1 00:00:04,643 --> 00:00:09,123 ♪ ♪ 2 00:00:09,203 --> 00:00:11,803 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Just having a good listen to his heart and his lungs. 3 00:00:11,883 --> 00:00:13,483 Sounds really good. 4 00:00:13,563 --> 00:00:15,403 NARRATOR: Taronga Zoo hospital is responsible 5 00:00:15,483 --> 00:00:19,843 for the health and welfare of nearly 5,000 animals. 6 00:00:19,923 --> 00:00:21,323 KEEPER (off-screen): 10.8 kilos. 7 00:00:21,403 --> 00:00:22,843 So he's lost a bit of weight. 8 00:00:22,923 --> 00:00:26,603 NARRATOR: From over 350 species. 9 00:00:26,683 --> 00:00:30,283 LARRY (off-screen): Poor koalas have copped a bit, unfortunately. 10 00:00:30,363 --> 00:00:32,043 NARRATOR: The hospital also plays a vital role 11 00:00:32,123 --> 00:00:34,003 in the treatment and rehabilitation 12 00:00:34,083 --> 00:00:36,683 of over 1,400 injured wildlife 13 00:00:36,763 --> 00:00:39,843 brought in by the public each year. 14 00:00:39,923 --> 00:00:41,603 LARRY (off-screen): Very obviously a nasty wound there, 15 00:00:41,683 --> 00:00:43,923 which is already a few days old by the look of it. 16 00:00:44,003 --> 00:00:45,883 NARRATOR: And never has this been more obvious 17 00:00:45,963 --> 00:00:48,563 than in the aftermath of the savage bushfires 18 00:00:48,643 --> 00:00:51,003 that swept through Australia this year, 19 00:00:51,083 --> 00:00:55,363 killing and injuring more than a billion animals. 20 00:00:55,923 --> 00:00:58,723 Understandably all this makes the emergency room 21 00:00:58,803 --> 00:01:01,243 a very busy place. 22 00:01:01,323 --> 00:01:04,123 So rather than bring every animal to the hospital, 23 00:01:04,203 --> 00:01:07,643 sometimes they need to take the hospital to the animals. 24 00:01:07,723 --> 00:01:09,163 KIMBERLY: This morning I'm on outside rounds. 25 00:01:09,243 --> 00:01:12,323 So I'm the veterinarian that is designated to go out in the zoo 26 00:01:12,403 --> 00:01:16,003 and look at any of the animals that need veterinary assistance. 27 00:01:16,083 --> 00:01:17,683 We'll take this bag of goodies 28 00:01:17,763 --> 00:01:19,643 with all kinds of different supplies in it. 29 00:01:19,723 --> 00:01:21,603 So some antibiotics, stethoscope, 30 00:01:21,683 --> 00:01:22,963 needles and syringes, 31 00:01:23,043 --> 00:01:24,483 so if we need something while we're out there, 32 00:01:24,563 --> 00:01:27,563 we can treat some of the animals on site. 33 00:01:27,643 --> 00:01:30,923 So I have a list with all of our different departments. 34 00:01:31,003 --> 00:01:33,043 The reptiles are probably the most important, 35 00:01:33,123 --> 00:01:35,043 so I'm going to start with them. 36 00:01:35,123 --> 00:01:37,043 NARRATOR: The first patient on today's rounds 37 00:01:37,123 --> 00:01:40,123 is a freshwater crocodile with a respiratory problem. 38 00:01:40,203 --> 00:01:41,443 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Let's look at this freshwater croc 39 00:01:41,523 --> 00:01:43,203 that we wrestled last week. 40 00:01:43,283 --> 00:01:45,643 NARRATOR: Found all over northern Australia, 41 00:01:45,723 --> 00:01:47,323 the freshwater crocodile, 42 00:01:47,403 --> 00:01:49,843 unlike its much larger saltwater cousin, 43 00:01:49,923 --> 00:01:52,363 isn't prone to attack humans. 44 00:01:52,443 --> 00:01:55,843 But it still packs one hell of a punch. 45 00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:58,923 KEEPER: So that's her there. She's just cruising round now. 46 00:01:59,003 --> 00:02:02,123 KIMBERLY: Oh. The female freshwater crocodile, 47 00:02:02,203 --> 00:02:05,563 she's been having some nasal discharge 48 00:02:05,643 --> 00:02:07,203 and some ocular discharge 49 00:02:07,283 --> 00:02:09,163 and opening her mouth quite a bit 50 00:02:09,243 --> 00:02:11,603 and having trouble seemingly breathing. 51 00:02:11,683 --> 00:02:14,363 We are treating her for a respiratory infection. 52 00:02:14,443 --> 00:02:17,403 Hopefully it's not a fungal respiratory disease, 53 00:02:17,483 --> 00:02:19,923 but we do have to keep in the back of our mind it could be. 54 00:02:20,003 --> 00:02:22,163 Well, we got to keep her on antibiotics, 55 00:02:22,243 --> 00:02:24,243 so Emma thought you could just inject her. 56 00:02:24,323 --> 00:02:25,523 KEEPER (off-screen): Yeah, we should be able to. 57 00:02:25,603 --> 00:02:26,923 KIMBERLY: If I left the pole syringe for you. 58 00:02:27,003 --> 00:02:28,643 KEEPER (off-screen): Yeah, we'll do that. 59 00:02:28,723 --> 00:02:30,123 KIMBERLY (off-screen): The keepers actually are able 60 00:02:30,203 --> 00:02:32,323 to do the injection for us. 61 00:02:32,403 --> 00:02:33,643 So it's probably a little bit better 62 00:02:33,723 --> 00:02:35,243 because I'm not used to working with her, 63 00:02:35,323 --> 00:02:36,803 they're used to working with crocs, 64 00:02:36,883 --> 00:02:39,643 and it will be a lot more safe than me going in there. 65 00:02:39,723 --> 00:02:41,403 So we need to give her an injection, 66 00:02:41,483 --> 00:02:43,883 and so we're going to fill this up with antibiotics, 67 00:02:43,963 --> 00:02:45,123 he'll put a needle on the end, 68 00:02:45,203 --> 00:02:47,883 and then he'll go in and he can just jab her in the muscle 69 00:02:47,963 --> 00:02:49,603 with the antibiotic. 70 00:02:49,683 --> 00:02:51,603 So we need to do that about every three days for her. 71 00:02:51,683 --> 00:02:52,683 KEEPER: Yeah, sure. 72 00:02:52,763 --> 00:02:55,003 KIMBERLY (off-screen): So that's the antibiotic and there's the sterile water. 73 00:02:55,083 --> 00:02:56,803 You can keep all of that. 74 00:02:56,883 --> 00:02:58,683 NARRATOR: Since the crocodile isn't due to be fed 75 00:02:58,763 --> 00:03:00,443 for a few more days, 76 00:03:00,523 --> 00:03:03,443 the injection will have to wait. 77 00:03:03,523 --> 00:03:05,523 So Kimberly's off to her next stop 78 00:03:05,603 --> 00:03:09,163 to unravel the mystery of a lame meerkat. 79 00:03:12,403 --> 00:03:16,363 ♪ ♪ 80 00:03:16,443 --> 00:03:19,163 All across Taronga Zoo there are countless examples 81 00:03:19,243 --> 00:03:22,723 of animals that are from the same family. 82 00:03:23,643 --> 00:03:26,123 Kangaroos and pademelons. 83 00:03:26,203 --> 00:03:28,883 Gorillas and chimpanzees. 84 00:03:28,963 --> 00:03:32,003 Turtles and tortoises. 85 00:03:32,083 --> 00:03:36,963 But there is actually only one species of bear at Taronga. 86 00:03:38,563 --> 00:03:41,123 The Malayan sun bear. 87 00:03:43,763 --> 00:03:46,163 ELLEN (off-screen): We're in our Malayan sun bear exhibit. 88 00:03:46,243 --> 00:03:47,523 We have two bears here. 89 00:03:47,603 --> 00:03:49,483 So we have Mr. Hobbs, who is 24 years of age, 90 00:03:49,563 --> 00:03:52,443 and Mary, who is 8 years of age. 91 00:03:52,523 --> 00:03:54,243 So one of the amazing things about sun bears 92 00:03:54,323 --> 00:03:56,523 is that they do have a beautiful crest on their chest, 93 00:03:56,603 --> 00:03:58,603 which makes it look like the sun is rising. 94 00:03:58,683 --> 00:04:00,883 Each sun bear has a unique marking. 95 00:04:00,963 --> 00:04:03,163 Mary has what looks like a necklace, 96 00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:04,683 so it's a full crest, 97 00:04:04,763 --> 00:04:06,923 and Mr. Hobbs actually has a crest 98 00:04:07,003 --> 00:04:08,363 that has a little break in it 99 00:04:08,443 --> 00:04:10,683 that makes it look like it's a bow tie. 100 00:04:10,763 --> 00:04:13,763 NARRATOR: Sun bears are the smallest of all bear species, 101 00:04:13,843 --> 00:04:16,843 but their looks and size can be deceiving. 102 00:04:16,923 --> 00:04:18,643 ELLEN (off-screen): We definitely should not be fooled 103 00:04:18,723 --> 00:04:21,323 by the sun bear's cute and cuddly looks. 104 00:04:21,403 --> 00:04:23,163 They have incredibly large canine teeth 105 00:04:23,243 --> 00:04:24,723 as well as other teeth, 106 00:04:24,803 --> 00:04:27,683 and they also have those incredibly long claws as well. 107 00:04:27,763 --> 00:04:30,803 So built for getting and ripping in to rocks and to logs. 108 00:04:30,883 --> 00:04:33,163 NARRATOR: The claws make them excellent climbers, 109 00:04:33,243 --> 00:04:35,843 which sees keepers take a novel approach 110 00:04:35,923 --> 00:04:39,163 to stopping them from scaling the walls. 111 00:04:39,243 --> 00:04:42,523 ELLEN: So, this wall is meant to be non-climbable. 112 00:04:45,443 --> 00:04:47,083 One of the reasons you will notice 113 00:04:47,163 --> 00:04:49,683 we've got Vaseline along here 114 00:04:49,763 --> 00:04:53,403 is to prevent her from physically climbing it. 115 00:04:53,483 --> 00:04:57,003 And although Mary is at the moment about 90 kilos, 116 00:04:57,083 --> 00:05:00,843 she can still lift her entire body weight just on those claws. 117 00:05:02,083 --> 00:05:04,363 NARRATOR: But despite how powerful they may be, 118 00:05:04,443 --> 00:05:07,803 that doesn't mean they're not doing it tough in the wild. 119 00:05:07,883 --> 00:05:09,323 ELLEN (off-screen): They do live in the same area 120 00:05:09,403 --> 00:05:12,723 as larger predators than themselves, things like tigers. 121 00:05:12,803 --> 00:05:14,123 One of their cool adaptations 122 00:05:14,203 --> 00:05:16,603 is they have a lot of excess skin on the back of their neck. 123 00:05:16,683 --> 00:05:18,043 They'll use that if a bigger bear than them 124 00:05:18,123 --> 00:05:20,643 or another predator like a tiger comes up behind them. 125 00:05:20,723 --> 00:05:21,923 If they latch on to their back, 126 00:05:22,003 --> 00:05:24,043 they can basically almost turn around their own skin 127 00:05:24,123 --> 00:05:27,003 to either roar at them or to scare that species off, 128 00:05:27,083 --> 00:05:29,323 and then they have such incredible climbing ability, 129 00:05:29,403 --> 00:05:31,203 they're up the tree in two seconds, 130 00:05:31,283 --> 00:05:34,003 and that bear or that tiger can't catch up with them, 131 00:05:34,083 --> 00:05:36,283 which is pretty incredible. 132 00:05:37,483 --> 00:05:39,563 NARRATOR: Although sun bear numbers are low 133 00:05:39,643 --> 00:05:41,683 and Taronga would love a cub, 134 00:05:41,763 --> 00:05:45,243 for most of the year, the sun bears do not mix. 135 00:05:45,323 --> 00:05:46,643 ELLEN (off-screen): Keeping the bears separate here at Taronga 136 00:05:46,723 --> 00:05:48,403 is kind of a safety aspect. 137 00:05:48,483 --> 00:05:50,123 Mary being bigger than Hobbsy 138 00:05:50,203 --> 00:05:52,163 and Hobbsy being quite a bit older than her, 139 00:05:52,243 --> 00:05:55,323 those things are great and bad in some ways. 140 00:05:55,403 --> 00:05:57,083 So her being a bit boisterous, a bit younger 141 00:05:57,163 --> 00:05:59,163 means that she can overpower him for food, 142 00:05:59,243 --> 00:06:01,243 so we just want him to be able to get his nutritional value 143 00:06:01,323 --> 00:06:03,883 from all of his foods as best as we possibly can, 144 00:06:03,963 --> 00:06:06,683 and having them separate is one of those ways. 145 00:06:06,763 --> 00:06:09,163 NARRATOR: But as keeper Ellen is about to find out, 146 00:06:09,243 --> 00:06:14,163 Mary is ready to mingle and is making no secret 147 00:06:14,243 --> 00:06:18,763 of the fact that she's keen to end her and Mr. Hobbs' segregation. 148 00:06:19,283 --> 00:06:20,643 ELLEN (off-screen): Ahh, okay. 149 00:06:20,723 --> 00:06:23,043 Wow. 150 00:06:23,123 --> 00:06:25,963 Another sign that she is coming in to estrus. 151 00:06:26,043 --> 00:06:29,643 So, she hasn't really dug anything this big since April. 152 00:06:29,723 --> 00:06:31,923 Umm, so we've got to fill that in. 153 00:06:32,003 --> 00:06:34,483 I might go grab a shovel, actually. 154 00:06:34,563 --> 00:06:36,523 Today is a very exciting time at Taronga. 155 00:06:36,603 --> 00:06:38,883 Our female sun bear Mary is coming in to estrus, 156 00:06:38,963 --> 00:06:40,803 which basically means she is ready to mate 157 00:06:40,883 --> 00:06:43,483 with our male, Mr. Hobbs. 158 00:06:43,563 --> 00:06:45,043 So one of the signs she is coming in to estrus 159 00:06:45,123 --> 00:06:47,163 is she actually thinks that this is one of the walls 160 00:06:47,243 --> 00:06:49,203 that is to Mr. Hobbs. 161 00:06:49,283 --> 00:06:50,363 It is not quite. 162 00:06:50,443 --> 00:06:53,003 So we'll dig here, or she will often even head up to the doors. 163 00:06:53,083 --> 00:06:55,763 She has actually tried to climb them before 164 00:06:55,843 --> 00:06:58,003 because she can sense that he is near. 165 00:06:58,083 --> 00:07:00,363 This digging is basically a sign of that from overnight 166 00:07:00,443 --> 00:07:03,443 that she has wanted to get to him. 167 00:07:04,083 --> 00:07:06,363 There is another sign up here as well. 168 00:07:06,443 --> 00:07:08,483 Shows how powerful she is. 169 00:07:08,563 --> 00:07:12,443 Has pulled that away from the door. 170 00:07:12,523 --> 00:07:14,963 (laughs) 171 00:07:15,043 --> 00:07:16,723 Which is quite a feat, 172 00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:19,563 displaying just how strong they are. 173 00:07:19,643 --> 00:07:21,043 Mary and Mr. Hobbs have been separate 174 00:07:21,123 --> 00:07:23,683 since her last estrus cycle back in April. 175 00:07:23,763 --> 00:07:26,163 Because they are a dangerous animal, 176 00:07:26,243 --> 00:07:28,923 bringing the two bears together for that first introduction 177 00:07:29,003 --> 00:07:30,483 as she is coming in to estrus 178 00:07:30,563 --> 00:07:32,563 is always a little bit of a wary time for us, 179 00:07:32,643 --> 00:07:35,843 and Mary being a good 15 kilos heavier than Mr. Hobbs 180 00:07:35,923 --> 00:07:39,083 means she has that overpowering ability. 181 00:07:39,163 --> 00:07:42,483 NARRATOR: So despite zookeeper concerns about what may happen, 182 00:07:42,563 --> 00:07:46,123 preparations have started to get them together. 183 00:07:48,323 --> 00:07:50,403 ♪ ♪ 184 00:07:50,483 --> 00:07:52,603 Back at the Wildlife Hospital... 185 00:07:52,683 --> 00:07:54,563 GABRIELLE: Alright, so I'm giving him 186 00:07:54,643 --> 00:07:56,043 what I gave him yesterday pretty much. 187 00:07:56,123 --> 00:07:59,843 NARRATOR: Vet Gabby is preparing for emergency surgery 188 00:07:59,923 --> 00:08:04,443 on a lace monitor, commonly known as a tree goanna. 189 00:08:06,123 --> 00:08:08,763 It was brought to the zoo with a gruesome injury, 190 00:08:08,843 --> 00:08:12,803 and vets have decided the only way to save it is surgery. 191 00:08:12,883 --> 00:08:15,243 GABRIELLE: He was found with a skewer, 192 00:08:15,323 --> 00:08:17,843 a metal skewer sticking out of his abdomen. 193 00:08:17,923 --> 00:08:19,923 And he was taken to a local vet 194 00:08:20,003 --> 00:08:22,843 where they took radiographs and sent here. 195 00:08:22,923 --> 00:08:25,283 The x-rays are pretty spectacular. 196 00:08:25,363 --> 00:08:28,883 So you can see a metal barbecue skewer, 197 00:08:28,963 --> 00:08:31,483 that's what it looks like, with a round ring on the end. 198 00:08:31,563 --> 00:08:34,883 So we can't just pull it out because it's stuck in his body, 199 00:08:34,963 --> 00:08:37,243 and I can't see where it's stuck in his body, 200 00:08:37,323 --> 00:08:39,683 I can't see if it's within his gastrointestinal tract 201 00:08:39,763 --> 00:08:42,243 or whether it's moved out of his gastrointestinal tract 202 00:08:42,323 --> 00:08:43,923 and just sitting free. 203 00:08:44,003 --> 00:08:46,643 So he needs surgery to remove it. 204 00:08:46,723 --> 00:08:49,243 So I am going to draw up the atipamezole. 205 00:08:49,323 --> 00:08:51,923 NARRATOR: While they don't know the skewer's precise location, 206 00:08:52,003 --> 00:08:55,283 they do know they have to move fast. 207 00:08:55,363 --> 00:08:59,763 But first they have the not so easy task of sedating him. 208 00:09:00,283 --> 00:09:02,683 GABRIELLE: So he was quite feisty yesterday 209 00:09:02,763 --> 00:09:03,803 when Bell picked him up. 210 00:09:03,883 --> 00:09:05,763 LIBBY: Was he? GABRIELLE: Yep. 211 00:09:05,843 --> 00:09:08,643 Umm, he's probably feeling a bit better after his fluids. 212 00:09:08,723 --> 00:09:10,003 LIBBY: So I need gloves? 213 00:09:10,083 --> 00:09:12,323 GABRIELLE: Yes. 214 00:09:12,403 --> 00:09:14,923 LIBBY: So lace monitors are quite gnarly. 215 00:09:15,003 --> 00:09:17,523 They can be defensive. 216 00:09:17,603 --> 00:09:19,563 So obviously he's scared, 217 00:09:19,643 --> 00:09:21,803 and so he's going to try and get me with his mouth, 218 00:09:21,883 --> 00:09:26,123 his both front and rear claws and his tail. 219 00:09:26,203 --> 00:09:27,963 So whip you with their tails. 220 00:09:28,043 --> 00:09:30,043 So I am just putting some protection on 221 00:09:30,123 --> 00:09:33,723 because I have been bitten by these guys before. 222 00:09:36,283 --> 00:09:37,363 LIBBY (off-screen): Where is he? 223 00:09:37,443 --> 00:09:39,843 GABRIELLE (off-screen): He is right up to the left corner, up the wall. 224 00:09:39,923 --> 00:09:42,763 LIBBY (off-screen): Probably going to go in each arm, front arm. 225 00:09:46,043 --> 00:09:48,763 ♪ ♪ 226 00:09:48,843 --> 00:09:51,763 KEEPER (off-screen): Can someone just get me that shovel as well 227 00:09:51,843 --> 00:09:54,643 that's on the wall, the red one, orange one. 228 00:09:58,843 --> 00:10:00,323 LIBBY: Ok, I need someone. 229 00:10:07,483 --> 00:10:09,123 KEEPER (off-screen): I can hold his feet if you want. 230 00:10:09,203 --> 00:10:11,603 LIBBY (off-screen): Okay, thanks. 231 00:10:14,403 --> 00:10:16,763 GABRIELLE (off-screen): Okay, we are going to start scrubbing. 232 00:10:16,843 --> 00:10:18,403 LIBBY (off-screen): They're not the biggest but they're just... 233 00:10:18,483 --> 00:10:21,563 they're clever. 234 00:10:26,643 --> 00:10:28,923 NARRATOR: It's the first chance for Gabby to look at the injury 235 00:10:29,003 --> 00:10:32,763 and she doesn't like what she sees. 236 00:10:32,843 --> 00:10:34,483 GABRIELLE (off-screen): The animal is quite compromised, 237 00:10:34,563 --> 00:10:37,563 he is quite thin, so getting him through the surgery 238 00:10:37,643 --> 00:10:39,363 is a challenge definitely, 239 00:10:39,443 --> 00:10:42,243 and removing it will be a challenge as well. 240 00:10:42,323 --> 00:10:45,883 I'll be very pleased if he survives the surgery. 241 00:10:54,283 --> 00:10:56,563 NARRATOR: Kimberly is doing rounds of the zoo 242 00:10:56,643 --> 00:11:00,643 and is about to check out an injured meerkat called Zalani, 243 00:11:00,723 --> 00:11:04,923 who is receiving treatment for a mysterious limp. 244 00:11:05,603 --> 00:11:06,923 KIMBERLY: Can you point her out? DEB (off-screen): Yeah, yeah. 245 00:11:07,003 --> 00:11:08,283 KIMBERLY: Is she the one with the green? 246 00:11:08,363 --> 00:11:10,763 DEB (off-screen): She's one of the ones with the blue food dye on her. 247 00:11:10,843 --> 00:11:13,723 So Zalani is in the middle at the moment and... 248 00:11:13,803 --> 00:11:15,283 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Yeah, the one with the food coloring. 249 00:11:15,363 --> 00:11:17,483 DEB (off-screen): Yeah, so she has got the blue food dye on her. 250 00:11:17,563 --> 00:11:20,283 She is being very nervous of everyone coming around her. 251 00:11:20,363 --> 00:11:22,883 KIMBERLY (off-screen): So we have one of our female meerkats 252 00:11:22,963 --> 00:11:25,443 that's quite high ranking in the group. 253 00:11:25,523 --> 00:11:28,163 She is lame on her left front foot, 254 00:11:28,243 --> 00:11:30,723 and she's had this lameness for a few days now. 255 00:11:30,803 --> 00:11:34,923 It doesn't seem to be responding to treatment very well. 256 00:11:35,003 --> 00:11:36,763 KEEPER: I have some video for you. 257 00:11:36,843 --> 00:11:38,523 You can see she's completely... 258 00:11:38,603 --> 00:11:40,483 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Oh, she's not putting it down at all. 259 00:11:40,563 --> 00:11:43,243 KEEPER (off-screen): Sometimes she is, but mostly not at all. 260 00:11:43,323 --> 00:11:45,563 KIMBERLY: Okay, and that's not really improved 261 00:11:45,643 --> 00:11:47,003 since she started? 262 00:11:47,083 --> 00:11:50,603 DEB (off-screen): Well, she is noticeably still quite lame. 263 00:11:50,683 --> 00:11:52,603 NARRATOR: And because of Zalani's injury, 264 00:11:52,683 --> 00:11:54,883 another problem has arisen. 265 00:11:54,963 --> 00:11:56,283 DEB: We're just noticing this morning 266 00:11:56,363 --> 00:11:57,763 that there's a little bit of conflict in the group 267 00:11:57,843 --> 00:12:00,403 just because they are noticing that she is obviously lame 268 00:12:00,483 --> 00:12:01,883 and then they are taking the opportunity 269 00:12:01,963 --> 00:12:03,803 to try and increase their status in the group. 270 00:12:03,883 --> 00:12:05,883 And she is quite high ranking. 271 00:12:05,963 --> 00:12:08,163 KIMBERLY (off-screen): So they're picking on her because she's got a problem. 272 00:12:08,243 --> 00:12:09,923 DEB (off-screen): Yeah. 273 00:12:10,003 --> 00:12:11,883 NARRATOR: Meerkats are a very social animal, 274 00:12:11,963 --> 00:12:13,843 and Taronga spend a lot of time 275 00:12:13,923 --> 00:12:17,123 making sure they have a happy family group. 276 00:12:17,203 --> 00:12:19,563 DEB (off-screen): We have quite a large, dynamic group of meerkats 277 00:12:19,643 --> 00:12:20,963 with 18 individuals, 278 00:12:21,043 --> 00:12:22,923 and just like brothers and sisters 279 00:12:23,003 --> 00:12:25,123 don't get along all the time, meerkats are the same 280 00:12:25,203 --> 00:12:27,723 and they have a really structured hierarchy 281 00:12:27,803 --> 00:12:29,763 on both the male side and the female side. 282 00:12:29,843 --> 00:12:33,043 So they're looking at any chance they can 283 00:12:33,123 --> 00:12:35,883 to try and increase their status in the group. 284 00:12:35,963 --> 00:12:38,203 So we're sort of seeing a little bit of a shift 285 00:12:38,283 --> 00:12:39,483 going on within the group, 286 00:12:39,563 --> 00:12:41,643 which we didn't really want 'cause we've done a lot of work 287 00:12:41,723 --> 00:12:44,923 to get them quite cohesive at the moment. 288 00:12:45,003 --> 00:12:47,083 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Okay, so let's increase her to .4 mils, 289 00:12:47,163 --> 00:12:49,363 the higher dose of anti-inflammatory 290 00:12:49,443 --> 00:12:50,963 and see if that helps her. 291 00:12:51,043 --> 00:12:51,843 DEB: Yeah. 292 00:12:51,923 --> 00:12:53,203 KIMBERLY: Hopefully that will help her stay in the group. 293 00:12:53,283 --> 00:12:54,803 If she's still lame on Friday morning, 294 00:12:54,883 --> 00:12:56,243 we'll re-check her, 295 00:12:56,323 --> 00:12:58,083 but let's plan to grab her and take an x-ray 296 00:12:58,163 --> 00:13:00,123 up at the hospital if she's not better. 297 00:13:00,203 --> 00:13:01,563 DEB: Yep, absolutely. 298 00:13:01,643 --> 00:13:03,683 KIMBERLY (off-screen): I'm just worried that there may be a broken foot 299 00:13:03,763 --> 00:13:06,283 or something a little more serious going on. 300 00:13:06,363 --> 00:13:08,443 Let's double check that she hasn't been bitten 301 00:13:08,523 --> 00:13:10,283 and there's an abscess or something else 302 00:13:10,363 --> 00:13:12,683 that we need to give her additional treatment for. 303 00:13:12,763 --> 00:13:13,883 DEB (off-screen): Yep. 304 00:13:13,963 --> 00:13:15,443 NARRATOR: To keep the status quo, 305 00:13:15,523 --> 00:13:17,963 keepers know it's crucial to get Zalani 306 00:13:18,043 --> 00:13:21,203 back to full health as soon as possible. 307 00:13:21,283 --> 00:13:23,603 KIMBERLY: See you later. 308 00:13:29,163 --> 00:13:31,763 NARRATOR: Mary and Mr. Hobbs, the Malayan sun bears, 309 00:13:31,843 --> 00:13:33,603 are about to be brought together 310 00:13:33,683 --> 00:13:36,203 in an attempt to breed. 311 00:13:36,283 --> 00:13:40,923 And Mary is keen to get to Mr. Hobbs as soon as possible. 312 00:13:41,003 --> 00:13:42,683 ELLEN (off-screen): So one of the signs she's coming into estrus 313 00:13:42,763 --> 00:13:45,203 is she actually likes to try and get to Hobbs 314 00:13:45,283 --> 00:13:47,323 a little more eagerly. 315 00:13:47,403 --> 00:13:49,523 NARRATOR: But Mr. Hobbs is an older bear 316 00:13:49,603 --> 00:13:53,203 and understandably needs a bit more time to prepare. 317 00:13:53,283 --> 00:13:55,363 REBECCA: Hey, what's going on? 318 00:13:55,443 --> 00:13:57,283 Hey, Hobbsy. 319 00:13:57,363 --> 00:13:59,043 Are you good? 320 00:13:59,123 --> 00:14:00,923 You been resting somewhere. 321 00:14:01,003 --> 00:14:02,443 You can tell you have been resting. 322 00:14:02,523 --> 00:14:04,723 Mr. Hobbs will scratch his back pretty much every morning. 323 00:14:04,803 --> 00:14:07,283 I think it is a bit of a ritual getting ready to go out. 324 00:14:07,363 --> 00:14:10,003 Good stretch, good scratch, all that type of stuff. 325 00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:11,803 Similar to us, I suppose. 326 00:14:11,883 --> 00:14:12,963 Getting ready for the morning. 327 00:14:13,043 --> 00:14:15,443 And then he'll do his little yoga poses at the door 328 00:14:15,523 --> 00:14:17,403 right before he goes out. 329 00:14:17,483 --> 00:14:18,923 You know he might be there for five minutes, 330 00:14:19,003 --> 00:14:20,643 ten minutes... 331 00:14:20,723 --> 00:14:21,723 DEB: Twenty minutes. 332 00:14:21,803 --> 00:14:22,763 REBECCA: Twenty minutes. 333 00:14:22,843 --> 00:14:25,003 DEB: It's up to him. 334 00:14:25,083 --> 00:14:27,883 (clucking) 335 00:14:27,963 --> 00:14:31,763 NARRATOR: Mr. Hobbs' story is an extraordinary one. 336 00:14:31,843 --> 00:14:33,203 (clucking) 337 00:14:33,283 --> 00:14:35,683 DEB (off-screen): Mr. Hobbs had a really rough start to life. 338 00:14:35,763 --> 00:14:37,323 He was a rescue bear, 339 00:14:37,403 --> 00:14:40,003 so his mum more than likely would have been shot and killed 340 00:14:40,083 --> 00:14:42,283 in the wild by poachers, 341 00:14:42,363 --> 00:14:44,443 and then they take the cubs and breed them, 342 00:14:44,523 --> 00:14:46,523 and then when they're old enough 343 00:14:46,603 --> 00:14:48,163 they sell them off to restaurants 344 00:14:48,243 --> 00:14:50,843 and those sorts of things for bear paw soup. 345 00:14:50,923 --> 00:14:53,363 NARRATOR: And sadly his time with the poachers has left 346 00:14:53,443 --> 00:14:57,603 some ongoing problems that keepers need to take care of. 347 00:14:57,683 --> 00:14:59,843 DEB: Want to do your teeth? 348 00:14:59,923 --> 00:15:01,723 He was raised by the poachers 349 00:15:01,803 --> 00:15:03,363 and probably raised on food items 350 00:15:03,443 --> 00:15:05,963 that are quite cheap and readily available. 351 00:15:06,043 --> 00:15:08,763 So a lot of fruits that are soft and, you know, sugary. 352 00:15:08,843 --> 00:15:11,363 So probably didn't get the best diet and the best start to life 353 00:15:11,443 --> 00:15:14,483 and maybe hasn't experienced other food items, 354 00:15:14,563 --> 00:15:17,043 which would naturally be nature's toothbrush. 355 00:15:17,123 --> 00:15:19,923 Open. 356 00:15:20,003 --> 00:15:21,683 Touch. 357 00:15:21,763 --> 00:15:23,683 I still think it's amazing that we brush our sun bear's teeth 358 00:15:23,763 --> 00:15:25,763 with an electric toothbrush. 359 00:15:25,843 --> 00:15:27,883 We have never lost one yet. 360 00:15:27,963 --> 00:15:29,323 Good. 361 00:15:29,403 --> 00:15:31,803 And yeah, sometimes I think it's easier 362 00:15:31,883 --> 00:15:34,563 than brushing my own kids' teeth at home. 363 00:15:34,643 --> 00:15:36,523 Hopefully he understands 364 00:15:36,603 --> 00:15:38,963 that we are actually doing him a favor 365 00:15:39,043 --> 00:15:41,123 and providing him the opportunity 366 00:15:41,203 --> 00:15:43,363 to get rid of that calculus on his teeth 367 00:15:43,443 --> 00:15:47,163 so he has, you know, a better long-term outcome. 368 00:15:47,243 --> 00:15:50,203 What a good boy. 369 00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:53,083 NARRATOR: With teeth now clean, it's time for Mr. Hobbs 370 00:15:53,163 --> 00:15:57,283 to get reacquainted with his old flame, Mary. 371 00:16:03,163 --> 00:16:04,003 NURSE (off-screen): Still in. Yep, tongue is about there. 372 00:16:04,083 --> 00:16:07,163 Yep, yep. 373 00:16:07,243 --> 00:16:08,563 NARRATOR: A member of the public 374 00:16:08,643 --> 00:16:12,323 has brought in a lace monitor with a terrible injury, 375 00:16:12,403 --> 00:16:13,923 and vet Gabby has decided 376 00:16:14,003 --> 00:16:17,523 that this poor lizard needs immediate intervention. 377 00:16:17,603 --> 00:16:20,283 GABRIELLE (off-screen): He has obviously ingested the skewer 378 00:16:20,363 --> 00:16:22,363 probably with meat on it, 379 00:16:22,443 --> 00:16:25,323 and it's gone into his stomach and his intestine, 380 00:16:25,403 --> 00:16:28,083 and then the pointy end has migrated out, 381 00:16:28,163 --> 00:16:31,323 dragging bacteria with it. 382 00:16:31,403 --> 00:16:33,883 NARRATOR: And because of the very threat of that bacteria, 383 00:16:33,963 --> 00:16:36,043 the team are taking no risks, 384 00:16:36,123 --> 00:16:38,883 wearing surgical gowns and masks 385 00:16:38,963 --> 00:16:43,483 for what they expect to be a long and delicate operation. 386 00:16:44,203 --> 00:16:46,243 GABRIELLE: So the surgery involves making 387 00:16:46,323 --> 00:16:49,243 a longitudinal incision on his belly 388 00:16:49,323 --> 00:16:50,883 and opening him up 389 00:16:50,963 --> 00:16:54,323 and just having a look for where the skewer is. 390 00:16:54,403 --> 00:16:56,163 Raising, like that. 391 00:16:56,243 --> 00:16:58,043 I'm just raising the skin up 392 00:16:58,123 --> 00:17:01,843 so that when I cut, I don't cut into an organ. 393 00:17:01,923 --> 00:17:03,643 Got lots of fluid in here. 394 00:17:03,723 --> 00:17:04,843 NURSE: Oh, really? 395 00:17:04,923 --> 00:17:07,483 GABRIELLE: So they'll have some fluid. 396 00:17:07,563 --> 00:17:10,683 So you can suction some of that. 397 00:17:11,203 --> 00:17:12,643 There we go. 398 00:17:12,723 --> 00:17:15,083 Do you want to swab it? 399 00:17:15,163 --> 00:17:17,043 LIBBY (off-screen): There is just a lot of fluid in the abdomen 400 00:17:17,123 --> 00:17:20,083 and in the cavity, and we're not sure why. 401 00:17:20,163 --> 00:17:21,483 Just don't know why. 402 00:17:21,563 --> 00:17:23,283 Sucking lots of fluid out and we're just going to see 403 00:17:23,363 --> 00:17:27,003 what, what it means when we get in there. 404 00:17:27,083 --> 00:17:29,603 It's just awkies. 405 00:17:30,283 --> 00:17:32,643 NARRATOR: With such a tricky surgery underway, 406 00:17:32,723 --> 00:17:34,603 Senior Vet Larry has popped in 407 00:17:34,683 --> 00:17:37,683 to see if he can offer Gabby any help. 408 00:17:37,763 --> 00:17:40,363 LARRY (off-screen): We see sort of unusual, bizarre things 409 00:17:40,443 --> 00:17:42,803 quite often here in the hospital. 410 00:17:42,883 --> 00:17:45,363 Animals that have swallowed various things. 411 00:17:45,443 --> 00:17:47,603 To me it's just interesting to see, you know, 412 00:17:47,683 --> 00:17:49,363 how we can deal with it. 413 00:17:49,443 --> 00:17:52,563 Gab's obviously doing a great job getting down to it. 414 00:17:52,643 --> 00:17:54,883 GABRIELLE: So I can't see it. I can only feel it. 415 00:17:54,963 --> 00:17:56,643 LARRY: The challenge is that because it has been there 416 00:17:56,723 --> 00:18:00,323 for a long time, it's well embedded in and surrounded by tissue. 417 00:18:00,403 --> 00:18:01,803 Probably the tissue has grown 418 00:18:01,883 --> 00:18:03,603 all around the top of that skewer 419 00:18:03,683 --> 00:18:06,883 in probably an attempt for the body to get rid of it. 420 00:18:07,883 --> 00:18:09,283 (beeping) 421 00:18:09,363 --> 00:18:10,923 GABRIELLE: I can feel something. 422 00:18:11,003 --> 00:18:13,003 NARRATOR: After some exploratory surgery, 423 00:18:13,083 --> 00:18:16,763 Gabby has finally found the end of the metal skewer. 424 00:18:16,843 --> 00:18:19,243 GABRIELLE: That's the head of it in his stomach. 425 00:18:19,323 --> 00:18:21,123 The stomach is twisted around, 426 00:18:21,203 --> 00:18:24,163 and then it goes, I can feel it, but it's all encased in tissue. 427 00:18:24,243 --> 00:18:26,563 I can't feel any metal. 428 00:18:26,643 --> 00:18:30,803 (beeping) 429 00:18:30,883 --> 00:18:32,923 LARRY: Have you got some big metal cutters? 430 00:18:33,003 --> 00:18:35,363 GABRIELLE: No, but we'll need some. 431 00:18:35,443 --> 00:18:36,603 LARRY (off-screen): Might be worth preparing, like 432 00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:37,963 getting the big bolt cutters 433 00:18:38,043 --> 00:18:41,123 and putting, soaking the end in some stuff. 434 00:18:41,203 --> 00:18:43,363 NURSE (off-screen): Sterilizing them. Yeah. 435 00:18:46,443 --> 00:18:47,563 GABRIELLE: See, I just want to make sure 436 00:18:47,643 --> 00:18:53,043 this is not intestine looped... 437 00:18:53,123 --> 00:18:54,963 LIBBY: So you mean there is tissue inside that hole, Gabby? 438 00:18:55,043 --> 00:18:59,163 GABRIELLE: The tissue has gone through the loop. 439 00:18:59,243 --> 00:19:04,163 NARRATOR: Unfortunately for the lizard, it looks like this skewer is not going anywhere. 440 00:19:10,163 --> 00:19:12,443 NARRATOR: Sun bear Mary is in estrus, 441 00:19:12,523 --> 00:19:14,763 meaning she is ready to mate 442 00:19:14,843 --> 00:19:17,843 with the male sun bear, Mr. Hobbs, 443 00:19:17,923 --> 00:19:20,923 and this has got the carnivore team excited. 444 00:19:21,003 --> 00:19:21,843 ELLEN (off-screen): Fingers crossed. 445 00:19:21,923 --> 00:19:23,003 BEN: Yeah, fingers crossed this time 446 00:19:23,083 --> 00:19:25,243 that we get a little sun bear cub. 447 00:19:25,323 --> 00:19:27,883 NARRATOR: Since the bears are kept separate all year, 448 00:19:27,963 --> 00:19:30,363 this will be the first time in five months 449 00:19:30,443 --> 00:19:32,243 that they'll be together, 450 00:19:32,323 --> 00:19:36,723 meaning keepers are unsure of how they'll react. 451 00:19:36,803 --> 00:19:38,483 CAITLIN (off-screen): I haven't seen the pairings yet. 452 00:19:38,563 --> 00:19:40,083 Do they normally go well together 453 00:19:40,163 --> 00:19:41,763 when they are in together? 454 00:19:41,843 --> 00:19:44,323 BEN: Yeah, they're generally pretty nice to each other. 455 00:19:44,403 --> 00:19:47,483 Mary is really nice to Mr. Hobbs when she's in estrus. 456 00:19:47,563 --> 00:19:50,003 Not so much at any other time. 457 00:19:50,083 --> 00:19:52,523 As you know, Mr. Hobbs is pretty old as well, 458 00:19:52,603 --> 00:19:55,683 so it really brings him out of his shell a little bit 459 00:19:55,763 --> 00:19:58,923 and he becomes a bit more active and more boisterous 460 00:19:59,003 --> 00:20:01,003 and it really gets the two interested in each other. 461 00:20:01,083 --> 00:20:03,643 So yeah, it's really nice to watch. 462 00:20:03,723 --> 00:20:05,483 NARRATOR: Before bringing them together, 463 00:20:05,563 --> 00:20:08,203 they always conduct a controlled introduction, 464 00:20:08,283 --> 00:20:10,003 behind closed doors, 465 00:20:10,083 --> 00:20:13,843 to make sure there'll be no signs of aggression. 466 00:20:14,283 --> 00:20:17,483 BEN: We’ve got Mr. Hobbs in Pen C... 467 00:20:19,043 --> 00:20:22,123 ...and Mary has A & B. 468 00:20:22,563 --> 00:20:24,643 ELLEN (off-screen): Mary basically gives all the signs to Mr. Hobbs 469 00:20:24,723 --> 00:20:26,003 that she's in estrus. 470 00:20:26,083 --> 00:20:27,683 So if she is in estrus 471 00:20:27,763 --> 00:20:30,203 we see a lot of behaviors like clucking between the two. 472 00:20:30,283 --> 00:20:31,603 (clucking) 473 00:20:31,683 --> 00:20:33,443 Hobbsy will cluck to us occasionally, 474 00:20:33,523 --> 00:20:34,843 but he will only cluck to her 475 00:20:34,923 --> 00:20:37,243 when she is in that estrus cycle. 476 00:20:37,883 --> 00:20:39,923 CAITLIN: It’s safe to unlock B C. 477 00:20:41,603 --> 00:20:43,243 BEN: There’s some nice clucking there... 478 00:20:43,323 --> 00:20:45,203 ...from Mr. Hobbs towards Mary. 479 00:20:45,883 --> 00:20:48,243 Some nice friendly vocals. 480 00:20:48,323 --> 00:20:49,403 Ready guys? 481 00:20:54,883 --> 00:20:56,763 Ok, here he comes. 482 00:20:58,363 --> 00:21:01,923 ♪ ♪ 483 00:21:02,003 --> 00:21:03,523 NARRATOR: And happily the keepers 484 00:21:03,603 --> 00:21:05,803 have no cause for concern 485 00:21:05,883 --> 00:21:08,603 as there is an instant chemistry 486 00:21:08,683 --> 00:21:12,443 between Mary and Mr. Hobbs. 487 00:21:14,963 --> 00:21:16,483 CAITLIN: This is good. 488 00:21:17,963 --> 00:21:19,043 BEN: This is really good. 489 00:21:25,243 --> 00:21:27,203 CAITLIN: This is similar to what it looks like... 490 00:21:27,283 --> 00:21:28,803 ...when I've seen her parents mate. 491 00:21:29,243 --> 00:21:31,003 BEN (off-screen): Yeah? 492 00:21:31,083 --> 00:21:32,483 CAITLIN (off-screen): They were showing all the right signs 493 00:21:32,563 --> 00:21:34,443 at the slide and everything. 494 00:21:34,523 --> 00:21:38,123 I think it all went really well. 495 00:21:40,483 --> 00:21:41,763 We don't think today was the day. 496 00:21:41,843 --> 00:21:43,643 We think maybe our next couple of days 497 00:21:43,723 --> 00:21:46,523 might be the target estrus period. 498 00:21:46,603 --> 00:21:49,083 So you kind of have a couple of days to play with. 499 00:21:49,163 --> 00:21:51,963 (clucking) 500 00:21:52,043 --> 00:21:54,403 BEN: There's always tomorrow, so we'll try again. 501 00:21:54,483 --> 00:21:57,043 Come back in and do it all again tomorrow. 502 00:21:57,123 --> 00:21:59,283 NARRATOR: Fortunately it didn't take long 503 00:21:59,363 --> 00:22:02,043 for Mary to warm up to Mr. Hobbs. 504 00:22:02,123 --> 00:22:03,603 CAITLIN (off-screen): When it comes to breeding with sun bears, 505 00:22:03,683 --> 00:22:05,763 we know that there is a lot of anticipation on it. 506 00:22:05,843 --> 00:22:07,883 We always know in our job sometimes 507 00:22:07,963 --> 00:22:09,643 it's just not going to happen 508 00:22:09,723 --> 00:22:11,323 and you can't get too disheartened by it, 509 00:22:11,403 --> 00:22:13,163 but that makes it more exciting when it does happen 510 00:22:13,243 --> 00:22:15,923 because that's always fantastic. 511 00:22:16,003 --> 00:22:17,683 NARRATOR: So for the next week 512 00:22:17,763 --> 00:22:19,603 they'll spend day and night together, 513 00:22:19,683 --> 00:22:21,403 which will hopefully end 514 00:22:21,483 --> 00:22:24,723 with an incredibly rare sun bear pregnancy. 515 00:22:29,523 --> 00:22:31,083 ♪ ♪ 516 00:22:31,163 --> 00:22:33,203 At Taronga's Wildlife Hospital, 517 00:22:33,283 --> 00:22:35,483 vet Gabby has found the end of the metal skewer 518 00:22:35,563 --> 00:22:37,803 that the lace monitor has swallowed 519 00:22:37,883 --> 00:22:42,843 and is in the tricky process of trying to remove it. 520 00:22:42,923 --> 00:22:44,563 GABRIELLE: It's just too tough. 521 00:22:44,643 --> 00:22:46,163 NARRATOR: But after being inside the lizard 522 00:22:46,243 --> 00:22:47,883 for the past month, 523 00:22:47,963 --> 00:22:51,363 the body has grown tissue all around the metal loop, 524 00:22:51,443 --> 00:22:53,563 making it tough to get ahold of 525 00:22:53,643 --> 00:22:56,803 without causing any more damage. 526 00:22:56,883 --> 00:22:59,123 LARRY (off-screen): Once you get it out, a lot of the healing 527 00:22:59,203 --> 00:23:01,003 is going to be up to the animal, isn't it, 528 00:23:01,083 --> 00:23:03,723 because you're not going to be able to repair all the... 529 00:23:05,603 --> 00:23:08,323 I suppose they're pretty tough animals. 530 00:23:09,283 --> 00:23:11,083 NARRATOR: But not as tough as the metal, 531 00:23:11,163 --> 00:23:13,123 so Gabby has called for the big guns 532 00:23:13,203 --> 00:23:17,083 to help try and extract the skewer from the lizard. 533 00:23:18,323 --> 00:23:20,043 LARRY (off-screen): Where do you want to cut down? 534 00:23:20,123 --> 00:23:23,043 GABRIELLE: Here. 535 00:23:24,443 --> 00:23:25,683 LARRY (off-screen): Okay? GABRIELLE (off-screen): Yeah. 536 00:23:25,763 --> 00:23:28,163 Oh! That was easy. 537 00:23:28,243 --> 00:23:29,643 LARRY (off-screen): That's interesting. That's just all broken off. 538 00:23:29,723 --> 00:23:30,723 WOMAN (off-screen): Take it away? 539 00:23:30,803 --> 00:23:31,803 GABRIELLE (off-screen): Take it away. 540 00:23:31,883 --> 00:23:33,003 LARRY (off-screen): Okay. 541 00:23:33,083 --> 00:23:36,283 LIBBY: This is a part of a skewer, a barbecue skewer, 542 00:23:36,363 --> 00:23:39,563 and this is part of the round part of the skewer 543 00:23:39,643 --> 00:23:41,163 that's been cut off. 544 00:23:41,243 --> 00:23:43,003 NARRATOR: With the round end now gone, 545 00:23:43,083 --> 00:23:44,963 Gabby is hoping the rest of the skewer 546 00:23:45,043 --> 00:23:47,723 can be removed without any resistance. 547 00:23:47,803 --> 00:23:49,563 GABRIELLE (off-screen): Larry is going to pull it out from the other side now. 548 00:23:49,643 --> 00:23:54,363 LARRY: Okay, it's slipping out really easily. 549 00:23:54,443 --> 00:23:57,643 (cheering). 550 00:23:58,163 --> 00:23:59,563 NARRATOR: Success. 551 00:23:59,643 --> 00:24:00,883 LARRY: Gab's exposed the, I suppose, 552 00:24:00,963 --> 00:24:04,203 the head of the skewer, the ring part at the end of it, 553 00:24:04,283 --> 00:24:06,643 and we cut that off and just pulled the rest of it out 554 00:24:06,723 --> 00:24:09,643 through where it was coming through the skin. 555 00:24:09,723 --> 00:24:10,923 There you go. 556 00:24:11,003 --> 00:24:14,043 There's the whole thing. 557 00:24:14,123 --> 00:24:16,483 LIBBY: Amazingly clean, really, when you consider 558 00:24:16,563 --> 00:24:19,843 it's been in there for probably quite some time in that animal. 559 00:24:19,923 --> 00:24:22,083 GABRIELLE: I'm really happy that the skewer is out 560 00:24:22,163 --> 00:24:23,603 because I thought it was going to get stuck 561 00:24:23,683 --> 00:24:25,443 coming out of the body cavity. 562 00:24:25,523 --> 00:24:27,043 Because it was wrapped in tissue. 563 00:24:27,123 --> 00:24:28,603 Reptiles are really tough. 564 00:24:28,683 --> 00:24:30,163 The fact that he's had this going through his body 565 00:24:30,243 --> 00:24:31,883 is amazing. 566 00:24:31,963 --> 00:24:34,283 The biggest risk for him now, aside from infection, 567 00:24:34,363 --> 00:24:37,883 will be food getting caught in his intestine, 568 00:24:37,963 --> 00:24:39,363 like a blockage, 569 00:24:39,443 --> 00:24:42,683 just because it's been pulled in different directions. 570 00:24:42,763 --> 00:24:44,523 NARRATOR: The skewer may be out, 571 00:24:44,603 --> 00:24:48,163 but this lizard's survival is far from guaranteed. 572 00:24:48,243 --> 00:24:49,643 GABRIELLE: His chance of survival 573 00:24:49,723 --> 00:24:52,563 is probably, say, 50/50 at this point. 574 00:24:52,643 --> 00:24:55,083 It's hard to say. 575 00:25:03,483 --> 00:25:04,883 NARRATOR: Three days have passed, 576 00:25:04,963 --> 00:25:08,563 and meerkat Zalani's injured leg is not healing. 577 00:25:08,643 --> 00:25:09,883 LOUISE: Alright. All good? 578 00:25:09,963 --> 00:25:11,883 NARRATOR: So head of carnivores, Louise, 579 00:25:11,963 --> 00:25:15,683 is taking her to the wildlife hospital for a scan. 580 00:25:15,763 --> 00:25:17,123 LOUISE: Hello, my little ones. 581 00:25:17,203 --> 00:25:19,163 I know you're all starving. 582 00:25:19,243 --> 00:25:21,723 We haven't been able to feed you yet, have we? 583 00:25:21,803 --> 00:25:24,123 'Cause our princess has to have a little anesthetic. 584 00:25:24,203 --> 00:25:26,403 So this morning we've got Zalani, our meerkat, 585 00:25:26,483 --> 00:25:28,603 who's going up for an anesthetic. 586 00:25:28,683 --> 00:25:30,123 We just want to have a look at that foot 587 00:25:30,203 --> 00:25:32,323 and see is there anything going on. 588 00:25:32,403 --> 00:25:35,043 You know, maybe she's got a little fractured bone or something. 589 00:25:35,123 --> 00:25:38,083 We want to know why the lameness keeps coming back. 590 00:25:38,163 --> 00:25:40,963 NARRATOR: And because of the meerkats' complex social structure, 591 00:25:41,043 --> 00:25:43,723 this is time-sensitive. 592 00:25:46,243 --> 00:25:48,683 LOUISE (off-screen): We cannot afford to take her out of the group for very long, 593 00:25:48,763 --> 00:25:51,123 so any anesthetic that we do, any treatment we do, 594 00:25:51,203 --> 00:25:52,923 it has to be fairly quick 595 00:25:53,003 --> 00:25:55,123 so that she's not kept away from her family for long. 596 00:25:55,203 --> 00:25:57,243 Because when you are living in that strict social hierarchy, 597 00:25:57,323 --> 00:25:59,883 if you're missing for too long you could lose your place, 598 00:25:59,963 --> 00:26:02,803 and that's going to be disastrous. 599 00:26:04,443 --> 00:26:06,283 Alright, my baby girl. 600 00:26:09,403 --> 00:26:12,723 Alright, little miss, let's get you in to see the vet. 601 00:26:13,523 --> 00:26:14,923 NARRATOR: For vet Kimberly, 602 00:26:15,003 --> 00:26:17,643 the fact that Zalani's leg isn't getting better 603 00:26:17,723 --> 00:26:19,003 has raised concerns 604 00:26:19,083 --> 00:26:21,963 that something more serious is going on. 605 00:26:22,043 --> 00:26:24,723 KIMBERLY: Well, it's weird that she keeps becoming lame 606 00:26:24,803 --> 00:26:26,243 when she goes off her treatment, 607 00:26:26,323 --> 00:26:29,003 so I just want to make sure there's not an abscess or a fracture there. 608 00:26:29,083 --> 00:26:30,403 LOUISE: Absolutely, yep. 609 00:26:30,483 --> 00:26:32,203 Alright, I will be interested to hear what you find. 610 00:26:32,283 --> 00:26:33,083 KIMBERLY: Okay. 611 00:26:33,163 --> 00:26:34,723 LOUISE (off-screen): Thank you so much, Kimberly. Thank you. 612 00:26:34,803 --> 00:26:37,123 KIMBERLY: Call you when we're done. Thanks. 613 00:26:37,203 --> 00:26:38,603 She's not very happy. 614 00:26:38,683 --> 00:26:40,763 (barking) 615 00:26:40,843 --> 00:26:43,203 Well, she's sitting there holding her left paw up. 616 00:26:43,283 --> 00:26:46,483 Her left front paw is the paw that's lame. 617 00:26:47,203 --> 00:26:52,203 (barking) 618 00:26:54,443 --> 00:26:56,283 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Okay. 619 00:26:56,363 --> 00:26:58,563 Okay, oxygen. 620 00:26:58,643 --> 00:27:00,043 Do you want it higher? 621 00:27:00,123 --> 00:27:01,243 LIZ (off-screen): Yeah, 5% is good. 622 00:27:01,323 --> 00:27:03,443 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Then go to five. 623 00:27:03,523 --> 00:27:06,883 I'm just going to have a good feel of this left, yeah. 624 00:27:06,963 --> 00:27:08,723 LIZ (off-screen): Sore. 625 00:27:08,803 --> 00:27:10,443 KIMBERLY (off-screen): She's not happy with that. 626 00:27:10,523 --> 00:27:12,123 So the two things I'm worried about 627 00:27:12,203 --> 00:27:15,323 is whether she's sprained herself or has a fracture, 628 00:27:15,403 --> 00:27:19,123 and then the other thing is whether she has an abscess, 629 00:27:19,203 --> 00:27:21,203 which would be an infection under the skin. 630 00:27:21,283 --> 00:27:23,523 Sometimes these guys bite each other 631 00:27:23,603 --> 00:27:25,403 when they are trying to, 632 00:27:25,483 --> 00:27:27,963 you know, move up and gain hierarchy in the group. 633 00:27:28,043 --> 00:27:31,163 So it could be she has an infection under her skin. 634 00:27:31,243 --> 00:27:33,163 We just want to make sure that's not going on. 635 00:27:33,243 --> 00:27:35,763 So we'll take some x-rays and see what we see. 636 00:27:37,683 --> 00:27:42,323 ♪ ♪ 637 00:27:44,123 --> 00:27:46,523 All I'm seeing is the soft tissue swelling, 638 00:27:46,603 --> 00:27:49,643 so I don't think we're dealing with a broken bone, 639 00:27:49,723 --> 00:27:51,323 which is good. 640 00:27:51,403 --> 00:27:52,803 Just maybe move it down 641 00:27:52,883 --> 00:27:54,843 so I have just the arms in the center of the plate. 642 00:27:54,923 --> 00:27:59,243 And put them in this... just a 90-degree... 643 00:27:59,323 --> 00:28:01,043 LIZ (off-screen): Okay, yeah. 644 00:28:01,123 --> 00:28:02,723 KIMBERLY (off-screen): ...hold. 645 00:28:02,803 --> 00:28:03,563 LIZ: Alright, that's all good to go. 646 00:28:03,643 --> 00:28:05,163 KIMBERLY (off-screen): Great, thanks, Liz. 647 00:28:05,243 --> 00:28:07,043 I'm just looking for symmetry in the two sides, 648 00:28:07,123 --> 00:28:10,043 and everything looks equally balanced. 649 00:28:10,123 --> 00:28:13,923 I don't see any obvious orthopedic problems, 650 00:28:14,003 --> 00:28:16,403 so I don't think anything is broken. 651 00:28:16,483 --> 00:28:17,963 I'm happy with the x-rays. 652 00:28:18,043 --> 00:28:19,483 We'll wake her up, get her back in the group. 653 00:28:19,563 --> 00:28:20,683 LIZ (off-screen): Yep. 654 00:28:20,763 --> 00:28:22,443 NARRATOR: She's already on her way back home, 655 00:28:22,523 --> 00:28:23,843 but there's still no medical answer 656 00:28:23,923 --> 00:28:26,483 to explain Zalani's problem. 657 00:28:26,563 --> 00:28:28,723 KIMBERLY (off-screen): I guess the verdict is there is definitely 658 00:28:28,803 --> 00:28:31,083 still a lameness in the left front leg. 659 00:28:31,163 --> 00:28:33,283 It seems to be isolated more to the elbow. 660 00:28:33,363 --> 00:28:35,123 I don't know if it's a sprain 661 00:28:35,203 --> 00:28:37,403 or if there might be some underlying infection 662 00:28:37,483 --> 00:28:39,403 in the tissues around the elbow. 663 00:28:39,483 --> 00:28:41,323 So we're going to leave her on the anti-inflammatories 664 00:28:41,403 --> 00:28:43,683 and put her on some antibiotics, 665 00:28:43,763 --> 00:28:45,363 which we gave the first shot today, 666 00:28:45,443 --> 00:28:48,083 and see how things progress. 667 00:28:48,163 --> 00:28:50,763 NARRATOR: While the procedure has taken less than an hour, 668 00:28:50,843 --> 00:28:53,363 it could be weeks until this little meerkat 669 00:28:53,443 --> 00:28:56,683 is strong enough to hold her position in the group, 670 00:28:56,763 --> 00:29:00,123 but keepers are hopeful she'll be alright. 671 00:29:00,203 --> 00:29:03,203 LIZ: Yep, take her back to be with the group. 672 00:29:06,523 --> 00:29:09,003 ♪ ♪ 673 00:29:09,083 --> 00:29:10,443 NARRATOR: One of the most iconic 674 00:29:10,523 --> 00:29:13,243 and instantly recognizable animals in Australia 675 00:29:13,323 --> 00:29:17,083 is the koala. 676 00:29:17,163 --> 00:29:20,963 Taronga have a population of 24 koalas, 677 00:29:21,043 --> 00:29:24,283 but that number is constantly changing. 678 00:29:24,363 --> 00:29:25,883 LAURA (off-screen): So we're really lucky here at Taronga, 679 00:29:25,963 --> 00:29:28,683 we have a really successful koala breeding program. 680 00:29:28,763 --> 00:29:31,963 Right now is a fantastic time to see our joeys. 681 00:29:32,043 --> 00:29:34,603 So mum here, Wattle, she is a four-year-old female, 682 00:29:34,683 --> 00:29:36,123 and she's got little Matteo 683 00:29:36,203 --> 00:29:38,203 sitting on her back at the moment. 684 00:29:38,283 --> 00:29:40,363 When Matteo is ready to leave his mum, 685 00:29:40,443 --> 00:29:42,923 he'll go into a crèche with the other young joeys 686 00:29:43,003 --> 00:29:45,283 to learn how to be a koala. 687 00:29:45,363 --> 00:29:47,643 He still piggybacks around on mum when she's walking around, 688 00:29:47,723 --> 00:29:49,323 and when she sits still, he'll get on her belly 689 00:29:49,403 --> 00:29:51,643 and they'll have a nice little rest together. 690 00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:53,163 You can see Matteo there 691 00:29:53,243 --> 00:29:55,083 awkwardly trying to get onto her back. 692 00:29:55,163 --> 00:29:55,963 Getting into the backpack... 693 00:29:56,043 --> 00:29:57,963 You're facing the wrong way, buddy. 694 00:29:58,043 --> 00:30:00,003 (laughing) 695 00:30:00,083 --> 00:30:01,683 You never know what they're going to do, 696 00:30:01,763 --> 00:30:03,803 but that's certainly not the usual way to travel. 697 00:30:03,883 --> 00:30:07,003 (laughing) 698 00:30:07,083 --> 00:30:09,923 He looks a little uncomfortable about the whole thing, too. 699 00:30:10,003 --> 00:30:11,043 That's it, buddy. 700 00:30:11,123 --> 00:30:13,163 Good job. 701 00:30:13,243 --> 00:30:16,523 NARRATOR: The one thing you can be sure a koala will do 702 00:30:16,603 --> 00:30:18,163 is sleep. 703 00:30:18,243 --> 00:30:19,523 LAURA: They do sleep 20 hours a day. 704 00:30:19,603 --> 00:30:21,923 So that's what you get most of the time when you see them. 705 00:30:22,003 --> 00:30:23,683 NARRATOR: And when they're not sleeping, 706 00:30:23,763 --> 00:30:27,283 they're eating, and boy, do they eat. 707 00:30:27,363 --> 00:30:29,163 LAURA: We are going to go and feed Wattle and Malley there, 708 00:30:29,243 --> 00:30:32,523 so if you want to grab that and follow me. 709 00:30:34,963 --> 00:30:36,523 You hungry? You want some of this? 710 00:30:36,603 --> 00:30:38,363 NARRATOR: Every day koala keeper Laura 711 00:30:38,443 --> 00:30:40,123 and her helper Jennifer 712 00:30:40,203 --> 00:30:42,443 swap out the eucalyptus branches, 713 00:30:42,523 --> 00:30:46,923 ensuring the koalas have access to plenty of fresh leaves. 714 00:30:47,003 --> 00:30:49,483 LAURA: If you look here, this was yesterday's or two-day-old food. 715 00:30:49,563 --> 00:30:50,963 They've eaten all the bits they like from it, 716 00:30:51,043 --> 00:30:52,323 and so we're going to give them fresh stuff 717 00:30:52,403 --> 00:30:53,923 to make sure they're happy. 718 00:30:54,003 --> 00:30:55,883 So we'll take this out here. 719 00:30:55,963 --> 00:30:58,643 Koalas eat around 10% of their body weight in leaf every day. 720 00:30:58,723 --> 00:31:00,163 Now a leaf doesn't weigh much, 721 00:31:00,243 --> 00:31:02,643 so that's a large volume of leaves you've got to look for. 722 00:31:02,723 --> 00:31:06,443 So the tips of eucalyptus are the soft, sweet, juicy ones. 723 00:31:06,523 --> 00:31:07,843 So they're full of water. 724 00:31:07,923 --> 00:31:09,123 They don't need to drink anything. 725 00:31:09,203 --> 00:31:10,883 They're getting all their water from the leaf. 726 00:31:10,963 --> 00:31:13,643 Also it's much easier to digest this soft little leaf 727 00:31:13,723 --> 00:31:15,403 than it is this big hard leaf, 728 00:31:15,483 --> 00:31:18,763 and they're already doing a lot of work on eucalypts. 729 00:31:18,843 --> 00:31:20,323 What she's eating right now, 730 00:31:20,403 --> 00:31:22,283 it's going to process over about the course of a week 731 00:31:22,363 --> 00:31:24,443 when she will finally poop it out the other end. 732 00:31:24,523 --> 00:31:26,643 So whilst it looks like she's really lazy 733 00:31:26,723 --> 00:31:29,043 when she's sleeping, she's doing tons of work. 734 00:31:29,123 --> 00:31:31,283 It's just inside, and we can't see it. 735 00:31:31,363 --> 00:31:34,403 NARRATOR: While the adult koalas eat eucalyptus, 736 00:31:34,483 --> 00:31:37,723 it's something the joeys have to work themselves up to. 737 00:31:37,803 --> 00:31:41,123 LAURA: Eucalyptus is toxic to most species, including us. 738 00:31:41,203 --> 00:31:43,403 Koalas, they're really specialized. 739 00:31:43,483 --> 00:31:46,003 So they have a completely different digestive system, 740 00:31:46,083 --> 00:31:48,123 but for Matteo to start eating leaves, 741 00:31:48,203 --> 00:31:50,043 he does something a bit gross first. 742 00:31:50,123 --> 00:31:52,043 He actually eats his mum's poo. 743 00:31:52,123 --> 00:31:53,523 It's not just regular poo, though. 744 00:31:53,603 --> 00:31:55,683 It is called pap, and it's a really special mixture 745 00:31:55,763 --> 00:31:59,203 that comes from her cecum and it's full of bacteria, 746 00:31:59,283 --> 00:32:01,403 and that bacteria is important 747 00:32:01,483 --> 00:32:04,203 for these guys to be able to digest their leaf. 748 00:32:04,283 --> 00:32:06,763 It's actually part of the process. 749 00:32:06,843 --> 00:32:09,123 NARRATOR: But koalas are very picky eaters 750 00:32:09,203 --> 00:32:11,163 when it comes to their leaves. 751 00:32:11,243 --> 00:32:12,603 LAURA (off-screen): So if you watch her there 752 00:32:12,683 --> 00:32:14,163 she's generally smelling the leaf 753 00:32:14,243 --> 00:32:16,323 before she will put it in her mouth. 754 00:32:16,403 --> 00:32:19,523 So their sense of smell is the most important of their senses. 755 00:32:19,603 --> 00:32:21,203 It's how she chooses her food 756 00:32:21,283 --> 00:32:23,883 and how she interprets a lot of her environment. 757 00:32:23,963 --> 00:32:26,603 So their eyesight is not thought to be very good. 758 00:32:26,683 --> 00:32:28,803 So you can see there right up to the nose, 759 00:32:28,883 --> 00:32:30,483 yep, that's what I want. 760 00:32:30,563 --> 00:32:34,243 And if it's not what she wants, she'll let it go and discard it. 761 00:32:35,003 --> 00:32:36,883 NARRATOR: Despite their quirks, 762 00:32:36,963 --> 00:32:39,763 Laura loves working with koalas. 763 00:32:39,843 --> 00:32:41,083 LAURA (off-screen): They're interesting. 764 00:32:41,163 --> 00:32:42,323 They're super unique. 765 00:32:42,403 --> 00:32:43,603 They're not like any other animal. 766 00:32:43,683 --> 00:32:45,163 Their food source is a challenge. 767 00:32:45,243 --> 00:32:46,883 It's always something to learn. 768 00:32:46,963 --> 00:32:48,883 There are so many varieties of eucalyptus 769 00:32:48,963 --> 00:32:50,403 and how the koalas use them 770 00:32:50,483 --> 00:32:52,603 is kind of an endless fascination to me, 771 00:32:52,683 --> 00:32:55,323 and look, we've had babies since the day I started, 772 00:32:55,403 --> 00:32:58,523 and you just never get sick of it. 773 00:33:06,003 --> 00:33:07,603 DEB: Come on, guys, you know the routine. 774 00:33:07,683 --> 00:33:09,203 Go, go, go, go, go, go! 775 00:33:09,283 --> 00:33:12,483 Go, go, go, go, go, go, go! 776 00:33:12,563 --> 00:33:14,763 Coming over? 777 00:33:14,843 --> 00:33:18,043 NARRATOR: It's been a couple of days since Zalani's x-ray, 778 00:33:18,123 --> 00:33:20,403 and keeper Deb has been closely watching 779 00:33:20,483 --> 00:33:23,243 the injured meerkat's progress. 780 00:33:23,323 --> 00:33:25,323 DEB (off-screen): There it is. 781 00:33:25,403 --> 00:33:29,043 Zalani, Zalani, here it is. 782 00:33:29,123 --> 00:33:32,003 Go, go, go! 783 00:33:32,763 --> 00:33:34,003 Hello. 784 00:33:34,083 --> 00:33:35,643 So this is Zalani here, 785 00:33:35,723 --> 00:33:38,723 we saw Zalani was really lame in her front foot. 786 00:33:38,803 --> 00:33:41,723 She was holding it up and wasn't what we call weight-bearing, 787 00:33:41,803 --> 00:33:43,883 so wasn't putting it down on the ground to walk 788 00:33:43,963 --> 00:33:45,523 as she would normally walk. 789 00:33:45,603 --> 00:33:47,243 She was put on a slightly higher dose 790 00:33:47,323 --> 00:33:49,643 than what she was on of pain relief 791 00:33:49,723 --> 00:33:52,483 to give her a little chance to heal, 792 00:33:52,563 --> 00:33:56,683 and that has done exactly what we had hoped it would do. 793 00:33:56,763 --> 00:33:59,323 So she's back to her normal self. 794 00:33:59,403 --> 00:34:01,563 So today we can see her moving around fine. 795 00:34:01,643 --> 00:34:02,963 She's using it fine. 796 00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:06,003 She's digging in the exhibit here, so, yeah, 797 00:34:06,083 --> 00:34:07,883 we're really happy with how it's gone 798 00:34:07,963 --> 00:34:11,163 and it means that we don't have to go any further. 799 00:34:11,243 --> 00:34:12,723 NARRATOR: The keepers are also happy 800 00:34:12,803 --> 00:34:14,203 that a healthy Zalani 801 00:34:14,283 --> 00:34:17,003 has been able to hold her position in the group. 802 00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:18,563 DEB (off-screen): So Zalani will be fine. 803 00:34:18,643 --> 00:34:22,403 Within the group, Zalani is still quite a strong member. 804 00:34:22,483 --> 00:34:24,083 There is still one individual 805 00:34:24,163 --> 00:34:25,643 that she did have a falling-out with 806 00:34:25,723 --> 00:34:29,523 that we do have to do some introductions back with her, 807 00:34:29,603 --> 00:34:31,243 so we're just waiting for the right moment 808 00:34:31,323 --> 00:34:33,243 to start that process, 809 00:34:33,323 --> 00:34:36,123 but we're hopeful that with Zalani completely healed 810 00:34:36,203 --> 00:34:38,243 that she'll have that strength 811 00:34:38,323 --> 00:34:40,243 and also obviously have the assistance 812 00:34:40,323 --> 00:34:41,963 from her other family members 813 00:34:42,043 --> 00:34:45,483 to assert her dominance over the other individual. 814 00:34:45,563 --> 00:34:47,323 We're keeping a very close eye on them. 815 00:34:47,403 --> 00:34:48,723 We're doing lots of observations 816 00:34:48,803 --> 00:34:50,923 to make sure everyone is really cohesive. 817 00:34:51,003 --> 00:34:54,483 So that's what we've got to do in the next few weeks. 818 00:35:03,163 --> 00:35:04,923 NARRATOR: It's been almost two weeks 819 00:35:05,003 --> 00:35:08,843 since the lace monitor underwent lifesaving surgery. 820 00:35:08,923 --> 00:35:11,123 GABRIELLE: I'm relieved that he's still with us. 821 00:35:11,203 --> 00:35:13,283 At the time I thought it was a 50/50. 822 00:35:13,363 --> 00:35:17,643 It was a long surgery, and his insides were pretty abnormal. 823 00:35:17,723 --> 00:35:19,803 LIBBY: So he's eating everything that's in there. 824 00:35:19,883 --> 00:35:21,163 GABRIELLE (off-screen): So we have just got him on plain meat 825 00:35:21,243 --> 00:35:22,963 at the moment with calcium, 826 00:35:23,043 --> 00:35:24,243 because I don't want him to have any bones. 827 00:35:24,323 --> 00:35:25,363 STU: Yep. 828 00:35:25,443 --> 00:35:26,683 GABRIELLE: Yep, and is he pooing? 829 00:35:26,763 --> 00:35:28,003 LIBBY: Yeah, he is pooing really well. 830 00:35:28,083 --> 00:35:29,563 GABRIELLE: Good. LIBBY: Yep, weeing and pooing. 831 00:35:29,643 --> 00:35:31,043 GABRIELLE: Excellent. 832 00:35:31,123 --> 00:35:32,763 NARRATOR: Initial signs are good, 833 00:35:32,843 --> 00:35:35,723 but reptiles take longer to heal than mammals. 834 00:35:35,803 --> 00:35:39,043 GABRIELLE: It's going to take up to six weeks to fully heal. 835 00:35:39,123 --> 00:35:42,963 And as long as he eats and poos and doesn't throw up, 836 00:35:43,043 --> 00:35:45,363 then he's, it's just waiting for his wound to heal 837 00:35:45,443 --> 00:35:47,083 and then he can go back. 838 00:35:47,163 --> 00:35:49,443 NARRATOR: So Gabby's called in reptile keeper Stu 839 00:35:49,523 --> 00:35:52,443 to handle this grumpy little goanna. 840 00:35:52,523 --> 00:35:53,723 STU (off-screen): I'll just go in. 841 00:35:53,803 --> 00:35:56,083 I'll grab him by the tail, then restrain him by the head. 842 00:35:56,163 --> 00:35:57,083 LIBBY (off-screen): Just like that. 843 00:35:57,163 --> 00:35:59,003 STU (off-screen): Just like that, without a hitch. 844 00:35:59,083 --> 00:36:01,403 (laughing) 845 00:36:12,403 --> 00:36:17,403 (hissing) 846 00:36:19,323 --> 00:36:21,403 (hissing) 847 00:36:21,483 --> 00:36:22,843 STU (off-screen): They're very strong. Very powerful. 848 00:36:22,923 --> 00:36:25,923 A lot of power generated from their tail and their forelimbs. 849 00:36:27,443 --> 00:36:33,683 ♪ ♪ 850 00:36:35,643 --> 00:36:38,563 STU (off-screen): They're great climbers, so very muscular. 851 00:36:38,963 --> 00:36:40,243 LIBBY: Wow. 852 00:36:40,323 --> 00:36:42,323 STU: He's just got one claw on my belt there 853 00:36:42,403 --> 00:36:44,523 so I can't lift him up much higher. If you want... 854 00:36:44,603 --> 00:36:45,723 GABRIELLE: No, no, no. 855 00:36:45,803 --> 00:36:48,323 STU: Is that okay? GABRIELLE: Yeah. It looks... 856 00:36:48,403 --> 00:36:49,523 STU (off-screen): Do you want me to take him up higher? 857 00:36:49,603 --> 00:36:52,043 GABRIELLE (off-screen): It looks fantastic. It's really, there's nothing, umm... 858 00:36:52,123 --> 00:36:54,323 I'm just going to pop some antibiotic ointment. 859 00:36:54,403 --> 00:36:55,483 Are you happy for me to do that? 860 00:36:55,563 --> 00:36:56,763 STU (off-screen): Yep. 861 00:36:56,843 --> 00:36:58,403 He's quite relaxed. 862 00:36:58,483 --> 00:37:00,003 He's not struggling. 863 00:37:00,083 --> 00:37:01,323 GABRIELLE (off-screen): The wound looks really good. 864 00:37:01,403 --> 00:37:03,563 It's not pulled apart. It's not inflamed. 865 00:37:03,643 --> 00:37:05,963 LIBBY: I can't believe it, Gabby, look at that. 866 00:37:06,043 --> 00:37:07,243 Beautiful stitching. 867 00:37:07,323 --> 00:37:08,203 GABRIELLE: Oh, thank you. 868 00:37:08,283 --> 00:37:10,643 LIBBY: What a job. GABRIELLE: Thank you. 869 00:37:10,723 --> 00:37:11,923 LIBBY: You're a hero. 870 00:37:12,003 --> 00:37:13,603 GABRIELLE: He's an expert healer. 871 00:37:13,683 --> 00:37:15,043 Okay, I'm happy. 872 00:37:15,123 --> 00:37:16,203 STU: Yep. GABRIELLE (off-screen): Yep. 873 00:37:16,283 --> 00:37:17,803 STU: Yep, excellent. 874 00:37:17,883 --> 00:37:20,603 GABRIELLE (off-screen): Two weeks out, he couldn't be doing better, really. 875 00:37:20,683 --> 00:37:23,483 So as long as he just continues on this trajectory 876 00:37:23,563 --> 00:37:28,603 he'll be going back to raid some more barbecues in about a month. 877 00:37:31,163 --> 00:37:32,963 STU: I'm just going to put him on this bench. 878 00:37:33,043 --> 00:37:35,923 NARRATOR: It's been quite an ordeal for the lace monitor. 879 00:37:36,003 --> 00:37:38,523 STU: There you go, mate. 880 00:37:38,603 --> 00:37:40,043 He's pretty relaxed, that's really good. 881 00:37:40,123 --> 00:37:41,883 NARRATOR: And remarkably, 882 00:37:41,963 --> 00:37:44,043 despite initially fearing the worst, 883 00:37:44,123 --> 00:37:47,403 all signs point to a full recovery. 884 00:37:47,483 --> 00:37:49,123 GABRIELLE: Oh, that's great. 885 00:37:49,203 --> 00:37:50,283 STU (off-screen): Look at him. He hasn't moved. 886 00:37:50,363 --> 00:37:51,963 He's just soaking up that warmth. 887 00:37:52,043 --> 00:37:54,523 NARRATOR: However, Taronga staff aren't too sure 888 00:37:54,603 --> 00:37:58,043 this is the last time they'll meet this lucky lizard. 889 00:37:58,123 --> 00:38:00,243 LIBBY (off-screen): He'll go back to West Head where he comes from, 890 00:38:00,323 --> 00:38:01,323 north of Sydney. 891 00:38:01,403 --> 00:38:03,163 There's a national park there. 892 00:38:03,243 --> 00:38:04,723 Unfortunately lots of barbecues 893 00:38:04,803 --> 00:38:07,483 and people having lots of food there, including skewers. 894 00:38:07,563 --> 00:38:09,803 So I don't know whether he has learned his lesson. 895 00:38:09,883 --> 00:38:11,123 Probably not. 896 00:38:11,203 --> 00:38:14,163 But anyway, we'll see how it goes. 897 00:38:21,923 --> 00:38:24,403 NARRATOR: Sun bears Mary and Mr. Hobbs 898 00:38:24,483 --> 00:38:28,963 spent a week together in an attempt to produce a cub. 899 00:38:29,603 --> 00:38:31,643 ELLEN (off-screen): Pregnancies aren't necessarily an easy thing. 900 00:38:31,723 --> 00:38:34,403 There have only been two sun bear births in Australia, 901 00:38:34,483 --> 00:38:36,243 Mary being one of those. 902 00:38:36,323 --> 00:38:38,923 So being able to contribute to that breeding population 903 00:38:39,003 --> 00:38:42,123 in Australia would be fantastic, 904 00:38:42,203 --> 00:38:44,643 especially with Mr. Hobbs coming from Cambodia 905 00:38:44,723 --> 00:38:48,363 and kind of bringing his story full circle would be incredible. 906 00:38:48,443 --> 00:38:51,083 NARRATOR: Today, after three months of waiting, 907 00:38:51,163 --> 00:38:53,403 Senior Vet Larry has come down 908 00:38:53,483 --> 00:38:57,843 to conduct an ultrasound on Mary. 909 00:38:57,923 --> 00:39:00,283 LARRY (off-screen): At this stage of the gestation 910 00:39:00,363 --> 00:39:02,763 the fetus should be large enough for us to see. 911 00:39:02,843 --> 00:39:05,443 So the guys have trained her incredibly well 912 00:39:05,523 --> 00:39:08,363 to be able to facilitate this examination. 913 00:39:08,443 --> 00:39:09,643 It will be amazing. 914 00:39:09,723 --> 00:39:11,963 You know, you'll see how she presents her little belly, 915 00:39:12,043 --> 00:39:13,403 her little shaved belly to us. 916 00:39:13,483 --> 00:39:15,603 KEEPER: So she will be right here, in the middle. 917 00:39:15,683 --> 00:39:17,443 LARRY: And if she's pregnant, 918 00:39:17,523 --> 00:39:21,403 there should be a small fetus visible. 919 00:39:22,683 --> 00:39:24,123 Some gel. 920 00:39:24,203 --> 00:39:25,923 You would think that ultrasounding a sun bear 921 00:39:26,003 --> 00:39:27,843 would be an incredibly difficult thing, 922 00:39:27,923 --> 00:39:31,803 but the training that these guys have put in to her is phenomenal 923 00:39:31,883 --> 00:39:34,323 and she is actually really, really compliant 924 00:39:34,403 --> 00:39:36,843 with this ultrasound examination. 925 00:39:41,083 --> 00:39:42,563 KEEPER (off-screen): Hey you, Mare Bear. 926 00:39:42,643 --> 00:39:44,043 LARRY (off-screen): Here she is, beautiful girl. 927 00:39:44,123 --> 00:39:45,963 KEEPER (off-screen): Hello, miss. 928 00:39:46,043 --> 00:39:48,723 I am going to give her a bit of honey water just to say thanks. 929 00:39:48,803 --> 00:39:51,763 Hello. 930 00:39:51,843 --> 00:39:54,563 Alright. 931 00:39:57,723 --> 00:40:00,043 KEEPER (off-screen): Just give her a few seconds. 932 00:40:00,123 --> 00:40:01,963 Alright, Mary. 933 00:40:02,043 --> 00:40:04,123 LARRY (off-screen): Yeah. 934 00:40:04,723 --> 00:40:07,443 So we've got Mary here presenting very nicely. 935 00:40:07,523 --> 00:40:12,563 Presenting the little pre-prepared shaved area. 936 00:40:12,643 --> 00:40:15,243 And I've just got to get that touching her belly. Oh. 937 00:40:15,323 --> 00:40:17,923 NARRATOR: While everyone is cautiously optimistic, 938 00:40:18,003 --> 00:40:20,243 they're also aware that Mary and Mr. Hobbs 939 00:40:20,323 --> 00:40:24,283 have been in this position quite a few times before. 940 00:40:24,363 --> 00:40:26,123 LARRY (off-screen): Every time they're together and they mate, 941 00:40:26,203 --> 00:40:28,003 we're hopeful that there might be a pregnancy 942 00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:31,723 as a result of that, but so far that hasn't actually happened. 943 00:40:31,803 --> 00:40:34,443 We've got a great view of her bladder there. 944 00:40:34,523 --> 00:40:37,083 Nice and full. 945 00:40:38,723 --> 00:40:41,803 She does have a nice, full bladder. 946 00:40:41,883 --> 00:40:44,083 You're a good girl. 947 00:40:45,443 --> 00:40:46,803 Yeah, just behind the bladder 948 00:40:46,883 --> 00:40:50,163 I can see the horns of the uterus there, 949 00:40:50,243 --> 00:40:53,683 which sadly are empty. 950 00:40:53,763 --> 00:40:59,403 There is no fetus in there at all. 951 00:41:00,443 --> 00:41:01,843 NARRATOR: It was not the result 952 00:41:01,923 --> 00:41:04,523 keepers and vets were hoping for, 953 00:41:04,603 --> 00:41:06,643 but despite the disappointment 954 00:41:06,723 --> 00:41:10,243 no one at Taronga is giving up anytime soon. 955 00:41:10,323 --> 00:41:12,043 LARRY (off-screen): I mean, you know, this is part of the deal. 956 00:41:12,123 --> 00:41:14,483 We do our best with our animals to breed them, 957 00:41:14,563 --> 00:41:17,763 but there's often things that are beyond our control. 958 00:41:17,843 --> 00:41:20,243 KEEPER: No baby. LARRY: No. 959 00:41:20,323 --> 00:41:21,683 KEEPER: Hopefully next time, Mare Bear. 960 00:41:21,763 --> 00:41:23,123 You did really good. 961 00:41:23,203 --> 00:41:24,283 LARRY: Yeah, she is amazing. 962 00:41:24,363 --> 00:41:25,403 KEEPER: Good job. 963 00:41:25,483 --> 00:41:27,883 REBECCA: We don't have a little baby in there, so it's sad. 964 00:41:27,963 --> 00:41:30,963 It's my first time here with Mary going through this process, 965 00:41:31,043 --> 00:41:33,563 so I was definitely fingers crossed, 966 00:41:33,643 --> 00:41:35,243 fingers crossed, toes crossed, 967 00:41:35,323 --> 00:41:37,563 hoping to pop the bottle of champagne, 968 00:41:37,643 --> 00:41:39,123 but that's alright. 969 00:41:39,203 --> 00:41:44,043 We'll keep going, we'll keep her happy and try again next time. 970 00:41:44,123 --> 00:41:46,043 She's like, that was good fun. 971 00:41:46,123 --> 00:41:47,003 KEEPER (off-screen): Yep. 972 00:41:47,083 --> 00:41:48,243 Captioned by Cotter Captioning Services.