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Episode 4

Keepers fear the worst as koala Violet goes downhill and the vet is called. And the park's star iguana, Iggy Pop, faces potentially life-threatening surgery.

The keepers in Koala Creek are on red alert as Violet’s health takes a turn for the worst. Ben Fogle and Kate Humble discover how keepers fear her worrying urine samples could suggest she might suffer the same fate as Wilpena, who died of oxylate nephrosis - a painful kidney disease endemic in Southern Australian koalas - just weeks after arriving from Adelaide.

Across in Animal Adventure, another creature is in trouble. The park's star iguana, Iggy Pop, faces potentially life-threatening surgery. This old trooper, reckoned to be at least 22 years old, has got a mystery injury to his tail. In the wild, an iguana tail would grow back but Iggy’s shows no such signs. Now there are worries that any infection could spread through his old bones.

Kate joins keeper Caleb to see how pin-up boy Harry faces the ultimate challenge in his bid to become king of a brand new pride at Longleat. He’s spent a few weeks now with his posse of eight feisty lionesses, but this posse don’t take too kindly to being bossed around!

For the giraffes, it’s a big day. After over-wintering in the giraffe house and paddock, they’re about to be let out into the reserve for the first time as the weather hots up. And as these creatures make their summer debut, Kate delves into the remarkable history of Mrs B – one of the original giraffes to arrive at the park not long after it opened in the 1960s. This super-mum has done more than her fair share to save this rare Rothschild species: 400 or so of her descendants are scattered all over the world.

Jean Johansson steps in to help de-fleece the camels to protect them from painful summer eczema, gets up close to armadillo Hansel to discover why he’s got one of the best suits of armour in the wild, and meets an apple-bobbing tapir to find out why water is more than just a bit of fun but crucial to their survival in the wild.

44 minutes

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:32

    Bruno Mars

    The Lazy Song

  • 00:34

    Hupikek Torpikek

    Lusti - Egy Lusta Nap

  • 00:37

    The Who

    My Generation

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kate Humble
Presenter Ben Fogle
Presenter Jean Johansson
Series Producer Jane Lomas
Executive Producer Joff Wilson
Production Company Remarkable TV

Broadcasts