Channel 4 - The Secret Life of the Zoo (2016)

This series reveals the secret life of the animals of Chester Zoo, Britain's most popular zoo, using new micro-rig technology to capture in incredible detail the remarkable behaviour of the animals and their close relationships with their keepers.

Part 1.
The zoo's Asian elephant family welcome a new arrival. Grumpy matriarch Thi has been pregnant for almost two years and is reaching the end of her tether. She's given birth to a stillborn baby in the past, so the keepers have a close eye on her. Not everyone in the family is looking forward to the birth. Playful Hari, the youngest member of the herd, is feeling left out. No longer the golden child, he starts acting up, taking his frustrations out on grandmother Sithami.

Part 2.
Chester's Penguin Island is home to one of the most enduring love stories in the zoo. Rud, at 22, is the oldest penguin on the island. He has been with his partner, Spike, for over 15 years and they're inseparable. However, keepers are concerned that Rud's arthritic hip could be affecting his quality of life, and if an x-ray shows his condition has deteriorated, his future with Spike might be in jeopardy. Meanwhile, one of the zoo's most dangerous families are on the move. The Sumatran tigers are upgrading to a luxury new enclosure on the other side of the zoo as part of Chester's huge expansion. But they've lived in their home for most of their lives so it's not going to be an easy move. Little tiger cub Kasarna is especially nervous, and keepers must do all they can to settle the family into their new home.

Part 3.
Rothschild giraffe Orla has got the keepers guessing. She's about to give birth to her second calf but is three weeks overdue. This episode captures the astonishing arrival of the giraffe family's youngest member and its introduction to the rest of the herd. Chester Zoo is home to nine of some of the world's most endangered frogs. With only two mountain chicken frogs left on the island of Montserrat, the dedicated team at Chester must do all they can to save the species. Frog keeper Pip sets out to create a state-of-the-art love den for the giant amphibians in the hope that one of the seven females will lay eggs. But getting frogs in the mood for love is trickier than Pip thought… The programme also discovers the secret world of the aardvark.

Part 4.
There's a tragedy in Chester Zoo's elephant house. The Hi Way elephant family have been hit with a potentially deadly virus affecting animals in captivity and in the wild. With the youngest members of the family most at risk, the keepers and the zoo's veterinary team do all they can to combat the mysterious illness. Mac the stallion zebra is introduced to the zoo's three mares in the hope that they will produce much needed offspring for this endangered species. But the reaction from the mares isn't quite what the keepers had hoped for and Mac must try to earn his stripes among the herd. There's also a fascinating look into the bizarre world of the naked mole rat. Matriarch Janet rules her empire with an iron paw. She's the head of a 38-strong colony of worker rats and is expecting her next litter.

Part 5.
Chester Zoo's four new fledgling Humboldt penguins are being brought up apart from the main colony until they're old enough to compete for fish in the main pool. They're keen to make a break for it and join the adults, but when they're finally free to go they have other ideas. Niall the chimp keeper has known chimp Boris for 44 years and has developed a special relationship with him. When Boris captures a moorhen chick Niall must use all his powers of persuasion to negotiate the safe release of his hostage. Sunda gharial crocodile François recently arrived at Chester from France along with his partner Françoise.

Part 6.
Chester Zoo is home to ten critically endangered black rhinos. With numbers in the wild dwindling rapidly, the zoo's breeding programme is a key part of preserving the species. In the final episode of the series, female rhino Kitani is introduced to her new mate Magadi. But with injury a high risk during mating, keeper Babs is concerned that Kitani may struggle to defend herself, since she lost her horn after the death of her calf earlier in the year. When there's a surprise birth in the orangutan house, older sibling Tuti has to fend for herself and set out on the road to independence. There's a glimpse into the complex and fascinating courtship behaviours of Rodrigues fruit bats. A new male Sulawesi macaque is introduced to 30 eager females. And young jaguars Napo and Goshi go head to head in a battle of wills.