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NARRATOR: All mammals need care
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and attention
when they're babies.
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But what happens when mom
isn't around
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to provide that care?
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Sometimes, a surrogate family
plays that supporting role,
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and can help take a baby animal
to the next stage of life.
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(♪♪♪)
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(Birds chirping)
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This is Tina.
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She's a 10-month-old wombat.
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Since she was 3 months old,
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she's been at the Bonorong
Wildlife Sanctuary
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in Tasmania, Australia.
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GRAHAM: Her mother was hit
and killed by a car
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and someone pulled over
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and checked the pouch
of the mother
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and found Tina
when she was quite small
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and came into our care
after that.
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NARRATOR: Wombats are distant
relatives
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of the better known marsupials,
kangaroos.
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Their evolution diverged
more than 40 million years ago.
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When Tina arrived
at the sanctuary
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without a mother
to provide a pouch,
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her caregivers
had to be creative.
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GRAHAM: We provide
a makeshift pouch,
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especially for
the younger wombats
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for the first year or so.
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Until they start to
live underground
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at about a year and a half
of age.
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That's done by a inside-out
pillowcase
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into a blanket
or a large beanie,
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something that'll insulate
their body heat,
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and once they get in there
and it smells like them
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and it's nice and dark
and quiet and warm,
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they think they're back
in mom's pouch.
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NARRATOR: In the wild,
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the wombats would normally nurse
until they're about a year old.
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Here, Tina is bottle-fed
with a special formula
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designed to suit
her stage of life.
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(♪♪♪)
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At the Sanctuary,
these young wombats
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start to prepare
for the real world.
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Grass, roots
and shrubs of all kinds
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become a much bigger part
of Tina's diet,
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just like they are
for wild wombats.
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(♪♪♪)
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Like all wombats,
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Tina's equipped with some
very handy physical traits
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to help cope
with eating tough plants.
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GRAHAM: They have teeth
that are hollow
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and grow back
throughout their lives.
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They're the largest burrowing
marsupial
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and largest burrowing mammal
on the planet.
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They're just a unique animal.
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NARRATOR: Wombat burrows
are architectural feats
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that can be up to 65 feet long.
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They're often a series
of interconnected tunnels
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that have multiple entrances
and exits.
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GRAHAM: Tina's dug herself
a few really cool burrows
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with really nice
strong ceilings,
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rocks and other logs and objects
at the roof of the entrance,
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which is a great instinct
that she's showing.
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She's not digging them
straight down
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where the rain's going to go,
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they go into the side
of a mound of dirt,
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which is fantastic.
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NARRATOR: Wombats are
built for digging.
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They have powerful front legs
and strong claws
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that help them dig through
almost anything.
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And they have a rather
unusual way of keeping
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unwanted visitors
out of their burrows.
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GRAHAM: Tina and all wombats
have a cartilage plate
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on their rear end.
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It usually is about
half an inch thick
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and can be quite large.
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So they use this
as a doorstop.
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So if they're threatened
by a predator,
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they can run back
to the entrance of their burrow,
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not run inside and hide
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'cause they could be
followed inside,
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they'll block it off.
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And it's not many nerves
in this part of the body
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so if they're bitten
by a predator,
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it doesn't really cause them
any harm.
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NARRATOR: What comes
out of a wombat's rear end
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is also a bit unusual.
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GRAHAM: They have
unique poos or scats,
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it's not circular
like with most marsupials,
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it is square.
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That's important
because they are territorial
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and solitary,
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so they do this as a square
so it'll stay in place.
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Other wombats will see it,
and being a square,
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they can even stack it up
like a little pyramid
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and that makes it more obvious
to other wombats as well.
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Researchers know
bits and pieces.
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No one's been able to explain
100% why it's square.
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NARRATOR: Tina just keeps
going about her business,
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whatever that might be!
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As cute and cuddly
as she is now,
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Tina will be considered an adult
by the time she's 2 years old.
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She could be up to 3 feet long,
and weigh as much as 60 pounds.
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Her personality will also
undergo a dramatic change.
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In the wild they turn and get
very aggressive and solitary
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and they don't like to hang out
with their mother anymore.
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Tina's biological urge
to be alone
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makes her a perfect animal
to release back into the wild.
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GRAHAM: So while a lot of
other species are released
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and they still have that
instinct
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of humans provide food
and comfort,
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wombats lose that
and don't like us.
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And because they lose that
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and they have all their
right burrowing
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and defense instincts,
they do very well,
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and some research has found that
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they have a 96% chance
of survival on release,
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which is very, very good
for us to know
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that when we're
sending them out there.
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NARRATOR: It's a potential
happy ending for this friendly--
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well, friendly for now at least,
wombat.
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(♪♪♪)
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Clouded leopards
have a reputation
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for being elusive and shy.
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And yet these two cubs
seem anything but.
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That might be
because 5-month-old sisters
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Faith and Hope,
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born at the Nashville Zoo
in Tennessee,
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are in a new habitat.
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Their instinct to explore
has taken hold.
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Their long tails,
their pretty camouflage,
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and their non-stop movement
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make these rare cubs
a mesmerizing pair to watch.
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RICE: One of the things that
makes clouded leopards so unique
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is that, first off,
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a lot of people
have never heard of them.
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But they are one of the most
beautiful cats.
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And they're very charismatic.
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NARRATOR: At their tender age,
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most cubs would still be
with their mother.
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Although their mom
lives at the zoo,
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clouded leopards can sometimes
be aggressive
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towards their offspring.
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So, these two have
a foster family instead.
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RICE: We hand raise most of
our clouded leopard cubs
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here at the zoo
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because we lose about half
of the cubs that are born
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if they're left
with their mothers naturally.
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So we hand raise them
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and the mortality drops down
to near nothing.
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NARRATOR: Clouded leopards
are endangered in the wild.
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But estimates
of their population vary
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because these cats
can be so hard to find.
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One thing is indisputable,
they're natural born climbers.
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Whether it's in their
native Southeast Asia
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or here in Nashville.
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RICE: As soon as they can,
they start to climb.
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It's not very graceful
at first,
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but it doesn't take them long
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till they're very adept
climbers.
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NARRATOR: It makes sense,
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since clouded leopards
are an arboreal species,
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meaning they live
in the treetops.
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As a result,
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the animals have adapted
over time in important ways.
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First is that super long tail.
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RICE: Clouded leopards
have one of the most
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magnificent tails of any cat.
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They use these tails
for balance mostly,
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kind of like a tightrope walker
would do when they carry a pole.
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NARRATOR: Those short, stubby
little legs play a role too.
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RICE: Those give them
a low center of gravity
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which makes climbing
a lot easier.
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In addition to that,
they have really large feet
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with very sharp claws which,
again, help with the climbing.
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NARRATOR: And there's one
other secret tool they possess.
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RICE: Clouded Leopards
have a special joint
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in their back feet,
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which enables them to climb
head first down a tree.
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It enables their feet
to turn and hold on backwards.
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NARRATOR: These flexible
ankle joints make them
arboreal acrobats...
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...sometimes.
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Faith and Hope are trying
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everything on for size
in their new home.
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Splashing at their
watering hole.
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Jumping and pouncing.
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And then pouncing some more.
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It's all play now,
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but that behavior mimics
how they would hunt in the wild.
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They're well equipped to do so.
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RICE: Clouded leopards
have the largest canine teeth
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in proportion to their
body size.
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Meaning that their teeth
are bigger in their skull
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than a tiger's are
in their skull.
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A clouded leopard male
could have
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00:10:38,838 --> 00:10:40,740
a canine tooth that is anywhere
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from 2-1/2 to
maybe 3 inches long,
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which is a very,
very long canine tooth.
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NARRATOR: When they were born,
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Faith and Hope
were 3 inches long,
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00:10:51,451 --> 00:10:54,387
the same size as that tooth.
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Now several months older,
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they're filling out
quite nicely.
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Those spots of theirs
will change over time, too.
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RICE: As the cats grow,
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00:11:08,234 --> 00:11:10,570
it's almost
as if their bodies elongate
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00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:13,072
and then those spots elongate
along with 'em
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giving them that clouded effect.
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NARRATOR: When they're
fully mature,
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these girls will weigh
as much as 30 or 35 pounds each.
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And by the age of two,
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Faith and Hope will be ready
to have cubs of their own.
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For this endangered species,
that's promising news.
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RICE: We don't know
a whole lot about
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00:11:39,732 --> 00:11:41,601
clouded leopard behavior
in the wild.
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00:11:41,601 --> 00:11:43,436
There've been so few of them
studied.
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00:11:43,436 --> 00:11:46,172
They're very elusive,
they're extremely hard to find.
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00:11:46,172 --> 00:11:47,273
And most of what
we know about them
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we're learning from zoos.
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NARRATOR: For example,
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researchers have determined
that clouded leopards
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are not leopards at all,
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00:11:56,349 --> 00:11:59,419
but instead belong
to the same group of big cats
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that includes lions and jaguars.
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Hope and Faith
might help researchers unlock
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00:12:09,462 --> 00:12:12,165
other secrets about
their species in the future.
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00:12:12,165 --> 00:12:18,805
(♪♪♪)
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But for now,
they're just having fun!
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00:12:21,541 --> 00:12:28,214
(♪♪♪)
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They're not tiny, helpless
newborns.
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00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,789
But by polar bear standards,
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00:12:36,789 --> 00:12:39,726
brothers Eli and York
are still infants.
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00:12:42,328 --> 00:12:45,565
They were born in the Arctic,
but were facing a grim future.
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00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:48,835
That is,
until the Assiniboine Zoo
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00:12:48,835 --> 00:12:51,704
in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
stepped in to save them.
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00:12:53,373 --> 00:12:55,675
ENRIGHT: What happened is their
mom was accidentally injured
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00:12:55,675 --> 00:12:59,379
and ultimately died
of her injuries.
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00:12:59,379 --> 00:13:01,247
These two cubs were around
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00:13:01,247 --> 00:13:03,216
11 months of age
at the time,
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00:13:03,216 --> 00:13:06,386
so they were not old enough
to survive on their own,
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00:13:06,386 --> 00:13:10,289
so we went up north
and we brought the bears down.
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00:13:12,191 --> 00:13:16,729
NARRATOR: Eli and York
will never have a mother
to guide them.
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00:13:16,729 --> 00:13:19,732
But, after only a month
of being at the zoo,
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00:13:19,732 --> 00:13:21,734
they seem to be
finding their way.
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00:13:23,703 --> 00:13:25,538
ENRIGHT: They rely on
one another quite a bit.
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00:13:25,538 --> 00:13:29,475
We've always had twins
or two that came together
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00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:30,610
and they lean on one another,
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00:13:30,610 --> 00:13:32,612
they get comfort
from one another.
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00:13:32,612 --> 00:13:33,713
While they wouldn't be able
to survive
249
00:13:33,713 --> 00:13:34,981
without mom in the wild,
250
00:13:34,981 --> 00:13:39,352
they are able to do quite well
on their own here in the zoo.
251
00:13:41,587 --> 00:13:46,693
NARRATOR: There are other signs
that the cubs are doing well.
252
00:13:46,693 --> 00:13:47,560
They're gaining weight
253
00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:50,697
at a healthy rate
of 1 pound a day.
254
00:13:50,697 --> 00:13:55,134
And while the zoo is home
to several rescued polar bears,
255
00:13:55,134 --> 00:13:58,471
these are the first males
in their care.
256
00:14:00,373 --> 00:14:04,310
It will give staff a window
into male development.
257
00:14:05,378 --> 00:14:09,248
While female adult bears
might weigh around 600 pounds
258
00:14:09,248 --> 00:14:12,351
the males are on a whole
different scale.
259
00:14:12,351 --> 00:14:14,454
ENRIGHT: What really
sets the males apart is
260
00:14:14,454 --> 00:14:16,489
these little bears
that are born this tiny
261
00:14:16,489 --> 00:14:20,226
eventually get to be 1,200,
1,300 pound bears,
262
00:14:20,226 --> 00:14:21,728
which is absolutely huge.
263
00:14:21,728 --> 00:14:24,163
So we watch these
male bears grow
264
00:14:24,163 --> 00:14:26,999
and it's just phenomenal.
265
00:14:28,234 --> 00:14:29,235
NARRATOR: In the wild,
266
00:14:29,235 --> 00:14:31,571
Eli and York would become
fully-grown adults
267
00:14:31,571 --> 00:14:35,141
at around 7 years of age.
268
00:14:35,141 --> 00:14:36,242
In captivity,
269
00:14:36,242 --> 00:14:40,847
they'll reach this size
by the time they're 4 or 5.
270
00:14:40,847 --> 00:14:43,783
That's because in the wild,
they'd have to hunt
271
00:14:43,783 --> 00:14:47,086
and might go without eating
for a while,
272
00:14:47,086 --> 00:14:51,324
but here the cubs
will never go without food.
273
00:14:51,324 --> 00:14:53,593
Their diet is rich
with the vitamins,
274
00:14:53,593 --> 00:14:58,331
minerals, fats and proteins
they need to thrive.
275
00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:02,468
With snacks stuffed
in their toys,
276
00:15:02,468 --> 00:15:06,038
getting to the "chow"
provides a bit of a challenge,
277
00:15:06,038 --> 00:15:08,541
but also gives the cubs
a chance to play.
278
00:15:08,541 --> 00:15:15,348
(♪♪♪)
279
00:15:19,819 --> 00:15:24,223
But it's much harder work
to find food in the Arctic.
280
00:15:25,424 --> 00:15:27,560
Polar bears will swim
in the open ocean
281
00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,563
in search of prey.
282
00:15:30,563 --> 00:15:32,565
Big paddle-like front paws
283
00:15:32,565 --> 00:15:36,669
and partially webbed toes
make them great swimmers.
284
00:15:39,505 --> 00:15:42,275
A layer of fat
and their thick, oily skin
285
00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:45,545
protects them in cold,
Arctic waters.
286
00:15:47,513 --> 00:15:51,584
Polar bears occasionally hunt
young walrus and small whales,
287
00:15:51,584 --> 00:15:55,454
but their diet is almost
exclusively seals.
288
00:15:55,454 --> 00:15:58,591
ENRIGHT: Polar bears are
highly evolved to eat seals.
289
00:15:58,591 --> 00:16:02,061
At the zoo, our polar bears
get ground meat sort of diet
290
00:16:02,061 --> 00:16:05,765
and whole fish.
291
00:16:05,765 --> 00:16:06,699
NARRATOR: In the wild,
292
00:16:06,699 --> 00:16:09,402
Eli and York's exceptional
sense of smell
293
00:16:09,402 --> 00:16:12,638
would help them hunt.
294
00:16:12,638 --> 00:16:15,441
Scientists believe polar bears
can smell a seal
295
00:16:15,441 --> 00:16:18,578
from several miles away.
296
00:16:18,578 --> 00:16:23,382
Polar bears also have
amazing patience.
297
00:16:23,382 --> 00:16:24,483
In the winter months,
298
00:16:24,483 --> 00:16:28,087
wild bears stake out
breathing holes in the sea ice,
299
00:16:28,087 --> 00:16:30,723
waiting until seals
poke their heads out.
300
00:16:30,723 --> 00:16:31,858
ENRIGHT: That's the time of year
301
00:16:31,858 --> 00:16:34,060
that they're really geared up
to eat a lot of seals
302
00:16:34,060 --> 00:16:35,394
and put on a lot of weight
303
00:16:35,394 --> 00:16:37,363
to get them through
the summer months
304
00:16:37,363 --> 00:16:40,433
when they're not eating
and not able to find any food.
305
00:16:40,433 --> 00:16:42,401
So during that summer time
bears--
306
00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:45,738
polar bears in particular
they slow down.
307
00:16:45,738 --> 00:16:48,374
They rest, they relax,
they conserve their energy.
308
00:16:48,374 --> 00:17:01,454
(♪♪♪)
309
00:17:01,454 --> 00:17:04,257
NARRATOR: Eli and York's
laid-back style might be because
310
00:17:04,257 --> 00:17:08,427
their bodies are getting used to
the local temperatures.
311
00:17:08,427 --> 00:17:10,730
ENRIGHT: These bears came
from much further north
312
00:17:10,730 --> 00:17:13,332
and while Winnipeg
is certainly a cold area,
313
00:17:13,332 --> 00:17:15,668
right now we're well below
zero already,
314
00:17:15,668 --> 00:17:18,170
these bears were
in an environment
315
00:17:18,170 --> 00:17:20,640
that's sub-Arctic.
316
00:17:23,442 --> 00:17:26,412
So those polar bears
are just chilling out,
317
00:17:26,412 --> 00:17:27,813
trying to get rid of
a little bit of extra heat
318
00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:32,518
because it's a little bit warmer
than they're used to.
319
00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:34,420
NARRATOR: Eli and York
are getting comfortable
320
00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:36,722
in their new environment,
321
00:17:36,722 --> 00:17:40,726
and once they're bigger
they will meet other bears.
322
00:17:43,262 --> 00:17:45,731
ENRIGHT: Polar bears in the wild
are solitary
323
00:17:45,731 --> 00:17:48,267
but they do spend time
interacting with one another.
324
00:17:48,267 --> 00:17:49,468
Even if it's simply smelling
325
00:17:49,468 --> 00:17:51,504
that another polar bear
has been in the area
326
00:17:51,504 --> 00:17:54,373
or at times
playing with one another.
327
00:17:54,373 --> 00:17:56,309
Here in the zoo we find
that they really do
328
00:17:56,309 --> 00:17:57,576
enjoy each other's company.
329
00:17:57,576 --> 00:17:59,178
They play, they interact
330
00:17:59,178 --> 00:18:02,348
and they don't have to compete
over anything.
331
00:18:02,348 --> 00:18:04,283
They really tend to get along
quite well.
332
00:18:09,655 --> 00:18:12,458
NARRATOR: This is Gemma,
333
00:18:12,458 --> 00:18:15,361
a tiny eastern quoll
in a polka-dot coat.
334
00:18:16,362 --> 00:18:19,198
She arrived at
the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
335
00:18:19,198 --> 00:18:21,367
in Tasmania, Australia,
336
00:18:21,367 --> 00:18:23,636
after being orphaned
at just 2 months of age.
337
00:18:26,672 --> 00:18:31,310
Eastern quolls used to live
throughout Australia.
338
00:18:31,310 --> 00:18:34,146
But these marsupials became
extinct on the mainland
339
00:18:34,146 --> 00:18:37,650
in the early 1960s.
340
00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:40,052
Now they're only found
on Tasmania.
341
00:18:42,455 --> 00:18:44,123
Despite Gemma's youth,
342
00:18:44,123 --> 00:18:49,562
she's already been given
an important mission in life.
343
00:18:49,562 --> 00:18:51,297
Gemma will help reintroduce
344
00:18:51,297 --> 00:18:53,466
eastern quolls
to mainland Australia
345
00:18:53,466 --> 00:18:59,105
for the first time
in more than 50 years.
346
00:18:59,105 --> 00:19:02,174
But all that lies in the future.
347
00:19:02,174 --> 00:19:05,177
Right now,
she's still a baby.
348
00:19:05,177 --> 00:19:07,313
And she needs plenty
of attention from her keepers
349
00:19:07,313 --> 00:19:10,683
at the Sanctuary.
350
00:19:10,683 --> 00:19:12,485
IRONS: Gemma, so she's
one that came into us
351
00:19:12,485 --> 00:19:16,655
after being injured
in the wild.
352
00:19:16,655 --> 00:19:19,625
One of the most astonishing
things about all marsupials
353
00:19:19,625 --> 00:19:21,327
is how small they are
when they're born
354
00:19:21,327 --> 00:19:24,230
and eastern quolls really
take this to a whole new level.
355
00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:26,232
So if we're looking
at their size,
356
00:19:26,232 --> 00:19:29,335
you're looking at sort of
1.5 grains of rice
357
00:19:29,335 --> 00:19:30,503
potentially in size,
358
00:19:30,503 --> 00:19:32,271
so you're looking at this
tiny thing
359
00:19:32,271 --> 00:19:34,707
literally about this big.
360
00:19:34,707 --> 00:19:38,511
NARRATOR: Now that Gemma
is 4 months old, she's
bigger and stronger,
361
00:19:38,511 --> 00:19:43,382
and she's taking her first steps
towards independence.
362
00:19:43,382 --> 00:19:46,152
She's being weaned off
baby formula
363
00:19:46,152 --> 00:19:51,257
and she's starting to eat
like a wild adult quoll.
364
00:19:51,257 --> 00:19:53,392
IRONS: Our quolls get
a real variety of food
365
00:19:53,392 --> 00:19:55,261
ranging from different
sorts of meats,
366
00:19:55,261 --> 00:19:58,397
from chicken to fish
to even some wallaby
367
00:19:58,397 --> 00:20:01,434
and things that they'd find
in the wild.
368
00:20:05,538 --> 00:20:10,476
NARRATOR: Full-grown
eastern quolls are
fierce nocturnal predators
369
00:20:10,476 --> 00:20:15,081
with strong jaws and excellent
night vision.
370
00:20:16,649 --> 00:20:21,120
Although at 2-feet long
they're still tiny and cute.
371
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:22,755
Adult eastern quolls
372
00:20:22,755 --> 00:20:25,591
are about the size
of a small cat
373
00:20:25,591 --> 00:20:28,227
and eat anything
from fruit and eggs,
374
00:20:28,227 --> 00:20:31,097
to insects and reptiles.
375
00:20:33,332 --> 00:20:34,800
Those prominent polka dots
376
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,369
are actually night-time
camouflage
377
00:20:37,369 --> 00:20:40,372
that help them blend in
with their background.
378
00:20:43,409 --> 00:20:46,645
These mini marsupials
are one of the top predators
379
00:20:46,645 --> 00:20:49,281
in their native habitat.
380
00:20:49,281 --> 00:20:53,519
The only one bigger
is the Tasmanian Devil.
381
00:20:53,853 --> 00:20:57,289
Quolls are in the same family
as Tasmanian Devils,
382
00:20:57,289 --> 00:20:58,791
and are more distantly related
383
00:20:58,791 --> 00:21:01,327
to the now-extinct
Tasmanian Tiger.
384
00:21:02,761 --> 00:21:04,363
Like Tasmanian tigers,
385
00:21:04,363 --> 00:21:07,199
competition
from invasive species
386
00:21:07,199 --> 00:21:09,802
led to the Eastern Quoll's
extinction on the mainland
387
00:21:09,802 --> 00:21:12,171
in the 1960s.
388
00:21:13,205 --> 00:21:17,009
The main culprits
were feral cats.
389
00:21:17,243 --> 00:21:19,278
IRONS: Feral cats ate
all the same things
390
00:21:19,278 --> 00:21:22,114
that a quoll does and they're
much more efficient at hunting,
391
00:21:22,114 --> 00:21:24,183
much more efficient
at finding the food
392
00:21:24,183 --> 00:21:26,252
and will quite happily take out
a quoll
393
00:21:26,252 --> 00:21:27,453
if they feel that they need to.
394
00:21:29,288 --> 00:21:32,324
NARRATOR: But now that feral cat
populations are under control,
395
00:21:32,324 --> 00:21:35,661
eastern quolls
have a chance to thrive.
396
00:21:38,831 --> 00:21:41,834
Their return should help
control insect, reptile
397
00:21:41,834 --> 00:21:44,770
and rabbit populations.
398
00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:48,240
The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
399
00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,643
is headquarters
for the breeding program
400
00:21:50,643 --> 00:21:52,811
where 40 eastern quolls
are being bred
401
00:21:52,811 --> 00:21:55,447
for eventual release.
402
00:21:55,447 --> 00:21:58,150
The plan is to limit
their interaction with humans
403
00:21:58,150 --> 00:22:01,353
so that they're as wild
as possible.
404
00:22:03,255 --> 00:22:05,558
They will soon be reintroduced
to the mainland
405
00:22:05,558 --> 00:22:08,427
at Booderee National Park.
406
00:22:10,296 --> 00:22:13,065
Little Gemma is already
too used to people
407
00:22:13,065 --> 00:22:15,467
to be released into the wild,
408
00:22:15,467 --> 00:22:19,138
but she's still vital
to the program's success.
409
00:22:20,673 --> 00:22:23,375
IRONS: Her genetics,
being from a wild background,
410
00:22:23,375 --> 00:22:25,644
could be really important
to that breeding program,
411
00:22:25,644 --> 00:22:28,214
and being hand raised
from such a young age,
412
00:22:28,214 --> 00:22:30,249
she hasn't got as good
a chance of survival
413
00:22:30,249 --> 00:22:32,117
as what she could give back
to her species
414
00:22:32,117 --> 00:22:34,653
going into this program.
415
00:22:35,621 --> 00:22:38,257
NARRATOR: Many invasive animals
have had a negative effect
416
00:22:38,257 --> 00:22:42,127
on species endemic to Australia.
417
00:22:42,127 --> 00:22:46,031
But eastern quolls are ready
to make a potential comeback.
418
00:22:48,334 --> 00:22:51,503
Gemma could play a major role
in returning her species
419
00:22:51,503 --> 00:22:53,239
to its historical range.
420
00:22:55,140 --> 00:22:58,210
IRONS: An animal left only on
an island is always at threat
421
00:22:58,210 --> 00:23:00,079
of plummeting in number
very quickly
422
00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:03,148
so we must try and keep
their numbers high now
423
00:23:03,148 --> 00:23:05,384
before it becomes a situation
of trying to fix it
424
00:23:05,384 --> 00:23:08,754
when they're too low.
425
00:23:08,754 --> 00:23:10,789
NARRATOR: If everything goes
according to plan,
426
00:23:10,789 --> 00:23:13,559
there will soon be a healthy
eastern quoll population
427
00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:16,128
on the Australian mainland.
428
00:23:17,129 --> 00:23:21,166
And Gemma will be the matriarch
of the pioneers.
429
00:23:25,771 --> 00:23:29,642
These baby animals
faced a future without a mom.
430
00:23:30,242 --> 00:23:31,477
But, luckily,
431
00:23:31,477 --> 00:23:35,414
they had others who stepped in
to nurture and support them.
432
00:23:36,682 --> 00:23:40,619
Human caregivers
can do wonders.
433
00:23:40,619 --> 00:23:43,188
And sometimes,
a sibling goes a long way
434
00:23:43,188 --> 00:23:45,124
in providing a little bit
of love.
435
00:23:45,124 --> 00:23:55,167
(♪♪♪)
436
00:23:55,167 --> 00:24:05,144
(♪♪♪)
437
00:24:05,144 --> 00:24:17,523
(♪♪♪)
34444
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