The Zoo - Season 3 (2012)

Garth has a hairy encounter with one of the Reptile House’s creepier inhabitants, the Chilean Rose Tarantula and the deadly spider demonstrates its incredible hunting techniques on an unsuspecting locust. 

The big day has finally arrived and Dublin Zoo’s gorilla family are moving in to their new rainforest home. But how will they take to their new habitat? We follow them as they take their very few steps into unexplored territory.

One of the zookeepers notices that some of the red-ruff lemurs appear to be losing clumps of hair. Gerry calls in the vet to investigate the mysterious hair loss, but first the keepers will have to round up these beautiful tree-dwelling creatures. 

A new female red panda moves to Dublin Zoo, so it’s an exciting time for Dublin Zoo’s solitary male. When the big day arrives he looks a little shy and more than a little wary of his new partner, but will his curiosity get the better of him? 

After her journey from Dublin Zoo, Sandy the giraffe is ready to meet her new herd. It’s her first time being part of a herd where she might have a potential mate. But how will the Belfast giraffes take to the new arrival?

At the African Plains the team in Dublin Zoo have been keeping a close eye on Hailey the giraffe, one of the older females in the herd. It’s been a long 15 month pregnancy, but the zookeepers are hopeful they’ll soon have a beautiful new calf joining the herd. 

A new male snow leopard arrives in Dublin Zoo to join Ciara the female leopard. Introductions like these can be tricky, but Ciaran and his team are hopeful that the pair will get on well. If everything goes to plan, there could be a birth that will be tremendously important for the future of this beautiful but critically endangered species. 

This week in the Reptile House Garth introduces the gila monsters. It’s the start of the breeding season and at this time of year these highly venomous lizards can get a little boisterous with each other. Garth tends to their wounds and introduces us to these fascinating creatures. 

The tiny pygmy marmoset baby has been doing well under Susan’s watchful eye, but it’s still at a delicate stage in its development and requires round the clock care. We join Susan in her home as she gives the little primate a night feed. 

Zookeeper Brendan fulfils a lifelong ambition when he encounters a band of Mountain Gorillas on his journey into the heart of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.