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. Kangaroo Friends in Hyrax Places
Aired 3 October 2015 • 30 min
Mikey, a four-year old male, red kangaroo, has stopped eating, and it's up to The Wildlife Docs to figure out why. Plus, The Docs encounter an unusual animal when Alfalfa, a rock hyrax, comes in for his annual check-up.
2. A Cat With a Bird's Eye View
Aired 10 October 2015 • 30 min
Meet Kenya, an unique African cat called the serval, as she visits the Animal Care Center. Then, the team cares for some of the exotic African birds, including an Abyssinian hornbill chick, a West African crowned crane, and a group of sociable weavers.
3. A Penguin for Your Crocs
Aired 17 October 2015 • 30 min
Two young penguins hatched at the park move in with the rest of the group, and one of the older penguins hasn't been swimming normally. Then, the team takes extra care when training their resident Nile crocodile.
4. Lemur Babies!
Aired 24 October 2015 • 30 min
The team cares for the three, new, teeny-tiny additions to the park's ring-tailed lemur troop!
5. The Long and Short of It
Aired 31 October 2015 • 30 min
The team travels to Michigan to help restore one of the cutest and important animals in the forest, the American Marten. Plus, discover the history of the giraffe herd at Busch Gardens, and a female giraffe named âRubyâ is treated for a tooth infection.
6. Panama Wildlife Rescue
Aired 7 November 2015 • 30 min
The team travels to the rainforests of Panama to rescue endangered wildlife like a tiny porcupine and a howler monkey. Witness the difference between the two-toed and the three-toed sloth. Plus, discover what happens to a baby jaguar.
7. Best of Kangaloom: Kangaroos, Wallabies and Wallaroos
Aired 14 November 2015 • 30 min
A visit to Kangaloom at Busch Gardens Tampa is like a trip to Australia where you can see kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos. Follow along as the team hand-raises a baby kangaroo, plus much more!
8. Cheetahs by Land, Lions by Sea
Aired 21 November 2015 • 30 min
A pair of cheetah cubs is growing up fast, but one of these cats has an injury that has been slowing him down. The team travels to San Diego to support emergency rescue efforts of a record-high number of sick sea lion pups!
9. Hip, Hop, Hooray!
Aired 16 January 2016 • 30 min
A female cheetah has had an accident and must undergo major surgery. Plus, the park's kangaroo mob is expanding, and one of the new additions is due in for a special exam with The Wildlife Docs.
10. Gibbon Me Some Shellfish
Aired 23 January 2016 • 30 min
The Wildlife Docs take a male gibbon in for a CT scan to see if they can discover why he's been sticking grass up his nose. Plus, some young conservationists help restore an oyster reef.
11. You Can't Handle the Tooth!
Aired 30 January 2016 • 30 min
When tooth trouble strikes a male hippo, the whole team must act quickly to perform emergency dental surgery. Then, follow along as Percy the porcupine goes in for his annual check-up.
12. Jambo Junction
Aired 6 February 2016 • 30 min
Say hello to some of the animals that live at Jambo Junction at Busch Gardens Tampa. A rock hyrax, a serval, a sloth and a giant rabbit all have appointments with The Wildlife Docs.
13. Love Sick
Aired 13 February 2016 • 30 min
The female elephants are meeting a 13,000-pound male elephant for the very first time. Let's hope love is in the air! Plus, a young lioness hasn't been feeling well and must undergo emergency surgery.
14. Baby Steps & an Armadillo-ah
Aired 20 February 2016 • 30 min
It's big news when a southern white rhino has a big baby! Then, follow along as a southern three-banded armadillo goes in for a CT scan.
15. Docs on the Road
Aired 27 February 2016 • 30 min
From a forest in Michigan to the coast of California to the jungles of Panama, the Docs hit the road to help animals in need like the marten, sea lions and sloths.
16. Cute Chimps & Amazing Anteaters
Aired 5 March 2016 • 30 min
Discover how smart chimps really are and follow along as a female chimp goes in for her annual check-up. Then, a young lesser anteater goes from hanging out with mom to hanging out with park guests as an animal ambassador.
17. African Giraffe Rescue
Aired 12 March 2016 • 30 min
Journey to the center of Africa, the country of Uganda, to witness an amazing rescue of the endangered Rothschild's giraffe.
18. Mystery of Kidepo Lions
Aired 2 April 2016 • 30 min
Dr. Pete journeys to Africa to help the Uganda Wildlife Authority figure out a mysterious disease affecting the lions of Kidepo Valley National Park.
19. Up Close With Gorillas
Aired 9 April 2016 • 30 min
Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in the heart of Africa, as The Wildlife Docs witness an amazing wild gorilla family. Discover how gorilla babies learn to climb trees in the jungle.
20. Snakes on a Pain
Aired 16 April 2016 • 30 min
Two snakes are having issues: one won’t eat and one is having trouble breathing…. it’s up to The Wildlife Docs to find out why. Plus, a male hyena has an infected tooth, and a female hyena needs emergency surgery.
21. All Eyes on the Baby Aardvark
Aired 23 April 2016 • 30 min
Meet the newest addition to the aardvark family at Busch Gardens. Then, an ophthalmologist performs intricate surgery to save a kudu's eye.
22. Metabolic Monkey Business
Aired 30 April 2016 • 30 min
When a cotton-top tamarin goes in for his regular check-up, The Wildlife Docs discover he has diabetes. Plus, meet five guest doctors who offer their specialized expertise to help the animals at Busch Gardens.
23. Gorilla Grows Up
Aired 7 May 2016 • 30 min
Follow along as the newest member of the Western Lowland gorilla troop at Busch Gardens grows from a baby hold onto mom… to crawling… to walking!
24. Journey to Africa
Aired 14 May 2016 • 30 min
Journey to Uganda, in the center of Africa, as The Wildlife Docs help the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in their quest to heal endangered Rothschild's giraffe. Then, assist in discovering what mysterious illness is affecting the lions of Kidepo.
25. Baby Update
Aired 21 May 2016 • 30 min
We’re going bonkers over babies! Be there, as baby penguins, lemurs, a rhino, tigers, lions, and cheetah cubs all get bigger… and bigger. You won’t believe your eyes!
26. Quick Baby
Aired 28 May 2016 • 30 min
A greater bush baby is having kidney issues, and Daisy the sloth is pregnant!