[ LION ROARING ]
THE GRADUATE STUDENT APPROACHED US ABOUT DOING A STUDY HERE
TO TEST THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF BOTH LIONS AND SNOW LEOPARDS.
YOU MADE A PUZZLE FOR THEM AND A PUZZLE FOR US?
[ LION ROARS ]
Bartlett: WILLOW IS OUR YOUNG RED PANDA
FROM PROSPECT PARK ZOO.
HEY, THERE, WILLOW.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY
SHE'S GOTTEN THESE FOOT PROBLEMS.
THAT'S A GOOD GIRL.
Hils: ADJUTANT STORKS ARE ONE
OF THE LARGE STORKS FOUND IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE
ARE GETTING HANDS ON THE CHICKS.
Hils: EVERY TIME WE'VE HAD CHICKS, WE'VE HAD FEMALES.
PLEASE, WE NEED A BOY.
Breheny: IF YOU ASK A CHILD TO DRAW A PICTURE OF A ZOO,
CHANCES ARE THEY'LL DRAW AN ANIMAL BEHIND BARS.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT IMAGE AND CHANGE IT.
♪♪
[ HONKING ]
I REALLY ENJOY THIS.
IT STRENGTHENS THE BOND THAT WE HAVE WITH THESE GUYS.
-COME ON. -I KNOW -- YOU DON'T LIKE DOORS.
Woman: GO ON, LADIES.
Breheny: IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP ANIMALS IN EXHIBITS
JUST FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT.
THERE HAS TO BE A HIGHER PURPOSE.
AND FOR US, IT'S CONSERVATION OF SPECIES IN THE WILD.
Man: ARE WE ROLLING?
THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD NEVER GET THE ACCESS
THAT YOU ARE GONNA GET, WHICH IS TO SEE
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES EVERY DAY.
THAT'S HOW WE DO IT HERE IN THE BOOGIE DOWN BRONX.
[ LAUGHTER ]
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Aversa: WE'RE GONNA MAKE AN ENRICHMENT FOR THE LIONS TODAY.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE IT SO IT LOOKS LIKE
A PREY-TYPE ANIMAL.
I'LL DO FOUR OF THEM AND THAT'LL BE THE LEGS.
AND I'LL PUT A SMALL TUBE IN HERE
AND THAT'LL BE LIKE THE NECK.
ANOTHER BOX, AND I'LL USE IT AS A HEAD.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING LIKE WE DO,
YOU KNOW, MAKE THEM MOVE AROUND THE EXHIBIT MORE.
IT MAKES THEM USE THEIR PREDATORY BEHAVIORS.
THESE ARE BLOODCICLES.
IT'S JUST THE BLOOD FROM THEIR MEAT THAT'S LEFT OVER.
SO THEY GET A SENSE OF BLOOD WHILE THEY'RE EATING THIS.
CAMEL HAIR ALL AROUND IT.
JUST LIKE THIS.
TAKE THIS.
[ LION GROWLS ]
♪♪
[ LION ROARS ]
THERE HE GOES.
♪♪
THIS IS THULANI COMING UP TO US RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S IME RIGHT BEHIND HIM.
Thomas: LIONS ARE THE MOST SOCIAL OF THE BIG CATS,
AND SOCIAL LIVING REQUIRES A LOT OF COMPLEX INTERACTIONS
BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS.
SNOW LEOPARDS, BY CONTRAST,
TEND TO BE MORE OR LESS SOLITARY.
OTHER THAN FEMALES WITH CUBS,
YOU TYPICALLY DON'T SEE ADULT SNOW LEOPARDS TOGETHER.
Teegan: HI, MAMA.
YOU COMING UP HERE?
YOU GOOD MAMA? YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD MAMA.
THIS IS K2.
HER REAL NAME'S KALLIE, BUT WE CALL HER K2.
SHE'S A SWEETHEART.
SHE'S A LOVEY-DOVEY CAT.
WE'RE SETTING UP SOME ENRICHMENT
ON THE SNOW LEOPARD EXHIBIT HERE.
THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY SCENT-ORIENTED,
AND I'M GONNA SPRAY SOME PERFUME AROUND IT,
SOME REALLY STINKY COLOGNE,
TO GET THEM REALLY INTERESTED IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS
OF THEIR EXHIBIT.
AND THEN USUALLY, AFTER THIS TYPE OF THING,
I SMELL FOR DAYS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
OKAY.
ENRICHMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR DAILY CARE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR ENVIRONMENT,
THAT THEY'RE MENTALLY STIMULATED,
AND THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THINGS TO DO
THAT KEEP THEM OCCUPIED AND THAT ARE FUN.
Thomas: A GRADUATE STUDENT APPROACHED US
ABOUT DOING A STUDY HERE
ASSESSING THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES
OF BOTH LIONS AND SNOW LEOPARDS.
A VERY SOCIAL SPECIES AND A VERY SOLITARY SPECIES.
AND ONE WAY TO TEST AN ANIMAL'S COGNITIVE ABILITY
TO PROBLEM-SOLVE IS TO PRESENT THEM WITH A PUZZLE FEEDER.
♪♪
THIS IS AN ENRICHMENT BOX THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THIS IS A POLYPROPYLENE MATERIAL,
BASICALLY WATERPROOF, ROT-PROOF.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS PLACE A FOOD TREAT
INSIDE THE PUZZLE BOX,
AND THEN THE ANIMAL WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO OPEN UP THE BOX TO GET ACCESS TO THAT FOOD TREAT.
BEAUTIFUL.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE WE TRY TO PROVIDE
WHATEVER ASSISTANCE WE CAN TO ASPIRING YOUNG BIOLOGISTS.
SHOW YOU THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE ON THE BOX.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOX FOR YOU.
OKAY.
O'Connor: I DESIGNED THIS PUZZLE BOX FOR MY MASTER'S THESIS
BECAUSE KNOWING THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES
OF AFRICAN LIONS AND SNOW LEOPARDS,
WE CAN PROVIDE BETTER ENRICHMENT FOR THEM
IN THEIR ZOO POPULATIONS.
DO YOU WANT THIS LIP ON IT,
OR DO YOU WANT IT MORE FLUSH?
NO, I LIKE THE LIP.
-OKAY. -SO THEY HAVE TO HOOK
THEIR PAW TO PULL IT DOWN.
THE THREE DOORS ARE THREE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS
FOR THE BIG CATS TO OPEN IT.
THE FIRST IS TO USE THEIR MOUTH TO UNLATCH THE DOOR.
THE SECOND IS TO USE THEIR PAWS TO PULL THE DOOR OPEN.
THAT LEAVES THIS DOOR.
GREG AND MORROW WERE THINKING TO HAVE
BASICALLY A PANEL WITH A DOOR INSIDE THE PANEL
THAT COULD OPEN IN, BUT IS NOT GONNA BE A HEAD TRAP HAZARD.
YOU MADE A PUZZLE FOR THEM AND A PUZZLE FOR US.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WELL, YOU GUYS SOLVED IT.
NOT YET.
I MEAN, IT LOOKS GREAT.
IT LOOKS REALLY FANTASTIC.
AFTER TODAY, I'M BOTH EXCITED AND NERVOUS
TO SEE THIS PUZZLE BOX COME TO LIFE.
WE HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT,
BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NO IDEA.
SO WILL THEY DENT THIS AND THEN JUST WON'T --
-NO. -NO?
WE COULD PROBABLY STAND ON THERE WITH NO PROBLEM.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
READY TO MAKE SOME STORK DIETS?
YES.
THIS IS OUR WORK STATION FOR STORK DIETS.
WE GET A PAN OF HOT WATER,
WE DISSOLVE CALCIUM IN IT,
AND THEN WE USE THAT TO INJECT THE RAT PUPS.
PRETTY MUCH JUST GO
DOWN THE MOUTH TO THE STOMACH.
ALL THE FOOD ITEMS GET EITHER DUSTED
OR INJECTED WITH CALCIUM.
YOU DO THAT 300 TIMES.
CALCIUM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT HELPS WITH STRONG BONES AS WELL AS A STRONG BILL.
RAT PUPS, CHICKEN WINGS, MEATBALLS, AND SMALL FISH.
ALL LACED AND DUSTED WITH CALCIUM.
♪♪
SO NIGHT HERONS, BLUE JAYS FREQUENTLY FIND THEIR WAY
INTO THESE EXHIBITS.
AND THEN FIND THIS FOOD TRAY AS A NICE, FREE MEAL TO THEM.
SO WE USUALLY FEED OUT A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
JUST SO THAT THE NATIVE WILDLIFE HAS SOMETHING
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE FOOD IS STILL GOING UP TO THE STORKS.
Hils: ADJUTANT STORKS ARE JUST KIND OF A DIFFERENT BIRD.
LONG LEGS, LOTS OF COLORS.
NOT A LOT OF FEATHERS UP ON TOP OF THE HEAD.
THEY'RE FOUND IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
ADJUTANT STORKS ARE VULNERABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE FOUND
USUALLY NEAR WATER-BASED SYSTEMS,
AND THAT COMPETES WITH PEOPLE,
IT MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN ENCROACHMENT,
TO LOSS OF HABITAT.
AT THE BRONX ZOO, WE HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM
FOR OUR ADJUTANT STORKS.
AND THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE SUPPORTS FIELD WORK
SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE BIRDS THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH.
THIS SEASON, WE HAVE TWO NEW CHICKS.
THESE CHICKS ARE A LITTLE UNDER A MONTH OLD.
THE ADULT STORKS TAKE TURNS WITH THE NEST DUTY,
SO THEY TAKE TURNS BRINGING FOOD UP TO THE NEST.
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THESE CHICKS SHOULD
START STANDING UP MORE AND MORE ON THE NEST,
START PRACTICING FLIGHT, AND WE'LL ALSO SWITCH
OUT THEIR FOOD ITEMS WHILE THIS IS GOING ON
SO THAT THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO AN ADULT DIET.
WE'LL BE FINDING OUT IF THEY'RE MALE OR FEMALE
WHEN THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OLDER.
OUR CURRENT FLOCK WE HAVE THE ONE BREEDING PAIR
AND THEN WE HAVE A GROUP
OF ADOLESCENTS THAT ARE ALL FEMALES.
WE ARE HOPING FOR A BOY.
TWO BOYS WOULD BE, LIKE, JACKPOT.
BUT WE'LL TAKE ONE.
Bartlett: WE DECIDED TO BRING WILLOW HERE
TO THE BRONX ZOO FOR TREATMENT.
HOW'S IT GOING, WILLOW?
HI, SWEETIE.
Thomas: LOOKS GOOD, GUYS.
O'Connor: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THESE THREE LIONS.
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
SEE HIM?SEE HIM RIGHT OVER THERE?
♪♪
HI, WILLOW. SORRY THIS IS STRESSFUL.
WILLOW IS OUR YOUNG RED PANDA FROM PROSPECT PARK ZOO.
AND SHE'S GOT PRETTY SEVERE WOUNDS ON HER RIGHT FOOT
AND A SMALLER ONE ON HER LEFT FOOT.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY
SHE'S GOTTEN THESE FOOT PROBLEMS.
RED PANDAS ARE ARBOREAL, MEANING THEY'RE CLIMBING
IN TREES ALL THE TIME AND SO WE WONDERED
IF SHE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH SOME SHARP PERCHING
OR SOMETHING IN THE EXHIBIT THAT MAY HAVE TRAUMATIZED IT.
THE KEEPERS WENT THROUGH THE EXHIBIT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB
AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, SO WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.
WE'VE DECIDED TO BRING WILLOW HERE TO THE BRONX ZOO
FOR TREATMENT, SO WE CAN KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HER.
♪♪
THIS LOOKS PUSIER THAN WHEN I LAST SAW IT.
NOW THAT WE'VE REMOVED THE BANDAGES,
WE CAN SEE THAT RIGHT HIND FOOT IS REALLY
IN POOR CONDITION.
THERE WAS LIKE AN ULCER THERE.
VITALS OKAY?
Woman: YEAH.
LOOKING AT THESE WOUNDS ON WILLOW,
THEY LOOK PRETTY EXTENSIVE, AND SO WE'D LIKE
TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BIOPSY SO WE CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF A NICE SPOT,
SO WE GET, LIKE, SOME NORMAL SKIN TRANSITION
AND THEN SOME ULCER PROBABLY THEN.
I THINK RIGHT HERE.
SO THE WOUNDS ARE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH
THAT WE NEED TO DO FREQUENT EXAMS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE TISSUE IS BEING CLEANED OUT PROPERLY.
SO WE JUST NEED A BANDAGE, RIGHT?
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE AS DRY AS POSSIBLE. -RIGHT.
SO OUR PLAN IS TO DO BANDAGE CHANGES THREE TIMES A WEEK.
IS THIS TRAUMATIC, IS THERE AN UNDERLYING
INFECTIOUS CAUSE, BACTERIAL OR POTENTIALLY VIRAL?
HOPING THE BIOPSIES WILL LET US KNOW THE ANSWER TO THOSE.
♪♪
[ LION ROARING ]
♪♪
Thomas: IT'S GOOD, GUYS.
I THINK THIS IS GONNA WORK OUT PERFECTLY.
IS BUILT TOUGH, LIKE GREG.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THE BOX IS NOW COMPLETED, SO WE'RE READY
TO BEGIN TORI'S COGNITIVE STUDY
AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE AFRICAN LIONS.
DO YOU WANT TO START AT THE FRONT
OF THE BUILDING AND WORK OUR WAY BACK?
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THULANI.
WE'LL PLACE THE BOX, SECURE IT TO THE BACK WALL.
OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA PUT A SHANK BONE INSIDE THE BOX.
JUST SOMETHING THAT WE GIVE TO THE LIONS
AND THAT THEY REALLY ENJOY AS TREATS
AND THEN GIVE THE INDIVIDUAL LION ACCESS
TO THE ENCLOSURE WITH THE BOX.
OKAY. THAT'S ALL.
O'Connor: LOOKS GOOD.
PRESENTING ANIMALS WITH CHALLENGES AND THEN
HAVING THEM SOLVE THEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S GOOD FOR ENRICHMENT AND IT JUST KEEPS THEM THINKING.
LIONS ARE REALLY SMART ANIMALS, BUT THE BOX
IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING NEW TO THEM.
ARE YOU TIMING THEM?
YEAH, 15 MINUTES.
OKAY.
I'M INCREDIBLY NERVOUS ENTERING THE FIRST DAY OF TRIALS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE LIONS ARE GOING TO BE BETTER
PROBLEM SOLVERS THAN THE SNOW LEOPARD.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THESE THREE LIONS.
♪♪
Thomas: THE ANIMAL IS GIVEN ACCESS TO THE PUZZLE BOX.
DURING THAT TIME, THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO OPERATE ON OF THE DOORS.
♪♪
[ LION GROWLING ]
♪♪
WHAT'D THAT TAKE, ABOUT TWO MINUTES?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
EXCELLENT.
GOOD BOY. ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS AWESOME
SO DOOR THREE, OKAY.
THAT WAS SO FAST.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
O'Connor: THE SECOND LION TO BE INTRODUCED
TO THE PUZZLE BOX IS IME.
♪♪
THAT BOX IS MORE ENRICHING THAN THE SHANK BONE.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ LION GROWLS ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, SO HE CAN BE DONE, 'CAUSE THE GOAL
IS TO OPEN THE DOOR.
OKAY, SO THAT'S DOOR NUMBER ONE.
ALL SET TO GO WHENEVER.
Thomas: I THINK BAHATI'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE SHY
THAN THE OTHER TWO LIONS.
♪♪
I THINK HE'S LAYING DOWN.
[ LION ROARS ]
OKAY.
EACH ANIMAL IS GIVEN FIVE TRIALS
TO OPEN ONE OF THE DOORS THREE TIMES.
BY THE THIRD TIME HE HASN'T OPENED A DOOR,
O'Connor: HE'S DONE.
HE KIND OF FLUNKS OUT OF THE TEST.
BUT THAT WAS GOOD.
YEP. GOOD.THANKS.
♪♪
Alvarez: SLIM IS A VERY YOUNG DRAGON
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE'S VERY FAST.
TARGET.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I KEEP MY EYES ON HIM.
TARGET. [ WHISTLES BLOWS ]
GOOD BOY.
♪♪
COVER SOME OF THESE HOLES.
A LOT OF DRAGONS, THEY LIKE TO DIG HOLES
IN THE DAYTIME AND IN THE WILD AT NIGHTTIME,
THEY USUALLY GO SLEEP IN THOSE HOLES.
SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO,
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA SHIFT STUBBY ON EXHIBIT.
AND HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S READY.
STUBBY, SHIFT.
GOOD BOY.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
KOMODO DRAGONS ARE FOUND ON FIVE ISLANDS IN INDONESIA.
THEY'RE IMPRESSIVE ANIMALS.
THEY REALLY ARE LIVING DINOSAURS.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY UP THERE AS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT REPTILES IN GENERAL
AND THEY THINK, THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT GOING ON UP THERE.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM NOW
FOR FIVE YEARS AND THESE ANIMALS ARE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT.
THERE'S NOT A DAY WHERE THEY DON'T SURPRISE ME A LITTLE BIT.
HE'S CURRENTLY AT THE DOOR,
SO HE'S READY FOR A TRAINING SET.
SLIM IS OUR NEWER DRAGON, HE'S SIX YEARS OLD.
HE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT SMALL TO HAVE
IN OUR EXHIBIT AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT,
WE DO TRAINING WITH HIM INDOORS.
GOT SOME SMALL RATS FOR HIM TODAY.
THE TRAINING THAT WE DO WITH SLIM,
THERE IS KEEPER CONTACT AND FOR THAT REASON
I'LL USUALLY PUT ON SOME RUBBER BOOTS.
AND WE'RE GONNA GRAB SOME PROTECTIVE GLOVES.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY TEETH THAT ONE OF THE DRAGONS
SHED AND I PICKED UP THIS MORNING.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW SERRATED
THEIR TEETH REALLY ARE.
AND THAT'S WHY I WEAR THESE GLOVES.
AS ANXIOUS AS HE IS TO GET FOOD,
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IS HIM
JUST KIND OF LAUNCHING FOR FOOD WHEN HE FIRST SEES A KEEPER.
TARGET TRAINING, IT'S A WAY TO GET THEM TO STRATEGIZE
AND REALLY START THINKING AND REALLY USING THEIR BRAINS.
COME ON, BUDDY.
TARGET.
THE GOAL IS FOR HIM TO TOUCH THE TARGET WITH HIS SNOUT.
TARGET.
GET A BRIDGE WITH THE WHISTLE.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
THEN HE'LL RECEIVE A REWARD.
WHEN THEY HEAR THAT WHISTLE, YOU'RE COMMUNICATING
WITH THE ANIMAL, YOU'RE LETTING THEM KNOW
THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
TARGET.[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
GOOD BOY.
WHENEVER YOU'RE WORKING WITH DANGEROUS ANIMAL,
YOU DO HAVE A RESPECTFUL CONNECTION WITH THEM.
IF YOU GET TOO COMFORTABLE,
THEN THAT'S WHERE MISTAKES HAPPEN.
SLIM IS A VERY YOUNG DRAGON
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE'S VERY FAST.
SMALL DRAGONS ARE USED TO CLIMBING UP TREES
TO STAY AWAY FROM LARGER DRAGONS,
SO THEY'RE VERY AGILE.
TARGET.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I ALWAYS KEEP MY EYES ON HIM
AND WHEN I'M IN THERE, I'M PRETTY MUCH IN ZEN.
IT'S JUST ME AND HIM IN THERE.
TARGET.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST YEAR
THAT WE'RE KIND OF DOING A LOT OF TARGET TRAINING WITH HIM.
HE'S THINKING A LOT MORE WHENEVER I WORK WITH HIM.
TARGET.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
WE'RE STILL PRETTY EARLY ON IN THE TRAINING WITH SLIM.
SO WHAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE
IS JUST MORE ACCURATE TARGETING.
AND IN A COUPLE MONTHS, SLIM WILL GET THE CHANCE
TO GO INSIDE OUR INDOOR EXHIBIT.
ALL RIGHT, TILL NEXT TIME.
♪♪
MORNING.
MORNING, LONNIE. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, COME TO CHECK ON THE PATIENT.
AWESOME, LET'S GO.
GRAB SOME GRAPESLET'S GET SOME GRAPES.
SEE IF SHE REMEMBERS ME.
YEAH, RIGHT.
WILLOW'S A FEMALE RED PANDA
FROM THE PROSPECT PARK ZOO, WHERE I'M FROM.
WE BROUGHT HER OVER TO THE BRONX SIMPLY FOR THE FACT
THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A LOT
MORE INTENSIVE TREATMENT HERE.
PERFECT.
THEY HAVE A REALLY STRONG PATHOLOGY LAB HERE.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO IT,
SOME OF THE CULTURES AREN'T BACK.
THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH
A PANDA AGAIN, DON'T YOU THINK?THAT'LL BE ENOUGH, YEAH.
WE'LL EITHER KNOW IF SHE DOES OR SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHE'S BEEN DOING VERY WELL.
GREAT.
IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING THAT SHE
HAS LEFT THE BANDAGES ALONE.
GOOD.
HEY, THERE, WILLOW.
OH, THERE'S EVEN SOME GRAPES LEFT HERE FOR YOU.
OH, GIRL.
HOW ARE YOU?
HOW'S IT GOING, WILLOW?
HI, SWEETIE.
SHE'S IN A SMALLER ENCLOSURE PURPOSELY,
'CAUSE THE LESIONS ARE ON HER FEET
SO IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO WALK, SO WE DON'T WANT
HER WALKING A WHOLE LOT, AND IT'S ALSO A MUCH
MORE STERILE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE SHE'S STILL BEING TREATED.
DOES SHE USUALLY TAKE GRAPES FROM YOU?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEP, STILL A LITTLE SHY. WHAT'S GOING ON?
YEAH, SHE'S THINKING ABOUT IT.
YEAH, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
KEEPERS ARE ANXIOUS TO GET HER BACK.
YEAH, OF COURSE.
THAT'S A GOOD GIRL. THERE WE GO.
THAT'S MY GIRL.
THAT'S MY GIRL, THAT'S A GOOD GIRL.
ONCE SHE CAME UP TO TAKE THE GRAPES,
I WAS REALLY RELIEVED, 'CAUSE THAT SHOWS ME
SHE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE.
COME ON UP?
GOOD GIRL. LET'S SEE THOSE FEET.
THAT'S A GOOD GIRL. GOOD GIRL.
SHE DID NOT HESITATE TO STAND ON THOSE HIND FEET.
YEAH, NO, THAT'S GREAT.
CAUSE THAT'S WHERE SHE WOULD SHOW THE MOST SENSITIVITY.
COME ON, GOOD GIRL.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW SHE PROGRESSES,
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE PATHOLOGY REPORT.
SEE YA, WILLOW.
♪♪
Thomas: HEY, BOYS.
WE'RE ALL SET TO GO, RIGHT?
YEP, WE'RE ALL SET TO GO.
SHANK'S IN THERE.
THULANI AND IME WERE OFF TO A REALLY GOOD START,
BUT BAHATI HAS TO OPEN A DOOR IN EACH OF THE THREE
REMAINING TRIALS TO STAY IN THE STUDY.
I'M GONNA GIVE 'EM ACCESS.
YEP.
[ LION GROWLING ]
O'Connor: DAY TWO IS A LITTLE BIT ROUGH.
NONE OF THEM GOT ANY OF THE DOORS OPEN.
♪♪
THAT WOULD BE STRIKE TWO, BIG GUY.
♪♪
WE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY ON SHANK BONES TODAY.
YEP.
THE LIONS' BEHAVIOR IS INTERESTING BECAUSE,
DEPENDING UPON THE DAY, THEIR INTEREST WAXES OR WANES.
[ LION ROARS ]
I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO LET THE STUDY PROGRESS.
SO TODAY IS ACTUALLY BAHATI'S LAST CHANCE.
OKAY.
O'Connor: SO IF BAHATI DOES NOT OPEN A DOOR TODAY,
HE WILL BE DROPPING OUT OF THE TRIAL.
♪♪
WE GOT IT.
YEAH, HE OPENED DOOR ONE.
YAY, BAHATI!
YOU'RE STILL IN IT.
♪♪
NOW.
♪♪
BAHATI COME HERE.
TWO FOR TWO.
IME AND BAHATI HAVE BOTH OPENED IT IN UNDER THREE MINUTES.
SO WE ARE TWO FOR TWO ON THE DAY.
♪♪
[ LION ROARS ]
OH, THULANI, WHAT HAPPENED?
THULANI, UNFORTUNATELY IS ELIMINATED FROM THE TRIALS
BECAUSE HE FAILED TO OPEN THE DOOR
IN THREE OUT OF THE FIVE TRIALS.
VERY SURPRISING, SINCE HE WAS THE FIRST TO SOLVE IT.
[ LION GROWLING ]
♪♪
Thomas: IME WAS SUCCESSFUL IN OPENING ONE OF THE DOORS
SO RIGHT NOW HE'S IN PHASE TWO OF THE TRIALS,
BUT HE'S NOT YET BEEN SUCCESSFUL OPENING ONE
OF THE TWO REMAINING DOORS AND TODAY'S HIS LAST OPPORTUNITY.
[ LION ROARING ]
OKAY, YOU'RE DONE.
RIGHT, HE'S DONE.
Thomas: DAY EIGHT WAS BAHATI'S LAST CHANCE TO STAY
AND HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME INTERACTING WITH THE BOX,
BUT AT THE END OF 15 MINUTES,
THE DOORS WERE STILL CLOSED.
EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL,
I VIEW IT AS ENRICHMENT FOR THE LIONS.
IT'S SOMETHING TO CHALLENGE THEM.
O'Connor: I'M NOT JUST LOOKING AT HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE
IN OPENING THE BOX, I'M LOOKING AT HOW MUCH TIME
THEY SPENT ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE BOX
AND HOW MUCH TIME THEY SPENT ACTIVELY
WORKING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL DOOR.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SNOW LEOPARDS
WILL BE MORE OR LESS ENGAGED IN THE PUZZLE BOX.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
Rosato: THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET,
YOU KNOW, A PHYSICAL CHECK UP ON THEM.
EASY BUD.
THERE YOU GO.
♪♪
SO WE'RE GONNA TRY AND PUSH A FEW BIRDS
IN AT THE BEGINNING, HOPEFULLY WE GET THE PARENTS FIRST.
AT WHICH TIME, ONE OF US WILL JUST WALK THEM THROUGH.
IF WE GET A KID, WE'LL HAVE KEN CLOSE THAT DOOR,
WE'LL CATCH THEM AND THEN YOU COME OUT TO DO YOUR STUFF.
-OKAY. -OKAY. READY?
-THANK YOU. -LET'S DO IT.
TODAY, WE ARE MOVING OUR LESSER ADJUTANT STORK FAMILY,
SO THAT'S TWO ADULTS AND TWO KIDS FROM THE SUMMER
INTO THE HOLDING FOR WINTER.
Hils: THEY'RE NOT BIRDS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SUSTAIN
OUR COLD WINTERS THAT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK.
HEY, GUYS.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN THE
ADJUTANT STORK CHICKS GROW UP FROM BEING A LITTLE CHICK
ALL THE WAY UP TO BEING ADULTS, LEARN HOW TO FEED
FROM THEIR PARENTS, LEARN HOW TO MANEUVER AROUND THE NEST,
DO THEIR INITIAL FLIGHTS.
THEY'RE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
♪♪
Rosato: THOSE ARE THE KIDS, THAT'S ONE OF THE ADULTS.
COME ON, DIANA.
COME ON GIRL.
-THERE YOU GO. -THERE YOU GO.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, LET'S GO.
DIANA IS WISE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING,
SO SHE'S NICE AND CALM.
COLUMBUS IS GOING DOWN NOW, THE ADULT MALE.
YEAH, THAT'S COLUMBUS, SO LET'S GET COLUMBUS IN.
HERE WE GO, ATTA BOY.
KEEP GOING. GOOD BOY.
RIGHT.
COME ON GUYS. LET'S DO THE KIDS.
OKAY, WE'RE DOING THE KIDS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE GETTING HANDS
ON THE KIDS, SO WE WERE WATCHING THEM VERY CLOSELY
THIS SUMMER ONCE THEY HATCHED.
THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET,
YOU KNOW, A PHYSICAL CHECK-UP ON THEM.
EASY BIRD.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO GOING TO PULL FEATHERS.
AND THIS IS GOING TO DETERMINE IF IT'S A MALE OR A FEMALE.
ONE KID DOWN, ONE TO GO.
THE FEATHERS GET SENT TO AN OFF-SITE LAB.
WE PROBABLY WILL GET A RESULT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'RE BRINGING THE SECOND BABY IN.
YEAH!
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN ADOLESCENT GROUP OF JUST FEMALES
SO ANOTHER MALE WOULD BE GOOD.
HOLDING TIGHT.
♪♪
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW
THEY COMPARE TO HOW THE LIONS DID.
HEY, TARYN. HOW ARE YOU?
DOING ALL RIGHT.
IT'LL BE EASIER JUST TO CARRY IT DOWN WITH THIS
BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY BOX.
IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW AT BIRD TRIALS.
THE LIONS WENT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN OUR EXPECTATIONS.
THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO OPEN ONE DOOR TO THE BOX.
I'M HOPING THAT THE FIVE SNOW LEOPARDS
WILL SHOW US A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
YOU CAN OPEN THE DOOR.
YOU CAN THEN COME OUT AND JOIN US
AND WE CAN WATCH FROM HER CELLPHONE.
♪♪
OKAY, LETTING HER OUT.
OKAY TANYA.
SHE WENT RIGHT OUT?
JUST NEXT TO THE BOX.
ANY PREDICTIONS?
I MEAN, SHE'S OUR OLDEST CAT.
SO SHE'S A LITTLE BIT ON THE LAZIER SIDE.
♪♪
[ ALARM SOUNDING]
OKAY.
0-1.
I GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT WILLY.
♪♪
I THINK HE'S BACK IN THE DEN BOX.
YOU ALL SET TARYN?
YEP, WE'RE ALL SET!
WE'RE A COUPLE TRIALS IN AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK SO FAR.
I FEEL LIKE HE CAN TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ANXIOUS
ABOUT LIKE CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
YEAH, THEY TEND TO BE A BIT MORE SHY THAN LIONS
SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THEY'RE NOT
AS ENGAGED RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
OH, HI, LAZY BONES!
NOT ONLY DOES SHE ENJOY ENRICHMENT
SHE'S ALSO VERY FOOD MOTIVATED.
♪♪
FOUR MINUTES LEFT.
♪♪
YEAH, YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ] ALL RIGHT.
YAY! SO WE'RE DONE.
I'M SO HAPPY IT WAS HER!
NICE CALL!
1-5.
KITTEN YOU'RE SO SMART.
I'M FEELING DEFINITELY RELIEVED KNOWING THAT
WE HAD AT LEAST ONE SNOW LEOPARD SUCCESS TODAY
AND HOPEFUL GOING INTO THE NEXT DAY OF TRIALS.
♪♪
Thomas: TORI'S HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE LIONS WOULD BE
MORE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY'RE A SOCIAL SPECIES
AND THEY HUNT COOPERATIVELY AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT
THEY NEED TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF COGNITIVE ABILITY.
YOU KNOW BUT SMALL LEOPARDS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE
HAVE TO BE PRETTY RESOURCEFUL.
♪♪
[ LAUGHS ]
SO PHASE ONE OF THE STUDY'S NOW OVER.
TWO OF THE FIVE SNOW LEOPARDS ARE STILL IN THE STUDY.
O'Connor: GOING INTO PHASE TWO WITH WILLY AND MJ
FEELS GREAT BECAUSE WE ENTERED INTO PHASE TWO WITH TWO LIONS
SO IT WILL BE GOOD TO HAVE TWO SNOW LEOPARDS TO COMPARE.
Thomas: SO HE DOES IT JUST FOR THE FUN OF DOING IT
HE STILL DIDN'T EAT THE CHICKEN.
THAT'S FUNNY.
YOU DON'T WANT THE CHICKEN BUDDY?
Bartlett: LET'S GIVE HER ONE MORE MINUTE AND THEN I THINK
WE NEED TO RE-INJECT HER.
SHE JUST MOVED HER HEAD. -OKAY.
WHILE WILLOW I'M SURE WOULD RATHER BE OUTSIDE
CLIMBING UP ON HER PERCHES, FOR RIGHT NOW, SHE'S GOT
A BANDAGE ON THAT WE NEED TO KEEP CLEAN
WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP HER COMFORTABLE.
AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE RESULTS OF THE BIOPSIES
THAT WE TOOK OF HER FEET ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT BIOPSY SLIDES THAT WERE TAKEN
AT THE PROCEDURE WHERE THEY ALSO CLEANED OUT THE FOOT WOUND.
BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE,
IT'S A REALLY SEVERE DEGREE OF INFLAMMATION.
THERE'S ALSO TISSUE DAMAGE NECROSIS GOING ON
SO THERE'S ACTUALLY DEATH OF THE DEEP TISSUE.
IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS TRAUMA AND THEN A BACTERIAL
INFECTION COMPLICATED MATTERS AND MADE IT WORSE.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CONCERNING FINDINGS.
-YOU WANT TO RAISE HER? -YEAH.
THE FACT THAT IT'S A BACTERIAL INFECTION, THAT'S GOOD
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S THEN MORE EASILY TREATABLE.
THE JAW TURN IS A LITTLE TIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA DO ANOTHER BANDAGE CHANGE
AND JUST SEE HOW THINGS ARE PROGRESSING.
Hollinger: OH, MY GOODNESS!
-SO MUCH BETTER. -I KNOW!
I'M SO IMPRESSED.
I'M PLEASED, REALLY PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS
THAT WE'RE MAKING.
I THINK SHE'S DOING REALLY WELL.
THE TISSUE IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS RED
AND INFLAMED AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
BUT THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S SKIN
TRYING TO CLOSE OVER.
BUT BECAUSE SHE'S RESPONDING WELL SO FAR
WE'RE GONNA STICK WITH THE ANTIBIOTIC
THAT WE HAVE HER ON, KEEP HER ON THE PAIN MEDS
AND CONTINUE WITH THESE BANDAGE CHANGES.
-YOU HAVE THE SHEET ENABLED? -I DO.
I'D EXPECT WILLOW TO BE HERE FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS
WHILE WE GET THIS WOUND HEALED UP.
WE WANT TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE CONDITION IS RESOLVED.
-REVERSALS IN. -ALL RIGHT!
AND THAT SHE'S COMFORTABLE WALKING AROUND
WITHOUT A BANDAGE AND ISN'T SHOWING ANY FURTHER LAMENESS.
OH, MY GOD!
SO CUTE!
BYE, WILL! SEE YA IN A BIT!
-SEE YA LATER! -CHILL OUT.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
AND IT'S IN AN ENVELOPE.
TOP RESULTS.
♪♪
AND I'M PREPPED. I ALREADY GOT THE BUCKET.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M GETTING BETTER AT THIS EACH TIME.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
TODAY WE'RE DOING THE FIRST TRIAL
FOR PHASE TWO OF THE STUDY
AND WE'LL BE TESTING BOTH MJ AND WILLY.
AND THEY HAVE TO OPEN UP ONE OF THE TWO DOORS THAT REMAIN.
I'VE ALREADY LOCKED THAT DOOR.
OKAY SO IT COULD BE RIGHT IN THE CENTER, RIGHT?
YEP!
OKAY.
SHE'S ALREADY OVER BY IT.
SHE'S INVESTIGATING THE DOOR SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO OPEN
AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE CAN'T FIGURE OUT
WHY IT'S NOT OPENING TODAY.
♪♪
SHE GOT IT!
SHE OPENED DOOR NUMBER TWO.
♪♪
SO IN PHASE ONE, WILLY WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY OPEN
THE DOOR THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO OPEN
BY PULLING ON THE CORD.
[ ALARM SOUNDING]OKAY, HE IS DONE.
WILLY REALLY HASN'T SHOWN ANY INTEREST IN THE BOX.
ONE WE REMOVED THE CORD THAT OPERATES DOOR NUMBER TWO
I WONDER WHY THAT CORD HAD SUCH A FASCINATION FOR HIM
AND THE REST OF IT DOESN'T SEEM TO.
TODAY WE'RE TESTING MJ AGAIN.
SHE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL TWICE BEFORE.
SO SHE HAS TWO TRIALS TO OPEN
THAT DOOR ONE MORE TIME.
AND IF SHE'S SUCCESSFUL
THEN SHE MOVES ON TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE STUDY.
SHE'S BY IT NOW.
YEAH, SHE GOT IT.
SHE DID SO WE HAVE OUR FIRST CAT PROGRESSING
TO THE THIRD PHASE OF THE STUDY.
WHERE TWO DOORS WERE LOCKED,
SHE'LL HAVE TO OPEN DOOR NUMBER THREE.
VERY EXCITING. YEAH.
ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT THAT THE AFRICAN LIONS
WOULD DO BETTER THAN THE SNOW LEOPARDS.
THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
THE SNOW LEOPARDS HAVE SPENT MORE ACTIVE TIME
BEING WITH THE PUZZLE BOX.
AND AS WE GO INTO PHASE THREE
MJ IS THE ONLY CAT TO MAKE IT THIS FAR.
TIME.
WELL, SO IT ENDS THE TRIALS BUT SHE WENT FURTHER
THAN ANYONE ELSE.
YEAH, SHE WAS DEFINITELY ENTERTAINING.
YEP.
NOW THAT MJ AND ALL THE OTHER SNOW LEOPARDS ARE WRAPPED UP
WE ARE FINISHED WITH THE TRIALS.
WOW LOOK AT THIS HOLE SHE DUG, AND THE SIDE OF THE DOOR.
LOOK AT HOW MUCH DIRT.
Thomas: TO ME THIS IS A STUDY
THAT PROVIDES BENEFIT TO OUR ANIMALS.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THAT BOX WOULD BE SOMETHING
THAT'S NOVEL AND VERY ENRICHING AND WOULD ALLOW
OUR ANIMALS TO ENGAGE BOTH MENTALLY
AND PHYSICALLY WITH THAT OBJECT.
♪♪
Hils: THE FAMILY GROUP IS DOING WELL.
MOM AND DAD HAVE SETTLED INTO THEIR WINTER STATE
HISTORIC CHICKS APPEAR TO BE SETTLING IN
PRETTY WELL FOR WINTER.
GABBY!
-YOU HAVE SOMETHING? -ALL RIGHT!
AND IT'S IN AN ENVELOPE.
IT'S IN AN ENVELOPE THAT'S RIGHT.
TOP RESULTS.
WE GOT TWO MALES!
YOU'RE SERIOUS?
YEAH I'M SERIOUS, WE GOT TWO MALES.
129, 130 -- MALE AND MALE.
HOLY COW!
YOU DIDN'T JINX IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD!
THAT'S THE BEST WE COULD DO ACTUALLY.
Hils: YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN JOKING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE
WHEN WE WERE GONNA GET THE RESULTS BACK
BUT THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT I THOUGHT WE'D
END UP WITH TWO BOYS.
IT'S KIND OF AMAZING.
THAT'S PRETTY WILD. I LIKE IT.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY.
THAT'S GONNA MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY, SURE.
Rosato: ONCE THE MALES BECOME OLD ENOUGH TO BREED
WE CAN TRY TO GET OTHER ZOOS INVOLVED IN THIS BREEDING
PROGRAM AND SEND SOME OF OUR BIRDS OUT OR WE CAN PAIR
THEM UP HERE WITH THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE.
CONGRATS.
THAT'S AWESOME.
♪♪
-OH, SHE'S READY! -YEAH.
READY WILLOW?
♪♪
McCaskill: WILLOW'S RECOVERED.
WE PICKED HER UP FROM THE BRONX ZOO
AND WE BROUGHT HER HOME TO HER HABITAT
HERE AT THE PROSPECT PARK ZOO.
Ronnie: SHE'S READY!
SHE HAD A NICE NAP ON THE WAY OVER
SHE'S PROBABLY WELL-RESTED RIGHT NOW.
Ronnie: I THINK WILLOW LOOKS GREAT.
WE WERE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT
HER WHEN SHE LEFT, BUT NOW THAT SHE'S COMING HOME
SHE LOOKS GOOD AS NEW.
OKAY, WILLOW.
TIME TO COME HOME.
HOME SWEET HOME.
GOOD GIRL!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HUH?
HERE WE GO, GOOD GIRL.
YOU READY TO GO OUTSIDE?
WILLOW GO ON OUT HUN.
COME ON SWEETIE!
YOU GONNA GO DOWN THE HARD WAY?
THERE YOU GO SWEETIE-PIE.
♪♪
THERE YOU GO.
♪♪
SHE'S OUT!
♪♪
HOME SWEET HOME.
McCaskill: RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF.
WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF THE EXHIBIT SHE ACTUALLY
DID HER NORMAL ROUTINE.
SHE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CIRCUIT
THAT SHE'LL RUN THAT SHE'S KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE
FOOD IN CERTAIN SPOTS AND THEN SHE STARTS TO FIND
OTHER FOOD THAT'S BEEN PLACED IN THE EXHIBIT FOR HER.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO HAVE HER BACK.
YEAH, GOOD SHE'S MADE IT BACK OKAY AND SHE'S DOING WELL.
YEAH SHE'S BEEN COMING UP AND PUTTING HER FEET UP
ON THE MESH SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE HER FEET.
IT'LL BE NAP TIME BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WITH HER.
FOR THE NEXT FIVE HOURS. [ LAUGHS ]
AH SHE LOOKS GOOD THERE IN THE SUN.
♪♪