We’ve delved into the secret lives of children, students, and even pets, but Channel 4 now turns to our furry friends at the zoo. We’re anticipating lions and tigers and bears – oh my.
Here’s what you need to know about this feel-good programme.
1) It shows Chester Zoo like never before
While 1.6 million visitors flock to Chester Zoo each year, none are given the kind of access that Channel 4 viewers will be privy to. New micro-rig technology is utilised to capture every detail of the animals’ lives, from the birth of a giraffe as it alarmingly falls from a six foot height, to tigers moving house and an x-ray of a pregnant viper snake.
2) Animal and human behaviours are surprisingly alike
Chester Zoo’s meerkat keeper Kirsten explains: “The more time I spend working with animals, the more it actually teaches me about humans.” The show’s aim is precisely that – to highlight the similarities, rather than the differences, between animals and humans. For example, the young elephant Hari messes around with his aunts just because he can and red panda Nima snubs her partner Jung. Sound familiar?
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3) It will be “aww”-worthy
We all love baby animals and the first episode of the series welcomes a new-born elephant, by way of matriarch of the herd, Thi. We can also expect to meet the meerkats, witness feeding time, and see animals selected for breeding. If the trailer is anything to go by, the cuteness factor will be unavoidable (except maybe when the tarantulas receive their airtime).
4) The animal-keeper relationships are incredibly special
“Some of the animals here I’ve known longer than my wife,” is an astounding statement made by Andy, one of Chester Zoo’s keepers. We wonder whose favourite food he remembers. In The Guardian, fellow zookeeper Niall admits: “If you compare chimps to humans, give me chimps any day.” We’re looking forward to finding out why.
Channel 4, 8pm
