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. Walk and Roll
Aired 7 October 2017 • 30 min
Discover the ingenious methods used to take an x-ray of a giraffe’s giant hoof. Then, an armadillo goes in for a check-up.
2. The Chimps Are Going Kookaburra
Aired 14 October 2017 • 30 min
A cardiologist is called in to consult on a male chimp’s annual check-up. Plus, meet a kookaburra and a Tawny frogmouth, two unique Australian bird species.
3. All in the Sloth Family
Aired 21 October 2017 • 30 min
The slow-moving sloth family is busy as dad, Mario, goes in for a check-up, and one-year-old Yiscel, makes strides as an animal ambassador. Then, a nyala calf breaks her leg.
4. Saving Stingray City
Aired 28 October 2017 • 30 min
Join Dr. Dominique as she journeys to Stingray City in the Cayman Islands with world-famous conservationist and artist, Guy Harvey. Follow along as the team tracks the health of the stingrays, and find out if any are pregnant!
5. Rescuing White Rhino in South Africa
Aired 4 November 2017 • 30 min
Journey with Dr. Mike on a conservation mission to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Witness the amazing story of Thandi, the rhinoceros, and meet the compassionate conservationists devoted to returning and protecting Africa’s exotic and endangered wildlife.
6. Saving the Black Rhino from Extinction
Aired 11 November 2017 • 30 min
On a journey to the heart of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, witness what dedicated conservationists, including a young boy, are doing to save the iconic black rhino, one of the world’s most endangered animal species, from extinction.
7. The Pride of the Eastern Cape
Aired 18 November 2017 • 30 min
Discover the great lengths taken to keep the Eastern Cape lion population healthy for generations to come in Africa. And, meet the veterinarians and volunteers dedicated to protecting the animals in the area from poachers.
8. The Long & Short of Animal Medicine
Aired 25 November 2017 • 30 min
Discover all there is to know about the American alligator, and find out the treatment needed when one injures its leg. Plus, find out what it means to be a veterinary extern as a college student experiences life as a Wildlife Doc.
9. Plight of the Penguins
Aired 20 January 2018 • 30 min
Journey to South Africa to discover the great lengths being taken to bolster the endangered African penguin population, and meet dedicated teams across the world that have made it their mission to protect these penguins in peril.
10. The Doctor Will See You Now
Aired 27 January 2018 • 30 min
Follow along as The Wildlife Docs make some medical house calls, including a visit to an Asian elephant with a tooth problem and a rare Malayan tiger with a lip issue. Plus, a young wallaby is due in for his first big exam!
11. Three Reptiles & a Big Cat
Aired 3 February 2018 • 30 min
Follow along as a rescued baby jaguar from Panama, grows up and finds a new home in Florida. Plus, get up close and personal with some of the reptilian creatures that call Busch Gardens Tampa Bay home.
12. Let Me Introduce You
Aired 10 February 2018 • 30 min
We’ll introduce you to some animals you may never have heard of… as a cotton-top tamarin, a gibbon, a hyrax and a hornbill visit The Wildlife Docs.
13. The Super Order of Xenarthrans
Aired 17 February 2018 • 30 min
Discover what an armadillo, a sloth and an anteater all have in common. Follow along as they train to participate in their own health care, and then go in for their annual check-ups.
14. The Hippo & the Raven
Aired 24 February 2018 • 30 min
Meet the park’s newest, youngest and adorable hippopotamus! Then, a raven, one of the world’s smartest species, takes a break from solving her favorite puzzles for a doctor’s visit.
15. Striped to the Quills
Aired 3 March 2018 • 30 min
Witness the new treatment being used to help a Bengal tiger with arthritis. Plus, discover the exotic world of the echidna… a spiky species from Australia.
16. Look Who's Having a Baby
Aired 10 March 2018 • 30 min
Follow along as the team tracks the pregnancy of an orangutan. You won’t want to miss seeing the adorable new baby! Plus, the bongo and sable antelope herds are expanding, too.
17. Croc-a-by-Baby
Aired 17 March 2018 • 30 min
The endangered Southern white rhino population is on the uptake… in the wild, and at the park, as Kisiri gives birth to an adorable 140- pound calf. Then… listen up… as the new slender snouted crocodile hatchlings are making some noise.
18. Looks Can Be Deceiving
Aired 7 April 2018 • 30 min
Just because something is scaly… or prickly… or has a lot of legs, doesn’t mean you should turn away. We’ll introduce you to some creatures that get a bad rep just because of how they look.
19. Vet Camp to Vet Tech
Aired 14 April 2018 • 30 min
Three years ago Kelsey was a vet camper at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Today, she’s landed her dream job, as a vet tech, assisting The Wildlife Docs. Plus, a red kangaroo goes in for her first check-up while a Western grey needs surgery.
20. Welcome to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Aired 21 April 2018 • 30 min
Meet a pair of tiny tenrecs, the largest species of porcupine and a tarantula, just three of the newest creatures to call Busch Gardens Tampa Bay home. Plus, a young sloth goes in for a CT scan.
21. Saving Wild Rhinos in South Africa
Aired 28 April 2018 • 30 min
Dr. Mike joins forces with a South African Wildlife Vet as they work to keep the white rhino population healthy. Plus, meet dedicated conservationists, including a young boy, who are doing their part to help save the iconic black rhino from extinction.
22. Baby Day
Aired 5 May 2018 • 30 min
You’ll be amazed to see how fast these babies are growing! Lions, lemurs, sloths, flamingos, an orangutan, hyena, wallaby and a giraffe too!
23. A Family of Gorillas
Aired 12 May 2018 • 30 min
A 350-pound silverback gorilla and his mom go in for their annual check-ups while two young gorillas make the most of playtime.
24. The Fast and Slow of It
Aired 19 May 2018 • 30 min
Discover what’s slowing down a usually fast cheetah. Plus, we’ll travel to South Africa to visit with a cheetah rescue and rehab facility. Then, take it slow with two, young Aldabra tortoises.
25. Education to the Rescue
Aired 26 May 2018 • 30 min
From summer camps to the animal ambassador program, discover how Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is educating the next generation about the importance of saving wildlife. Plus, seven otter pups need rescuing.
26. Jump Into Conservation
Aired 2 June 2018 • 30 min
Discover the amazing work being done by SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund recipients as they help animals across the globe. Then leap into action as an African bullfrog visits with park guests and The Wildlife Docs.