Ep 11. The Trials of Parenting

The Secret Life Of The Zoo season 4 episode 11, titled The Trials of Parenting, showcases the challenges of raising young animals in a zoo environment. The episode follows the keepers and their charges at Chester Zoo, where they are constantly faced with the task of nurturing and protecting their animal charges.

The episode begins with the birth of an Assam macaque, a highly intelligent and social primate species. Keepers are thrilled at the arrival of the new baby, but they soon discover that the mother, Mia, is not producing enough milk to keep her newborn fed. Zoo staff quickly intervene, hand-rearing the baby and taking turns to provide around-the-clock care. Though the staff is tireless in their work, they face a daunting challenge in teaching the baby to socialize with the other monkeys.

At the flamingo exhibit, another parenting challenge unfolds. A mother flamingo loses her chick to a rival flock, leaving her distraught and unable to incubate her remaining egg. The zoo staff steps in, and the egg is transferred to an incubator. But when the egg hatches, it becomes clear that the newborn chick is not developing properly - it cannot hold its head up on its own. Undeterred, the keepers devise an innovative solution: they use a plastic tube and a feather to prop up the chick's neck, allowing it to feed and grow stronger.

As the episode progresses, the focus shifts to other animals facing their own trials of parenting. A snowy owl pair struggles to teach their three newborn chicks to feed themselves after a very successful breeding season, while on the other side of the zoo, a pair of tortoises embarks on an elaborate courtship ritual in preparation for mating.

Throughout the episode, the keepers at Chester Zoo demonstrate their unwavering commitment to providing the best care possible for their animal charges. From hand-rearing macaques to concocting makeshift medical devices for ailing flamingo chicks, the staff is dedicated to surmounting the obstacles that come with raising young animals.

Meanwhile, the animals themselves demonstrate their own innate and surprising resources when it comes to parenting. The tortoises, for instance, engage in a lengthy and elaborate courtship ritual involving head-bobbing and shell-banging, working tirelessly to ensure a successful mating. The snowy owl parents, too, exhibit impressive teamwork and cooperation, taking turns feeding and caring for their brood.

The Trials of Parenting ultimately offers a rich and compelling portrait of the many challenges, surprises, and rewards that come with raising young animals in a zoo. Through the lens of Chester Zoo and its dedicated staff, viewers gain insight into the complex relationships between animals and their caregivers, as well as the unexpected wisdom and intelligence of the creatures themselves.