Life at Knowsley Safari, the longest safari drive in the UK and home to hundreds of wild animals from across the world, roaming free in its grounds. The documentary explores the lives of these extraordinary animals, and the work of those who care for them, as well as the amazing, and at times hilarious, dashcam footage of visitors to Knowsley.
Amur - or Siberian - tigers are an endangered subspecies, with only around 500 left in the wild. Knowsley's two Amur tigers, Miron and Sinda, need to mate, so the keepers try anew, mindful that previous attempted matings between the two have not gone well. In a fight for supremacy in the Knowsley wolf pack, young Maya is losing. Thankfully, the keepers have a plan to offer help. The 200-strong baboon troop fight a lot and illness is a weakness. Twiggy needs antibiotics, so it is important the other baboons cannot view this action, or they might attack.
Attempts are made to mate the middle-aged matriarch of Knowsley's group of six South African white rhino with a young bull. Their behaviour should offer clues to the keepers as to whether Meru is still fertile. Staff spot that Bobby the baby baboon can only fully open one of his eyes, and they wonder if he's partially blind. Elsewhere, M the ostrich has lost a toenail and faces an amputation to stop the subsequent infection from spreading
In their home in the African Savannah, eland antelopes tend to have their calves during the warm dry season. However, Purple shows signs of having given birth just as the cold autumn Merseyside weather is starting to bite. The concern is that her new-born could be anywhere on the 30-acre Knowsley site. Vet Jen decides it's time for a full health check under a general anaesthetic for aged lion Ted, while Bactrian camels Marvin and Merlin cross the Pennines from Yorkshire looking for love.
Dominant male bison Baldr is acting up and causing chaos, but the reasons for his behaviour are not readily apparent. There's mutiny in the air in the baboon troop as dominant male Snout is injured in a challenge for his crown. It seems his rival is now making moves on Snout's queen, Gemini. The lowland tapir relies on its long snout to navigate, but Shaun seems to be struggling, and the keepers are worried about the impact on his two sons.
Rhino bull Shaka is lined up for a session of mating. However, it soon becomes apparent, rhino mating is a long, complex - and potentially dangerous - affair. An elderly female red river hog has lost her partner and her health has gone into decline, so it is hoped that a young new hog can help. Conflict continues among the baboons as the males jostle for ranking in the hierarchy. Elderly baboon Fang uses his wits and an ostrich egg to keep himself out of trouble
