02x11 - Down Under: Episode 11

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Secrets of the Zoo". Aired: July 29, 2018 - present.*
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Nat Geo Wild is taking viewers inside the grounds and allowing them to experience what visitors can't: compelling, heartwarming stories, and behind-the-scenes moments and adventures.
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02x11 - Down Under: Episode 11

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♪ ♪

Keeper: Here they come.

Narrator: From the meek

To the macho,

Taronga has primates
across species,

Including these
really special little guys.

Janet: The francois' langur

Is one of the rarest monkeys
in the world.

It's found in china and vietnam.

It's identifiable
by its peaked crest.

They have a very distinct
white line

That runs through their face.

Their whole body
is really designed

So that they can move quickly,

And move really well
through the trees.

Their hands are really long
for gripping.

They've got really long tails
that they use for balance.

They're like acrobats.

♪ ♪

Narrator: Sadly,
francois' langurs

Are critically endangered
in the wild.

So taronga has joined
a worldwide breeding program

Aimed at boosting
their numbers.

Janet: We've been very fortunate
to see quite a few babies born,

And baby francois' langurs
are actually born orange.

This is so that all
of the other family members,

In particular the females, are
able to see and help that baby,

And the mothers will help raise
each other's babies.

Narrator: Like many primates,

They live in
a female-dominated hierarchy,

Meaning there's one male
to many females.

And here at taronga,
the one breeding male

Is this nervous-looking fella.

Janet: Bobo, the breeding male
in our group, arrived here

With little experience
of living in a social group

And a breeding group of females.

Once he did get the hang of it,
he has done amazingly well.

Narrator: In fact,
bobo's done his job so well,

He has fathered six
new francois' langurs.

But now bobo needs
a bit of a break.

So vets have decided the best
way to keep him with his family

Without growing it is to give
him a contraceptive implant.

Rebecca: So, amy, you're happy
with this length?

Narrator: To get bobo to
the hospital for the procedure,

Keeper amy needs to sedate him.

Amy: We're going to do
a hand injection

This morning with bobo.

Hopefully it goes
nice and smoothly.

This will be the first time
that a francois' langur

Has been hand-injected
here at taronga.

So it's quite a big thing
for us today.

No, that is absolutely perfect.
Yep. Going on straight in.

Nurse: Well done.
Alright, good luck.

Amy: Thank you very much.

So I suppose
a big concern for us

Is bobo has a bit of a negative
association with needles.

We've been working really hard
to make that really positive.

However, he doesn't enjoy
obviously the stick of a needle.

Let's go, langurs.

Janet: By us hand-injecting
our animals here at the zoo,

It means that their lives are
a whole lot less stressful.

So we don't have to introduce
any nets to him,

And we don't have to get our vet
team to come in and dart them.

Just like for any of us,

Needles are really scary
for our animals.

So by doing lots of training
and preparing them

Means that on the day,
the stress is on us,

It's not on our animals.

Amy: Good boy.

Narrator: But bobo senses
something's in the air today,

And he's a little jumpy.

Amy: Come on, buddy. Good boy.

Narrator: Amy knows
she must stay calm

And follow her training
if this is to work.

Amy: Good.

♪ ♪

Narrator: One of the many
unique features

About taronga western plains
zoo in dubbo...

Pascale: Hey, meeka.

Narrator: ...Is that it's home
to three out of the five

Remaining rhinoceros species
in the world today.

Pascale: Good girl, come on.

Good girl. Good girl.

Narrator: The greater
one-horned rhino

That comes from asia,

And two african species,

The black rhino
and the white rhino.

Pascale: Come on, ladies.

Come on.

Come on, kamari.

These rhinos here are what we
call the southern white rhinos,

And they're the largest
of the african land mammals

Behind the african elephant.

Come on, likewizi.

Mopani.

White rhino is
a square-lipped rhino.

So you'll notice how the lip
is quite square and quite wide.

These are what we call
a grazing animal,

So they eat grass.

They can go along and they can
graze the grass quite easily.

Narrator: Eight white rhinos
live here at taronga.

Less than a year ago
that number was seven.

Pascale: This here is mopani.

Mopani is around about
years of age.

And beside her is
her daughter meeka.

Meeka was born around
about months ago.

Little meeka is very special

Because these guys
are dwindling in numbers.

And it's sad to say,

When you look at meeka there
and her horn,

If she was in africa
she's got a good chance

That she would have been
poached for that horn.

So it would be lovely to think
that one day the wild

Would be secure enough for us
to return some of the animals

That we've bred here,
young stock,

To be able to go back
to their wild habitat

And breed and live how
they were meant to be.

Narrator: And while the team
is justifiably proud

Of the birth of
baby white rhino meeka...

Benn: She's a black rhino
and that means unpredictability.

Narrator: ...Today
senior vet benn is focused

On the harder to breed

And more critically endangered
black rhino.

Benn: Alright, I'll just set up
my, my ultrasound gear.

Taronga western plains zoo has
a long-standing involvement

In a global southern black rhino

Cooperative conservation
breeding program.

We're currently one
of two institutions

That have had the most success

Breeding this species
in the world,

And we've bred calves to date

As part of our involvement
in that process.

Narrator: And the reason
taronga's team

Has been so successful

Is their hands-on, or in
this case, hands-in approach

To managing their breeding.

Benn: Today we're conducting
a transrectal ultrasound exam

On one of our female
black rhinos.

You know, black rhinos
being black rhinos,

It is feasible
that she will decide

That she doesn't want
to cooperate with us today.

And, uh, and that we won't
have an opportunity

To get the job done
that we want to get done.

Jake: Benn, if it's alright with
you, it may be a bit shorter

Than five minutes,
given her temperament.

Narrator:
The biggest hurdle today

Is the mood
of the rhino itself.

Jake: Good girl. Come here.

Benn: For anyone that's ever had
anything to do with horses,

You'll know that a windy day
can shift the paradigm.

You know, they're just
on increased alert.

Jake: Good girl.

Narrator:
After a lot of coaxing,

The rhino finally
enters the chute.

Jake: Good girl.
Come here. Alright.

Benn: You good?
Jake: Yeah.

Benn: Alright, my love.

Alright, my darling.

Jake: It's alright.

Narrator: But success...

Jake: Alright, benn, do you want
to see how you go again?

Benn: Yeah.
Jake: You're alright. No.

Narrator: ...Is fleeting.

Benn: White rhino
are very forgiving.

They're pretty cruisy.

Black rhinos on the other hand

Are just a little bit
more hair-trigger,

And they're always on
the lookout for monsters

Behind bushes, and potentially
will respond explosively

If their instinct tells them to.

Jake: Um...

Good start.

She's pretty on guard,

'cause she basically thinks
something's going to get her.

Benn: She's just thinking
I've got such a strong feeling

That I need to be really
vigilant right now.

And I can't, I don't want to
focus on standing in that chute

And doing nothing, so.

Narrator: Despite the team's
best intentions,

Today mother nature
has other ideas.

Jake: So we're not gonna proceed
ahead with the session today,

Just given the circumstances
of the wind,

And she's nervous, on edge.

It's, the risk levels
are a bit, a bit high.

So we're just not gonna put
ourselves in that position.

Narrator: But all is not lost.

Luckily there's another way
to find out

If a female rhino is pregnant.

Narrator: The relationship
between keeper and animal

Is intriguing and complex.

Keeper: And then
he voluntarily rolls over

And just loves this
scratch on his belly.

Narrator: Although they work
alongside the animals

For years, keepers are under
no illusion that they are pets.

Keeper: Okay, gunnar.
There you go, mate.

Narrator: But nevertheless
every department is different.

Clearly the carnivore team
must keep their distance

From the animals in their care.

But down at
the marine precinct,

It's a whole different story.

Jo: This is charlie.

He is our -year-old
australian sea lion.

And it's interesting because
a lot of people don't realize

That when the zoo is not open,

We like to take them out
for a walk.

Hello, my big boy.

Michelle: Hi, just
letting you know

That we're getting charlie
out for a walk.

Jo: Good boy.

Charlie and I have been working
together for many, many years.

Ready for your walk?

(charlie panting)

Good.

So if he's feeling uncomfortable

He'll give me certain
cues or signs.

Come on.

Yes, michelle's coming with us.

And I will certainly
take that on board,

Because at a huge kilos,

If he doesn't want to do
anything, I can't make him.

As you can see,
when we walk our seals

We don't put harnesses on them.

They're not like a dog.

So we have to have
a very good relationship.

I want charlie to remain with me

And to feel comfortable
at all times.

He is a good boy.
Aren't you, mate? Hey.

You can see that charlie
can walk easily

On those front flippers.

He may seem like he's quite slow
when we're walking along,

But these guys can outrun us
over a short distance.

Oh, do you want to have a look
at the penguins, charlie?

Look at them in here.

What do you think?

Can you see them?

Narrator: A vital part

Of charlie's weekly enrichment
routine is stimulation,

And today he's taking in the
sights and sounds of animals

He'd normally come across
in the wild.

Jo: Up there.
Oh. What do you think?

Do you like penguins?

(panting)

Yeah.

Charlie's walk,
it's really important,

Not just for mental stimulus,
but for physical exercise.

You ready to go
for some more walk?

Come on, then.

Good boy.

We're going over the bridge.

Good boy.

Oh, there's your girlfriends.

So we're going to take him
to the underwater viewing area,

And that's where his girls are,
his two girlfriends,

And, you know, it's good for him
to get a perspective

On how the public view him
on a daily basis as well.

Oh, look, look who's there.

Charlie, there's nala!

There's your girlfriend. Yes.
Do you like seeing her?

(panting)

Mmm.

It's interesting,
he obviously recognizes them

Because he's doing
little clucking noises.

Hello, nala.
(panting)

So that's his way
of communicating

With his girlfriends,

And they obviously can
see him really well,

And go, what are you doing
on this side of the glass,

And how come you're not
in here with us?

Narrator: Over the years,

Charlie has been an important
breeding male at taronga

And has fathered two pups
with a third on the way.

Jo: Okay, charlie,
say goodbye to the girls.

We'll see you in the water
shortly.

Narrator:
But as in all families,

Now it's time for
one of his sons, torre,

To step out of dad's shadow

And become a breeding male
in his own right.

Keeper: Okay.

♪ ♪

Narrator: Bobo the francois'
langur is about to get

A contraceptive implant
and a health check.

Amy: That is absolutely perfect.
Yep. Going on straight in.

Narrator: To get bobo to
the hospital for the procedure,

Keeper amy must sedate him.

Amy: Hi.

Narrator: This will be his
first ever injection by hand.

So vet rebecca will stand by
in case of emergency.

Rebecca: We always get
a little bit apprehensive

With anesthetizing animals,
but the fact that amy

Is hopefully going to
be able to hand-inject

Really reduces the risk
of that animal

Getting worked up and stressed.

Amy: Good boy.

Rebecca: But if she doesn't,
I might need to dart the animal,

And so we're constantly thinking
on our feet as to how to adjust

To the situation with animals
and anesthesia.

Amy: Good boy.

Good boy.

Good.

I definitely got that in him.

Just to let you know,

Bobo got the hand injection
successfully.

I am just watching him now

And getting out
the rest of the animals,

And I've got a timer as well

For when we've given him
the hand injection.

Keeper: Awesome.
Good job, legend.

Rebecca: Oh, I'm so happy.

Janet: Um, so they're just
still monitoring him

And he's a little bit
awake still.

Narrator: Now it's
an anxious waiting game

For keepers and vets while
the dr*gs slowly take effect.

Amy:
It's four and a half minutes.

Keeper: His coordination
is not that great. Yeah.

♪ ♪

Narrator: Francois' langurs
are social animals,

And with alpha male bobo absent
from the exhibit this morning,

His family are
unusually restless.

Laura: We've got some
of our little ones

Hanging out
in the exhibit up there

Watching what's
going on over here.

They know something's happening.

Something's happening to dad.

Amy: Coming up for
nine minutes now.

♪ ♪

Janet: So we're about minutes
in since the injection,

And he's still quite awake.

You know, there is risk
to us going in.

He's got sharp teeth,
he's got sharp nails.

Um, we wouldn't want to sort of
go into that space with him

Until he's properly sedated.

Narrator: It takes half an hour
for the anesthesia to kick in.

And now it's safe to start
moving bobo to hospital.

Rebecca: I'm hoping he'll
still be pretty groggy.

Narrator: But the team
quickly realize

Bobo won't nod off
without a fight.

Rebecca: He's just not quite
anesthetized enough

From the dr*gs
to get him out yet.

So we're just going to give him
a bit of gaseous anesthetic

To safely get him out.

That's it. You're relaxing a bit
now, aren't you, darling?

Narrator: Now he's fully under,

He'll need to be
monitored closely.

Rebecca: Langurs are a bit prone
to regurging,

So if he had a little vomit
while he was under anesthetic,

The potential is that that vomit
could go down to his lungs,

Which we really don't want.

(coughing)

Rebecca: Oh, buddy.

Narrator: Charlie, the gigantic
australian sea lion,

Has been a solid breeder
for taronga zoo

And over the years
has fathered two male pups.

Jose: Well, this is moby.

Moby is one of our young
australian sea lion males.

Good boy.

He's actually
charlie's firstborn.

Just come over here, moby.

Good boy.

Being a relaxed animal and being
very calm with most situations

Is exactly what we want
from moby.

Um, he's also very confident,

Which we, we obviously
thoroughly enjoy as well.

Narrator:
Just as they do with dad,

Keepers now also spend long
hours training charlie's sons.

Jose: You're going to jump
off the big end.

I knew you were
going to do that.

Narrator: Acclimatizing them
to all sorts

Of new sights and sensations.

Jose: We want to get him out
experiencing the areas

Where our public usually
come in, our visitors,

And at the same time
while we're out here,

We're doing some of
these basic behaviors.

Things that we get
these guys to perform

So we can better manage them.

Good boy, stay there.

Getting him to lay down,

We can have a good look
over the top of him.

Getting him to roll over,
the same thing.

That's very nice.

He can expose his belly,
be very comfortable about it.

We can even get him
to open his mouth,

Just having a good look
at his teeth there.

(whistle tweets)
good boy.

Narrator: And while the key
to training an animal

Is repetition...

Jose: Easy does it.

Going up the stairs
is a lot easier

Than coming down,
isn't it, buddy?

Narrator:
Charlie's other son, torre,

Is about to learn
a brand-new behavior today;

One that will ultimately
see him embark

On his own journey
to fatherhood.

Danielle: We're about to do
a training session with torre.

He's our young australian
sea lion, he's a two-year-old.

He's going to be
making the journey

Up to another zoo in queensland,

And in order to make that
journey nice and comfortable

For him, we're getting him
used to being inside a crate

For periods of time,

So he's really comfortable
for that travel.

Here.

Good boy, mate.

Narrator: In order to train him
for his big journey,

Keepers start small.

Danielle: That's good, ray.
Adrienna: Yeah.

Danielle: Good job, mate. Stay.

Keeper: Do you want me
to clip it shut for you?

Danielle: Yeah. Thanks, mate.

Adrienna: He might go in there
for one minute to start,

With two minutes the next one,

Eventually building up
to probably half an hour.

Obviously we can't replicate
the exact amount of time

He's going to be traveling,

Because that could be
from to hours.

Narrator: But sea lions
are quick learners,

And torre is keen to please.

Danielle: Torre's done
really well.

He's been in the box now
for a couple of minutes.

That was a really successful
session for him.

Come on, mate.

Narrator: Training sessions
like today's

Will be conducted daily
with torre.

And although it seems
like a long slog,

Keepers are confident the end
results will be worth it.

Danielle: Charlie was originally
from queensland as well.

So torre then going
back up to queensland

And representing his father
is a pretty big deal for us.

♪ ♪

Narrator: Back at
the wildlife hospital...

Rebecca: We just have to take
things nice and slow.

Narrator: ...Bobo the francois'
langur is experiencing

Some problems on the table.

(coughing)

Rebecca: Oh, buddy.

Yep. Perfect.

Vet: And let's just put him in
right lateral, guys.

So that's a happier
breathing position.

Good boy.

Rebecca: We've got a tube down
into his trachea, his airway,

And that way we're monitoring
exactly how much anesthetic

And oxygen he's getting.

It makes me feel
much more comfortable

Now that I've got him on
the table under anesthetic.

Narrator: With bobo breathing
comfortably again...

Rebecca: We'll just let him
have a couple of breaths

And get that into his system.

Narrator: ...The next step
is to ensure

The rest of his vital signs
are normal,

But what's pretty far
from normal

Is just where they
attach the monitor.

Rebecca: It's like if
you go into hospital,

They'll put it
onto your fingertip.

But these guys, as you can see,
it's all very black,

So it doesn't pick up the amount
of oxygen in his blood.

So we need to find
a nice pink area,

And genitalia works for that.

So we can start to give him
a little bit of a physical exam

While he's under.

But, yeah, this is
a really good opportunity

For me and for the keepers
to, just to sort of check out

Every square inch of him, you
know, check these little toes,

Check his genitals, which
we know are working well,

Because that's why he's having
the contraceptive today.

He's got too many babies
at the moment.

So you can see
these guys are primates,

Just almost humanlike.

It's just like holding
a baby's hand really.

And they use that
to grip their food,

And they're incredible
swingers and climbers.

Look at these deltoids.
They've been working out.

Nurse: He certainly has.

Rebecca: Sorry, bobo.

We usually always like to do
a chest x-ray with primates.

We're checking for
tuberculosis really

And just make sure there's not
sort of any early arthritis

Or injuries like that.

It looks good so far.

So, big stomach taking up
most of the picture.

Beautiful big muscles
in his arms,

But, yeah, everything
looks good so far.

Narrator: While bobo initially
seems to be in great shape...

Rebecca: It'd be nice if
we could get him like that.

Narrator: ...Things can change
in an instant

During any medical procedure.

(cough)

And poor bobo is
about to go through

A vet's worst nightmare.

Rebecca: When bobo regurgitated,
my heart skipped a little b*at,

Because we do always worry
that there's the potential

For that vomited food to go down
into his lungs and airway,

And that can be
a real catastrophic event

If they're under anesthetic.

(coughing)

Aww.

Narrator: Taronga western
plains zoo is proud to be home

To three of the world's
five rhinoceros species.

All three species are part
of breeding programs

Designed to boost
their numbers.

Benn: You good?
Jake: Yep.

Narrator: While the team's
first attempt

To see if this black rhino
is pregnant...

Jake: Alright, benn, do you want
to see how you go again?

Narrator:
...Had to be abandoned...

Jake: No.

Benn: She's just thinking
I've got such a strong feeling

That I need to be
really vigilant right now.

Come on.

Narrator: ...Fortunately
there's another way

To test for pregnancy,

Which keeper scott is using
today for black rhino bakhita.

But this one is not
for the faint hearted.

Scott: You can see her midden
over here.

Midden is just
a big pile of poo,

Which they return to whenever
they need to go to the toilet.

In their natural environment
the poo is very important,

Because that's how they
define their territory.

But from that, the male
will be able to tell

Whether it's a female.

He'll go and rub his face
through it,

Rub his horns through it,

And he will know whether that
female is coming into estrus,

How close she is, and then it
gradually happens from there.

So we're going
to cr*ck that open,

Get some nice fresh stuff
from in the middle,

And we've got a bit
of special technique

How we don't get it on
our fingers with using a stick

And turning our fingers around
the bag, push it in.

About a golf ball size, that's
all the girls need at the lab.

Now from this poo sample, which
we collect three times a week,

We're able to confirm some
very important information

About bakhita, when she's
either due to estrus next

Or hopefully, she's pregnant.

♪ ♪

Narrator:
Over the past few weeks...

Danielle: Good boy, mate.

Narrator: ...Torre the juvenile
australian sea lion

Has had daily crate training...

Danielle: That's good, ray.

Narrator: ...To prepare him
for his big adventure

In a new zoo in queensland.

Adrienna: You want me
to clip it shut for you?

Danielle: Yeah. Thanks, mate.

When we're crate training
a seal like torre,

We're making sure that we're not
seeing any signs of stress.

I want this crate to be
a really positive place for him.

Would you like to come back out?

And your roll-over.
That's so clever.

In the crate.

Narrator: With each session,

Torre is spending longer and
longer in a stationary crate.

Adrienna:
Shutting the gate, buddy.

Danielle: So you've had him
in here for up to three minutes.

Adrienna: Yeah.
Up to about three.

Narrator: But today keepers
are introducing

A new sensation to torre...

Adrienna: Turn it round.

Narrator: Movement.

Adrienna: We've kind of upped
the ante a little bit this week.

What he's going to do is go
into his box from the exhibit.

He's going to be transported
on a trolley,

Which he's done before,

But then we're going
to lift him into the van

And move him around the zoo
in a van.

The duration of that trip's
going to be about five minutes.

♪ ♪

Adrienna: Alright, bud.
Good job, torre.

(whistle tweets)

Hopefully today
he goes really well,

Because it is just one of
the steps in getting him to move

Safely to another facility
really comfortably.

Jose: We're going on a holiday.

Narrator: Although it's only
a short trip...

Adrienna: Good job, buddy.

Narrator: Adrienna has to keep
a close eye on torre

For any signs he may be
feeling stressed.

Keeper: One, two, three, up.

Adrienna: Good job, torre.

Alrighty. Thank you.

Jose: Let's go driving, torre.

Adrienna: While traveling
in the vehicle with torre...

Such a brave little guy,
aren't you?

...I was making sure that
I was kind of talking to him,

Making sure he knows
that I'm there.

And that's sydney harbour.

See that?

The big water.

I'm obviously reinforcing him.

So, giving him food
while he's traveling,

But I'm looking for
various indicators

That he's not comfortable,

Because then we might need
to take a step back.

Jose: Is he still
looking around?

Adrienna: Yeah.

Narrator: But luckily
torre handles it

Like a seasoned traveler.

Adrienna: Good job.

Usually if they're
not taking food,

They're too worried
about their surroundings.

So the fact that he
just ate the whole way

Means that he's like, okay,
keep the food coming.

What are we doing?

Jose: He loves adventures.

Adrienna: You like getting
out and about, don't you, mate?

Torre, you made it. Well done.

Keeper: How'd he go?

Adrienna: Yeah,
he was really good.

Keeper: Pretty calm?

Adrienna: Yeah. Straight down.

So torre's move today in the van

Was just a part of his
progression of being able

To move to this new facility
in a crate.

Keen to get out, aren't ya?

So we need to up the ante
more and more,

So that by the time
he needs to go,

He is ready to sit in a crate
for up to hours

To get him to another facility
where he'll be going to shortly.

Good job, ray-ray.

All in a day's work.

Narrator: Back out at dubbo...

Tarryn: That's a good girl.

What a good lady. Well done.

Narrator: Keeper tarryn is
attempting to breed amala,

The female greater
one-horned rhino.

She's crucial to
the breeding hopes here.

Tarryn: So she's pretty special.

If you've already seen sh*ts
of that african species

That we have here at the zoo,

You'll notice that
she looks quite different.

So they have a lip, it's called
an upper prehensile lip.

It acts pretty close
like a hand.

Do you want to open that for me?

Good girl. Well done.

So it's kind of like
a finger or a hand,

And she's going to use that
to grab the very best branches

And leaves and pull them
into her mouth.

So it's very, very muscular.

It's very, very flexible.

And yes, comes in
very, very handy

For what they actually eat
out in the wild.

That's a good girl.

Greater one-horned rhinos,
they are known

As the armored plating rhinos,
or plated rhinos.

Those folds of skin, they behave
very much like armored plates.

So it's all about protection.

This species do bite each other.

So when you put them together,
it's pretty full on.

So you do see a lot of
aggression, a lot of biting,

And having those folds of skin
just helps protect

All the important things
underneath.

Narrator: And just as well,
as a recent introduction

Between amala and dora

Developed into
a fiery encounter.

Tarryn: So we're actually
still treating

Some minor wounds on her.

You'll see up on
her shoulder here.

So that was created by dora,
our male, mounting her.

She does have an identical one
on her right shoulder as well.

And that's exactly where
his feet would have sat.

Narrator:
Despite amala's injuries,

The keepers are hoping
the introduction was a success.

Tarryn: It's just so exciting
to be doing these introductions.

They're a really,
really big deal.

They don't happen very often.

And if she is pregnant,
we will hopefully have a calf

On the ground
in the next months.

Narrator:
But before keepers can start
thinking of baby names,

They must determine whether
or not amala is pregnant.

And with
greater one-horned rhinos,

There's only one way
to be sure.

Tarryn: So I'm just
collecting a urine sample

From our female
greater one-horned rhino.

She's been in here overnight.

This is what she's left behind.

I'm just collecting five mils.

That's all we need.

That's going to go to our lab
here to be analyzed.

We're doing this
three times a week.

And hopefully
in the next few months

That will tell us whether
she's pregnant or not.

Narrator: The team will need
to chart hormone levels

Over several months
before they know

The introduction between
the two rhinos was a success.

Narrator:
Over the past few weeks,

Torre's travel training
has gone from strength...

Adrienna: Ready to go
on an adventure?

Alright, come on out, buddy.

Narrator: ...To strength.

Adrienna: In you go.

Nice.

Narrator: And keepers are
satisfied that he's ready

For his big move to queensland.

Adrienna: Woo, good boy, torre.

Narrator: But torre must clear
a few more hurdles

Before takeoff.

Adrienna: So with torre going
in the next two weeks,

It's really important
that our vets come down,

And they're really happy
with what he looks like

And how he's behaving,
and everything else is normal,

So that when he leaves
he's in the best possible shape

For the long trip.

Alrighty, buddy. Good job.

Narrator: Vet frances has come
down to the marine precinct

To give him the seal of
approval for his boarding pass.

Frances: I'm just at the door
to see torre. Thank you.

How are you?
Adrienna: Come on in.

Frances: I want to do
a good visual check of him,

Make sure that I'm happy
that he's healthy

And that he doesn't have
anything that would prevent us

From wanting to send him on.

So can I come around behind you?

Adrienna: Yep, go for it.

Frances: So I'm just
having a look

At his general body shape
and so on.

He looks to be in really good
body condition.

And he's, he's moving
certainly very well.

Adrienna: He's a chunky monkey,
this one, frances.

Frances: Yep. He certainly is.
Will he do a mouth open?

Adrienna: Yeah.

(whistle tweets)
frances: Excellent.

Adrienna: That's pretty nice.

Frances: He's pretty good.
Yeah. No, that's fine.

Adrienna: You going to come down
and let frances

See you walk around, mate?

Frances: If he will do a roll
over, so we can see his tummy.

Basically part of
my assessment is to make sure

I don't see anything
abnormal at all on him.

And when he rolls over like that
it's a good opportunity for me

To see the opening where
his penis will come out.

And also the underside
of his tail.

So, it's a really good
behavior for us

In terms of assessing how he is.

Adrienna: Good job.

Narrator: Animals that move
between facilities

Can often take illness
with them,

So it's crucial
for frances to ensure

Torre's not only fit,
but also healthy.

Frances: And so you don't hear
any coughing, sneezing,

Anything like that?

Adrienna: No, never.

Frances: He eats his fish
really well.

He doesn't regurgitate or...?

Adrienna: Nope.

Frances: Nothing you're
concerned about

With him behaviorally?

Adrienna:
He's very well-balanced.

Frances: Yeah. Okay.
I'm happy with that.

Adrienna: Great.

Narrator: So that's a great
result for torre,

Who can now pack his bags
for his big move north.

Adrienna: Frances seemed
really happy

With torre's general check-over.

So, he did really well.

Narrator:
But for keeper adrienna,

It brings mixed emotions.

Adrienna: On one side, it's
really sad that he's leaving,

Because he's such an amazing
little animal.

We've had him from
when he was born here,

And he has a real legacy here.

However I've been in contact
with the keepers

At the new facility, and they're
really excited to get him.

So it'll be a bittersweet day
when he leaves.

♪ ♪

Narrator: The team at taronga's

Successful
rhino breeding program

Is keenly waiting on
the results of two tests.

Tarryn: I'm just
collecting five mils.

That's all we need.

Narrator:
And the first result is back

For greater one-horned
rhino amala.

Rebecca: Unfortunately,
after our extensive analysis,

The data we have so far
is inconclusive.

So we've asked the keepers
to continue that sampling

For another four weeks,

And hopefully we will, by that
period of time, have an answer.

Narrator: But the results
for black rhino bakhita

Jump off the page.

Benn: Hey, bec,
what have you got?

Rebecca: Hi, benn.

I've got the latest results
from our fecal analysis.

The mating that they saw
was early December

And really quite low
progesterone levels.

Benn: Yes.

Rebecca: Post that introduction,
the next set of fecal analysis,

If I move down here, you can see
that following March

It's just skyrocketed.

Benn: So you're telling me
that bakhita is in calf?

Rebecca: I'm prepared
at this point

To say that she's pregnant.

Benn: Fantastic news.
Fantastic news.

Congratulations, bec.

Rebecca: You, too.
(laughter)

Narrator: It's still many
months until the calf's birth,

But the team at taronga have
every reason to feel proud.

Steve: For many guests,
a visit to the zoo,

It's just the tip
of the iceberg.

So many of the things that
go on behind the scenes

Is actually what zoos
are all about.

Tarryn: Good girl.

Steve: We are
a breeding facility,

We're an ark for the future
of so many of these species.

We are one of
the only facilities

That runs three different
rhino species,

And to have success across
those three different species

Is something which makes
this place unique.

Narrator: With the francois'
langur exhibit at taronga

Now reaching capacity

Thanks in large part
to breeding male bobo,

Keepers are striving
for genetic diversity

By giving him
a contraceptive implant.

Nurse: I don't know how much
of the other dr*gs

He's still got on board,
you know.

Narrator: But mid-procedure,
bobo suddenly has

An adverse reaction
to the anesthetic.

(coughing)

Rebecca: So he's just had
a bit of a regurge,

Which often happens

Sort of sometimes when
they're on their back.

We did have to use
a couple of little treats

To get him comfortable
this morning.

And sometimes
that can come back up

When they're doing anesthetic.

Do you want me to hold
his head up, or no?

He's breathing okay.

Narrator: With bobo
now stabilized,

The team get to work to swiftly
complete the procedure

In case the problem reoccurs.

Nurse: We're going to put
the reproductive implants in,

And it's just going
to go under the skin

In between his shoulder blades.

So I get to give him
a little extra haircut,

Because we don't want to get
any hair in the wound.

Rebecca: Bobo has already
fathered a lot of young babies,

So we're giving him a bit
of a break from daddy duties

For months at least.

So this implant
is actually a hormone,

And once it's in his system,

It'll actually down-regulate
the production of testosterone,

Which means he won't be able
to produce sperm.

So he won't be able to father
any of the children.

So we're just going
to come under the skin here.

It's a huge needle.

You can see why we do it
under anesthetic.

There we go.

And you can actually just
feel it under there.

Alright, buddy.

Narrator: Just when
the finish line is in sight...

(coughing)

...Bobo struggles
to breathe again.

(coughing)

Rebecca: So we're just going
to try and swab out his mouth,

Because he's just regurgitated
a little bit of food up.

(coughing)

I know, baby.

While that tube's
down his trachea,

We know that none of this food
can get down into his lungs,

But the minute we take
that tube out,

Which we need to to wake him up,
there's the risk that any food

That's still in his mouth
while he's still anesthetized

Could go down into his lungs,
and we really don't want that.

So we can get ready, guys,

To sort of pop him
back in the pet pack.

Narrator: With his airways
finally clear,

The team begins the delicate
process of waking him up.

Nurse: He's holding my hand.

Amy: He's holding your hand.
He's saying thanks.

Rebecca: So I'm going to give
that reversal now.

I'm going to put him
into the pet pack,

Take him back and wake him up,

And yeah, hopefully he'll have
a nice, smooth recovery,

Not too much of a hangover.

Nurse: Hey, bobo.
Wake up, sweetheart.

Just not too quickly.

(cough)

Rebecca: We're just going
to make sure that he's able

To hold his head up
and sort of swallow okay.

But the idea will be
that once we're happy

That he's breathing alright,

We'll move him back up
to his enclosure.

The girls are going to have him
set up in a nice, warm den

And will monitor him
for a couple of hours.

Janet: The others are
all waiting for him.

They're all looking
to see him arrive.

And so we'll just make sure
he's fine waking up

And put him back in
with his family.

Rebecca: So today was a success.

We were able to give him

A really good
physical examination,

And most importantly,
we got that implant in.

He's very healthy,
he's in great condition,

And he's a very fine specimen
for a langur.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Narrator: The marine precinct
has an air of sadness

About it today

As months of preparation
finally come to an end.

Adrienna: Today's the day
that torre's going up north

To another facility.

It's really exciting for him,

But it's also really sad
for us to say goodbye,

Because we won't see him
for a while,

But a lot of months of training
have gone into today.

So we're just hoping that
it goes really smoothly.

I know he's going to nail it.

This one looks good.

I don't want to feed him
too much today,

'cause he's, you know,
going to be sitting in a box

For eight hours.

Narrator: It's never easy
to say farewell...

Adrienna: Hey, little man.

Narrator: ...But adrienna knows
she's done everything possible

To ready torre for his journey.

Adrienna: Gonna miss you, mate.

Go.

Good, buddy.

Up you go. Come on.

Let's get one last look
at you, hey.

What are you doing
with that flipper?

How are you looking today?

Looking good. Do you want me
to see your flipper, do you?

What about inside your mouth?

You haven't gotten up
to anything overnight?

Good boy.

Narrator: Taronga's keepers
cherish their experiences

Of watching animals grow
over long periods.

Adrienna: So proud of you.

Narrator: And for adrienna,

Torre's growth has given her
special satisfaction and pride.

Keeper: Happy birthday!

Adrienna: I was here
the day torre was born,

And now to be here the day
he leaves taronga,

You know, it'll be
a sad goodbye,

But, you know, he's going to be
awesome where he's going.

You're going to love it.
You're going to love it, buddy.

Narrator: But it's not
just the keepers

That torre must farewell today.

Adrienna: Should we go say
goodbye to moby, torre?

Torre and moby will
definitely miss each other.

They've really had each other
to kind of wrestle with

And rough and tumble with.

They are really best mates
most of the time.

In saying that, because we know
that torre's leaving,

We've kind of started separating
them in the last few weeks

So that it's not felt
quite as hard,

Especially for moby
who's staying behind.

There he is.

Say goodbye to moby,
your best friend.

Hey.

Say goodbye, guys.

Say goodbye to your brother.

Goodbyes are so hard, yeah.

(grunt)

Come on, tor.

That's such an important part
of their role and the reason

Why we have this
breeding program

For australian sea lions.

Good boy.

So that we can find out more
about them here in the zoo,

So we can look after them
in the wild,

But also to educate people
about how important they are.

Jose, can I get you
to shut the door?

I'm so proud of you
today, torre.

♪ ♪

See you, mate.
We're going to miss you.

(chirping)

(barks)

Oh, bondi is
saying goodbye, too.

Jose: Oh, bye, bondi.
Goodbye, cisco.

Narrator: Torre now has
an eight-hour trip ahead of him

And an exciting new life
to look forward to.

Adrienna: Safe travels, buddy.

Jose: Cool.

Narrator: But he leaves
behind a legacy,

And in taronga zoo, a family.

Adrienna: Torre was
perfect today,

As expected he went in there
like it was any other day.

And I'm really proud of him.

♪ ♪
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