Secrets Of The Zoo: Down Under

Lioness Maya has a fractured tooth, leading to a potentially life-threatening abscess. Taking a 160-kilogram cat to the dentist requires a team effort.

Senior Taronga vet Larry and the team assess the health and genetics of six vital koala populations as part of the Koala Sentinel Project.

Gracie, the abandoned koala, charms everyone as the cutest housemate for foster mother Annii. In the red panda enclosure, there’s an unlikely siege as the pesky resident bush turkeys discover that there is such thing as a free lunch. Animal ophthalmologist Sarah performs a complex microsurgery on lizard Miguel to save his sight.

Keeper Jacob visits Taronga’s Western Plains to observe his colleagues managing a mixed species exhibit with giraffes, rhinos, and zebras. He wants to learn about nature’s pecking order. An exam on red kangaroos intensifies as the team balances anesthesia. As temperatures rise, Brendan and Bailey go to Sydney Fish Market to get ice for the residents.

In Dubbo, unit supervisor Jake observes that love can take time with a pair of Galapagos tortoises. In Sydney, a 6-month-old platypus was found in a playground, emaciated and covered in ticks. The team is putting in all efforts to save him. Cheetah Liberty is tested for ovulation after mating, but a malfunctioning clipper tests her patience.

At Taronga, the vet team performs health checks under general anesthesia on all chimpanzees, including a mother and her 10-month-old baby. Two teams sedate them simultaneously, requiring precise timing and communication for a synchronized wake-up. At Western Plains Dubbo, a lace monitor is taken to the wildlife hospital for a suspected head injury.

At Taronga, three senior male chimpanzees undergo health checks. A specialist cardiologist checks for signs of heart disease in the chimps due to a family history of heart attack.

At Taronga, keeper Carolene observes cloudiness in hippo Nile’s eyes, leading to an urgent investigation. Due to hippos' size and danger, a large team of keepers, vets, and eye surgeons comes together to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, elder cotton-top tamarin Diego receives care as the primate team prepares him for an aged-animal assessment.

Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital is the go-to destination for local injured wildlife. We follow the journey of an underweight and vulnerable little penguin through her progression from tiny to mighty. With a special diet, some fitness training, and a lot of TLC—it’s not long before rehabilitation coordinator Libby is able to release the little penguin back into the surf near her natural habitat.

In Dubbo, at Taronga's Western Plains Zoo, it's bath time for some of the largest residents. Seven Asian elephants and their enclosure receive a thorough cleaning—and they certainly make their presence known.