About this season
"The Wildlife Docs" takes viewers inside the work of zoological professionals -- including veterinarians, technicians and trainers -- at Busch Gardens Tampa, as they care for thousands of exotic animals whose home is the popular tourist destination. The series showcases everything from preventive care to ground-breaking medical procedures, giving viewers the opportunity to observe what the millions of people who visit Bush Gardens each year rarely get to see. The hostess of the weekly half-hour series is actress Rachel Reenstra.
Episodes (26)
1. A Cast of Characters
Aired 4 October 2014 • 30 min
A wallaby must undergo delicate surgery for a broken wrist; the team trains spotted hyenas.
2. Baby and the Beest
Aired 11 October 2014 • 30 min
The team works to get an ill wildebeest into the Animal Care Center for the first time.
3. Swinging and Squawking
Aired 18 October 2014 • 30 min
Two white sheen gibbons; the team must save a baby Marabou stork's life.
4. Vet Camp at Busch Gardens Tampa
Aired 25 October 2014 • 30 min
An angry rhinoceros; a two-toed sloth; a tortoise named Speedy; a newborn giraffe.
5. Stars and Stripes
Aired 1 November 2014 • 30 min
The differences between hand-raised tigers and those who were raised by their mothers.
6. Mothers Know Best
Aired 8 November 2014 • 30 min
A male lemur fails to show the female lemurs proper respect; a baby aardvark.
7. Baby Blues & Flashy Hues
Aired 15 November 2014 • 30 min
A lesser bush baby resists eating; turacos get routine exams.
8. Love the Skin You're In
Aired 22 November 2014 • 30 min
A penguin chick hatches; young penguins learn to swim; a fennec fox; a New Guinea singing dog.
9. Scales and Tails
Aired 10 January 2015 • 30 min
Hold your nose! It’s time to meet two striped skunks, and witness a skunk exercising in order to lose weight. Plus, Busch GardensTampa is crawling with lizards from all over the world!
10. Hard Shelled & Bushy Tailed
Aired 17 January 2015 • 30 min
Olivia the greater bush baby has given birth to her second son, and the two of them are due in for checkups. Plus, a bale of turtles, terrapins and tortoises all need the attention of The Wildlife Docs!
11. Hop, Drop & Roll
Aired 24 January 2015 • 30 min
A baby armadillo is born at the park. Witness her first exam with the docs, and watch as she deals with a broken toe that could affect her future. Plus, a grey kangaroo must pay a visit to the docs!
12. The Best of the Serengeti Plain
Aired 31 January 2015 • 30 min
Hundreds of animals roam free across a sixty-five acre stretch of land known as the Serengeti Plain at Busch Gardens Tampa. First, we’ll visit with the newest members of the giraffe and zebra herd. Plus, a pair of storks has a special delivery!
13. Kudos to Kodo & the Penguins
Aired 7 February 2015 • 30 min
A female gibbon has a health crisis and The Wildlife Docs call in two specialists to help. Then, a colony of African penguins moves onto their new state-of-the-art habitat at Busch Gardens Tampa.
14. BamBam and the Meerkats
Aired 14 February 2015 • 30 min
The meerkat habitat at Busch Gardens has been completely re-done, and the meerkat clan is busy making it their own! Then, meet Bam Bam, a lesser anteater who has developed an appetite for something other than ants.
15. Gorilla My Dreams!
Aired 21 February 2015 • 30 min
Pele, the youngest female gorilla at Bush Gardens Tampa, is pregnant, but, near the end of her term the docs discover a dangerous situation developing with her baby.
16. Kudus & Cute Aardvarks
Aired 4 April 2015 • 30 min
Meet the entire aardvark family starting with Frizz, the patriarch, as he visits The Wildlife Docs. Then, hang out with his two daughters, Adazee and six-month old Peanut. Plus, Busch Gardens' antelope herd has expanded!
17. A One-Legged Flamingo & a Two-Toed Sloth
Aired 11 April 2015 • 30 min
A two-toed sloth visits the Animal Care Center due to a minor injury, but during his exam The Wildlife Docs discover a bigger health issue. Plus, the team goes to great lengths to help a flamingo chick that is having trouble walking.
18. Flying High & Feeling Low
Aired 18 April 2015 • 30 min
Both a giant anteater and a lesser anteater have had babies! Plus, Comet, the young, giant anteater, has to visit The Wildlife Docs.. Then, when a young, wild eagle with severe injuries is brought to the Animal Care Center!
19. Best of Jungala: Orangutans, Tigers & Otters
Aired 25 April 2015 • 30 min
Busch Gardens’ own Jungala is like visiting the lush rainforest of Southeast Asia which plays home to a wealth of wildlife found few other places on Earth. We’ll swing by the orangutans, go swimming with otters, be amazed by the majesty of tigers & more!
20. We're Not Lion, There's an Elephant
Aired 2 May 2015 • 30 min
The park’s youngest pride of lions is growing up, and one of the female cubs is due in for an important appointment with The Wildlife Docs. Plus, the team at Busch Gardens must move a thirteen thousand pound Asian bull elephant to a new habitat.
21. The Fast and the Fastest
Aired 9 May 2015 • 30 min
The team has been hand raising two adorable cheetah cubs since they were several weeks old. Now, The Wildlife Docs must make sure they are healthy enough to move into their new home at the park. Plus, the Docs pay an African antelope a visit.
22. What the Heck Is That
Aired 16 May 2015 • 30 min
Busch Gardens is home to more than 12,000 animals so it’s not surprising there are a few creatures that you might not be too familiar with. In this episode, we’re going to introduce you to four very unique animals…
23. Red, White & Orang-utan
Aired 4 July 2015 • 30 min
The Wildlife Docs are thrilled when Indra, a 33-year old endangered female orangutan, recovers from an abdominal abscess and is now able to become pregnant. Then, on the fourth of July a bald eagle is seriously wounded and desperately needs help!
24. Tooth or Hare
Aired 11 July 2015 • 30 min
Chai, a critically endangered black rhino, must undergo a dental procedure that will require all The Wildlife Docs’ participation. Plus, Lulu, a Flemish giant rabbit, is in the Animal Care Center to have a cyst removed.
25. Best of Edge of Africa: Lions, Lemurs & Meerkats
Aired 18 July 2015 • 30 min
Experience the continent of Africa, as we meet five spectacular species… the king of beasts, leaping lemurs, huge hippos, a clan of meerkats and laughing hyenas…
26. Flying Fox & Three Bears
Aired 25 July 2015 • 30 min
When a mother black bear and her two cubs wandered into populated areas looking for food and creating a dangerous situation, Busch Gardens was asked to help by caring for the cubs until they could be returned back into the wild.