --> 00:30:21,923
So that's what you get most
of the time when you see them.
685
00:30:22,003 --> 00:30:23,683
And when they're not sleeping,
686
00:30:23,763 --> 00:30:27,283
they're eating,
and boy, do they eat.
687
00:30:27,363 --> 00:30:29,163
We are going to go and
feed Wattle and Malley there,
688
00:30:29,243 --> 00:30:32,523
so if you want to grab that
and follow me.
689
00:30:34,963 --> 00:30:36,523
You hungry?
You want some of this?
690
00:30:36,603 --> 00:30:38,363
Every day koala keeper Laura
691
00:30:38,443 --> 00:30:40,123
and her helper Jennifer
692
00:30:40,203 --> 00:30:42,443
swap out
the eucalyptus branches,
693
00:30:42,523 --> 00:30:46,923
ensuring the koalas have access
to plenty of fresh leaves.
694
00:30:47,003 --> 00:30:49,483
If you look here,
this was yesterday's
or two-day-old food.
695
00:30:49,563 --> 00:30:50,963
They've eaten all the bits
they like from it,
696
00:30:51,043 --> 00:30:52,323
and so we're going
to give them fresh stuff
697
00:30:52,403 --> 00:30:53,923
to make sure they're happy.
698
00:30:54,003 --> 00:30:55,883
So we'll take this out here.
699
00:30:55,963 --> 00:30:58,643
Koalas eat around 10% of their
body weight in leaf every day.
700
00:30:58,723 --> 00:31:00,163
Now a leaf doesn't weigh much,
701
00:31:00,243 --> 00:31:02,643
so that's a large volume of
leaves you've got to look for.
702
00:31:02,723 --> 00:31:06,443
So the tips of eucalyptus are
the soft, sweet, juicy ones.
703
00:31:06,523 --> 00:31:07,843
So they're full of water.
704
00:31:07,923 --> 00:31:09,123
They don't need
to drink anything.
705
00:31:09,203 --> 00:31:10,883
They're getting all their water
from the leaf.
706
00:31:10,963 --> 00:31:13,643
Also it's much easier
to digest this soft little leaf
707
00:31:13,723 --> 00:31:15,403
than it is this big hard leaf,
708
00:31:15,483 --> 00:31:18,763
and they're already doing
a lot of work on eucalypts.
709
00:31:18,843 --> 00:31:20,323
What she's eating right now,
710
00:31:20,403 --> 00:31:22,283
it's going to process
over about the course of a week
711
00:31:22,363 --> 00:31:24,443
when she will finally
poop it out the other end.
712
00:31:24,523 --> 00:31:26,643
So whilst it looks
like she's really lazy
713
00:31:26,723 --> 00:31:29,043
when she's sleeping,
she's doing tons of work.
714
00:31:29,123 --> 00:31:31,283
It's just inside,
and we can't see it.
715
00:31:31,363 --> 00:31:34,403
While the adult
koalas eat eucalyptus,
716
00:31:34,483 --> 00:31:37,723
it's something the joeys
have to work themselves up to.
717
00:31:37,803 --> 00:31:41,123
Eucalyptus is toxic
to most species, including us.
718
00:31:41,203 --> 00:31:43,403
Koalas, they're really
specialized.
719
00:31:43,483 --> 00:31:46,003
So they have a completely
different digestive system,
720
00:31:46,083 --> 00:31:48,123
but for Matteo to start
eating leaves,
721
00:31:48,203 --> 00:31:50,043
he does something
a bit gross first.
722
00:31:50,123 --> 00:31:52,043
He actually eats his mum's poo.
723
00:31:52,123 --> 00:31:53,523
It's not just
regular poo, though.
724
00:31:53,603 --> 00:31:55,683
It is called pap, and it's
a really special mixture
725
00:31:55,763 --> 00:31:59,203
that comes from her cecum
and it's full of bacteria,
726
00:31:59,283 --> 00:32:01,403
and that bacteria is important
727
00:32:01,483 --> 00:32:04,203
for these guys to be able
to digest their leaf.
728
00:32:04,283 --> 00:32:06,763
It's actually
part of the process.
729
00:32:06,843 --> 00:32:09,123
But koalas
are very picky eaters
730
00:32:09,203 --> 00:32:11,163
when it comes to their leaves.
731
00:32:11,243 --> 00:32:12,603
LAURA So
if you watch her there
732
00:32:12,683 --> 00:32:14,163
she's generally
smelling the leaf
733
00:32:14,243 --> 00:32:16,323
before she will put it
in her mouth.
734
00:32:16,403 --> 00:32:19,523
So their sense of smell is the
most important of their senses.
735
00:32:19,603 --> 00:32:21,203
It's how she chooses her food
736
00:32:21,283 --> 00:32:23,883
and how she interprets
a lot of her environment.
737
00:32:23,963 --> 00:32:26,603
So their eyesight is not
thought to be very good.
738
00:32:26,683 --> 00:32:28,803
So you can see there
right up to the nose,
739
00:32:28,883 --> 00:32:30,483
yep, that's what I want.
740
00:32:30,563 --> 00:32:34,243
And if it's not what she wants,
she'll let it go and discard it.
741
00:32:35,003 --> 00:32:36,883
Despite their quirks,
742
00:32:36,963 --> 00:32:39,763
Laura loves working
with koalas.
743
00:32:39,843 --> 00:32:41,083
LAURA
They're interesting.
744
00:32:41,163 --> 00:32:42,323
They're super unique.
745
00:32:42,403 --> 00:32:43,603
They're not like
any other animal.
746
00:32:43,683 --> 00:32:45,163
Their food source
is a challenge.
747
00:32:45,243 --> 00:32:46,883
It's always something to learn.
748
00:32:46,963 --> 00:32:48,883
There are so many varieties
of eucalyptus
749
00:32:48,963 --> 00:32:50,403
and how the koalas use them
750
00:32:50,483 --> 00:32:52,603
is kind of an endless
fascination to me,
751
00:32:52,683 --> 00:32:55,323
and look, we've had babies
since the day I started,
752
00:32:55,403 --> 00:32:58,523
and you just never
get sick of it.
753
00:33:06,003 --> 00:33:07,603
Come on, guys,
you know the routine.
754
00:33:07,683 --> 00:33:09,203
Go, go, go, go, go, go!
755
00:33:09,283 --> 00:33:12,483
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
756
00:33:12,563 --> 00:33:14,763
Coming over?
757
00:33:14,843 --> 00:33:18,043
It's been a couple
of days since Zalani's x-ray,
758
00:33:18,123 --> 00:33:20,403
and keeper Deb
has been closely watching
759
00:33:20,483 --> 00:33:23,243
the injured meerkat's progress.
760
00:33:23,323 --> 00:33:25,323
DEB There it is.
761
00:33:25,403 --> 00:33:29,043
Zalani, Zalani, here it is.
762
00:33:29,123 --> 00:33:32,003
Go, go, go!
763
00:33:32,763 --> 00:33:34,003
Hello.
764
00:33:34,083 --> 00:33:35,643
So this is Zalani here,
765
00:33:35,723 --> 00:33:38,723
we saw Zalani was really lame
in her front foot.
766
00:33:38,803 --> 00:33:41,723
She was holding it up and wasn't
what we call weight-bearing,
767
00:33:41,803 --> 00:33:43,883
so wasn't putting it
down on the ground to walk
768
00:33:43,963 --> 00:33:45,523
as she would normally walk.
769
00:33:45,603 --> 00:33:47,243
She was put
on a slightly higher dose
770
00:33:47,323 --> 00:33:49,643
than what she was on
of pain relief
771
00:33:49,723 --> 00:33:52,483
to give her
a little chance to heal,
772
00:33:52,563 --> 00:33:56,683
and that has done exactly
what we had hoped it would do.
773
00:33:56,763 --> 00:33:59,323
So she's back
to her normal self.
774
00:33:59,403 --> 00:34:01,563
So today we can see her
moving around fine.
775
00:34:01,643 --> 00:34:02,963
She's using it fine.
776
00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:06,003
She's digging in the exhibit
here, so, yeah,
777
00:34:06,083 --> 00:34:07,883
we're really happy
with how it's gone
778
00:34:07,963 --> 00:34:11,163
and it means that we don't
have to go any further.
779
00:34:11,243 --> 00:34:12,723
The keepers are also happy
780
00:34:12,803 --> 00:34:14,203
that a healthy Zalani
781
00:34:14,283 --> 00:34:17,003
has been able to hold
her position in the group.
782
00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:18,563
DEB So
Zalani will be fine.
783
00:34:18,643 --> 00:34:22,403
Within the group, Zalani
is still quite a strong member.
784
00:34:22,483 --> 00:34:24,083
There is still one individual
785
00:34:24,163 --> 00:34:25,643
that she did have
a falling-out with
786
00:34:25,723 --> 00:34:29,523
that we do have to do some
introductions back with her,
787
00:34:29,603 --> 00:34:31,243
so we're just waiting
for the right moment
788
00:34:31,323 --> 00:34:33,243
to start that process,
789
00:34:33,323 --> 00:34:36,123
but we're hopeful that
with Zalani completely healed
790
00:34:36,203 --> 00:34:38,243
that she'll have that strength
791
00:34:38,323 --> 00:34:40,243
and also obviously have
the assistance
792
00:34:40,323 --> 00:34:41,963
from her other family members
793
00:34:42,043 --> 00:34:45,483
to assert her dominance
over the other individual.
794
00:34:45,563 --> 00:34:47,323
We're keeping
a very close eye on them.
795
00:34:47,403 --> 00:34:48,723
We're doing lots of observations
796
00:34:48,803 --> 00:34:50,923
to make sure everyone
is really cohesive.
797
00:34:51,003 --> 00:34:54,483
So that's what we've got to do
in the next few weeks.
798
00:35:03,163 --> 00:35:04,923
It's been almost two weeks
799
00:35:05,003 --> 00:35:08,843
since the lace monitor
underwent lifesaving surgery.
800
00:35:08,923 --> 00:35:11,123
I'm relieved
that he's still with us.
801
00:35:11,203 --> 00:35:13,283
At the time I thought
it was a 50/50.
802
00:35:13,363 --> 00:35:17,643
It was a long surgery, and his
insides were pretty abnormal.
803
00:35:17,723 --> 00:35:19,803
So he's eating
everything that's in there.
804
00:35:19,883 --> 00:35:21,163
GABRIELLE So we
have just got him on plain meat
805
00:35:21,243 --> 00:35:22,963
at the moment with calcium,
806
00:35:23,043 --> 00:35:24,243
because I don't want him
to have any bones.
807
00:35:24,323 --> 00:35:25,363
Yep.
808
00:35:25,443 --> 00:35:26,683
Yep, and is he pooing?
809
00:35:26,763 --> 00:35:28,003
Yeah, he is
pooing really well.
810
00:35:28,083 --> 00:35:29,563
Good.
Yep, weeing and pooing.
811
00:35:29,643 --> 00:35:31,043
Excellent.
812
00:35:31,123 --> 00:35:32,763
Initial signs are good,
813
00:35:32,843 --> 00:35:35,723
but reptiles take longer
to heal than mammals.
814
00:35:35,803 --> 00:35:39,043
It's going to take
up to six weeks to fully heal.
815
00:35:39,123 --> 00:35:42,963
And as long as he eats and poos
and doesn't throw up,
816
00:35:43,043 --> 00:35:45,363
then he's, it's just waiting
for his wound to heal
817
00:35:45,443 --> 00:35:47,083
and then he can go back.
818
00:35:47,163 --> 00:35:49,443
So Gabby's called in
reptile keeper Stu
819
00:35:49,523 --> 00:35:52,443
to handle
this grumpy little goanna.
820
00:35:52,523 --> 00:35:53,723
STU
I'll just go in.
821
00:35:53,803 --> 00:35:56,083
I'll grab him by the tail,
then restrain him by the head.
822
00:35:56,163 --> 00:35:57,083
LIBBY
Just like that.
823
00:35:57,163 --> 00:35:59,003
STU Just like
that, without a hitch.
824
00:36:21,483 --> 00:36:22,843
STU They're very
strong. Very powerful.
825
00:36:22,923 --> 00:36:25,923
A lot of power generated from
their tail and their forelimbs.
826
00:36:35,643 --> 00:36:38,563
STU They're great
climbers, so very muscular.
827
00:36:38,963 --> 00:36:40,243
Wow.
828
00:36:40,323 --> 00:36:42,323
He's just got one claw
on my belt there
829
00:36:42,403 --> 00:36:44,523
so I can't lift him up
much higher. If you want...
830
00:36:44,603 --> 00:36:45,723
No, no, no.
831
00:36:45,803 --> 00:36:48,323
Is that okay?
Yeah. It looks...
832
00:36:48,403 --> 00:36:49,523
STU Do you want me
to take him up higher?
833
00:36:49,603 --> 00:36:52,043
GABRIELLE It
looks fantastic. It's really,
there's nothing, umm...
834
00:36:52,123 --> 00:36:54,323
I'm just going to pop
some antibiotic ointment.
835
00:36:54,403 --> 00:36:55,483
Are you happy for me to do that?
836
00:36:55,563 --> 00:36:56,763
STU Yep.
837
00:36:56,843 --> 00:36:58,403
He's quite relaxed.
838
00:36:58,483 --> 00:37:00,003
He's not struggling.
839
00:37:00,083 --> 00:37:01,323
GABRIELLE The
wound looks really good.
840
00:37:01,403 --> 00:37:03,563
It's not pulled apart.
It's not inflamed.
841
00:37:03,643 --> 00:37:05,963
I can't believe it,
Gabby, look at that.
842
00:37:06,043 --> 00:37:07,243
Beautiful stitching.
843
00:37:07,323 --> 00:37:08,203
Oh, thank you.
844
00:37:08,283 --> 00:37:10,643
What a job.
Thank you.
845
00:37:10,723 --> 00:37:11,923
You're a hero.
846
00:37:12,003 --> 00:37:13,603
He's an expert healer.
847
00:37:13,683 --> 00:37:15,043
Okay, I'm happy.
848
00:37:15,123 --> 00:37:16,203
Yep.
GABRIELLE Yep.
849
00:37:16,283 --> 00:37:17,803
Yep, excellent.
850
00:37:17,883 --> 00:37:20,603
GABRIELLE
Two weeks out, he couldn't
be doing better, really.
851
00:37:20,683 --> 00:37:23,483
So as long as he just continues
on this trajectory
852
00:37:23,563 --> 00:37:28,603
he'll be going back to raid some
more barbecues in about a month.
853
00:37:31,163 --> 00:37:32,963
I'm just going
to put him on this bench.
854
00:37:33,043 --> 00:37:35,923
It's been quite
an ordeal for the lace monitor.
855
00:37:36,003 --> 00:37:38,523
There you go, mate.
856
00:37:38,603 --> 00:37:40,043
He's pretty relaxed,
that's really good.
857
00:37:40,123 --> 00:37:41,883
And remarkably,
858
00:37:41,963 --> 00:37:44,043
despite initially
fearing the worst,
859
00:37:44,123 --> 00:37:47,403
all signs point
to a full recovery.
860
00:37:47,483 --> 00:37:49,123
Oh, that's great.
861
00:37:49,203 --> 00:37:50,283
STU Look at him.
He hasn't moved.
862
00:37:50,363 --> 00:37:51,963
He's just soaking up
that warmth.
863
00:37:52,043 --> 00:37:54,523
However,
Taronga staff aren't too sure
864
00:37:54,603 --> 00:37:58,043
this is the last time they'll
meet this lucky lizard.
865
00:37:58,123 --> 00:38:00,243
LIBBY
He'll go back to West Head
where he comes from,
866
00:38:00,323 --> 00:38:01,323
north of Sydney.
867
00:38:01,403 --> 00:38:03,163
There's a national park there.
868
00:38:03,243 --> 00:38:04,723
Unfortunately lots of barbecues
869
00:38:04,803 --> 00:38:07,483
and people having lots of food
there, including skewers.
870
00:38:07,563 --> 00:38:09,803
So I don't know whether he
has learned his lesson.
871
00:38:09,883 --> 00:38:11,123
Probably not.
872
00:38:11,203 --> 00:38:14,163
But anyway,
we'll see how it goes.
873
00:38:21,923 --> 00:38:24,403
Sun bears Mary and Mr. Hobbs
874
00:38:24,483 --> 00:38:28,963
spent a week together
in an attempt to produce a cub.
875
00:38:29,603 --> 00:38:31,643
ELLEN
Pregnancies aren't
necessarily an easy thing.
876
00:38:31,723 --> 00:38:34,403
There have only been two
sun bear births in Australia,
877
00:38:34,483 --> 00:38:36,243
Mary being one of those.
878
00:38:36,323 --> 00:38:38,923
So being able to contribute
to that breeding population
879
00:38:39,003 --> 00:38:42,123
in Australia would be fantastic,
880
00:38:42,203 --> 00:38:44,643
especially with Mr. Hobbs
coming from Cambodia
881
00:38:44,723 --> 00:38:48,363
and kind of bringing his story
full circle would be incredible.
882
00:38:48,443 --> 00:38:51,083
Today, after
three months of waiting,
883
00:38:51,163 --> 00:38:53,403
Senior Vet Larry has come down
884
00:38:53,483 --> 00:38:57,843
to conduct
an ultrasound on Mary.
885
00:38:57,923 --> 00:39:00,283
LARRY At this
stage of the gestation
886
00:39:00,363 --> 00:39:02,763
the fetus should be
large enough for us to see.
887
00:39:02,843 --> 00:39:05,443
So the guys have trained her
incredibly well
888
00:39:05,523 --> 00:39:08,363
to be able to facilitate
this examination.
889
00:39:08,443 --> 00:39:09,643
It will be amazing.
890
00:39:09,723 --> 00:39:11,963
You know, you'll see how
she presents her little belly,
891
00:39:12,043 --> 00:39:13,403
her little shaved belly to us.
892
00:39:13,483 --> 00:39:15,603
So she will be
right here, in the middle.
893
00:39:15,683 --> 00:39:17,443
And if she's pregnant,
894
00:39:17,523 --> 00:39:21,403
there should be
a small fetus visible.
895
00:39:22,683 --> 00:39:24,123
Some gel.
896
00:39:24,203 --> 00:39:25,923
You would think that
ultrasounding a sun bear
897
00:39:26,003 --> 00:39:27,843
would be an incredibly
difficult thing,
898
00:39:27,923 --> 00:39:31,803
but the training that these guys
have put in to her is phenomenal
899
00:39:31,883 --> 00:39:34,323
and she is actually
really, really compliant
900
00:39:34,403 --> 00:39:36,843
with this ultrasound
examination.
901
00:39:41,083 --> 00:39:42,563
KEEPER
Hey you, Mare Bear.
902
00:39:42,643 --> 00:39:44,043
LARRY Here
she is, beautiful girl.
903
00:39:44,123 --> 00:39:45,963
KEEPER
Hello, miss.
904
00:39:46,043 --> 00:39:48,723
I am going to give her a bit of
honey water just to say thanks.
905
00:39:48,803 --> 00:39:51,763
Hello.
906
00:39:51,843 --> 00:39:54,563
Alright.
907
00:39:57,723 --> 00:40:00,043
KEEPER Just
give her a few seconds.
908
00:40:00,123 --> 00:40:01,963
Alright, Mary.
909
00:40:02,043 --> 00:40:04,123
LARRY Yeah.
910
00:40:04,723 --> 00:40:07,443
So we've got Mary here
presenting very nicely.
911
00:40:07,523 --> 00:40:12,563
Presenting the little
pre-prepared shaved area.
912
00:40:12,643 --> 00:40:15,243
And I've just got to get
that touching her belly. Oh.
913
00:40:15,323 --> 00:40:17,923
While everyone
is cautiously optimistic,
914
00:40:18,003 --> 00:40:20,243
they're also aware
that Mary and Mr. Hobbs
915
00:40:20,323 --> 00:40:24,283
have been in this position
quite a few times before.
916
00:40:24,363 --> 00:40:26,123
LARRY Every time
they're together and they mate,
917
00:40:26,203 --> 00:40:28,003
we're hopeful that there
might be a pregnancy
918
00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:31,723
as a result of that, but so far
that hasn't actually happened.
919
00:40:31,803 --> 00:40:34,443
We've got a great view
of her bladder there.
920
00:40:34,523 --> 00:40:37,083
Nice and full.
921
00:40:38,723 --> 00:40:41,803
She does have
a nice, full bladder.
922
00:40:41,883 --> 00:40:44,083
You're a good girl.
923
00:40:45,443 --> 00:40:46,803
Yeah, just behind the bladder
924
00:40:46,883 --> 00:40:50,163
I can see the horns
of the uterus there,
925
00:40:50,243 --> 00:40:53,683
which sadly are empty.
926
00:40:53,763 --> 00:40:59,403
There is no fetus
in there at all.
927
00:41:00,443 --> 00:41:01,843
It was not the result
928
00:41:01,923 --> 00:41:04,523
keepers and vets
were hoping for,
929
00:41:04,603 --> 00:41:06,643
but despite the disappointment
930
00:41:06,723 --> 00:41:10,243
no one at Taronga
is giving up anytime soon.
931
00:41:10,323 --> 00:41:12,043
LARRY I mean, you
know, this is part of the deal.
932
00:41:12,123 --> 00:41:14,483
We do our best
with our animals to breed them,
933
00:41:14,563 --> 00:41:17,763
but there's often things
that are beyond our control.
934
00:41:17,843 --> 00:41:20,243
No baby.
No.
935
00:41:20,323 --> 00:41:21,683
Hopefully next time,
Mare Bear.
936
00:41:21,763 --> 00:41:23,123
You did really good.
937
00:41:23,203 --> 00:41:24,283
Yeah, she is amazing.
938
00:41:24,363 --> 00:41:25,403
Good job.
939
00:41:25,483 --> 00:41:27,883
We don't have a little
baby in there, so it's sad.
940
00:41:27,963 --> 00:41:30,963
It's my first time here with
Mary going through this process,
941
00:41:31,043 --> 00:41:33,563
so I was definitely
fingers crossed,
942
00:41:33,643 --> 00:41:35,243
fingers crossed, toes crossed,
943
00:41:35,323 --> 00:41:37,563
hoping to pop the bottle
of champagne,
944
00:41:37,643 --> 00:41:39,123
but that's alright.
945
00:41:39,203 --> 00:41:44,043
We'll keep going, we'll keep her
happy and try again next time.
946
00:41:44,123 --> 00:41:46,043
She's like, that was good fun.
947
00:41:46,123 --> 00:41:47,003
KEEPER Yep.
948
00:41:47,083 --> 00:41:48,243
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