All language subtitles for Taronga s06e06 Red Panda-monium.eng

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

VIRGINIA GAY (NARRATES):
They say don't ever work

with babies or animals...

(MONKEYS COO)

..but what if
they're baby animals?

Oh, no.

It was
only born this morning.

On this all new season...
(ELEPHANT TRUMPETS)

..welcome back to the ever
changing world of Taronga...

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

..where you'll witness things
you never thought possible.

You can
actually hear her breathe.

And meet new faces...

Oh, hi, buddy.

..you'll never forget.

So good.

It's time to discover...

Oh, my god.

..exactly who's who in this zoo.

(TIGER ROARS)

On this episode,

they say
there's a first time for everything.

We'll probably do
both front together,

both back together.

Yeah.
But Chelsea...

A
little bit nervous.

..seriously, girl?

Adrenaline kicking in.
It's a bit more than I expected.

Did you have to pick this?

Chels.
Just be mindful.

You're
on danger side of the animal.

Round two!

The brush turkeys 00:01:15,239
It
basically just fell apart.

As Taronga's A Team...

I promise Fred 00:01:23,560
..step back into the ring
with an old foe.

It's gonna 00:01:27,760
And if you're
a Galapagos tortoise...

She's 100 next year.
Yee-haw.

We'll see what
her ovaries are doing. Yeah?

..seems you're never too old.

Hopefully before too long,
you'll see some eggs

and, you know, 00:01:37,719
Yeah.

(THEME MUSIC)

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

In Taronga's African Savannah...

(HUMS MUSIC)

..as a keeper, it's Tamara's job
to keep a close watch

over an iconic carnivore family.

Oh, dusty!

But make no mistake,
they're also closely watching her.

So, we have 00:02:12,919
Mum, Maya, dad, Ato,
and their five offspring.

Maya has a really great
relationship with Ato.

They're
quite bonded.

So, Maya's 13 now.

She's already had three litters,
and she may be coming into season.

We don't
want the males fighting,

and the males 00:02:31,359
which
obviously we do-do not want.

When Maya is in season,

all the males
find her pretty irresistible.

There's a little bit of management
that we have to implement.

So, to avoid any fights
or an unplanned pregnancy,

the Taronga team have been using
a contraceptive implant on Maya.

It's been about 14 months
since her last implant,

and Maya's
actually shown some signs

that her contraceptive implant
is wearing off.

(TENSE MUSIC)

The implant stops Maya
from coming into season,

which also stops the males

from showing
too much interest in her.

As soon as we saw 00:03:15,639
we were like, there's gonna be
issues in the group here.

The fear is if one of the younger
boys gets too close,

it could lead to a violent clash.

So, for all the lions' safety,

Maya needs to be separated
from the rest of the pride.

We need
to spring into action.

She needs an implant, and she needs
an implant really soon.

Cue the team
at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

I haven't
done a lion in a while.

Vet Frances will be
leading the procedure.

Today, we're gonna do
an anaesthetic on Maya,

um, our lion.

And this time,

the animal hospital
is venturing inside the lion's den.

The implant, 00:04:05,319
It'll be shaved down,
surgical scrub.

Drugs from SAFE.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Lions
are dangerous animals.

When we're doing a procedure
like this,

we're always 00:04:16,719
Have
we got the darts?

We're hopefully 00:04:23,839
But if we don't have them
ready then...

While Maya is sleeping,

Frances is also going
to take this rare opportunity

to squeeze
in some additional procedures.

We need
to get some blood from her

and hopefully some urine
and do a full physical exam.

She has had some dental work
done earlier on in the year,

so, we'll
have a look at those too.

And if necessary, 00:04:48,519
Um...

And will the keepers 00:04:51,639
or am
I expected to be doing that?

Um, that will be you
and Frances. Probably.

OK. Cool.

So, we've got Chelsea
working with us today.

Chelsea's a highly experienced nurse
but this is gonna be her first time

doing a procedure 00:05:06,279
It'll be as tight
as it possibly can be...

Yep.
..on the lion.

So, she'll be working
closely with me and helping me

do
what I need to do.

We'll probably do both 00:05:16,559
Yeah.

And more than likely,
the back one to the wall.

OK. 00:05:25,079
OK. Cool.

My background is primarily in vet
nursing in a general practice,

so, mostly cats and dogs,
much smaller cats.

But
I'm really excited for,

yeah, the first experience
with a big cat today.

For Chelsea,
this is the calm before the storm,

and the storm is coming.

For a dangerous animal procedure,
it's important that we focus.

Once
the procedure starts,

I want everybody paying attention
to the animal,

listening out for each other,
and focusing on what we're doing,

and, you know, 00:05:59,439
(TENSE MUSIC)
(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Each and every habitat in Taronga
is designed

to cater precisely
to the species that calls it home.

From African savannahs...
(LION ROARS)

..to lush forests,

the perfect habitat
for Taronga's family of red pandas.

So, our red pandas,

they're actually struggling
out in the wild.

They're
listed as endangered.

They could be anywhere, as little
as 10,000 of them left in the wild,

which
is pretty scary.

But try as Taronga
might to keep this home exclusive

to these little rare pandas.

This particular habitat

is also home to another
uninvited red and black critter.

You guessed it.

It's time to welcome back
the brush turkey.

The brush turkeys 00:06:55,519
so, you will find them
all around our homes here

and
here at Taronga Zoo.

Yep. Keep an eye
on those turkeys, buddy.

For some time now,

those brush turkeys have been
stealing our red panda food.

Now, they're
on a speciality diet.

We need to make sure they're getting
all of their nutritional needs met.

If I've got these turkeys
coming along

and sometimes stealing
half of their breakfast,

that's a real issue.

It is indeed
and that's why several months ago,

Taronga's carnivore keepers
turned to the A Team,

two intrepid gents to help quell
this brush turkey rebellion.

Fred and John, 00:07:34,239
and they help us
build different items

such
as these amazing feeders.

When Fred and John
were first recruited...

We
know why it doesn't work.

(LAUGHS)

..they studied their adversary.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Plotted.

These are no good 00:07:54,599
feeding themselves.

Uh, plotted again.

We think
this one will work better.

And voila,

the brush turkey proof
red panda feeder in all its glory.

Um, straight up.
Yes.

Easy.
Easy-peasy.

She can get in there
and the brush turkeys can't.

But six short months later.

This is what I've got left.
(CHUCKLES) I know.

(CHUCKLES) We're gonna
get some more made.

Yep. The brushed turkeys
strike back.

And
we're back at square one.

But these boys
aren't going down without a fight.

Ladies and gentlemen,
let's get ready to rumble.

In the green corner,
it's Fred and John.

And in the red and black corner,
the brush turkey.

Round two.
(BELL DINGS)

Look what the brush turkeys
have done to our feeder.

So, we're gonna have to scrap
that completely.

The major challenge 00:08:59,560
So, what cunning plan

have you got
in mind this time, lads?

New design.
Well, similar design.

Oh, right.

Well,
the lid's good,

so, we don't 00:09:13,079
No.
Lid's good. Lid's good.

They can't get into the feeder.
We know that.

The lid worked fine.

Yeah. The lid's good. Got it.

What we're gonna have to do
is stop the brush turkeys

taking
the feeder off the tree.

Ah. Now, we're talking.

(TENSE MUSIC)
This is what we do.

(TENSE MUSIC)

We do a prototype.

(SAWING SOUNDS)

More robust,

stronger onto the tree 00:09:48,040
(DRILLING SOUNDS)

It
has to be panda-friendly.

So,
that goes that way.

Easy
for the panda to use...

but very difficult
for the brush turkey to use.

You're definitely
onto something, lads.

One food tray.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Yep. Looks good.
It's a lot stronger.

It should
be really successful.

We try it out.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Back at the
Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

Gonna
load up shortly.

Just getting a few more things.
OK.

The team are preparing to head
straight into the lion's den.

So, today, Maya
will be having an anaesthetic

to be re-implanted 00:10:38,559
Are
the keepers out there yet?

Whenever we do a procedure
like this in the animal's den,

we bring
the hospital to them.

So, it's a lot of gear
that we have to bring with us.

You're gonna work with
me? Mm-hm.

I need gloves.
Yep.

Today is the first time vet nurse,
Chelsea, will be up close

and personal
with a rather large 140kg lion.

What
size glove is Frances?

My role today 00:11:06,079
with whatever she asks
for her needs.

Put the ice brick
inside that calico bag.

Mm-hm.

All this stuff
has to come in the van.

We've got emergency drugs.
.. Mm.

..in the red bag.

Yep. It's a whole different
ballpark doing it down there.

Obviously, there's an element
of control that you lose.

You just don't want 00:11:25,639
Welcome, everyone.

It's a dangerous animal
GA today for Maya.

She's getting an implant.
(LIONESS ROAR)

Frances
is running the GA,

guiding us through the steps
of the procedures.

It's my responsibility to make sure
that she's appropriately

chemically restrained
during the procedure.

A chemical restraint is basically
vet speak for a general anaesthetic.

Flee and Rea 00:11:54,559
and Chelsea
is the nurse helping me.

I'm going to be 00:11:58,879
Once she's injected,

we're happy for you to come
into the building and monitor her.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Whenever we do these procedures,
we plan for what could go wrong.

I'm going to be assessing 00:12:15,999
Once
the procedure starts,

I want everybody paying attention
to the animal,

listening
out for each other.

If anything happens
or if I'm concerned,

I might say, 00:12:27,439
(BIRDS CHIRP)

Alright.
Everyone ready?

It's all good.

Thank you.
(SIGHS)

Hopefully, Maya looks super stable
throughout the anaesthetic,

and we don't need to intervene
in any other way

but,
yeah, that's the plan.

40mg per ml.

It's literally ready to go.
Fab.

As soon as she's injected,
we'll let you know.

The team can see
that Maya is already agitated.

(HUMS A SONG)

So, only two keepers
are entering the den

to try and keep the lion
as calm as possible.

Maya. Hey, darling.
(MAYA ROARS)

And it looks like Khari,
one of Maya's sons,

is also well aware
that this isn't a normal day.

He's very curious.
(CHUCKLES)

Drop. Touch.

A bit nerve wracking.
Good.

Inside the den,
Tamara has hit her mark.

The sedative is in.
OK.

The team move into position.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Chelsea, just watch out
because I'm gonna poke her.

Can
we have everybody quiet?

(TENSE MUSIC)

I can't reach her head.
I still can't see her eyes.

Which leaves vet Frances
with only one option.

So, what I might do
is just me go in.

Yep. 00:14:01,850
Yep.
(TENSE MUSIC)

Still to come, no room for error.

Chelsea, if I say 00:14:16,240
Tension is building
in the lion's den.

We do not wanna be inside
that den if the lion wakes up.

Judgment day.

Lid's
the same but much more solid.

As Taronga's dynamic duo
try to outsmart some real turkeys.

Let's head in.

And just what's
made Nala this happy?

(LAUGHTER)
Oh, sweetheart.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Yes.

It's the season
for babies at Taronga.

Good job.

And in this race to bring
all these new faces into the world,

for one particular species,

slow and steady
is the only way to go.

This is Molly Mabel,
who is in her mid-50s, um,

which is pretty young
for a Galapagos tortoise.

They
hit maturity around 30

and they should live well
past 150 years,

so, she's just in that
prime of her life.

But Molly from Taronga Western
Plains Zoo isn't the winner

when it comes
to being the oldest resident.

That title goes
to 99-year-old Audrey.

Audrey's
just come over to me,

so, I'm just gonna give her
a little scratch.

And in response, she's gonna go
into what we call a finch pose,

which is where the tortoise
stands up nice and tall

and very still.

They almost go in a little trance.
Good girl, mama.

So, we utilise finch pose,
um, as a conditioning tool,

so,
when our vets come down,

they can take bloods
from the tortoise,

do ultrasounds, take X-rays.
The tortoise are really happy.

They're focusing on the sensation
that pat is creating

rather than their vet procedure
that's happening.

This finch pose is about to be
tested as Kaitlin has noticed

something unusual
with both Molly Mabel and Audrey.

Over
the past couple weeks,

we have seen our females
deposit unshelled eggs or yolks

that
don't look very healthy.

Um, so,
we've notified our vet team,

and they're gonna do
a routine ultrasound.

It could take a while

to get these two tortoises
to the vet clinic.

So, today, the entire clinic,
well, Vet Ben, is coming to them.

We'll scan them both and see
if we can get some more information

as to...as to what's going on
reproductively for them.

Perfect.
Thanks, Ben.

And mid-50s Molly
is patient number one.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Just pop some coupling 00:16:45,560
Ben is using
a portable ultrasound machine

to find Molly's ovaries.

You're
alright, my girl.

Located deep in her abdomen.

So, you can see the spheres,
see the...

see this the moons
sort of popping up?

They're
all follicles.

What we really look for is follicles
that reach a threshold size

because when they get
to a certain size,

we know that
they're going to ovulate.

Both ovaries
will grow a number of follicles,

which are destined to become eggs
after a tortoise ovulates.

(TENSE MUSIC)

In giant tortoises,

the eggs are supported
by a large yellow yolk.

It's
fertilised by-by sperm,

and then a shell
is laid down over that,

and then
that's subsequently laid.

But the egg won't survive
if the shell isn't hard and healthy.

Let's
see, there, there's a sphere

and it's got an irregular
kind of hazy outline

and then in the middle
of it, it's dark.

So,
that tells me that it's yolk

that is being degraded
and taken away.

(TENSE MUSIC)

So, that's a follicle
that will not ovulate.

And that's not good news for Molly.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Deep in the lion's den at Taronga.

Give me a clear exit.
Yep.

Lioness Maya has been injected
with an anaesthetic

to prepare her
for a contraceptive implant.

The adrenaline kicking in.
It's a bit more than I expected.

The team are on edge,

while Vet Frances checks to see
if this large cat is sleeping.

These
are dangerous animals.

It is
a dangerous animal procedure,

and it's always very important
to make sure

that the lion is absolutely asleep
before anyone enters or approaches.

Let's
put the cargo net on her.

Overall, I think
that went really well.

Her anaesthetic was fine,
so, Tamara did a great job.

I'm
gonna pull her over to here.

(TENSE MUSIC)

So, be aware of what's going on.
Gonna get the mask on her.

The mask will deliver
an anaesthetic gas

to help keep Maya asleep
during the procedures.

Possibly if we use 00:19:08,760
Vet nurse Chelsea,
a new recruit to the team,

has been assigned
to assist Vet Frances.

But you guys all
need to know where your exit is.

It's really important that nurses
and vets work well together.

I-STATs running.

As vets, we're
very reliant on the nurses,

and Chelsea
has skills I don't have.

But this is the first time
Chelsea has worked so close

to such a large
and dangerous predator.

Chelsea, shave a patch
behind her ear.

Working with a lion
is very different.

They're such big animals
and such powerful animals.

The size of the feet, the size
of the teeth is pretty spectacular.

Chels,
just be mindful.

You're on danger side
of the animal.

It's
OK but just be quick there.

(SHAVE BUZZES)

Just learning 00:20:02,359
when it comes to heart rate,
blood pressure,

all
that sort of stuff,

having to learn the entire spectrum
is-is pretty crazy.

I'm gonna get in there
to put my implant in.

Yep.
There's your tray.

Get
ready to give me a drape.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Scalpel blade.

The contraceptive capsule
will be implanted

under the skin
behind the lion's ear.

Whenever
we do these procedures,

we're very conscious of the time
that it takes to do things.

We always want to do things
as quickly as possible

to
reduce the risk of,

you know, the animal waking up
as its drugs wear off.

(TENSE MUSIC)
A blink reflex.

She has?
Yep.

A blink reflex suggests
that the lion is gradually becoming

more aware and alert.

(TENSE MUSIC) Her
heart rate is 160.

It went from 169 and now,
it's jumping up to 179.

That's quite high.

The elevated heart rate confirms
that Maya isn't sleeping

deeply enough for Frances
to continue the procedure.

Turn
it about to 1.5.

Yep.
Rest rate still 20.

With the anaesthetic gas adjusted,

Maya should now begin sleeping
much more deeply.

So, I need my implants.
Quite a bit of blink there.

But Frances
still needs to implant a capsule

directly behind
the blinking lion's ear.

So, just monitor her,
everyone paying attention.

We do not wanna be inside that
den if the lion wakes up.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Just watch it while I stick this in.
Yep.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Over in what
I like to call red panda land...

Is it juicy?

..Taronga's Volunteer gurus,
John and Fred,

have learned that their original
turkey proof panda feeders

aren't so turkey proof.

The brush turkeys 00:22:09,319
uh, and
it dropped to the ground.

It
basically just fell apart.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

These brazen brush turkeys
have adapted and overcome.

It seems nothing can slow them down.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

But now, the wait is over.

The new improved
brush turkey proof panda feeder

2.0.2.1.

The new feeder?
Explain it to me.

Similar to the existing one
except now, it has a box around it.

Yeah.

Lid's the same 00:22:53,560
Well, I gotta say
it doesn't look much different

but some early testing did reveal
a very uninterested brush turkey.

I guess that's something.

Let's head in.

(TENSE MUSIC)

This would be a nice spot here.
Right.

(TENSE MUSIC)

What's
happening at the back here?

Are we thinking 00:23:16,239
Yeah.

They
cannot get it off the tree.

Fingers crossed.
(CHUCKLES)

Yeah, it's gonna have to go
a little bit higher than that.

(DRILL WHIRS)

I promise Fred and John know
what they're doing.

While the team are focused

on installing
the new mounting system,

their cunning adversary moves in.

Oh. That was close.
(CHUCKLES)

Too close.

You try it out.

Let's
see how he goes.

Keisho,
can you come over here?

The moment of truth.
Hopefully, the turkeys can't get in.

But Houston, we have a problem
if the red pandas can't either.

Enter Keisho.

So, even though
it looks quite similar,

he hasn't seen 00:24:06,720
(CALM MUSIC)

Good work. Well done.
Good work.

Good boy.

Uh, Houston, there is no problem.

He's using his paw,
doing a good job.

Good work.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

He seemed
to put his head in there

and get
the pear out really easily.

I think the prototype's great.
I think we should run with it.

Those turkeys don't stand a chance
with getting those feeders off.

Anyway, that's the plan.
(LAUGHS)

(CHUCKLES)
Hopefully, it works.

Fred, John, 00:24:46,639
Yeah. Thank you.
Yes, lads.

On behalf
of the Taronga Red Panda Clan,

we salute you.

But hold on.
Don't go anywhere, gents.

Here comes your next mission
should you choose to accept it.

BEN:
She absolutely loves toys.

One of the biggest challenges
with Nala

is we're trying to think
of some new enrichment items

somehow
mixing her love for toys

with some of those
natural behaviours.

Nala the sea lion
is one smart cookie.

Which is why the enrichment
that we make for them

needs to be challenging for
them because they're...

they can work things out
pretty quickly.

This time, have Fred and John
finally met their match?

You're very clever,
aren't you?

(TENSE MUSIC)

Meanwhile, back in the lion's den.

Oxygen back on.

Vet Frances is about to implant
a contraceptive behind Maya's ear.

Everyone
paying attention.

But it appears
that the lion is a light sleeper,

despite the anaesthetic gas.

The
blink reflex again.

Just watch it 00:25:59,439
Uh, can I have some
glue? Yep.

The implant is finally in.

OK, so that's in there.
I can feel it.

Let me just have a look at her.
So, she's breathing OK.

But the implant
is just the beginning.

There's still plenty more to do
before Maya is woken up.

So, right now, 00:26:24,260
of doing
a physical exam on her.

She's got pretty amazing
claws, very strong.

Look at that.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Chelsea, let's try
and get some blood.

Yep.
(TENSE MUSIC)

There are multiple signs
that an animal might be,

you know, waking up 00:26:53,479
like ears twitching or blinking
or movement, um,

increase in heart rate, breath,
anything like that.

No
jaw tone, no blink.

OK. Let's go for it.

There's
a good vein, so, just...

Oh, it's good.
OK.

So, just don't-don't move.
Yep.

Has her character of her
breathing changed at all?

Respiration's
increasing.

Where's my syringe?

The sensation on the lion's leg

could be enough
to start waking her up.

And what about everything else?
Is she blinking?

Yes.

She has
a significant blink reflex.

OK. Let's see 00:27:36,759
Moz, can you help 00:27:38,620
Yes.

Vet Frances will need to insert
a long catheter

into the lion's bladder.

We're gonna have to sort
of tip her onto her back a bit.

So, let's just watch her
really carefully.

You're
in a dangerous position.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(MACHINE WHIRS)

A little bit nervous

but obviously you just have to have
faith that the animal's asleep.

It's fair to say
that inserting a long tube

into the lion's bladder

probably isn't the most
comfortable of procedures.

Chelsea?
Yep.

If I say "everyone out",
you get out first.

(TENSE MUSIC)

At Taronga Western Plain Zoo.

You're
alright, my girl.

Vet Ben is doing a reproductive
ultrasound on 55-year-old Molly,

the Galapagos tortoise.

It's got an
irregular kind of hazy outline

and then in the middle
of it, it's dark.

So, that tells me that it's yoke
that is being degraded

and taken away, so that's a follicle
that will not ovulate.

So far, sadly Ben hasn't found
a viable follicle

that's likely to become
a healthy hard shelled egg.

But we'll have 00:28:59,839
and
see what we can see.

I can see that this follicle's
diameter is over 4cm,

so that tells me that that follicle
is earmarked to continue to develop

and then to eventually ovulate
and then transport those eggs down

to the...to the back end 00:29:18,400
Well, that's good news.

While some of Molly's eggs
aren't viable,

there are still some that are.

As for the unshelled eggs
Molly has been laying

and Keeper Kaitlin
has been finding...

It's not unusual for them 00:29:39,639
and so, I think 00:29:42,319
There are no shelled eggs there
ready to go but it looks like

her reproductive processes
are starting to-to kinda activate,

and
she's on the way.

That's Molly in the clear.

But what about
the much older Audrey?

She's 100 next year.

Yee-haw. OK.

We'll see what her ovaries
are doing, yeah?

Cool.
(CHUCKLES)

So, this is where 00:30:06,359
is
fantastic for zoo work.

(CALM MUSIC)

I can see 00:30:13,239
and it's
been infiltrated by fluid,

so, it suggests 00:30:19,440
are-are
in motion for this season.

So, despite a few small hiccups,

both of these golden oldies
are still primed

for laying plenty of healthy eggs.

Alright, my girl.

And doing their bit,

albeit a bit slower,
for Taronga's baby boom.

Keep an eye out.

Hopefully,
before too long,

you'll see some nesting behaviour
and some eggs and-and...

Nice.

..you know, hatchlings
at the end of all that.

Cool.
Thanks so much, Ben.

No problem.
Our pleasure.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Over at the
Great Southern Oceans Habitat,

Keeper Ben is loading up on treats

for a slick
and smart Taronga resident.

BEN: Nala.
Hey, lovely.

Nala was, um, born here at Taronga
as a part of the breeding program

that
we have for this species.

She's about 16 years old
at the moment.

It's a bit rainy.

And during her time at Taronga,
she's also been a mum twice,

which is really good
for that breeding program

that we have here, 00:31:22,399
for that... 00:31:26,160
It's a keeper's job
to care for an animal's physical

and mental health.

BEN: Australian sea lions 00:31:34,399
You're
very clever, aren't you? Yes.

She's really interactive.
She loves chewing on things.

Go get it. 00:31:44,239
And one of the biggest challenges
with Nala is trying to think

of some new enrichment items
and create new enrichment items,

somehow
mixing her love for toys

with some of those
natural behaviours.

Did someone say enrichment?

OK. Rock and roll.

Well, that can only mean one thing.

So,
that goes on there.

Tight fit.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Eventually.

By now,
you should know that Fred and John

are Taronga's enrichment volunteers.

Though I like to think of them
as Taronga's chief trouble-shooters.

The
keepers come up with ideas.

They'll see something and say,
"Can you guys make this?"

Then we just screw that
and bolt it together.

They're making Nala's new toy.

It's a sea lion
feeding fish spinner.

Hang on. It's a spinning
fish sea lion feeder.

No. It's a speedy fish... it's a
fish feeding sea lion spinner?

We're just assembling
this feeder for the seals.

Well, Nala is technically
a sea lion but, yeah.

Yeah. Let's just call it
a seal feeder, please.

It's not just a case
of giving the seal food.

The
seal has got to work for it.

Seals
are incredibly intelligent.

Sea lion.

Which is why the enrichment
that we make for them

needs to be challenging for
them because they're...

they can work things out
pretty quickly.

So, just how does
this contraption work?

This
is our pretend fish.

The idea is 00:33:16,199
and then it's up to the seal
to spin it and get the fish out.

It's sea lion... Mm, forget it.

Alright.
Ready to go?

Yeah. Ready to go.
Yeah.

Yeah.
Good.

We
know it's gonna work.

It's just how well it works
is-is the problem.

And there's only one way
to find out.

BEN: Alright. It's looking good.
I'll go get Nala.

We never know 00:33:36,879
Sometimes we think seals are gonna
be bad at enrichment devices

and
they end up smashing it.

Sometimes we think seals are gonna
smash the enrichment device,

and then they struggle
a little bit more.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

She's sussing it out 00:33:54,319
Aren't
you clever, Nals?

She knows
exactly what she's doing.

Nala
cracked it pretty quickly.

In fact, Nala cracked it
a bit too quickly.

Good job.

But there's definitely some
improvements that can be made on it.

Looks like Fred and John are,
yet again,

heading back to that drawing board.

So,
that'll be plan B?

But you can bet
they won't be beaten.

Hopefully, they can come up
with something a little bit

more
challenging for her.

How are we gonna
get this to do that?

It
doesn't always work.

Sometimes we make
really great failures

but, uh, occasionally,
we get everything right.

Let's
see what the seals say.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

In the carnivore section
at Taronga...

So, let's just watch her
really carefully.

Vet Frances
is delicately drawing urine

from a sleeping lion's bladder
for some routine testing.

It's
a very little bladder.

Nice.

The lion, Maya, is anaesthetised

but her levels of consciousness
appear to rise and fall

with each additional procedure.

How
are you doing there, Flee?

Respiration's increased
but there's no other reflexes.

And there's still
one particular exam

that Frances wants to perform
inside the lion's mouth.

She has had dental work
done earlier on in the year.

Some root canals 00:35:27,319
So, we'll
have a look at those too

and make sure 00:35:33,919
So, the dental X-ray machine's...
how long will that take to set up?

I-I can do that now.

(TENSE MUSIC)

I'll have
a quick look at her teeth.

(TENSE MUSIC)

How long
since her induction dose?

8:58 it
was, so, bang on one hour.

Passing the one hour mark
indicates the sedative's effects

will soon be wearing off.

(TENSE MUSIC)

I
have to take this off.

To make things even trickier,
in order to check Maya's teeth,

the anaesthetic gas mask

used to help keep Maya asleep
has to be removed.

But
she does have a blink.

So, removing the gas mask
definitely can contribute

to the animal getting lighter
during the anaesthetic.

Obviously, sometimes
it's unavoidable

if we need to look at things
like the teeth and the eyes.

So, both of her upper canines
and this lower one.

Frances will X-ray the lion's mouth

to inspect the three root canals.

Lions have incredible teeth.
They're huge, sharp.

Let's
see how this goes.

They use their teeth
to help bring down prey

and obviously 00:37:00,479
We're ready to go.

You watch that rest rate
for me please, Rea.

Everyone
out the way.

Every minute the gas mask is off,

the more likely it is Maya
will start waking up again.

Chelsea?

Yeah. I'm just
processing the five now.

(BEEPING SOUNDS)

Frances,
that first tooth,

you've just missed 00:37:29,440
(TENSE MUSIC)

The roots are so long.
It's ridiculous.

If Frances wants a clearer X-ray,

she'll have to remove
the gas mask yet again.

Somebody
watching her for me?

Over at the
Great Southern Ocean's habitat,

a battle of wits
is taking place between Nala,

the sea lion,
and Taronga's enrichment A Team.

We've challenged John and Fred
to create us a new enrichment item

for
our Australian sea lions.

Their first
fish dispensing prototype

was put to the test
with mixed results.

It worked but it's not the success
that we were hoping for.

Yay.
Good girl. (CHUCKLES)

We can probably come up
with a better design

that'd
be more challenging.

Yeah. But challenging for who?

Sea lion, Nala?

How are we gonna get this
to do that?

Or our dynamic duo?

Research and development,
it's always really exciting

to be
given a-a problem, a project.

Our-our job 00:38:40,480
(DRILL WHIRS)

Attempt.

Can you hold that...
Yep.

..that screw
and I'll put him in.

Well, that-that seems to work.
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

Seems to work alright.
Yeah.

And in pretty impressive time,

Fred and John have engineered
a radical new vertical feeder.

So,
here's the new feeder.

Oh, wow.
Hello Michelle.

Look at that. 00:39:05,879
That's amazing.
OK.

So, activate it
by pulling the kongs.

Oh, yeah? 00:39:14,560
Oh, cool. Wow.

Alright. So, now,
we're gonna hang it up.

We're gonna have it
over the middle of the pool.

This is an ambitious new design.

Nala must work out

that she needs to pull on
one of the cords

if she wants to retrieve a fish.

Looks good. Nala, let's do it.
We're going out here.

There she is.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Good girl.

While John and Fred
have designed it to be hard,

it's not a success
unless Nala actually figures out

how to dispense the hidden fish.

Hi.
Nala, what's that?

Go look. Nala, look.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

That's it.

She can...
Yeah.

..smell the fish...
Yeah.

She got, yeah.
..that is in there.

That's the one there.
That's the one.

That's it. That's it. Oh, yeah.
Oh, yes.

Well done. (CHUCKLES)
Yay. Good job, Nala.

Outstanding.

Try
a different Kong.

Retracting.

Oh. Hey.
Yeah.

Yeah. Good work.

To see
it working is the best thing.

That one.
Let's do it again.

Oh,
there's one more.

Nala's a very clever seal.
She worked it out pretty quickly.

They're
just gorgeous, you know.

They're just gorgeous.
They're so intelligent.

Well, Nala...

That's it.
That's it.

That's it.
That's it. Pull it.

..and John and Fred,

I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed.

She got it right. She got...
I think you got all the fish out.

In this battle of wits,
everyone is a winner.

Well,
thank you so much, guys.

Thanks, Michelle. 00:40:54,079
I think she..
. Did you like it? (SEO LION GROANS)

Oh, Nala. No. No. No. No. No.
In the water. In the water.

Oh, thank you.
(LAUGHTER)

Oh, sweetheart.

Is somebody
watching her for me?

With time fast running out...

Final jab.
..Chelsea's given one last job.

Pretty crazy.

(LION ROARS) Blood
pressure, 168 over 28.

In Maya's den,

the Taronga vet team
are fighting the clock.

Somebody
watching her for me?

Yep.

Maya's exposure to the anaesthetic
gas has been reduced,

while Vet Frances X-rays her teeth
to check some recent dental work.

(BEEPING SOUNDS)

That first tooth you've just missed
the very, very tip of the root.

To get the full picture,
Frances has to do the X-ray again.

Just let her 00:41:52,160
So, she tops up Maya's anaesthetic

one more time.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(BEEPING SOUNDS)

Flee, will you just go and monitor
while I quickly look at the X-rays?

Of course.

So, just monitor her,
everyone paying attention.

This is their last chance.
It's time for Maya to be woken up.

I'm
quite happy with her teeth.

There's no fresh fractures
or anything like that.

They all look OK.
They're all in place.

I'm happy with that.
Cool.

OK.

And with that final OK,
Maya's check-up is complete.

She's
in really good shape.

We got through all the things
that I wanted to do,

so, she's had her
contraceptive implant.

Yeah.
Everything went really well.

I think the procedure went
really smoothly, which is great.

When it's your first time, you want
everything to go according to plan.

It definitely exceeded
my expectations, being in there.

They're watching her now.
That's right.

Chelsea did such a fantastic job,
such a fantastic opportunity for her

to see how it goes
and see how busy it is.

You alright?
Yep.

Chelsea, do you wanna
grab yourself a alcohol swab?

Yep.

And you can do the honours
with the Atipamezole.

(GASPS) Amazing.

In another first for Chelsea today,

she's now been tasked
with waking Maya up with a drug

that reverses the effects
of the anaesthesia.

Final-final jab.

Stab
it all the way in.

Yep. And draw back.

All the way in.
Draw back.

Inject the whole thing
nice and slow and steady.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Good work.
Thank you.

It's pretty cool getting to do
the reversal injection

for the first 00:43:40,119
I've
done is-is pretty crazy.

(RELAXING MUSIC)

Alright.
Locking up. Yep.

We're closely 00:43:54,879
that
it stays consistent.

Mm-hm.

And standing watch is Khari again,
looking out for his mum.

And he's
wondering what is going on?

Checking us out 00:44:08,879
Blinking
is increasing.

Yep.

The contraceptive implant 00:44:16,279
so,
once that settles,

hopefully we'll be able to get
the whole pride back together again.

The procedure went perfectly.
Couldn't have gone better. Yeah.

(THEME MUSIC)

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