Series 8, Episode Two – Sunday 19th May, 6.30 PM on RTÉ One
Things are looking good for male western lowland gorilla Bangui, who seems to have been accepted by the rest of the gorilla troop at Dublin Zoo. And it isn’t long before James has some really exciting news about Kafi, one of the females in the troop.
It’s a big day at the Amur tiger habitat for Tundra and her cubs as they get ready to explore their outdoor habitat for the first time. But how will father Ussuri react when he gets to meet the cubs for the first time?
At the elephant house, zookeepers are keeping a close eye on Asian elephant Anak, who is due to give birth any day.
Series Overview
Once again ‘The Zoo’ will be returning to its Sunday slot on RTÉ One, taking viewers behind the scenes at Dublin Zoo as they get to know the animals who live there and the dedicated zookeepers who care for them every day.
Some of the incredible stories this season include that of Amur tigers Tundra and Ussuri. With numbers of this species so low in the wild, it’s a huge cause for celebration when the zookeepers find out Tundra is pregnant. We follow the incredible story of the tigress and her family, from giving birth to her two adorable cubs, to their growing playfulness and adventures as they start to mature into confident young tigers.
It’s been a few years since pups were born at Sea Lion Cove, so when three new pups are born within a week of each other, it’s all hands-on deck for the animal care team. We follow the development of the young pups, from the moment they are born to when they take their first feeds. We follow the pups as they get their first swimming lesson from their mother and witness the incredible underwater scenes when the young pups start to explore the depths of their habitat for themselves.
2018 saw the birth of three elephant calves, and with a fourth calf on the way, there is huge excitement among the elephant care team. The baby boom continues over at the African Plains, when Maeve the giraffe gives birth to a beautiful new calf, and with Casey the giraffe also due to give birth, the young calf could soon be joined by another new arrival.
The heatwave in 2018 saw some of the hottest temperatures on record in Ireland and brought with it some unique challenges for the animal care team looking after the Zoo’s animals, but what better way for Dublin Zoo’s young elephant herd to cool down than a huge mud bath followed by a dip in the pool?
When nine-year-old male western lowland gorilla Bangui arrives at Dublin Zoo, the zookeepers are hopeful he will be accepted into the troop. But in one dominated by female gorillas, how will Bangui settle in? We follow Bangui’s acceptance journey and his remarkable transformation as he develops into a silverback, as well his parenting skills as he negotiates fatherhood alongside first-time mother Kafi.
Conservation is always at the core of all Dublin Zoo’s work, and every year the show follows a zookeeper as they travel to conservation projects around the world which are supported by Dublin Zoo. This year, Gerry embarks on the trip of a lifetime, travelling to India to see how this conservation work is helping Asian elephants in the wild. It’s an epic and thrilling journey into the habitat of a species he’s extremely passionate about, with beautiful footage and up-close encounters with a host of animals from monkeys, snakes and rhinos to striking birds and water buffalo.
Other animals featured this season include southern white rhinoceros, orangutans, chimpanzees, meerkats, Asian star tortoises and Chilean flamingos among others.
This series of The Zoo is sponsored by SSE Airtricity.
Produced by Moondance Productions for RTÉ