02x02 - Down Under: New Neck in the Woods

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

Narrator: Zoos are always
looking at ways to enhance

How they exhibit
and care for their animals.

After five long years
of planning and construction,

The curtain will soon be lifted

On taronga's
african savanna precinct,

Featuring
multispecies exhibits

Designed to be a little slice
of kenya on sydney harbor.

It's set to redefine

What a st-century zoo
is all about.

(birds squawking)

But there's much more to a new
exhibit than just the build.

Mandy: It's the beginning
of the migration,

Bringing all the animals
in to the african savanna.

We've got zebra coming

And ostrich and meerkats
and fennec fox and lions.

This is just the beginning

Of what's going to be
absolutely wonderful.

Jimmy: Good. Very good.

Narrator: In order to move
into their new enclosure,

Taronga's giraffe have been
training for well over a year.

Jimmy: We often get told,

"can't you just put them in
the trailer and walk them up?"

And that's all
sounds great in theory,

But they're wild animals,
and here at the zoo,

We try and keep them all
as wild as they can.

We would like them to display

Their own natural
wild behaviors,

So we don't treat
anything here like a pet.

Narrator: But everything
was suddenly put on hold

When the eldest female,
-year-old nyota,

Became unwell and sadly
needed to be euthanized.

Keeper: She's definitely
going to a better place.

Narrator: After three months
grieving for nyota,

The giraffe team have regrouped

And are now ready to move
the two remaining giraffes,

Jimiyu and zaraffa,
into their new enclosure.

Gabe: Everyone stand
as far apart as possible

So we can have a meeting.

Keeper: I thought you were
doing the virtual, the hug.

(laughter)

Gabe: So, take two.

We don't want to rush anything,

And it'll be better
for the giraffe in the end

If we're all calm and relaxed

And just doing things
methodically and efficiently.

Jimmy: We've been
training for this

For probably the last months,

So it's going to be
a big relief today

When we finally
get them up there.

Gabe: I'll be taking the lead

In terms of instructing
people where to go.

Narrator: In charge of the move
is head of ungulates, gabe.

He's counting on the months
of training finally paying off.

Gabe: You guys are all amazing

And trained the hearts
out of it, so we've got this.

Jimmy: All right. Let's do it.

Keeper: Okay, and away we go.

Narrator: The giraffe need to
be moved before the zoo opens,

So there's no room for error.

Gabe: Hey, we're just heading
down to the giraffe barn

To get started.

Man on radio: Good luck.

Gabe: Thank you so much.

Narrator: But it's crucial
they remain calm.

Keeper: Okay.
Deep breath, everyone.

Narrator: If the giraffe
suspect anything,

The whole operation
is in jeopardy.

Jimmy: So, for us, as excited
and anxious as we all are,

We have to calm
that energy right down

And get back to normal

So they think
it's normal routine all round.

♪ ♪

Narrator: Taronga is home
to animal species,

But the best represented
among them are the birds.

(squawking)

A staggering ,
of our feathered friends

Live at the zoo...

(squawking)

(crowing)

...Two of whom
are australian pelicans.

(grunts)

Michelle: Morning, boys.

Hi, eora.

Hey, mans.

We've got two pelicans
at taronga zoo.

We have mani and eora,
and they're both years old.

We love working
with our pelicans.

We're working on, um,
building up their confidence.

Hi! Hi, handsome.

Go for a walk?

Our main goal is to enrich them,
so every day we like to do

Something a little bit
different with them.

Very good.

Come on, buddy.

Probably the most fun things
we get to do with them

Is take them out for walks

Because they get
so much out of it.

All right, do you want
to go for a run, too?

You ready?
Go, go, go. Come on!

It's great to see them,
you know, get a bit of a run up

And get those wings flapping.

Good boy!

Yeah, it's a great time for them

To just have
some new experiences.

Good boy.

Good boy!

(grunts)

Lindsay: So, what you're seeing
now is called a pouch wobble.

Um, and it's
during breeding season

They get their real pink
colors going on.

It just signifies to females
that they're ready for breeding.

Narrator: But that's
not the main use

For their distinctive pouch.

Michelle: That pouch
is very elastic,

So it's really soft skin,
um, and quite flexible,

So that allows them to scoop up
lots of water, lots of fish,

Because they're quite
opportunistic feeders.

Basically they'll
be flying around,

If they see a school of fish
or anything near the surface,

And they can dive down
and just take a massive scoop.

Uh, and that is a really great
way to get a lot of food

Nice and quickly
to fill them up.

All along the top there
is really hard,

And on the edge of his bill
is sort of quite sharp.

They've got the hook on the end
of their bill as well.

And that again is really
useful when they are trying

To catch their food and also
for defending themselves.

So, it is really sharp
and can do a fair bit of damage

When they're, um,
fighting amongst themselves

Or defending themselves
from predators.

(grunts)

Lindsay: Hey, buddy.

Narrator: Unfortunately,
the damage done to pelicans

By encounters with humans
is much more common.

Lindsay: Hello.

Here at taronga, um,
our wildlife hospital will see

Quite a few pelicans
come in each year

With different injuries to them.

That's pretty much always
due to, um, human interaction,

Like hooks into their bills and
damage to that beautiful pouch,

Um, also sometimes fishing line
wrapped around, uh,

Either closing their bill up
or around their feet,

So awful stuff like that,

And that's because they are
interacting with humans

Quite a bit.

Narrator: With an average
of pelicans a year

Coming into the hospital,

It doesn't take long for
another bird to be admitted.

Libby: This is the new pelican.

It's a big bird,
very, very light.

Kimberly: Big bird,
but very light.

Narrator: Today an injured
and underweight wild pelican

Has been brought in
for some medical attention.

Libby: Came in
from como boat ramp,

And it was really easily
picked up at the boat ramp,

And, um, it had
a hook in the box,

And the carer just rang before
to say she found another hook.

Kimberly: So, she regurgitated
two hooks in transport

To come here.

Libby: Yep.

Kimberly: All right.

Libby: The most, um,
important thing, I suppose,

Is the left wing's
drooping really, really badly.

Kimberly: Oh, okay.
Let's check out the wing.

Narrator: Two hooks,
a sore wing,

And dangerously underweight,

This pelican needs urgent help.

Libby: See?

Kimberly: Oh, yeah.

Jimmy: Slide.

Gabe: Giraffe are tall animals,
and we've got two to move.

Zaraffa, she's only about
four and a half meters tall.

And then we've got our big boy,
jimiyu is . meters tall.

Keeper: Good boy, jim.
Nearly there, bud.

Narrator: Jimiyu is up first,
and he's making it look easy.

Jimmy: Keep on coming.
That's a boy.

Narrator:
All the months of training

Are finally paying off.

Gabe: As we're transporting,

We're keeping a very close eye
on the animals' behavior,

And we pick that up
by their overall body language,

How flared their nostrils are,
the posture of their ears,

Just give us an idea
of how comfortable he is

In that situation.

Jimmy: Settle, that's a boy.

Good boy.

That's a boy.

Having me on the back
of the trailer,

Even though he wasn't
percent focused on me,

Just knowing that familiar sound
and that familiar voice

Was a big comfort for him.

Nearly home, mate.

Narrator: With taronga's
tallest giraffe on board...

Jimmy: Jim jim.

Keeper: Jim jim.

Narrator: ...It's crucial
that jimiyu's weight

Is evenly distributed
in the trailer.

Gabe: So, the things
in the back of our head,

Giraffes falling down
in awkward positions.

Jimmy: That a boy, jim.

Gabe: Trucks not being able
to drive up the hill properly

Because the wheels are spinning.

Dylan: Good boy, jimiyu,
you're doing well, son.

Jimmy: You're all right, mate.

Gabe: Coming up a hill with
. ton of giraffe in a trailer

Is always going to test
the laws of physics.

I don't want anyone behind him.

Jimmy: You're all right,
jim jim.

Narrator: This morning,
the long-awaited move

To the new giraffe enclosure
has begun.

Jimmy: Jim jim.

Keeper: Jim jim.

Narrator: And jimiyu,
the tallest giraffe,

Is on the road.

Gabe: This is the first time
we've locked a giraffe

In this trailer,
but it's looking good now.

Keeper: Good boy, jim.

Watch his head.
Watch his head.

Gabe: Jimiyu really seemed to
push that trailer to its limits.

There's a little bit of flex
in the walls,

A few creaks and cracks
that put us on edge.

Keeper: This is
the steepest bit.

Gabe: But it actually
turned out to be

A slow, steady move
up the hill.

Jimmy: You're all right, buddy.
You're nearly home.

Narrator: They may be
on the homestretch,

But it's not over
by a long sh*t.

Dylan: As soon as I drove
into this yard here

And we backed up...

Jimmy: You recognize this place?

Dylan: ...The relief was,
it was, it was amazing.

It was a pressure
off my shoulders.

I haven't slept in about
two days leading up to this.

Home free?

Jimmy: Perfect.
That went like clockwork.

You're all right, mate,
off to savanna.

Gabe: You ready to go?

Jimmy: Yup.

Gabe: Jim, slide.

Jimmy: Hey, jim, that a boy.

Good boy, buddy. Good boy.

Good boy.

Gabe: You're all right.

Jimmy: Here, mate, no problem.

Gabe: You're all right.

Narrator: But getting jimiyu
into the new enclosure

Is another matter.

As a herd animal,
he's not used to being alone.

Gabe: Jimiyu's come off
the trailer, which is fantastic,

And he's just paused
on the unloading ramp

And checking things out,
essentially.

Here, bud, here, here.

So, although he used
to live up here,

There's lots of new things,

And he wants to make sure
this is safe

Before he explores further.

Here, he's coming.

Jimmy: Good boy.

That a boy.

Ultimately, we want him
to go into his new barn.

I'm right here with you, dude.
Don't worry. It's all right.

The old saying "two steps
forward, one step back,"

This giraffe is doing that.

He's going two steps forward
to the barn and investigating,

Realizing it's a safe zone,
then he's taking two steps back,

Taking the pressure off himself.

Then he's going three steps
towards the barn.

We're not in a hurry.

You might notice
that when you see a giraffe

Sort of lift up its neck
and throw its head around,

That head throwing
is a little bit of stress.

Gabe: That's it.
You're all right.

You're all right.

Jimmy: Besides the stress,
he's happy and healthy.

Um, we're not in any hurry
to get him in that barn,

But my emotions
aren't finished yet

Because we've still got
one to go.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Keeper: This is the large den
of the cassowaries.

Trainee: Yep.

Keeper: This is where
we put out their morning food.

Narrator: Learning how to care
for taronga's , residents

Can take years of training.

Keeper: So, here comes macca.
She's our female.

And if you'll notice, she's
a lot larger than the male.

Trainee:
So, is that how you tell

The difference between them?

Keeper: Absolutely.

So, come on in, mac.

Narrator: But when
it comes to working

In the backyard
to bush precinct,

Keepers need to learn
to overcome

One of the most common fears
on the planet.

Paul: Arachnophobia,
it's the most common fear

That we know of,

But as to why people
are afraid of them,

Everyone's got
their own different reasons.

Sometimes the look,
sometimes the way they move,

Sometimes it's because
they've been brainwashed

Into thinking that way.

Parnee: Yeah.

Paul: There's no real
sort of one reason.

Hey, danielle.

Danielle: Hi.

Paul: Today what we're
going to be doing

Is working with two of our
staff members here at the zoo,

Parnee and danielle,

And we're just
going to be making them

A little bit more comfortable
with working with our spiders.

Danielle: I've probably
had a fear of spiders

For as long as I can remember.

It's the legs.
I don't like the legs.

I've always wanted to overcome
my fear of spiders.

Especially now
that I've got small children,

I feel like that I'm instilling
that fear in them.

Parnee: Yeah,
a little bit nervous.

Um, I can feel
my heart pounding.

My usual role here is actually
working with the farm animals,

So I work with the goats

And alpacas
and chickens and ducks,

So all the cute, fluffy
little guys, I guess.

Um, but we also have a lot of
invertebrates on this section,

And I'm keen to be able to start
working with some of those,

Including spiders.

Oh, my goodness,
what am I doing?

Paul: Huntsmans, a favorite.

Check out this one.

Danielle: Is it in there?

Paul: It's in there.

Danielle: I can't see it.

Oh!

Paul: But don't worry.
We'll build you up to it.

You are going to start off,
first of all,

With a little
golden orb weaver.

Danielle: Okay,
they're all right.

They just, they just hang
in the corner and...

Paul: Yeah, more or less.

I cannot guarantee
either spiders

Are not going to bite you.

Parnee: Okay.

Paul: You've worked
with animals long enough,

You know there's no guarantee.

But it is highly unlikely.

Danielle: Yeah.

Paul: Okay? Also,
if you were to get bitten

By either
of these spiders today,

At worst, it's going to feel
like a bee sting.

Danielle: I, I'm not
gonna hold it?

Paul: At no point am I going
to force you to do anything,

But I'm going to suggest
you try some things. Okay?

Danielle: Woo!

Paul: So, this is
our female golden orb weaver.

And for an adult female,
she's quite small.

Parnee: We've lost dan.

Danielle: Yuck. Yuck.

So gross.

Paul: I can barely feel her.
She's so light and so gentle.

So, she can definitely
travel a lot quicker.

Danielle: Sorry, paul.

Paul: That's okay.

I promise I won't let her
get anywhere near you.

Danielle: I'll just hang here.

Paul: Okay.

Jimmy: That's it,
zaraffa, settle.

Narrator: Taronga's giraffe
are on the move.

And zaraffa has never been
separated from jimiyu before.

Gabe: She's quite worked up.
We need to keep her quieter.

Jimmy: She's a little bit older.

She's a little bit
more challenging.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
settle.

Keeper: Hey, beautiful girl.

Where's--
what's jimiyu doing?

Gabe: That's it, zaraffa.

Keeper: That's a girl.
Well done, slowly.

Driver: Is that her moving
around a bit in there, gabe?

Gabe: Yep.

Keeper: Good job, sweetie. Hi.

Narrator: But lucky
for the giraffe team,

After a feisty start, zaraffa's
move goes off without a hitch.

Gabe: That's it, zaraffa.

That's it. Okay.

Narrator: And unlike jimiyu...

Gabe: Slide.

Narrator: ...She can't wait to
check out her brand-new home.

Emma: You're all right, sweetie.

When I first saw her coming
out of that trailer,

It was just, just amazing.

Slowly, sweetheart.

Jimmy: That's a girl.

Emma: Oh, that was perfect,
textbook.

She walked out so confidently
and with such purpose,

Like she knew exactly
where she was going,

Even though
it was a new exhibit,

And it was just the biggest
sense of accomplishment.

So, yeah, one of the best days
of my career.

Awesome. Yeah.

Gabe: Champion,
they're locked in.

Emma: We did it.

Gabe: Well done, everyone.

That's it.

Narrator: But the team
can't relax too much.

In the coming weeks,
two more giraffe

Will be joining
jimiyu and zaraffa.

Keeper: Bottomless pits,
that's what youse are,

Bottomless pits,
aren't you, hey?

Narrator: And out at dubbo,

It's a move they've
never attempted before.

Simone: D-day is arriving
very shortly, and I'm excited,

But I'm also
a little bit nervous.

It is the first mum and calf
moved together,

Which is a really big thing.

Good girl.

Narrator: Sydney harbor
is home to many wild animals,

And this morning,
an injured pelican

Has been brought into the zoo's
hospital for treatment.

Libby: It's a big bird,
very, very light.

Kimberly: Big bird,
but very light.

Narrator: It's already
regurgitated two fishing hooks

And has a drooping wing.

Kimberly:
Let's check out the wing.

Narrator: Vet kimberly
and hospital manager libby

Need to take a closer look.

Kimberly: Yeah,
it's definitely quite droopy.

Do you want to grab him, and
we'll have a feel of that wing?

And I suspect we might
anesthetize him today

And take some radiographs.

I've got the wing.

So, his wing is actually
drooping from the carpus,

Which would be equivalent
to our wrist.

Okay. Can you lift it up?

This area, it feels thickened
compared to the other side.

The fact that this thickened,

It may mean that there's some,
that he's had an injury there

And it's scarring up,

Or he's had just
some kind of trauma

That's caused it to swell.

I think we should
probably x-ray him,

So we'll take him next door.

All right. I think
we need to anesthetize him

Because he's vomited up
the two hooks,

And that left wing,
it's a little thickened.

Okay, ready, lib?

Libby: Yep. I'm ready.

Narrator: Kimberly
sedates the pelican

Before she can intubate it
for the procedure.

Libby: He's already relaxing.

Kimberly: Is he?
That might be enough.

Libby: Here he goes.

See you on the other side.

Beautiful.

Kimberly: Okay, I need
one of you to open the mouth.

So, I'm intubating the pelican

So we can give him
some gas anesthesia

To get him fully
anesthetized, or her.

Yeah. Can you? Thanks.

We're just gonna change
the size of his tube.

(pelican grunts)

That's better.

It's hard to intubate them.

There's a little piece
of cartilage

That's right inside
the glottis of pelicans,

So it's hard to get around
the side of that sometimes.

And as soon as she's asleep,
we can start taking the x-rays.

Is that a bit better?

Libby: Much better.

Kimberly: Yeah. We can start
with the right lateral.

Narrator: While vet kimberly
sets up to take some x-rays,

Libby takes a closer look
at the sleeping bird.

Libby: Have you seen
these feet, kimberly?

Kimberly: Yes,
his feet are kind of...

Libby: Or her feet.

Kimberly: ...Gross.

She's got some scabs
on her legs as well.

There's a bit
of a laceration here,

So wondering if that could be

From a hook
or something as well.

Libby: You can see
all these marks here,

So she hasn't been flying,

Indication that she's been
struggling for a while,

Walking around on her feet.

Narrator: But this bird
may have more problems

Than just sore feet and wings.

Kimberly: I might
even move her down

A little bit towards me, deb.

Deb: Yep.

Kimberly: First I'm going to
take x-rays of her body

To see if there are
any hooks inside her stomach.

If there's hooks
inside her stomach,

That's an indication
that we'll probably need

To take her to surgery.

Could everybody step out
while we take the x-ray, please?

♪ ♪

We're looking in here
in the stomach area for hooks,

And there are no hooks,
no hooks there, so that's great.

We don't need to do surgery
to retrieve hooks.

I'm really happy.
Oh, thank goodness.

Thank you for vomiting up
those two hooks.

(laughter)

Libby: Yay, no hooks.

Kimberly: So, now we got
to focus on the left wing.

Narrator: While no more hooks
is great news...

Kimberly:
Let's take another one.

Narrator:
...It's the next x-ray

That has kimberly concerned.

(beep)

Libby: Oh.

Kimberly: Yeah.

So, this doesn't look good.

Keeper: Foot.

Narrator: Every animal
at taronga gets excellent care,

Including the spiders.

Paul: I can barely feel her,
she's so light and so gentle.

Narrator: Down in
the backyard to bush precinct,

Keeper paul is helping
danielle and parnee

Overcome their arachnophobia.

Danielle: Is that
a little bit of web?

Paul: There is
a bit of web there, yep.

As she goes everywhere,

She leaves a bit of trail web
behind so in case she falls,

She is not going to plummet
to the ground.

Parnee: Right.

Paul: Oh! Here we go. Got her.

That's why she lets
the web behind.

Parnee: Well done.

You okay, dan?

Danielle: No. Um, okay.

I'm all right.

Paul: Why don't you come
touch my arm?

There you go.

What about those big, bad seals
you work with?

Danielle: Don't you put that
on that hand.

Paul: What's the difference
between that hand and that hand?

Danielle: Because it's closer.

Paul: Try it again.

Danielle: I'm just gonna
stand in the door.

Paul: Try it again.

There you go.

Danielle: Okay.

Paul: See, it's quite relaxed.
It is not biting me at all.

Okay? It's definitely
not jumping over

To try and get you.

Danielle: But can it jump?

Paul: No,
it actually can't jump.

It can fall off my hand.

Danielle: If there is a breeze

Blowing in my direction,
it could.

Paul: It would
have to be a gale. Okay?

Danielle: Parnee's turn.

Paul: Okay, parnee's turn.

This time, I just want you
to get your hand on my arm

Down near the wrist.

Parnee: Okay.

Paul: Now, yep, just there,
and let's just wait.

Parnee: Oh, my goodness.

Paul: Okay, you've got her now?

Parnee: I've got her.
I've got her.

Paul: Now what you can do is,
with your other hand,

Give her somewhere to go to.

Parnee: Ah! Okay.

Paul: That's it.

Parnee: Oh, my goodness!

Just remind me again she,
she can bite, can't she?

Paul: She can bite, I can bite;
it doesn't mean I'm going to.

Parnee: Okay.

Paul: Okay? And there you go.

Parnee: Oh, my goodness!
I can't believe it!

Paul: Way to go. (laughs)

Parnee: Oh, wow.
That's amazing. She's so light.

Paul: Yeah.

Parnee: Oh, far out.

Paul: How fast
is your heart going?

Parnee: It's pounding.

I can't believe
I just did that, actually.

I'm really surprised
that I just did that.

Wow.

Paul: Now, this is where
the real fun begins.

Parnee: Okay.

Paul: Okay, huntsmans.
A favorite.

Danielle: Oh.

Narrator: With jimiyu
and zaraffa now settled in

To their new enclosure...

Gabe: Giraffes are going
to be here soon.

Narrator: ...Keepers
are preparing to welcome

Two more giraffe
from the breeding herd

At taronga's
western plains zoo in dubbo.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Simone: Oh, what have I got?

Num, num, num.

Out here at taronga
western plains zoo,

We have our breeding herd
of giraffe.

It's a herd of animals,

So there's females
total out here.

Narrator: The two giraffe
bound for sydney

Are mum kito
and her calf, ebo.

Simone: We have done
quite a few giraffe moves

Out here at taronga
western plains zoo,

But it is the first mum and calf
moved together as well,

Which is a really big thing.

Narrator:
Like the sydney giraffe,

Kito and ebo have had months
of intensive crate training,

But with sydney's new savanna
exhibit about to be opened,

The move's been fast-tracked.

Simone: So, this is
our giraffe transport crate

That we have here.

We've got it kitted out

Especially
with some nice soft bedding

For them to lay down
and stand around in.

We've also got all their tasty
treats hanging up like browse

And a few pellets as well.

Narrator: While keepers have
been crate training for months,

The zoo's
animal transfer team...

Sara: Oh, how good are we

With the giraffe transport
arrangements at the moment?

Narrator: ...Have been planning
every facet of this move

For just as long.

Sara: Oh, yes!

The giraffe are one of the
hardest species to transport.

They're so high!

You need a specifically designed
crate to be able to do it.

It's engineered so that the
crate can get higher or lower,

Uh, on the roads.

You can actually
heighten the crate

So the animal may be
a bit more comfortable

For its long journey.

Simone: Today's
a really big day.

It's d-day for kito and ebo.

They are going to make their big
move off to sydney this morning.

Mum kito has come in
very easily.

She's often trying to encourage
ebo to want to come in himself.

He's been a little bit more
on the cautious side.

Narrator: Both giraffe
are now safely in the trailer.

Simone: Very good.
Hey, you're very good.

Narrator: But keepers know
that was the easy part.

Simone: While they're
comfortable going into the crate

And being locked in,
the process of lifting the crate

Can give them a bit of an uneasy
seasick sort of feeling.

That's our main worry
is how they're going to react

To the crane lifting the crate.

Narrator: With the crate
now on the truck,

Kito and ebo's long journey
to sydney begins.

Simone: It's a really big step
for these guys.

They're going to have a little
bit of adjusting to do,

But I think they'll
settle in really well.

Producer: How do you
think they'll go?

Simone: They're not going
to come out of the crate.

(laughs)

Because I've done
such a good job.

♪ ♪

Kimberly:
Do you want to grab him,

And we'll have
a feel of that wing?

Narrator: This morning, an
underweight and injured pelican

Was admitted after it had
regurgitated two fishing hooks.

Kimberly: We're looking in here
in the stomach area for hooks,

And there are no hooks,
no hooks there, so that's great.

We don't need to do surgery
to retrieve hooks.

I'm really happy.
Oh, thank goodness.

Narrator:
With more hooks ruled out,

Vet kimberly turns her
attention to the drooping wing.

Libby: Oh.

Kimberly: Yeah.

There's definitely a problem
with the left wing.

This doesn't look good.

There's obviously been
a previous injury,

And it's healing
in an abnormal position.

So, this is the normal one
over here.

You can see the different bones
really distinctly,

But if you look
at the left side,

You see a big white mass,
and that's bone trying to heal.

And it looks like this bone,
which is one of the carp--

Metacarpal bones, was broken

And has healed
in a bit of an angle,

So that's the area where
the bird's wing is drooping.

It may have already frozen
in that position,

And if that's how it's healed

And the bird's unable
to use the wing,

It may not be releasable.

So, let's have a look
at some other views.

Narrator: The team will do
everything they can

For injured wildlife

That have a chance of survival
in the wild,

So kimberly wants to take a few
more x-rays just to be sure.

Kimberly: And maybe
if this bird's not doing well

In the wild,

Maybe that's why it's trying
to eat fish off of lines.

Libby: And why its feet
look like that.

Kimberly: And getting,
getting hooks.

Did they say
this bird could fly?

Libby: No, no.

Kimberly:
It was easy to pick up.

Libby: Oh, hello.

She's, she's dreaming.

Narrator:
Hospital manager libby

Has a real fondness
for seabirds,

And although the pelican
is in a bad way...

Kimberly: There's definitely
a lot of scabbing here.

Narrator: ...She's
looking for any signs

That this bird still
has a fighting chance.

Libby: She's got new feathers.

Kimberly: Yeah, that's good.

Libby: So, these
are all brand-new.

It takes a lot of energy
to grow all those feathers.

Kimberly: You see this one
still has the shaft on it.

Okay, everybody, step out again.

Narrator:
Despite the positives,

The next x-ray confirms
kimberly's worst fears

For this sick pelican.

Kimberly: That's not
going to improve.

Gabe: The giraffe
have just arrived,

And we're just starting to move.

Man on radio:
Copy that. Cheers.

Narrator: After seven long
hours on the road from dubbo,

Giraffes kito and ebo have
finally arrived at taronga

To join jimiyu and zaraffa
in the african savanna.

Emma: They're in there together.

They're super calm,
and we're about to take them

To the new savanna
and unload them.

We got to hook
all of the crates up to cranes.

They need to be lifted
and lowered into position

Before they can actually be
let out into the exhibit,

So that's always
very nerve-racking.

They're tall animals,
the tallest land mammals.

They can kick out.

Narrator:
It's an anxious few minutes

As the crate hangs in midair.

Gabe: Will that affect it
the other ends?

Getting through the gates?

Narrator:
To fit through the zoo,

The crate will need to be moved
off the semi-trailer

And onto a smaller truck.

Gabe: We have to get this
pretty much spot-on on the tray

So that we
can get through the gates

In the exhibit at the other end.

Narrator: With the team
so close to the finish line,

They can't afford any mistakes.

Dylan: It'll be all right.

Gabe: Woo! They're on their way.

This box with the giraffe in it
weighs five ton.

It's a big load to deal with,
and they're tall,

And they're
moving around in there,

So it's a lot
to take into consideration.

Dylan: They're starting
to move back there.

When the giraffe crate's
rocking, don't come a-knocking.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Gabe: This is the exciting bit.

♪ ♪

Keep it coming.

Dylan: How am I looking, gabe?

Gabe: You might
need to swing it.

You've got plenty of room
on that side, don't you?

Narrator: The size of the crate
is really pushing the limits

Of what the zoo can handle.

Keeper: Stop, stop, stop.

Dylan: How's that?

Gabe: Yeah, keep coming.

(clanking)

You're all right.

It's that chain-link.

You're clear on that side.

Woo! You're going all right now,
brother. We're in.

Thank you.

Narrator: After a close shave
through the gate,

Kito and ebo are just
one final crane lift away

From their new home.

Gabe: We are very excited
to have these two giraffe here.

It's a very different setting.

They'll be able to smell
the salt breeze off the harbor

And see the city
in the background.

And hopefully
they'll love it here.

♪ ♪

Narrator: With the crate now
in place at the unloading ramp,

It's important the giraffe
unload at their own pace.

Gabe: Hello. How are you doing?

She's at the door,
which is good.

That's a girl.

In you go.

Good girl.

You're a jumpy little thing,
aren't you?

That's it.
You're all right, little man.

They are very comfortable
in that box.

Hello, beautiful.
You heading out?

The taronga dubbo keepers
have had the crate in the yard

For a long time,
and the young calf,

That crate has made up a huge
proportion of his overall life.

And I think mum wants to stay
where she knows that he's safe.

Narrator:
Because the sydney keepers

Don't have a relationship
with these giraffe,

There's no training they can
fall back on to tempt them out.

Gabe: We have to wait them out
pretty much.

I was hoping to make it home
for my son's birthday dinner.

It looks like
that's off the cards.

Might have to celebrate
tomorrow night instead.

Jimmy: I honestly forgot
how stubborn they were.

Paul: She's so light
and so gentle.

Narrator: Keepers danielle
and parnee are learning

How to overcome
their arachnophobia...

Parnee: (gasps) okay.

Paul: That's it.

Parnee: Oh, my goodness.

Narrator: ...To varying
degrees of success.

Danielle: I physically cannot
stay still when she's like that,

Like I have to leave.

Narrator: So far,
they've started small

With a golden orb spider.

Paul: Okay.

Narrator: But paul is keen
to move on to bigger things.

Paul: Unfortunately, we don't
have any small huntsmans today.

Parnee: Okay.

Paul: Okay? And I do,
I would have preferred to use

A smaller one
to get you into it.

Parnee: Me, too.

Paul: But we do have
our big girl here.

Parnee: She's more
of a scurrier, isn't she?

Paul: Yes, she can definitely
travel a bit quicker.

Parnee: Oh!

She's got hairy legs.

Paul: She does.

I'm going to see
if I can get her onto my hand.

What you notice is she's not
going to be really keen

To get onto my hand.

Parnee: No.

Paul: See? Look at the feet,
see how she's touching?

Parnee: Yes,
but she's preferring--

Paul: She's preferring the wood.

Now, the interesting thing here

Is they taste
through their feet,

So, for her, my hand
tastes very different

To what she is used to.

Parnee: They taste
through their feet?

Paul: Yes.

Parnee: Wow. I didn't know that.

Ooh!

Paul: So, let's--
why don't we try the same

As we did with the golden orb?

And you just put your hand
just here.

Parnee: Yep.

Paul: Okay.

Parnee: Oh, my goodness.

Okay.

(gasps)

(shudders)

Paul: Okay,
well, then, look at that.

How's that going?

Parnee: Oh, my goodness.

Paul: How are you going
out there, dani?

Danielle: I'm good.
Is she under control?

Paul: Yeah,
she's under control.

Danielle: All right.

Yeah, I can't even
articulate it.

It's the, it's the way
that she moves.

It's all her long legs.

It's, it's just a fear if,

If, when she's not
where she's meant to be,

Then, and then she gets lost,

That she'll just turn up
somewhere near me.

Parnee: Good girl.

Yeah, I think
it's about baby steps.

Although that didn't feel
very baby, like a big step,

But I think, yeah,
just keep on practicing,

Keep on exposing myself
to holding the spiders

And just building up
my confidence.

♪ ♪

Paul: You're doing well.

No, I'm serious. You are.
You may not feel it.

Danielle: She's not moving.

It's when she moves,
then I'll move.

Don't make her move.

Paul: There you go.

Under the circumstances,
with the limited time we had,

I think you did
really, really well.

Danielle: That's the closest
I've ever been voluntarily.

Parnee: That's amazing.

Paul: I've worked with you,
I've seen you around spiders.

For me, that was a win.

Would like to get
a little bit further,

But that, that seriously,

That was a win,
that was really good.

Danielle: Thanks, paul.

Paul: And, parnee, wow.

I'm just going to borrow
your hat for a minute.

Just give me this, give me this.

I take my hat off to you.

Narrator:
At the wildlife hospital,

Vet kimberly
has thoroughly examined

An injured and underweight
wild pelican...

Libby: Oh.

Kimberly: Yeah.

There's definitely a problem
with the left wing.

This doesn't look good.

Narrator: ...And has had
to make a difficult decision.

Kimberly: We can't release her
to the wild because she's not

Going to be able to feed herself
and fend for herself.

It's probably
why she's been eating fish

Off of fishermen's hooks.

It's also probably
why she's quite lean.

If this was a new injury,

We might be able to put it
in place and fix it,

But it's old
and it's permanently fixed

In an abnormal position.

Narrator: The team are left
with no alternative.

Kimberly: Unfortunately, we're
going to need to euthanize her

Because she's not going
to survive on her own

In the wild properly,

And that's probably
why her feet are also

In, in such bad shape.

She's been spending a lot
of time on her feet, I suspect.

All right.

Libby: Euthanizing animals
is so difficult for all of us.

Unfortunately, we do see animals

At the end of their lives
sometimes.

By the time someone actually
gets hold of the animal,

Then the injuries
are really, really awful.

And so our job then is to ease
the suffering of those animals,

And the best thing
we can do for this animal

Is to put her
out of that suffering

So she won't be in pain anymore.

Kimberly: Um...

Libby: Very sad.

Kimberly: It's very sad.

Libby: We do a lot of crying.

Kimberly: We do a lot of crying.

So, this is
the euthanasia solution.

Just get a, this big vein here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

I can hold it if you want.

Libby: Uh-huh.

Kimberly: Got it? Thanks.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Yeah, it's very quick.

She doesn't have
a heartbeat anymore.

All right. Yeah.

Narrator: The team show
great care and respect

To the very end.

Kimberly: We're very lucky
in this profession

To have this as an option
for animal welfare.

Can't imagine
not having that option

For animals
that are really suffering.

Now you're making me
really gonna cry.

Stop it.

Uh, we'll do a full
post-mortem on her.

We'll actually look
at how bad that wing was

To see if we can learn anything

And see what might
have been a cause.

Yeah.

Narrator:
Research on this pelican,

Along with the study of animals
in taronga's care,

Will help to preserve
the species in the wild.

And as a conservation zoo,

That's what taronga's
all about.

(grunts)

Narrator: Five years
in the making

At a cost
of nearly $ million,

And taronga's new savanna
will soon be open.

Designed as
a multispecies precinct,

It aims to bring a little slice
of africa to sydney.

Jimmy: Hello.

Narrator: Its very first
residents, jimiyu and zaraffa,

Have settled in nicely.

And after seven hours
on the road

Plus a few crane lifts,

The dubbo giraffe
kito and her calf ebo

Have arrived to join them.

Jimmy: This is a huge milestone

For everyone here
at taronga zoo,

Um, but especially
for us giraffe keepers.

We've been working
for probably the last two years

To get this to come together,

And it's nearly
where we want it to be.

That's it. Out you go.

Narrator:
But working with animals

Means things don't
always go according to plan.

Gabe: You're a jumpy
little thing, aren't you?

Narrator: While the long
journey from dubbo to sydney

Went off without a hitch...

Gabe: Hello, beautiful.
You heading out?

Narrator: ...When it came
to unloading the giraffe,

Dubbo keeper simone's
prediction was spot-on.

Simone: They're not going to
come out of the crate.

Producer: Why do you predict
they mightn't come out?

Simone: Because I've done
such a good job.

Narrator: Sydney keepers
had to wait a full hours

For kito and ebo
to emerge from their crate.

Gabe: It was two days before we
were able to lock kito and ebo

Out of the crate
and into their barn.

The dubbo keepers
did an awesome job

Of conditioning
those two giraffe to the crate.

They loved it.

Giraffe are normally pretty good
with introductions.

They're a herd animal, and they
like being with other giraffe.

This is kito, and she
has settled in really well

With our two giraffe,
zaraffa and jimiyu.

Ebo is a very independent calf,

So he's happy to be
off on his own.

The last giraffe calf
that we had here

Was dear old nyota,
who passed away recently,

So it was years ago.

Having something that small
come into their world,

It rocked them.

They were like,
"woo, what is that?"

But they've been
fantastic with him.

He is just adorable.

His coat is still
that baby velvety calf coat,

Unlike the coarse hairs
of his mum,

And his ossicones,
those horns on his head,

It's still soft baby hair
and, oh, so adorable.

Narrator: With this
giraffe herd now complete,

It's a new beginning for
the african savanna exhibit,

Which is starting
to come to life.

Gabe: Having four giraffe
in here now

Is like, wow, this is
going to be fantastic,

And there's more still to come.

So, we've got zebra
arriving next week,

Which we're gearing up for.

I think it's just getting
better and better.

Narrator:
To complete the migration,

Many other african animals
are on their way.

They'll be
the quick and curious,

The fast and feathered,

And returning to the zoo

After an absence
of five long years,

The regal.

(roars)

It's an exciting new chapter
for all these animals

And also for taronga zoo.