♪♪
Beirne: OHNO IS GOING OUT ON EXHIBIT WITH YUKIE AND IRIS.
BECAUSE OHNO IS NEW TO THE EXHIBIT,
SOME CONCERNS ARE THE GIRLS MIGHT BULLY HIM A LITTLE BIT.
OH, HERE WE GO.
Woman: IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
Sykes: THIS CALF IS ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD.
SHE'S GOTTEN REALLY SICK REALLY FAST.
CAN YOU MOVE? AWW.
Hils: NIGEL AND MARIANNE HAVE PRODUCED
FOUR VON DER DECKEN CHICKS
THAT ARE GOING BACK TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO.
THIS WILL BE A STAR PERFORMER, I BELIEVE, RIGHT HERE.
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...Woman: THAT'S A GOOD GIRL.
...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
Boy: WHOA, BISON!Man: YEAH.
THAT ONE IS SO BIG! RIGHT?
WOW, THEY'RE PLAYING AROUND IN THE DIRT.
Woman: YES.
♪♪
THIS IS TIMOTHY HAY. THIS IS WHAT THEY EAT.
IT'S LESS GRASSY THAN A MIXED HAY.
♪♪
SO I'M JUST SPREADING OUT THEIR FOOD FOR THE DAY,
TRY TO SPREAD THE FLAKES OUT AS MUCH AS I CAN
JUST TO AVOID FOOD COMPETITION.
♪♪
OH, YEAH. YOU'RE ALL READY.
♪♪
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES IN THE MORNING,
WATCHING THEM GO OUT, SEEING ALL A HERD WALKING TOGETHER.
♪♪
BISON ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS.
THEY ARE THE LARGEST MAMMAL IN NORTH AMERICA.
I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T PICK FAVORITE ANIMALS,
BUT CHASKA, HE'S MY BABY BOY.
HEY, BIG GUY!
COME ON, CHASKA.
THERE WE GO.
COME ON, YOU TANK.
HE'S JUST SO MAJESTIC COMING AT YOU.
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM TO BE THE ALPHA MALE.
CHASKA ALSO HAS A NICKNAME.
HE'S ALSO CALLED LITTLE BIG HEAD, LBH FOR SHORT.
THAT FUR IS ACTUALLY INSULATED, SO DURING THE WINTER,
YOU CAN SEE THE SNOW FALLS ON TOP OF THEM
AND IT DOESN'T MELT.
WHEN THEY GRAZE DURING THE WINTERTIME,
IT'S HARD TO GET TO THE GRASS THROUGH ALL THE SNOW,
SO THEY USE THEIR HAIR TO JUST BRUSH OFF ALL THAT SNOW
TO GET TO THE VEGETATION DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
THE MUSCLES IN THEIR BACK HELPS THEM PLOW THAT SNOW.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF YOU WANT A SNOWPLOW,
YOU GOT TO GET A BISON.
WHAT? YOU DON'T LIKE THAT KALE?
FINE. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER PIECE.
♪♪
Thomas: BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF BISON
DO HAVE SOME TRACE AMOUNTS OF DOMESTIC CATTLE GENES IN THEM,
WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH A HERD OF PURE BISON.
WE RECEIVED A GROUP OF FEMALES THAT WERE GIFTED TO US
FROM THE SIOUX AND ASSINIBOINE TRIBES IN FORT PECK, MONTANA.
OUR MATURE MALE WAS ABLE TO BREED THOSE PURE FEMALES.
THESE WILL BE THE FIRST PURE CALVES
THAT WILL BE BRED AND BORN AT THE BRONX ZOO.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ANIMALS DON'T GO INTO ACTIVE LABOR
UNTIL EVENING HOURS,
SO OFTENTIMES, WE'RE NOT AROUND TO SEE THE CALVES BEING BORN.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF INSTANCES, THERE ARE NO COMPLICATIONS,
AND THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION
IS JUST TO LET THAT FEMALE BISON BE AND DELIVER ON HER OWN.
[ BISON LOWS ]
♪♪
TWO OF OUR PURE BISON HAVE ALREADY GIVEN BIRTH,
AND THERE'S ANOTHER BISON COW
THAT WE'RE WAITING TO HAVE A CALF.
♪♪
WE THINK THAT THE ONE OVER THERE WITH ITS TAIL UP
IS POSSIBLY IN LABOR.
WE SEE HER SQUATTING DOWN AND PUSHING,
SO IT LOOKS THAT SHE MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING BIRTH,
SO VERY EXCITING.
♪♪
SHE'S MOVING NOW.
WHERE'S SHE GOING?
IT'S ALMOST LIKE SHE FORGETS SHE'S IN LABOR FOR A LITTLE BIT
AND GOES ABOUT EATING AND THEN SUDDENLY,
"OH, HAVING A BABY," SQUATS BACK DOWN AGAIN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
♪♪
HEY, GUYS!
♪♪
WE HAVE OUR PAIR OF HORNBILLS, NIGEL AND MARIANNE.
THE MALE HAS THE ORANGE.
THE FEMALE IS HERE WITH THE DARKER BEAK.
WHEN YOU GET NIPPED BY A HORNBILL, IT HURTS A LOT
BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY STRONG BEAK.
♪♪
OKAY, A COUPLE MORE TOSSES.
OUR VON DER DECKENS HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR QUITE A WHILE.
THEY TEND TO BE MONOGAMOUS.
[ LAUGHS ]
LITTLE COURTSHIP FEEDING THERE,
BUT IT WAS MORE SHE TOOK IT FROM HIM.
THIS SEASON, NIGEL AND MARIANNE HAVE PRODUCED
FOUR VON DER DECKEN CHICKS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO,
AND THEY'LL BE USING THEM WITHIN THEIR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
♪♪
[ CHICKS CHIRPING ]
Walker: SO THIS IS THE BROODER ROOM.
THIS IS WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF CHICKS
THAT WE NEED TO HAND-RAISE.
THESE ANIMALS ARE GOING TO BE AMBASSADOR ANIMALS,
SO WE REALLY NEED TO GET THEM USED TO
BEING HANDLED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE
AND GETTING TO TRUST PEOPLE AND EAT FROM PEOPLE,
SO THAT'S WHY THESE GUYS ARE UP HERE.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO FEED THE HORNBILLS,
SO THEY'RE SETTING THE TABLE
AND GET A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
♪♪
THEIR FAVORITES ARE THE MOVING INSECTS.
ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVORITE?
I WANT MY TINY ONE.LITTLE BABY.
I LIKE THEM ALL.
VON DER DECKENS HORNBILLS, LIKE A LOT OF HORNBILLS,
ARE CURIOUS ANIMALS.
THEY'RE PRETTY SOCIAL, AND SO THAT DOES TEND
TO MAKE THEM GOOD PROGRAM ANIMALS.
GOT TWEEZERS, BUT SOMETIMES,
I FIND THE FINGERS WORK A LITTLE EASIER.
THEY'RE AT THE POINT WHERE SOMETIMES,
THEY'LL GRAB THEIR OWN CRICKETS.
EAT IT. GOOD JOB.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE HORNBILLS
TO GET WORKING ON THEIR EYE-BILL COORDINATION.
THAT'S WHY WE LIKE TO GIVE THEM THE LIVE FOOD
BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THEM TARGET DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY'RE KIND OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO USE THEIR BILL.
THAT'S THEIR MAIN TOOL, REALLY.
AW, COME ON.
EAT THAT POTASSIUM.
THIS WILL BE A STAR PERFORMER, I BELIEVE, RIGHT HERE,
BEAUTIFUL PROFILE, NICE TAIL SET.
Walker: THE VON DER DECKEN HORNBILLS
ARE GETTING PRETTY CURIOUS,
AND THEY'RE STARTING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MOBILE.
THIS ONE IS A CUDDLER.
♪♪
JUST LIKE CHICKS OUT IN THE WILD,
EVERY DAY AS THESE GUYS ARE GROWING,
THEY NEED DIFFERENT THINGS TO INTERACT WITH.
THAT WAY, THEY CAN DEVELOP FULLY.
THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE GET THEM USED TO
ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF OBJECTS,
AND THAT'LL REALLY HELP THEM ONCE THEY'RE AMBASSADOR ANIMALS.
Schmid: THESE BABIES HAVE HAD A NICE, FULL MEAL,
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO GET A LITTLE SLEEP.
♪♪
Man: IT'LL BE GREAT TO HAVE SNOW MONKEY BABIES AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
♪♪
BABY. BABY.
♪♪
IT'S A NEW PUREBRED BISON IN THE WORLD.
♪♪
Beirne: IT IS A LOT OF WORK TO TAKE CARE OF MONKEYS,
SNOW MONKEYS IN PARTICULAR.
HEY, GIRLS! HOW YOU DOING?
I HAVE TO BE FULLY SUITED BECAUSE THERE IS THE ABILITY
TO TRANSMIT DIFFERENT DISEASES BOTH WAYS.
WE HOSE THE ISLAND. WE SET OUT ENRICHMENT.
THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS UNDO THE PADLOCK
AND SEND THEM OUTSIDE WITH SOME PULLEYS.
[ MONKEYS CHATTERING ]
THEIR NAMES ARE YUKIE, HANA, INEZ, AND IRIS.
INEZ DOES EVERYTHING KIND OF EVEN-KEEL.
YUKIE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SHY.
HANA REALLY LIKES TO FIGURE STUFF OUT,
WHEREAS IRIS, SHE'S THE MOST MOTIVATED,
AND THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY JAPANESE MACAQUES
BECAUSE THEY COME FROM JAPAN,
BUT THE SNOW-MONKEY TERM DEVELOPED
BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THE ONLY MONKEY SPECIES
THAT IS IN THE SNOW.
Breheny: SEE ANYBODY?
YEAH, SEE?
THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING.OH, YEAH.
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THE REALLY NEAT THING ABOUT SNOW MONKEYS
AND ACTUALLY ALL PRIMATES
IS THAT THEY HAVE A SOCIAL HIERARCHY.
♪♪
IF YOU SPEND THE TIME TO WATCH THEM
AND REALLY KIND OF CAREFULLY OBSERVE THEM,
YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS.
THE SNOW MONKEYS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE.
BUT THEY'RE JUST UNIQUE AMONG PRIMATES
THAT THEY CAN STAY OUT ALL YEAR-ROUND.
YEAH.
THE REALLY NEAT THING ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT
IS THAT IT'S VERY VARIED,
AND IT GIVES THE MONKEYS
A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHOICES OF WHERE TO BE.
AND IN THE WINTERTIME, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SITUATION
THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A HOT TUB
WHERE THEY CAN BATHE IN A WARM SPRING.
SO YOU'LL SEE THEM IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT IN JAPAN
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HOT SPRINGS IN THE COOLER WEATHER.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SNOW MONKEY BABIES AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
THEY'RE REALLY GOOD FOR THE TROOP.
FOR A LONG TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM
WITH OUR SNOW MONKEYS HERE AT THE CENTRAL PARK ZOO.
WHEN OUR OLD MALE DIED,
WE BROUGHT A NEW MALE NAMED OHNO IN FROM THE CINCINNATI ZOO,
AND NOW THE PLAN IS TO HAVE HIM BREED
WITH TWO OF THE FEMALES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CENTRAL PARK.
[ MONKEY CHATTERING ]
WHOO-HOO! WAH!
HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY?
DOING OKAY?
HE CALLS WHEN HE HEARS THE KEYS AND HE HEARS THE DOOR OPEN,
SO HE GETS EXCITED AND HE GIVES A LITTLE HOLLER,
AND THEN WE USUALLY HOLLER BACK.
AND HE USUALLY WILL HOLLER BACK ONE MORE TIME
AND THEN WAIT FOR US TO COME DOWN.
♪♪
COME HERE, OHNO!
YEAH, GOOD BOY. COME HERE.
OHNO IS A MONKEY THAT HAS KIND OF INSTANTLY CAPTURED
ALL OF THE KEEPERS' HEARTS.
HE IS JUST REALLY SWEET.
TOUCH?
GOOD TOUCH, VERY NICE.
GOOD JOB.
HE'S A FABULOUS MONKEY.
TARGET. GOOD TARGET.
IN PREPARATION FOR OHNO TO GO ON EXHIBIT WITH THE LADIES,
WE'VE BEEN DOING DAILY TRAINING SETS WITH HIM
AND SPENDING TIME TO BOND WITH HIM
JUST SO HE GETS MORE COMFORTABLE AND SEEMS AT HOME IN HIS SPACE.
♪♪
GOOD BOY.
OHNO HAS BEEN IN HOLDING WHILE WE SLOWLY
INTRODUCE HIM TO THE FEMALES,
AND WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT THESE INTRODUCTIONS
BECAUSE THEY CAN BE AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS,
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MINIMIZE THAT
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
♪♪
THESE MONKEYS HAVE VERY STRICT HIERARCHIES.
THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE.
THAT'S PART OF THEIR NATURAL HISTORY.
BECAUSE OF THIS HIERARCHY, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT TRICKY
WHEN YOU INTRODUCE NEW ANIMALS
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO UPSET THAT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE THAT THE FEMALES COULD REJECT HIM.
OHNO WILL BE OUT OF HOLDING SOON,
AND WE'RE GOING TO LET HIM EXPLORE THE EXHIBIT
WITH TWO FEMALES.
♪♪
[ CHICKS CHIRPING ]
Schmid: THEY GROW UP SO FAST.
NEXT WEEK, THEY'LL BE FLYING AROUND.
Walker: JUST LIKE CHICKS OUT IN THE WILD,
EVERY DAY AS THESE GUYS ARE GROWING,
THEY NEED DIFFERENT THINGS TO INTERACT WITH.
THAT WAY, THEY CAN DEVELOP FULLY.
THEY'VE BEEN SO FAR ACCLIMATING
TO EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN GIVING THEM.
LAST WEEK, WE STARTED THEIR PERCH TRAINING.
Schmid: AWW.
I WANT TO HIDE.
Walker: YOU'RE CUTE.
IT'S A BIG WORLD OUT HERE.
THERE'S LOTS TO LOOK AT.
♪♪
[ CHUCKLES ]
Hils: HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE.
YOU ARE CONFIDENT.
♪♪
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
THAT'S HOW A BIRD PERCHES.
LOOK AT THAT.THAT'S REALLY GOOD. YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
♪♪
WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING THE VON DER DECKEN HORNBILL CHICKS
AND MOVING THEM INTO A LARGER ENCLOSURE.
FIRST STEP FOR THESE BROODERS IS A BOTTOM.
♪♪
SORRY. [ CHUCKLES ]
I'M MAKING YOU DO THE BACKWARDS PART.
[ CHUCKLES ] I DON'T MIND.
♪♪
JUST KIND OF FIT INTO THIS FRAME.
♪♪
NEXT, WE'LL PUT SOME MATS DOWN,
MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR THEM IN HERE.
WANT TO TAKE ONE OF THESE.
SO THIS IS MY DEPOT OF ALL OF MY LITTLE EXCESS PIECES.
THESE ARE ALL LOW ENOUGH THAT IF THEY WERE TO PERCH
AND TO SORT OF WOBBLE OFF, THEY WOULDN'T GET HURT
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING VERY FAR.
SO NOW IT'S DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THEM TO INTERACT WITH
AND PLAY WITH, REALLY, SO, ANIMALS LEARN THROUGH PLAY.
WELL, LOOK WHO IT IS.
I HAVE MY LITTLE BIRD.
COME ON, PP.
THE OLDEST ONE IS THE MOST GREGARIOUS.
GOING IN FIRST.
THE SECOND-OLDEST IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SHY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THE TWO YOUNGER ONES ARE REALLY MOST INTERESTED IN FOOD,
SO THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO FIND THE FOOD PAN PRETTY QUICKLY.
Schmid: WELL, THEY'RE JUST GETTING AROUND, AREN'T THEY?
IT'S LIKE THEY'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR A WEEK.
IT'S NICE, ISN'T IT?
IN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY AND NOT GET TOO ATTACHED,
RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE BANDS.
THEY'RE WHITE LEFT, WHITE RIGHT, PURPLE AND RED
BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE EASIER
WHEN THEY GO OFF TO A DIFFERENT FACILITY
IF I DON'T HAVE THEM ATTACHED TO NAMES.
I THINK IT'S NAPTIME NOW.
NAPTIME ALREADY?
THAT WAS A LOT, A LOT OF CHANGE.
OKAY, GUYS.
THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO MINNESOTA.
TOMORROW, WE'RE HAVING SOMEBODY FROM THE MINNESOTA ZOO COME OVER
AND START TO MEET THESE GUYS
AND TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LIKE IT IN HERE
BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN REALLY HOP AROUND.
♪♪
Thomas: NEONATE EXAMS ARE EXAMS THAT WE GIVE
TO OUR HOOVED MAMMALS WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT 24 HOURS OLD.
THEY'RE WELLNESS CHECKS.
DOCTOR IS COMING IN.
[ CALF LOWING ]
♪♪
Atkinson: EVERY MORNING, WE CHECK OUR BISON,
AND THIS MORNING,
A KEEPER FOUND A BABY BISON IN THE CORRAL WITH THE HERD.
I JUST FEEL A VERY PROUD MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS JUST...
♪♪
A LOT OF HOOFSTOCK GIVE BIRTH TO THEIR CALVES OVERNIGHT,
AND BY MORNING, THE CALVES ARE, LIKE, UP AND MOVING.
BABY. YEAH, BABY.
BABY.
ASIDE FROM THE CUTENESS,
IT'S ALSO A VERY, VERY NICE FEELING.
IT'S A NEW PUREBRED BISON IN THE WORLD.
♪♪
GOOD GIRL.
♪♪
NEONATE EXAMS ARE EXAMS THAT WE GIVE
TO OUR HOOVED MAMMALS WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT 24 HOURS OLD.
THEY'RE WELLNESS CHECKS.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO PERFORM A NEONATE EXAM,
WE'LL HAVE TO SEPARATE THE CALF FROM ITS MOTHER.
WE DO THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR KEEPERS.
OPEN IT.
♪♪
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
LITTLE BIT MORE.
OKAY. HOLD IT THERE.
♪♪
CLOSE IT!Man: CLOSE IT?
THERE YOU GO!
Thomas: OKAY.
WE GOT A SEPARATION,
SO LET'S BRING EVERYTHING WE NEED.
YOU GUYS READY?
♪♪
Thomas: OKAY. GO AHEAD, GUYS.
COME HERE.
♪♪
[ CALF LOWING ]
WE TRY TO KEEP THE NEONATE EXAM AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY STRESSFUL TIME
FOR THE MOTHER TO BE AWAY FROM HER CALF
AND FOR THE CALF TO BE HANDLED BY OUR STAFF.
DOCTOR IS COMING IN.
PART OF THE EXAM WILL INCLUDE TO FIGURE OUT
WHETHER IT'S A GIRL OR A BOY.
LOOKS LIKE A GIRL TO ME.
Paré: TO THE LITTLE GIRL.
GET AN IDEA OF THE BODY CONDITION AND SO ON.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND THE UMBILICUS.
PULL THAT FOR ME, BREN. THANKS.
OKAY.
Paré: WE EXAMINE THE UMBILICUS,
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAN, AT LEAST.
Woman: GOT TO LISTEN TO THE HEART AND LUNGS.
Paré: WE LISTEN TO THE HEART,
MAKE SURE THERE'S NO HEART MURMUR
OR SOME HARSH SOUNDS THAT COULD INDICATE A PNEUMONIA.
OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.
Paré: WE CHECK THE HOOVES.
THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF HOW MOBILE THEY ARE.
NOTHING SWOLLEN.
IT WAS VERY STRONG, VERY VOCAL.
[ CALF LOWING ]
IT WAS JUST FEISTY, YOU KNOW,
AND THAT'S ALWAYS ACTUALLY GOOD,
TELLS ME THAT SHE'S GOT SOME ENERGY,
SO SHE MUST HAVE NURSED OKAY.
BUT WE'LL JUST CONFIRM THAT WITH THE BLOOD TESTS.
Woman: JUST IN CASE.WHERE'S THE SCALE?
♪♪
302.
THAT'S A BIG CALF.
Thomas: THE ONLY PROBLEM IS,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBTRACT --
HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?
YEAH, HE HAS TO...
241.
MAN, THESE BOOTS ARE HEAVY.
JUST ABOUT 60 POUNDS, 59 POUNDS, 59.
Paré: SHE'S NOT A BIG CALF BY ANY MEANS,
BUT FOR A GIRL, THAT'S STILL WITHIN NORMAL RANGE.
DONE. ALL RIGHT, KID.
OH, SHE WANTS OUT.
YEAH, YOU TELL US. THAT IS CUTE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET OUT BEFORE MOM BREAKS THE DOOR.
♪♪
Thomas: I THINK MOM IS VERY HAPPY
TO BE REUNITED WITH THE CALF.
NOW THAT THE NEONATE EXAM IS DONE,
WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE FEMALE
AND CALF JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO ISSUES.
AND THERE THEY GO ON EXHIBIT.
THEY RIDE OFF IN THE SUNSET.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
Schmid: YOU CAN JUST SIT DOWN WHEREVER YOU'D LIKE, JOHN.
I'VE ALREADY WEIGHED HIM TODAY.
YOU WEIGHED HIM ALREADY?YEP.
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK
AT SOME OF OUR BABY HORNBILLS
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HEALTHY
BEFORE THEY GO OFF TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO.
WE'LL DO A PHYSICAL EXAM,
SO LOOK AT THE MOUTH, EYES.
WE'LL TAKE A LISTEN.
WE'LL FEEL IN THE...
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE WINGS AND THE FEET AND CLOACA.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE IS OUR FIRST CANDIDATE.
THIS IS WHITE.
OKAY, LITTLE GUY.
♪♪
WE JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY'RE GROWING WELL
AND THEY KIND OF HAVE ALL THEIR PARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACES.
OKAY. GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
HE PASSED.
THREE MORE LITTLE NUGGETS RIGHT THERE.
[ CHUCKLES ] COME HERE.
♪♪
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE?
♪♪
WOW.
THAT'S COOL.
THAT IS COOL, HOW FAST.
WOW, FAST.
YEAH. WHEN YOU COUNT THEM,
YOU COUNT THEM IN GROUPS OF FIVE, YOU KNOW...
OH, OKAY.
...ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, LIKE THAT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
I THINK THIS ONE IS A GIRL.
I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THESE ANIMALS.
I THINK THEY'RE READY TO GO ON TO THEIR NEW HOME.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, JOHN.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. LOOKS GOOD.
LET'S GET INSIDE AND GET OUT OF THE RAIN.
Hils: DAVE CRUZ IS HERE FROM THE MINNESOTA ZOO.
HE'S GOING TO GET HIS INTRODUCTION
TO THE FOUR VAN DER DECKEN HORNBILLS
THAT ARE GOING BACK TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO.
Cruz: I KNOW KEVIN FROM WAY BACK,
WHEN I STARTED WORKING WITH BIRDS,
OVER 20 YEARS AGO NOW.
I HAPPENED TO HEAR FROM HIM THAT HE HAD SOME HORNBILLS
THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAND-RAISE, SO I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET
SOME GREAT BIRDS FOR OUR PROGRAM.
SUE! Schmid: KEVIN.
WANT YOU TO MEET DAVE CRUZ.
HI, DAVE CRUZ. MY HANDS ARE A LITTLE WET.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.BUT THEY'RE CLEAN.
YEAH, ZOO STUFF.NICE TO MEET YOU.
ZOO STUFF, RIGHT?YEP.
YOU WANT TO SEE THEM?YEAH.
OKAY. DEFINITELY.
THERE THEY ARE. THIS IS DAVE.
SAY, "HI, DAVE."
I'VE NEVER WORKED WITH THIS SPECIES BEFORE,
SO I'M GOING TO NEED ALL YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT THEM.
OH, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER REALLY WELL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THEY'RE SO BIG, AREN'T THEY?
READY, YEAH.
♪♪
OKAY, DAVE.
THE PINKIES ARE THAWED OUT.
Schmid: "PINKY" IS ANOTHER WORD FOR A BABY MOUSE.
SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM EACH --
I USUALLY GO AROUND, GIVE THEM EACH ONE.
SURE. THEY CAN HAVE TWO.
ALL RIGHT. TWO PER CUSTOMER.
TWO PER CUSTOMER, YES.
[ CHUCKLES ] TAKE THE FINGER.
TAKE THE PINKIE. THE NEW GUY IS COMING IN.
Hils: SEE, THOSE GUYS, THEY'LL DO ANYTHING FOR FOOD.
NICE. THEY'RE TALKING A LOT.
I'M A FAN OF THE HORNBILL.
THERE YOU GO.
THEY JUST LOOK LIKE LITTLE PERSONALITIES.
I HATE TO SAY, SOMEBODY IS GETTING AN EXTRA.
THEY DON'T SEEM TO MIND ME YET, SO THAT'S PERFECT.
THEY'RE VOCALIZING TO ME.
THAT'S OKAY. ONE OF THE LITTLE GUYS --
WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE MY BEST BUDDY, HUH?
I'M BETTING ON PURPLE. HE SEEMED TO BE...
OKAY. I'M TAKING RED....A LITTLE BIT MORE FORWARD.
YOU'RE TAKING RED. OH, NO. OH.
PURPLE.PURPLE TOOK IT.
SO YOU CAN SEE, THEY'LL PROBABLY WORK FOR A PINKIE.
OH, MAN. I GUESS SO, HUH?
I SEE BIRDS THAT ARE GOING TO CATCH ON REALLY QUICKLY,
WHICH IS --
IT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T COME ACROSS EVERY DAY.
YEAH, THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE HOPPING SOON.
MM-HMM.WHO IS THAT?
OH, THAT'S WHITE LEFT.
WHITE LEFT, YEAH. YOU GOT IT.
NICE. YOU KNOW THESE GUYS.
♪♪
IT'LL BE HARD TO LET THEM GO, YES, BECAUSE THEY ARE MY BABIES.
IS IT OKAY IF I PUT HANDS ON THEM?
MM-HMM. HEY.
BUT MEETING DAVE JUST MADE IT SO MUCH EASIER TO THINK
ABOUT THE FUTURE AND HOW WELL THESE BIRDS ARE GOING TO DO.
HOW CUTE.
Hils: LET'S GET HERE AT 8.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO GET HERE
A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THAT, THAT'S FINE,
BUT WE'LL DO 8:00, AND THEN WE'LL ROLL.
YEAH.DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU?
YEAH.ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT.
YEAH. THIS IS GREAT.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
OKAY.
Vasquez: THEY NOTICED SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME
KEEPING UP WITH HER MOM.
THEREFORE, SHE CAN'T NURSE.
YEAH, SHE'S KNUCKLING RIGHT AWAY.
McCann: YEAH, RIGHT AWAY.
♪♪
[ CHATTER ]
BISON.
♪♪
McCann: SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THIS MORNING?
I THINK WE NEED TO RECHECK THE BLOOD WORK,
LOOK AT THE KIDNEY VALUES,
AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO,
WHETHER WE WANT TO KEEP HER HERE AND DO MORE INTENSIVE CARE
OR IF WE WANT TO TRY TO GET HER BACK WITH HER MOM.
AGREED.ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. LET'S GO.
♪♪
Sykes: THIS CALF IS ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD,
AND UP UNTIL THIS WEEKEND,
EVERYTHING WAS GOING REALLY WELL,
AND THEN SOMETHING REALLY HAPPENED PRETTY QUICKLY
OVER THE WEEKEND THAT SHE'S GOTTEN REALLY SICK REALLY FAST.
SHE'S HAVING SOME DIARRHEA, AND ULTIMATELY,
SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE ACTUALLY STANDING ON HER FEET.
THEY NOTICED THAT SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME
KEEPING UP WITH HER MOM.
THEREFORE, SHE CAN'T NURSE, SO WE HAD TO INTERVENE.
WE DECIDED TO PULL THE CALF OVER TO THE HEALTH CENTER.
THERE YOU GO.
Sykes: SHE'S GOTTEN IV FLUIDS, ANTIBIOTICS, AND SOME BANDAGES
ON HER FEET TO TRY TO MAKE IT SO THAT SHE CAN STAND BETTER.
WE'LL TRY TO GET BOTH OF THESE SUBQ FLUID LINES GOING
AND PENICILLIN,
SO WE'LL DO THOSE AS THE FLUIDS ARE GOING IN.
TODAY, WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG SHE'S COME,
WHETHER SHE'S READY TO GO BACK TO MOM
OR WHETHER SHE NEEDS TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL
A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
♪♪
HI, KID.
♪♪
IT'S OKAY.
THIS CALF HAS HAD REALLY HIGH KIDNEY VALUES.
EITHER SHE'S REALLY DEHYDRATED
AND HER KIDNEYS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FLUID
TO FLUSH ALL OF THE TOXINS OUT OF THE BLOOD
OR SHE HAS AN INFECTION IN HER KIDNEYS,
AND SO THAT'S WHY THE VALUES ARE HIGH IN HER BLOOD.
WE'VE BEEN TREATING THAT.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GIVE HER A LOT OF FLUIDS,
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME BLOOD FROM THIS CALF
TO SEE IF THOSE FLUIDS HAVE ACTUALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE.
♪♪
WE WOULD LIKE HER NUMBERS TO LOOK SOMETHING LIKE
BETWEEN ZERO AND TWO,
AND OVER THE WEEKEND, HER KIDNEY VALUES WERE EIGHT.
IF HER KIDNEY VALUES CONTINUE TO GO UP,
THEN OTHER ORGANS START TO SHUT DOWN.
♪♪
WHAT?!THAT'S A GREAT NUMBER.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO GO OUTSIDE.
OVER THE WEEKEND, CREATININE WAS EIGHT.
FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY, IT'S COME DOWN TO 3.4.
WOW.
SO THAT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING
THAT SHE'S RESPONDING TO THE FLUIDS.
MAYBE SHE'S RESPONDING TO THE ANTIBIOTICS.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, OBVIOUSLY,
GET HER TO EAT SOMETHING.
SHE'S NOT TAKING THE BOTTLE.
McCann: NOW THAT HER KIDNEY LEVELS HAVE COME DOWN SOME
AND THE TREATMENT SEEMS TO BE WORKING,
WE'RE NOW FOCUSED ON GETTING HER TO STAND
SO THAT SHE'S ABLE TO NURSE.
Sykes: THE MOM DOESN'T LAY DOWN AND LET THE BABY NURSE,
SO IF THE BABY IS NOT ABLE TO STAND UP AND NURSE FROM HER,
THEN THE BABY IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY MILK,
SO WE PUT SOME SPLINTS ON HER FEET,
SOME BANDAGES TO TRY TO BUILD HER STRENGTH BACK UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE BANDAGES OFF AND REBANDAGE,
SEE HOW SHE WALKS?
Sykes: WELL, I GUESS WE'LL TAKE THEM OFF, LET HER GO.
LET'S SEE.SEE HOW SHE DOES.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE HELPING HER TO WALK,
AND HAVING HER WALK --IT DOES.
THAT'S FINE. WE'LL JUST EVALUATE IT.
...IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE HER NURSE.
SO WE MAY JUST PUT THEM BACK ON.
IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION,
I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THEM BACK ON.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAB HER LEGS IN CASE SHE'S GOING TO...
♪♪
SET HER DOWN. LET'S SEE HOW SHE IS.
OKAY. WATCH OUT.
WATCH YOUR FACE. OKAY, MAMA.
YEAH, SHE'S KNUCKLING RIGHT AWAY.
McCann: YEAH, RIGHT AWAY.
CAN YOU MOVE? AWW.
WELL, SHE STILL NEEDS SOME SUPPORT.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO PUT THE SPLINTS ON NOW?
Sykes: I'LL GET ONE ON. YEAH.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT HER BACK WITH MOM
AND SEE IF THAT GOES WELL.
YOU KNOW, IF MOM LETS HER NURSE, IF SHE CAN KEEP UP WITH MOM,
THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TREATING HER
A LITTLE LESS AGGRESSIVELY WHEN SHE'S WITH MOM.
♪♪
OKAY. QUICK, TRINE.
Vasquez: WHEN YOU PULL AN ANIMAL, IT'S ALWAYS A RISK.
AT THIS POINT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE
BUT TO INTERVENE.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MOM IS GOING TO
EVEN CARE FOR THE KID.
THE MOM MIGHT JUST NOT EVEN BE INTERESTED
IN CARING FOR THE KID ANYMORE.
♪♪
REMEMBER THIS PLACE?
HI. THERE YOU ARE.
SHE'S LIKE, "OH, I'M AT HOME NOW.
McCann: YEAH, GET THOSE MUSCLES BACK.
READY? MAMA IS GOING TO COME TO YOU.
Vasquez: OPEN?
YEP.
♪♪
[ CHUCKLES ] THEY'RE GOING RIGHT TO NURSING.
McCann: IT'S NURSING.
ISN'T THAT A NICE SIGHT?
AWW.SHE'S HUNGRY.
YEAH, REALLY.
McCann: ALL RIGHT. WELL, AT LEAST SHE CAN NURSE.
WE STILL HAVE TO TREAT HER, FLUIDS, ANTIBIOTICS,
BUT ONE STEP AT A TIME.
YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS,
BUT THIS IS GREAT.
♪♪
I CAN'T SEE HIM.
♪♪
WE ALL SET?YEAH.
WE HAVE OUR PLAN.
SO I'M GOING TO GO DOWN. I'LL SUIT UP.
I'LL KEEP THE GIRLS IN THREE AND OUTDOOR.
TODAY, OHNO IS GOING OUT ON EXHIBIT WITH YUKIE AND IRIS.
SOUNDS GOOD. GOOD LUCK.
ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU.
EXCITING.
IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR OHNO
TO GO OUT ON EXHIBIT FOR THE FIRST TIME
BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAND-NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR HIM,
AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING AND FUN
TO WATCH HIM SETTLE INTO HIS NEW HOME.
MORNING!
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS INTRODUCTION,
WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF LITTLE STEPS,
SO WE STARTED WITH HIM BEING IN HOLDING WITHOUT VISUAL ACCESS,
BUT THEY COULD HEAR HIM,
AND THEN WE SLOWLY STARTED TO OPEN UP MORE BARRIERS
SO THAT THEY COULD SEE EACH OTHER THROUGH FENCING
BUT NOT TOUCH.
WE MOVED ON TO A STAGE WHERE THEY HAD ACCESS
TO TOUCH EACH OTHER THROUGH MESH,
AND NOW WE FINALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE
THAT THEY ARE READY FOR THIS NEXT AND FINAL STEP.
♪♪
BECAUSE OHNO IS NEW TO THE EXHIBIT,
SOME CONCERNS ARE THE GIRLS MIGHT BULLY HIM A LITTLE BIT,
SO HE MIGHT FEEL OSTRACIZED OR UNSTEADY.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO, I'D LOVE TO SEE HIM
GETTING SOME GROOMING FROM THE FEMALES
AND JUST BEING AT HOME ON EXHIBIT.
WE'RE READY WHENEVER YOU ARE.
OKAY, SUE.
I'M HEADED TO OPEN THE DOOR.
10-4.
OHNO WAS THE LAST ONE OUT.
THEY'RE ALL OUTSIDE.
OH, HERE THEY ARE.
♪♪
AWW, HE LOOKS SO HANDSOME.
HE LOOKS GOOD.
YOU COULD TELL HE'S A LITTLE UNSURE OF HIMSELF,
BUT HE'S READING THE FEMALES AND WATCHING THEM.
♪♪
AWW.
IT MUST FEEL GOOD,
THE NICE, WARM ROCK ON A COOL DAY LIKE TODAY.
YEAH.
HOPEFULLY, ONE OF THE GIRLS WILL GET BORED
AND COME OVER AND HANG OUT WITH HIM.
WHOA, WHO'S THIS?
LOOK, OH, HE'S FOLLOWING IRIS.
GOOD GIRL, IRIS.
HE'S LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW. NO, NO.
WAIT. WAIT. MAYBE I WILL GO."
AWW. HE'S ADVENTUROUS.
WELL, HERE WE GO.
♪♪
OH, THIS LOOKS GOOD.
THERE WE GO.
OH, MY GOODNESS!
HE'S FINALLY MAKING FRIENDS!
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT TO ASK OF AN ANIMAL
TO BE PUT INTO NEW ENVIRONMENTS AND WITH NEW INDIVIDUALS,
AND NOW TO SEE HIM OUT HERE WITH SOMEONE
WHO SEEMS TO HAVE REALLY TAKEN TO HIM
AND IS GROOMING HIM AND OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE,
IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL.
AWW. YAY!
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR HIM.
OH.
YEAH.
THE ULTIMATE IS FOR HIM TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP
WITH ONE OF THE FEMALES ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SOME OFFSPRING.
SEEMS LIKE IRIS IS REALLY FOND OF HIM.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GENTLY GET HER DOWN.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
Vasquez: SHE'LL CHARGE YOU.
[ CALF LOWING ]
SHE DOESN'T GIVE UP.
♪♪
BEFORE WE GET OUR HANDS ON HER FOR THE BLOOD SAMPLE,
WHY DON'T WE JUST GO UP AND TAKE A LOOK AT HER?
Thomas: THE CALF HAS ACTUALLY FINISHED
ITS COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS,
AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THE BLOOD RESULTS WILL SHOW
THAT ITS BLOOD VALUES ARE BACK TO NORMAL,
AND THE BANDAGES WERE REMOVED DURING THE LAST VETERINARY EXAM.
SOME STEPS ARE LONGER STRIDES THAN OTHERS WITH HER LEFT HIND.
McCann: YEAH,
THIS LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON THE LEFT ONE.
RIGHT, WHICH KIND OF FITS WITH WHY SHE'S KNUCKLING.
DEFINITELY MORE EXERCISE FOR THE FEET,
FOR THE LEGS, WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
OKAY.
THE CALF IS NOT REALLY GETTING THE EXERCISE
THAT IT NEEDS IN THEIR HOLDING AREA,
BUT ONCE WE PUT IT BACK OUT WITH THE HERD,
THE CALF WILL BE WALKING A LOT MORE.
IF WE PLAY THIS OUT AND WE GET THE BLOOD SAMPLE
AND SHE SEEMS FINE,
WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE
PUTTING HER BACK WITH THE HERD TOMORROW.
RIGHT.
THE BLOOD WORK LOOKS GOOD, THEN YEAH.
DO THE HONORS, MICHELLE, AND OPEN US UP.
♪♪
OOH, OOH, OOH, BABY.
[ CALF LOWING ]
♪♪
IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
IT'S A LITTLE WARMER.
SO BECAUSE OF THE SWELLING,
WE'LL GIVE HER A LITTLE BIT OF BANAMINE.
♪♪
OKAY. IT'S ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
SHE'S GETTING HEAVIER. YEAH.
IT'S GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GENTLY GET HER DOWN.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
SHE'LL CHARGE YOU.
[ CALF LOWING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHE'S STRONG.
SHE DOESN'T GIVE UP.
[ CALF LOWS ]
Sykes: HER LEFT FOOT IS A LITTLE SWOLLEN.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE PAINFUL.
I THINK THAT THAT COULD JUST IMPROVE WITH SOME TIME.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THE BLOOD WORK LOOKS LIKE.
IF THAT LOOKS GOOD,
THEN I THINK SHE COULD PROBABLY GO BACK.
Thomas: SO ONCE HER BLOOD VALUES ARE BACK TO NORMAL
AND WE FEEL HER HIND LEGS ARE STRONG ENOUGH,
WE'LL REUNITE THE DAM AND CALF WITH THE ENTIRE HERD.
♪♪
[ CHATTER ]
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪♪
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Walker: AH!
♪♪
IT'S LIKE A BABY CHILD.
THE VAN DER DECKEN HORNBILLS ARE MOVING OFF TO THEIR NEW HOME
AT THE MINNESOTA ZOO TODAY.
WHEN THEY CAME TO US HERE IN THE BROODER ROOM
ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE STILL VERY YOUNG.
THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS SINCE THEN.
THEY'RE PERCHING.
THEY'RE EATING ON THEIR OWN NOW.
YOU GOING TO EAT SOME MORE? I THINK THIS ONE IS HUNGRY.
THEY'RE EVEN STARTING TO FLY A LITTLE BIT,
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE
AND SENDING THEM OFF IN GOOD SHAPE TO GO BE PROGRAM ANIMALS.
♪♪
Hils: ALL RIGHT.
SUE, WE GOT TO GO.
DAVE CRUZ WILL BE HERE.
Schmid: I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM.
THEY MAKE ME SMILE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET SUE AWAY FROM BABIES.
COME ON, SUE. WE GOT TO GO.
JUST KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE OTHERS SMILE NOW,
IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE.
OKAY. BYE, LITTLE GUYS.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. GOOD STUFF.
♪♪
OKAY. THEY'RE ALL YOURS.
YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE ME ON MY OWN HERE?
YEP. THESE TWO ONES WITH THE WHITE BANDS ARE THE FLIERS.
OH, BOY.
Cruz: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE BIRDS STARTS RIGHT NOW,
AND ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY JOB
IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I CREATE WITH THESE BIRDS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
Hils: HE'S ALSO THE MOST VOCAL, TOO.
YES.OKAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
THERE YOU GO. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
YOU BETTER NOT GET LOOSE IN MY CAR.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAN, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY GLAD. I'M REALLY GLAD.
NO, MAN, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
REALLY GLAD WE HOOKED UP.THIS IS FUN.
YEAH. THIS IS VERY FUN.
WE GOT A BIG DRIVE AHEAD, ABOUT 21 HOURS,
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ALL IN ONE SHOT.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE BIRDS ON THEIR FEEDING SCHEDULE,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH AS BEST WE CAN.
HERE WE GO.
THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THEM.
I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO A GREAT HOME.
SEE YOU ON THE ROAD.
Walker: THIS ISN'T A SAD DAY FOR ME.
THIS IS A HAPPY DAY.
♪♪
OKAY. HERE GOES.
Thomas: BISON ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANIMALS SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN HERD
ANY LONGER THAN WE NEED TO.
EASY DOES IT.
♪♪
Thomas: SO THE VET EXAMS ARE DONE AT THIS POINT,
AND BY ALL INDICATIONS, EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH THE CALF
WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT SHE JUST
NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN HER HIND LEGS.
THE CALF'S BLOOD VALUES ARE NORMAL,
SO THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT PUT HER BACK WITH THE HERD.
♪♪
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE FEMALE AND CALF
HAVE BEEN WITH THE HERD.
BISON ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANIMALS SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN HERD
ANY LONGER THAN WE NEED TO,
BUT ALSO, THE CALF WILL GET A LOT MORE EXERCISE
INTERACTING WITH ALL THE HERD MEMBERS WHEN IT'S ON EXHIBIT.
OKAY. HERE GOES.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE THEY COME...
LIKE, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
HI, MAMA.
NICE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
LIKE, "WHO ARE YOU?" SCARY.
"WHO ARE YOU? I WANT MY MOM."
♪♪
AWW.
LOOK AT YOU. YOU'RE BACK.
OH, I KNOW.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE SMELLING.
LOOK AT THIS. ISN'T THAT GREAT?
EVERYONE IS GETTING REACQUAINTED.
YEAH.
HI. HI, MOM.
YES, YOU'RE A GOOD GIRL.
I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PUT THEM ON EXHIBIT
AND LET THEM KIND OF GET BACK TO A NORMAL ROUTINE.
♪♪
READY?
YEP. YEP.
♪♪
EASY DOES IT.
BASICALLY, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.
THEY GO OUT FAIRLY CALMLY THROUGH THE CHUTE,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
NICE.
THERE'S NO NEED TO GET OUR HANDS ON THE CALF
AS LONG AS IT CONTINUES TO PROGRESS.
WELL, THERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT.
NICE TO HAVE THEM ALL BACK TOGETHER.
SURE IS AND GREAT THAT SHE PULLED OUT OF THAT.
IF THIS CALF WAS BORN IN THE WILD,
IT'S UNLIKELY THAT IT WOULD'VE SURVIVED.
CLEARLY, THERE WAS SOME INFECTION GOING ON.
IT WAS VERY WEAK TO THE POINT
WHERE IT WAS KNUCKLING ON ITS HIND LEGS,
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT
ON ITS OWN.
WE CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR BIRTHS HERE,
BUT WITH THESE BISON, THE BIRTHS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
TO ESTABLISH A HERD OF PURE BISON.
YOU KNOW, IN VERY SHORT ORDER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BISON
FOR RESTORATION PROGRAMS OUT WEST
AND ALSO BE ABLE TO GIVE BISON TO OTHER ZOOS
THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH PURE BISON,
SO IT'S REALLY AN EXCITING TIME.
♪♪