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31 Episodes 2002 - 2003
Episode 34
A gorilla baby reunited with mom; a cheetah gets sick. 1. Cheetah Operation Concerned about lumps in her abdomen and reports of sluggishness from the world's fastest, Dr. Graham Crawshaw decides to operate on Kay the cheetah. He and his staff discover undigested bones blocking her intestines. They remove a two-foot long section as her life hangs in the balance. 2. Josephine/Johari Cross the Chute Continuing Story Eager to reunite gorilla baby Johari with her troop, keeper Vanessa first tests mother Josephine's willingness to keep watch over her. Johari was removed from her mom for lack of breast milk. It's been eight months, but until the two apes show signs of bonding, she won't rejoin her family. And that increases the chances they won't accept her. 3. A Tree Kangaroo is sent packing Continuing Story Wewak has been at the Toronto Zoo for 12 years. But last year, his mate Emma died, and there's a new female waiting for him in Seattle.
Episode 35
Josephine/Johari in the Rainforest Concluding Story After almost a year, baby Johari is ready to be introduced to her family. But once she's out in the exhibit, it will be up to mother Josephine to protect her from her rambunctious siblings Koala Training - San Diego Continuing Story Toronto keepers Maria and Ollie travel to San Diego for a refresher course in caring for the koalas. It's an opportunity to form a crucial bond they'll need to make the cuddly creatures' visit to Toronto a successful one. Rhino Baby Bottle Feeding - San Diego Continuing Story San Diego Wild Animal Park keeper Marsha gives Choto, a five-month-old Indian Rhino one of his regular feedings.
Episode 36
Ailing reindeer Mary has vets worried; a cheetah finds a friend. 1. Cheetah-Puppy Feeding and Walk - San Diego Continuing Story Majani is an orphaned cheetah cub being trained as an outreach animal in San Diego. Her partner is Clifford, a mutt from the local pound. Eventually, the two of them will live together 24 hours a day. But first, Majani has to override his wild instincts and share a meal and learn to follow Clifford's lead around the Park. 2. Something about Mary Mary the reindeer is one of the Toronto Zoo's most popular outreach animals. She actually played the parts of every reindeer in The Santa Clause. But she's not eating and is suffering for it. It might be as simple as a toothache, but the zoo vets won't know for sure till they get a good look at her. 3. Rhino Baby Target Training - San Diego Concluding Story Marsha continues her hand-raising of Choto. This time, the goal is to teach Choto to approach - slowly - a target and rest his head on it. If he can master that, the keepers and vets will be able to do a host of procedures without anesthetizing him - a big risk with any animal, especially one that will grow from 600 pounds to more than two tons.
Episode 37
1. Wood Bison Chuting Continuing Story Wild Bill, a wood bison, comes by his name honestly. Unlike most of Toronto's bison, he was brought in from the wild a few months ago. But before he can meet up with the rest of the herd, he'll have to pass a TB test. The safest way to administer the test - for both Bill and the zoo staff - is to confine him in a chute so the vets can work on him up close. But bison don't have a reputation for cooperation, and the chute is looks hardly like the wide open spaces he's used to. 2. Cheetah-Puppy Playtime - San Diego Concluding Story Kubali the cheetah and Bear, her puppy, have got to sort a few things out. Most important: Bear has to be the boss. Better for Kubali to learn that now at 26 pounds, while Bear outweighs her. It'll be too late when Kubali grows to her adult weight of 126 pounds. San Diego keeper Kristi keeps a close watch as the two of them wrestle and play together in the same pen. 3. Lorikeet Feeding Continuing Story Lynn, a veterinary technician student, has been helping train a group of Lorikeets for a special exhibit in Toronto. Eventually, visitors to the zoo will be able to hold out small containers of food and have the friendly birds fly down and feed from their hands. But today's Lynn's last day. A chance to say goodbye to some friends who have solidified her resolve to work with exotic animals.
Episode 38
1. Mandrill Exam Jabba the mandrill is the only male in his group. He's not eating, and shows none of the nervous excitement that normally accompanies a visit from the vets. Ali, a new keeper, is worried. Senior vet Kay is determined to solve this mystery, even if it means going back a decade to dig up some old X-rays. 2. Camel Baby Walk #1 A new camel (as yet unnamed) provides keeper Karen with a unique opportunity to do things her way right from the start. One day in the future, this baby will give rides to kids of all ages. But it all starts with a halter, an encouraging word, and march around the yard with mother Liz. Will baby's first walk get off on the right foot? 3. Lorikeet Meeting Two groups of lorikeets are introduced to each other. In a few weeks, they'll be living together in the same enclosure, but right now, these territorial birds have to sort out a pecking order - literally.
Episode 39
1. Turtle Egg Hunt #1 Continuing Story South Asian River Turtles have never bred successfully in Canadian captivity. In Toronto, the keepers know they're laying eggs, but these eggs are supposed to be buried in the sand, not dropped in the water of their exhibit. If the staff can round up the females and X-ray them, they might just be able to regulate the process. In order to do that, though, they'll have to contend with the turtles' testy roomate - a crocodile. 2. Giant Panda Enrichment - San Diego The San Diego Zoo pays more than a million dollars a year to China for the loan of their three Giant Pandas. San Diego keeper Kim lays out a variety of food around the exhibit of Shi Shi, the adult male, but the prize is the carrot she buries under a pile of hay. 3. Baby Camel Walk #2 Continuing Story The baby camel and her mother Liz are brought down to a new paddock. It's an important step in teaching the baby to deal with the unfamiliar, one made more difficult by the constant cries and complaints of his mother.
Episode 40
1. Macaque Bullies - Two of the Japanese Macaques are being returned to their exhibit after a visit to the health centre. Their injuries were relatively minor, but the conditions that caused them have not disappeared. A group of younger monkeys are trying to establish their dominance by picking on the two. The keepers don't have much choice. If they don't return the two to the group, they'll have to live the rest of their lives - 14 years - in isolation. So they return them, hoping against hope that the bullying will stop. 2. Turtle Egg Hunt #2 After discovering a wealth of eggs in some of the female turtles, the vets administered shots of petocin - the same drug used to regulate contractions in pregnant women. The result: a cache of eggs to be dug up carefully and incubated in the hope that this rare species will procreate for the first time in Canada. 3. Koala Joey Bottle Feeding - One of the rare treats in a keeper's day is to get hands-on experience with a baby. And there is none cuter than a baby koala - a joey. With his mother unable to produce enough milk, San Diego keeper Tracey revels in her bottle feeding of the newest joey - even if he can get a little difficult at times.
Episode 41
1. Simon the Tamandua's flight delay Zoo vet Graham brought Simon back from Venezuela seven years ago. But with no other tamanduas in Toronto, it's time for Simon to move on to his new home in Kansas. The problem is Simon's weight. It's down, and no one knows why. 2. Koala Send-Off - San Diego With their week of training and bonding complete, Ollie and Maria are finally ready to bring the two koalas back to Toronto. Their challenge: making sure the trip goes smoothly - everything from having enough food in the travel crates, to dealing with Southern California's notorious traffic, to travelling on the plane with their precious cargo. A special look at a delicate operation, with the Zoo Diaries Keeper Cam. 3. White Rhino White Rhinos are supposed to have a grand horn on their noses. But in Toronto, one of the rhinos has worn his down, ramming and rubbing against most everything in his exhibit. Harry and the other keepers have worked hard to reorganize the exhibit, removing certain elements and blocking off others.
Episode 42
1. "Warthoglets" #1 Pumba the warthog has had her third litter of piglets, and it's time for the vets and keepers to examine them, administer an important series of injections, and insert microchips for identification. But when they reintroduce the piglets to mom, she rejects them, and the staff must wrack their brains for a solution. 2. Sumatran Tiger Enrichment In the wild, tigers aren't exactly used to "playing." They've got enough on their plates, just keeping enough on their plates! But all that stalking and chasing keeps them physically and mentally fit. At the zoo, the keepers are always thinking of ways of keeping their tigers on the ball. The best way just might be to give them one. 3. Lorikeets Meet Their Public It's a new area more than a year in the making: an aviary where zoo visitors - especially young ones - can come for a hands-on experience that will make them zoo fans for life. The staff has been training the Lories for hand-feeding for months
Episode 43
1. Kangaroo Catch-up It's time for the annual checkups on the zoo's female kangaroos. The last time they did this, one of the keepers took a pretty nasty scratch in the face. So nasty, his sister's wedding photos only show him in profile! This time, it's part-time bull rider Brad's turn to go a few rounds with Australia's most famous boxer. 2. "Warthoglets" #2 The reintroduction of Pumba to her piglets continues with one last chance at reconciliation. If she rejects them again, they'll live separately for the rest of their lives. 3. Rama Training #1 Rama, a lion-tailed macaque, is due to be flown out to another zoo in less than two weeks. Luisa is set on training him to come into the crate on his own. But this timeline is tighter than just about any she's ever faced.
Episode 44
1. Force-feeding the Dwarf Croc Monty the dwarf crocodile isn't eating. No one knows exactly why, but reptile expert Andrew Lentini knows the best way to stimulate his appetite is to force feed him. In order to get a full Monty, though, Andrew and his team will have to get Monty onto a board and restrain him. Orangutan Enrichment Much of a zookeeper's job involves back-breaking labour - shovelling, lifting, and hauling. The payoff comes when you get to sit back and watch the animals play. With the orangutans, it's a family experience, with mom, dad and siblings teaching the youngest how to enjoy the toys put out for them. 3. Rama Training #3 Luisa has been training Rama at a breakneck pace. Today, it's time to find out if the training has paid off.
Episode 45
Muntjac Fawn #1 Graham and Rolf were just about to go home last night when they got a call a distress call. A muntjac - from the zoo's smallest deer species - was in labour, and stuck. With a little intervention from the vets, a tiny fawn was born. Now it's time to check in and make sure mum is adapting to her new role. 2. Baby Camel Walk #3 The zoo's newest baby camel has been a handful from the start: nipping arms and legs, playfully wrestling and occasionally galloping with keeper Karen in tow. Now, his biggest test: a solo walk round the zoo. How will he react to the distractions of visitors and the noise of nearby traffic once he's out of sight of his mother? Elephant Training They've been trying something new in the elephant house: team training, focused on very specific behaviours. The goal is simple: ensure that every elephant will perform any task for any keeper. But it's easier than it sounds, especially when training sessions are put to the test.
Episode 46
1. Cheetah Arrival It's been a long trip for three cheetahs: all the way from South Africa to Toronto, where it's hoped they will breed new cubs for the nearby Bowmanville Zoo. It's a hot day too. Mike and Lynda are anxious to get the cheetahs out of their travel crates quickly. If not, the big cats might just suffer from the heat. 2. Muntjac Fawn #2 It was a long night for veterinary technician Jen. Up every two hours for feedings, settling the baby back down to sleep, ensuring she lived to see another day. Jen's not a new mom, per se. She's a surrogate, and her charge is the zoo's newest muntjac fawn. Now it's time to see if all Jen's hard work has made any difference in the crucial first hours of this young deer's life. 3. Japanese Macaque Swim On a hot day, there's nothing more refreshing than a dip. But these primates will have to be lured into the water by a few grapes, their favourite treats. And once one learns to swim, keepers Karen and Cliff hope the others take the plunge too.
Episode 47
1. Llama Trouble Trust us, you don't wish you were in the land of Dixie. Right now, Dixie the llama can barely stand up, let alone make the short walk from her exhibit to the animal health centre. The zoo's staff hope it's just the effects of a hot day, but in the back of their minds, they recall a llama with similar symptoms who died last summer - not from the heat, but from a mysterious neurological condition. 2. Barbary Ape Baby Every family has issues to deal with when a new addition comes along. But a Barbary Ape named Shannon might just take sibling rivalry to the extreme. She's already been challenging her parents and aunt with aggressive behaviour. Now, for the first time, she'll be released into the exhibit with her new two-day-old sibling. 3. Bird Girls 1 As "seasonal" keepers at the zoo, Jenn and Courtney help out with the free-flying bird demonstration. The girls' best chance of getting into the show is to train a pair of Harris Hawks named Richard and Mike. Now if the birds would just come when they're called.
Episode 48
1. Bird Girls 2 Jenn and Courtney have earned the chance to run the bird demonstration for the first time. An unflappable performance will help their hopes of getting hired on full-time. But the birds don't seem to care. 2. Simon's Pre-flight Check It's been a few weeks since zoo vet Graham put off the transfer of his favourite animal, Simon the tamandua. The keepers say Simon has turned the corner. Will the vets say he's good to go? 3. Jacklyn and the Snakes Most of the zoo's visitors are happy to see the snakes just where they are: behind glass. That won't do for Jacklyn. Blind since age five, she's looking for a hands-on experience with a range of the slithery creatures
Episode 49
Alice doesn't Limp her Anymore Alice the camel is a particular favourite at the zoo. She not only gives rides, but she's also a regular at social functions and outreach events. But her feet have been ailing her and the only way of treating them is to anesthetize her. Simon says Goodbye Finally ready to clear his favourite animal for travel, Graham recalls his relationship with Simon the tamandua, and bids him farewell to Kansas. Bearcicles Grizzly keeper Tony Meuleman has a new take on homemade popsicles. Mix a couple of gallons of water, a few fish, some apples and other fruit. Store in the freezer overnight. Then chuck them into the exhibit on a hot day. What do you get? Bearcicles!
Episode 50
Luisa's Goodbye - Luisa has been at the zoo for more than twenty years. In that time, she spearheaded efforts to train the animals for husbandry and veterinary treatments. On her last day at the zoo, she visits three of her dearest animals to recount the battles and victories that shaped her career. Macau Trimming - It's the ironic price you pay for being a zoo vet: Spend your career caring for the animals, and earn their eternal disdain. In the case of Graham and the macaus, though, the feeling is mutual. A humourous take on caring for animals that don't care for you. Koala Members' Night - San Diego koalas Doowi and Quammbi have settled into their summer home just fine. Now it's time for the Toronto Zoo members to meet this summer's most anticipated visitors.
Episode 51
Spruce the Moose Surgery - Spruce the Moose has been lame for a year-and-a-half, but the vets haven't yet had a chance to truly treat her ankle. First, she was pregnant, then nursing, then recovering from the loss of her calf. Today, vets Graham and Rolf will convert the moose barn into an operating room and get at the root cause of her distress. Turtle Egg Candling - It's been almost three months since Andrew placed the Malayan River Turtle eggs into the incubator. By his calculations, they should be ready to hatch. But no turtles have broken out of their shells yet. Today, he'll try to shed some light on what's going on - literally. Cockatoo Intro - George the cockatoo has been waiting for a new mate and the day has finally arrived. He'll show his best colours - fanning his tail and his comb as wide as he can - but will Jess the female cockatoo respond?
Episode 52
Przewalski's Horse Hoof Trim - Before he started working at the zoo, Des spent more than a decade shoeing show horses as a full-time farrier. It's a skill that comes in handy with the zoo's wild horses. The trick is in getting the vets to sedate the horse enough for it to be cooperative, but not so much that it can't stay on its feet. Even when it goes well, it's really tough work. Camel Spa - Camel keeper Dan Ross knows there's nothing better at the end of a long day than a nice warm shower. He figures his favourite camel, Sally, might appreciate the same thing. And the shampoo they'll use will help keep the flies away. Turtle Eggs Hatch - After more than a week of thrice-daily checking, the Malayan River Turtle eggs finally hatch. If they are in good shape, it will be the first time a Canadian zoo has bred this endangered species successfully.
Episode 53
Komodo Dragon Arrival - It's the middle of the night, and Julie Hannah's day is only beginning. She's just returned from Minnesota with Doni, one of the few male Komodo Dragons available to North American zoos. First up, unpacking this voracious beast. Then, getting him outside into the morning sun - UV rays are important to breeding. If they get things off on the right foot, it won't be long before the world's largest lizards produce some tiny offspring. Wood Bison Darting - Rolf-Arne Olberg is a first-year vet resident at the zoo. Today, he'll be firing a dart gun for the first time. The goal: anesthetize Wild Bill, the zoo's newest bison, long enough to do a TB test on him. Dixie Returns - After two months of treatment in the health centre, it's time for Dixie the llama to rejoin the herd. It's a distance of only a few hundred yards, but with Dixie's strong will, it won't be a short trip.
Episode 54
Arctic Wolf Spaying - It's vaccination day for the wolves, all 14 of them. The females will also be taken to the health centre to have their tubes tied. Without any complications, the pack will be back together in a couple of hours. But then one of the females starts to bleed, and their well-laid plans go out the window. Fruit Bats get Frisky - Stevie and Ruby were both rejected by their mothers and hand-raised by zoo staffers lovingly known as the "bat moms." Today, they've got a play date. If all goes well, it will make meeting the rest of the fruit bats much easier. Meerkats' Play Time - They're the socialists of the animal world. In the wild, meerkats take turns looking out for each other while foraging. Today, keeper Ali has a special treat for them: a big wooden spool hung from the ceiling and covered in their favourite foods. Will the meerkats jump on board?
Episode 55
Broken Bat Wing - This morning's brought bad news for the zoo's biggest bat lover, Dianne Devison: a fruit bat with a broken wing. Fixing it is a long shot. It's painstaking work, with a very difficult recovery to follow. But vet resident Rolf Arne is going to try and improvise a complicated splint for this tiny flying mammal. Arctic Wolf Reintroduction - The wolves have been separated overnight. The females are still licking their wounds from yesterday's spaying. It's time to reunite the pack, but the dynamics are tricky. Will Alvar, the dominant male, accept the females after such a long separation? Mandrill Training - Jabba the mandrill is the first animal Ali Vella has trained at the zoo. She's trying to teach him to put his head against the cage for examination.
Episode 56
Zebra Checkup - It's time to find out why Punda the zebra stallion is on the limp. The vets' fear: ligament damage, or the onset of arthritis. Their hope: a small stone stuck in his hoof. But they won't know until they knock him out with a powerful anaesthetic. Baby Gorilla Under the Weather - Shalia, the zoo's youngest gorilla, has a cough that's making her lose sleep. Heidi, one of the gorilla keepers has been up nights too, trying to figure out a way for the eight-month old ape to take her medicine. Today, she'll sneak the cough syrup into a banana, then try to sneak the banana past Shalia's hungry mother, Sam. Reindeer Roundup - The vets need to check a sore on Cupe the reindeer's back. It's not worth anesthitizing her, so that leaves keeper Steve Unwin to catch-up the reindeer. It's a lot more delicate than it looks.
Episode 57
Cheetah Introduction - Bud the cheetah has come all the way from South Africa to provide the zoo with a new bloodline. Today, he meets Crystal, the zoo's testiest female. And you think you've had some bad blind dates! Simon's New Girlfriend - Kansas Toronto vet Graham Crawshaw's favourite animal has a new home. Simon the tamandua is in Wichita, Kansas to meet (and hopefully mate) his new girlfriend, Saavik. Pound-for-pound, they're the strongest mammals at the zoo, with claws capable of tearing up concrete. But can the two of them build a rapport from scratch? Tapir Toys - Keeper Karyn Tunwell says her day isn't complete unless she's done something to engage the animals. Today, she's laying out toys and food for Sherman, an aging Malayan Tapir who's losing his sight. But she's still excited to watch him find the treats and to give him a rewarding shower afterwards
Episode 58
Elephant Artificial Insemination - Kansas Mike Forbes and his crew of elephant keepers at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita have been working towards breeding Cinda the African elephant for two years. Today they'll find out if all their training has taken. Without Cinda's cooperation, there's no chance of inseminating her. If she really objects, someone could get hurt. Turtle Shell Shock Rainstorms over the weekend made for a rough ride for one snapping turtle. When a dam was opened, he came tumbling through the door, bounced off the rocks and broke his shell. Rolf Arne will try to glue him back together and get him back to the wild before it's time to hibernate. Tamandua Baby - Kansas Wichita's newest tamandua has a bit of a weight problem. She's not gaining it fast enough. The keepers have been trying to let her mother raise her, but if her weight doesn't pick up, they'll have to hand-raise her themselves. Time for Jennifer Callahan to check up on a baby so ugly she's cute.
Episode 59
West Nile Horses - The zoo's band of Przewalski's horses are one of a number of species at risk from the West Nile virus. In order to vaccinate them, Dr. Graham Crawshaw and his crew have made the rare decision to go into the paddock with the wild horses and administer the needles up close. Mama Camel says Goodbye - It's time for baby camel Lexus to be weaned from his mother Liz. To do that, Liz will have to be loaded into a trailer and transported to another paddock at the far end of the zoo. There, she'll be reunited with her mate Marcus. Chimpanzee Enrichment - Kansas Roger Blurton has been working with the Sedgwick County Zoo's chimpanzees for more than two decades. Over that time, he's become more and more concerned with keeping them physically and mentally engaged. Today, he's got some new toys for them to play with. Just so long as they don't fight over them.
Episode 60
Bear-ly Cooperating - Kansas At some zoos, even a minor examination on a bear requires it to be anaesthetized with a dart gun. It's stressful for the bear as well as the keeper. In Wichita, behavioural curator Emily Weiss is teaching the bears to say "Ah" and stand still for a needle. If all goes well today, she might even manage to give one a manicure. Wood Bison Move - After spending the whole summer with another bull, it's time for Slim (a.k.a. Wild Bill) to move into his new bachelor pad(dock). After all, autumn is mating season. To do that, the zoo crew will have to anesthitize him. Then, there's the matter of lifting the 700-pound beast - not to be taken lightly. Komodo Dragon Laser Training - Moving the zoo's largest lizards through their pens usually requires a bit of meat and a lot of luck. They will respond to the calls of one or two keepers, but not all of them. Julie Hanna is hoping to change that, by training them to follow a red dot of light at the end of her laser pen.
Episode 61
Setting Up Slim It's time for the zoo's newest bison bachelor to go on a first date - and a second. If all goes well, Slim will end up breeding with two of the zoo's bison cows - providing a crucial new bloodline. But Slim comes by his name honestly. Both girls are bigger than he is. And there's a good chance he'll be roughed up before he gets a chance to work his magic. Mandrill Training #2 = Ali has moved on from most of the behaviours that will allow the keepers and vets to examine Jabba the mandrill. Now, she's trying to teach him to share his food. To do that, he'll have to stay still in one place, while the other mandrills are fed. But it's a tall order. Jabba's the dominant male and he's used to getting everything he wants. Elephant Painting - Kansas Elephant paintings have been sold all over the world for prices well into the thousands of dollars. They're a useful source of zoo fund-raising. Even more important is the way they engage elephants such as Stephanie, who's been feeling a little left out lately.
Episode 62
Subira meets Jomo Subira, a young gorilla, has been removed from the main troop because his rowdy playfulness is a threat to its youngest members. Today, he'll meet Jomo and Catherine, who live together, but rarely interact. The hope is that Subira and Jomo will interact. Komodos say Howdy! Doni the male Komodo dragon has come to Toronto to breed their two females. So far, he's only smelled them through the walls of their pens. Today, he'll see them for the first time through a plexiglas "howdy door." If all goes well, he'll meet them face-to-face in a few days. Tortoise Training - Kansas Missy is young by Aldabra Tortoise standards. She's only 52. But she has cataracts, and that means she has at least another half-century to live. She's already been trained to come to a target, but with her vision failing, she'll need to navigate by sound, not by sight.
Episode 63
Komodo Introduction It's a first date that's years in the making. Today, they'll let Doni out into the exhibit with Draca and Loca. Doni will be interested in breeding them, that much they know. But, what about the females? Riven Training Riven, an Indian changeable hawk-eagle, came to zoo after being confiscated at the border. He was being smuggled in a shoebox from Vietnam and mistreatment left his bones twisted and his spirit dimmed. After almost a year of physical therapy, he's now a prospect for the zoo's bird show. But all that hands-on work has left him with a bit of an attitude. Still, Andrea thinks she's up to the challenge of training him. Otter Training - Kansas Brian has been working at training the river otters for more than two years. His goal is to get them to stand still to be weighed and walk into a travel crate voluntarily. It's not easy. Otters are hyperactive at the best of times.
Episode 64
60 mins
Christmas celebration at the Toronto Zoo