The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Backstage Bedlam (2004)
Season 3 (2003-2004)
Plot: When "Croc Live" went to air during Croc Week 2003, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than what made it on camera. Problems with animals reacting to the intrusion and rehearsals that sometimes appeared a lot more chaotic than the final broadcast with guests such as Dame Edna and The Wiggles.
Special Guest Stars: Barry Humpheries AKA Dame Edna
The Wiggles (Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt and Paul Paddick as Captain Feathersword)
Plot: When "Croc Live" went to air during Croc Week 2003, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than what made it on camera. Problems with animals reacting to the intrusion and rehearsals that sometimes appeared a lot more chaotic than the final broadcast with guests such as Dame Edna and The Wiggles.
Special Guest Stars: Barry Humpheries AKA Dame Edna
The Wiggles (Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt and Paul Paddick as Captain Feathersword)
Category
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TVTranscript
00:00In this episode of Croc Diaries, behind-the-scenes drama as we broadcast live to the USA.
00:07A special appearance of the Wiggles as they join Australia Zoo's crocodile action
00:12and the world's deadliest snakes clash out with incredible speed.
00:16Here we go, our lives are on show, working at Australia Zoo.
00:22They say you gotta watch your step while you are hanging with a reptile, but that's all I wanna do.
00:29It's animal life, it's easy to see.
00:33You bring out the animal inside of me.
00:37It's animal life and looking weird to get back to nature here at Australia Zoo.
00:45What a massive mission, a live broadcast to the USA.
00:50Months of preparation, incredible stress on everyone as the deadline closes in.
00:56There's more last minute jobs than you could poke a stick at.
01:00And the animals are on fire, they know something big is coming up.
01:09Crocodiles have been on our planet for nearly 200 million years, our modern day dinosaurs.
01:15And the reason is because they have great instincts and perception.
01:20When we started building towers and getting cameras all over the paddock,
01:24the crocs started to stress out and see things unfamiliar.
01:29Charlie in here, he was the most nervous,
01:32which gave us the opportunity to see something so touching with our modern day dinosaurs.
01:38His girl came up and comforted him.
01:41Isn't this gorgeous? Amy glides over and cuddles up to her big bloke Charlie.
01:48The main stage for the TV show is smack on the edge of his pond and he's nervous and confused.
01:54Big male saltwater crocs are the king of their domain.
01:58And all this activity and construction is quite a threat to Charlie's territory.
02:02Amy senses his stress and spends a lot of time touching and reassuring her bloke with the comforting physical contact.
02:12Every animal in Australia Zoo is feeling this major upheaval throughout their daily routine.
02:18A couple of hundred people, tonnes of equipment, familiar places turned upside down,
02:23inside out and with new, strange sights, smells and sounds.
02:27They're all quite psyched up.
02:29Even my best mate Suey, who's seen a stack of action and can handle just about anything.
02:35Good girl Suey.
02:38Is it snowing? Is it school break?
02:42A live telecast is the ultimate challenge.
02:45The countdown's on with preparations, briefings and rehearsal after rehearsal.
02:51We're practising every single move because we know there's no such thing as a second take when you go live.
02:57There's just one chance to get it right.
03:00Today's a rehearsal day for what's going to be kicking off tomorrow.
03:04And it's a great achievement for the Zoo.
03:07It's the first time the animal planet is doing an outside broadcast.
03:11You know the best thing about this? Wes has to wear make-up.
03:16Have a look, you can see why, hey?
03:19Can you just talk through them what you're going to do to catch this first one?
03:25The first thing that will happen is I'm going to come in, I'm going to lure him over
03:29and with any luck he's going to come straight up out of the water.
03:32I'm going to give him a piece of food.
03:34The second time he comes up I'm going to get a rope on him.
03:37Then when I've got a rope on him we are playing like big fish.
03:40And my croc boys will be on him.
03:42They'll actually bring you in if you can get in close and pull you back.
03:45And just be guided by what they're doing.
03:47We've got to wait until he rolls to pull him in.
03:50So there's got to be a massive amount of dialogue from me to Brian.
03:54He'll be at the end of the rope.
03:56He'll be the first man on the rope.
04:02If we get him in there right now, will you be able to hold him in there, give him some food?
04:06Will you be able to hold him in there for an hour?
04:08Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's Toadie's problem, not a problem.
04:12A piece of cake? Give me some food.
04:14Giant food.
04:18Good work, good work Brian, arranging that food.
04:21No worries.
04:22The camera crew have got to know how animals react when they're in the firing line.
04:26If you guys rock up with food for Occy and that, yeah good.
04:29But with crocodiles, we can never be too sure what's going to happen.
04:34When we're going for Goldie, you should come up to that tree there.
04:40That one.
04:47It's their first time in the danger zone during crocodile feeding
04:52and the cameramen have to know where to go and what to do.
04:58Each camera is covered by a senior member of the zoo team,
05:01ready to put their life on the line if the crop does something unpredicted.
05:06And by crikey, anything can happen.
05:09Kelsey is zoo curator and she's guarding the main cameraman that's following me around.
05:17Whenever you enter a croc enclosure, you're always aware of the danger.
05:20As a cameraman, it's difficult to keep perspective through that little lens.
05:24So when I'm given the responsibility to look after someone, it's not something I take lightly.
05:30Check out these guys, the world's deadliest snakes.
05:34And their homes are getting a final touch before the cameras and the live broadcast.
05:48Maintaining the venomous snake exhibit is a daily task.
05:51But this time, thorough preparation is the go because these snakes are on show to the world.
05:57Wes and Steve will be spending more time than usual with these guys
06:00and every extra second of contact multiplies the danger.
06:11They'll be feeding and handling four or five of the world's top ten most venomous snakes.
06:30First, he's the most venomous snake in the entire world.
06:33Number one deadliest and the second most venomous snake in the entire world.
06:37This snake actually claims three to four people per year.
06:43You just give me the ten second cue, Jussie, I'll get the heck off them and I'll just grab him out.
06:48He's the Thai man.
06:50Commercial.
06:53You know, film and live television is so stressful.
06:57If there's any problems, blemishes or I mark up, it goes straight to air.
07:01There's no turning around.
07:03So to try and diminish the stress, we use camaraderie and mateship.
07:07It's all about taking the mickey out of each other at anyone's expense.
07:11Getting TV makeup on is bad enough, but with Steve the Joker around, it's an ordeal.
07:17It actually doesn't look that bad, Kels.
07:19I can't do anything with this, I'll go on strike.
07:23Hi.
07:25I've seen hat hair a time or two, but mate, you've got the worst hat hair in Australia.
07:31You know what?
07:33Makes my hair feel really good.
07:36What are you going to do about that?
07:38Can we pull this out here?
07:40A little curl in the middle.
07:43Alright, wait on, wait on, I got it, I got it, I got it.
07:48He just can't help himself.
07:53I know.
07:55He didn't want just one on.
07:57I don't know, Wes, I'm having trouble talking to you.
07:59It's hard to take me serious, isn't it?
08:01It is.
08:02Don't worry, you're next.
08:04Make sure you get him on camera.
08:07Okay, we've seen the snake rehearsal, but here's how it went out live to air.
08:12Alright, roll one, here we go.
08:13Croc Hunter live, only on Animal Planet.
08:17Crikey, here we are at the world's most venomous snakes live with me old mate Wes.
08:22How are you, mate?
08:23I'm Mr Hollywood.
08:24Alright, what are we up to?
08:25Mate, I've got these fear snakes, going to give them a bit of tucker.
08:27Yeah?
08:28What do you reckon?
08:29I'll open the door, you do the job.
08:31Alright, mate.
08:32Wes is an absolute legend with snakes.
08:34This bloke was taught by my dad.
08:37Wes has got to try and stir them up and get them excited about food.
08:41Here we go, here we go.
08:43Because we're using frozen rats.
08:46We're using frozen rats and frozen mice.
08:48They come in kilo blocks.
08:50Oh, see his mouth open.
08:51Watch your arm, Wes, watch your arm.
08:52That's it, hit.
08:53That's a hit.
08:54Great, great, great.
08:56He's not likely to let that go, is he?
08:58No, he should be alright, mate.
08:59Let's hope so.
09:02They're both hungry.
09:04Now these are the most venomous snakes in the entire world.
09:07Nothing has a more potent venom in the snake world than these things.
09:11One bite and they'd have enough power to kill.
09:14Whoa, did you see that?
09:15Great strike, mouth open, fangs ready to roll.
09:19Give him that.
09:20There we go.
09:22What he's doing, you can see,
09:23he's bitten right into the chest cavity of the mouse.
09:26He's pumped it full of venom.
09:27Mice usually die in a few seconds.
09:29And then what he'll do is he'll work his head around the mouse
09:32until he can get the nose started and then swallow it down.
09:35Can I pick this one up?
09:36Yeah.
09:39No biting.
09:41No biting.
09:42Now they might be the most venomous snake in the world,
09:45but actually they're pretty placid.
09:47As far as snakes go, I find them really, really placid.
09:51And I guess it's because where they come from
09:53is way out in the middle of the desert.
09:57Right, yeah, right, where there's no people.
09:59These guys just don't kill anybody
10:01because they don't come into contact with them.
10:03Can you...
10:04Come back inside now.
10:06Come back inside, little mouse.
10:08There we go.
10:09Alright, let's go to the second most venomous snake in the world,
10:12the brown snake.
10:13Now, as far as snakes go,
10:15these ones actually claim, oh, you know,
10:18two or three people every year.
10:20So they've actually got the record for snake fatalities
10:23here in Australia.
10:24They're the second most venomous snake in the world.
10:27This guy's quick, Steve-O, eh?
10:28OK, back up, wait a minute.
10:29Back, back, back.
10:30This is a little female.
10:32Watch this for speed.
10:36Yeah, she's onto it.
10:38She's onto it.
10:40She's onto it.
10:41Get it, girl, get it, get it, get it.
10:43Got it.
10:44You can see her work at the back of her neck.
10:46He's on.
10:47Get him over here.
10:48Got one.
10:49Whoa, whoa, look out.
10:50She's on.
10:52Right.
10:55They sit up like this and they just go whack.
10:59Give him a go, mate, give him a go.
11:01Whoa, look out, mate.
11:03Hey, hey, hey.
11:04Hey, hey, hey.
11:05OK, time's up.
11:09Me and Steve have been working with snakes for years.
11:11In actual fact, Steve and Bob taught me everything I know.
11:14The thing about snakes is they're like little tigers
11:16and they love enrichment and they love the chase,
11:18they love the fight,
11:19so that's why we're cruising around with the food item like that.
11:22The thing you've got to be careful of, though,
11:24is sometimes they can miss the food and nearly hit your hand,
11:26so you've got to be on the ball.
11:29Jeff.
11:30Oh, yep, forgot about that one.
11:32Just got to watch out for this girl over in the corner here.
11:34She is nasty, not like this bloke here.
11:39Have a go at this.
11:40Here's number three.
11:42And this one has the reputation.
11:44This is the taipan and this is an absolute beauty.
11:47This is one of Wes's pets.
11:49Does it bite, Wes?
11:50No, she's really good.
11:51Really quiet.
11:52Have a look at that.
11:53You can see the taipan has got a coffin-shaped head
11:57and they move really, really quickly
12:00and they actually used to hold the record
12:03for snake bite fatalities here in Australia.
12:07But the common brown has taken them over
12:09because they've come up with such a great anti-venom for the old taipan.
12:13Ooh, don't stir up there, Sheila.
12:16That people's lives aren't at risk as much.
12:21Ooh, doesn't that get your blood going?
12:25Birds.
12:26Who would have thought they would have been so hard?
12:29Coming into Croc Live, we spent weeks and weeks
12:32trying to train and get acclimatised to working with the birds
12:36for the best Australian bird demonstration.
12:39We finally get to the mark and win haywire.
12:47What an enormous bird.
12:49Frank's been educating Sultan the Wedgetailed Eagle
12:52to handle his first live appearance.
12:54It's all a bit exciting for Sultan.
12:57He's outside his normal comfort zone,
12:59surrounded by people, other animals
13:01and all the action of Australia Zoo.
13:04Sultan needs reassurance from someone he knows and trusts.
13:07Give me kisses. Give me kisses.
13:11The hard yards are at the exact location of the live cross
13:15and Frank's persuaded Sultan to fly on command and land on his hand.
13:20This is what we want him to do for Steve when the big moment arrives.
13:25Longer one this time.
13:28Ready?
13:30Great job!
13:32And a tasty reward will help him do it again next time, we hope.
13:36For the rehearsals, he's behaved perfectly,
13:39but watch out when we go live.
13:46To prepare any bird for a new environment,
13:48we've got to condition the animal.
13:50So for an eagle, we're looking at things
13:52that's going to spook the animal.
13:54Big trucks, lots of cameras, that kind of stuff.
13:56To prepare him for Steve-O's live television cross to the States,
13:59we're going to need to start work weeks ahead of the event
14:02so that we can get the animal nice and prepared
14:04and comfortable in his environment so he's ready for the shot.
14:07Wombats can't have a show without wombats,
14:09but crikey, do they bite!
14:11So I'm looking for a safe performer.
14:13Who's the most tractable?
14:15Minibus is. She's got the pouch on, but that's OK.
14:18You just need to be aware of that and handle her accordingly.
14:22OK, ready to go.
14:24Time for the live broadcast.
14:26Cue Steve, cue the wombats.
14:28Have a go at this.
14:30The cutest animal on the face of the earth, the wombat.
14:34They're the closest relative to the koala.
14:37They love their tucker and they love to dig.
14:40Come on, speed up and dig!
14:42Want to dig? Look at her, she's just beaming with intelligence.
14:45She's like, crikey, this bloke can dig.
14:47Come on. No, she's not digging.
14:49This one, she's just going to eat, continue to eat.
14:51You know what?
14:53This is one of the greatest marsupials on the face of the earth.
14:57Here's my girl.
14:59Here's my girl. This is Kira.
15:01She is so pretty.
15:03And she's an Australian bingo.
15:05Just look like a dog, don't they?
15:07Give her a kiss.
15:10Hey, how you going, mate?
15:12Come on. Come on.
15:14Come on.
15:16There's a good bird.
15:18Oh, OK.
15:21Hey, hey, hey.
15:23And the birds forgot the script, spooked by the cameras.
15:26They land on the eagle.
15:28This is Salton, and he's a wedge-tailed eagle.
15:31Here at Australia Zoo...
15:33You're all right, buddy. You're all right.
15:38Wedge-tailed eagles got real flogging here in Australia.
15:42They actually get hit by cars, knuckleheads shoot them,
15:46and what we have to do is rehab them
15:48and try and get them back into the wild.
15:50And that's what Frank's working on here with Salton.
15:53So he's a little pacey, a little stressed out,
15:56but we'll work on him over the years and he'll come good.
15:59All right. Good work, mate.
16:01Good boy, Salton.
16:03Woo-hoo! We're out of here.
16:07Even though we're flat-strapped with live broadcast,
16:10animal rescues, they never stop.
16:12Check out the size of this bloke.
16:14It's a carpet python working in the laundry.
16:18With a belly full of food, all he wants to do is sleep it off.
16:22He's a bit grumpy.
16:24We're so proud that people call us up to help these snakes
16:27rather than just trying to kill them or treat them bad.
16:30They're getting the conservation message
16:32that snakes play a vital role in the natural world
16:35and deserve our respect.
16:37He's not a baby, is he? No, he's not a baby.
16:40Millions of reptiles are killed each year by land clearing alone.
16:43We have to protect all we can.
16:46He'll end up in some nice, quiet bushland,
16:49but first we're taking him back to Australia Zoo for a check-up
16:52and he's cranky as.
16:57He's a non-venomous constrictor,
16:59but he'll give a swift bite to anyone who mucks with him.
17:02Completely harmless, though.
17:04We don't want to release him straight away,
17:06so we'll hold him until he's completely digested his food
17:09and then let him go in a safe place.
17:12At Australia Zoo, we do a lot of animal rescues.
17:15Snake rescues especially can be a little bit anxious
17:18because different people have different perceptions
17:20of different sizes and colours of snakes
17:22and you just never know what you're going to get.
17:24You could get a venomous or a non-venomous,
17:26so there has been a few anxious moments.
17:31Whoo! We've got to catch a lot of crabs.
17:34We've got to catch a lot of crabs.
17:36We've got to catch a lot of crabs.
17:38We've got to catch a lot of crabs.
17:40We've got to catch a lot of crocodiles in a short period of time.
17:43Now I've got to catch me old mate Bluey
17:46and shift him from over there into his new habitat.
17:49Have a look at these little beauties.
17:51The alligators aren't bad either.
17:53Now, these little tackers have grown up really quickly
17:56and we've got to put them in our alligator area.
17:58We've got, like, the Everglades here.
18:00So what I have to do first before I do that
18:02is I've got to shift a very naughty boy out of here.
18:05His name's Bluey.
18:08What we're going to do is the old usual technique,
18:11the top jaw pull-through technique.
18:13We've got the box on standby.
18:15He's not coming out for food.
18:19Not coming out.
18:24Can you get the top jaw over on there, Wes?
18:28No, you're going to have to pull him back further.
18:30Here he comes. He's going to come out grumpy.
18:33Come on then, come on then. Go, Wes, go, go, go.
18:36Pull, pull, pull.
18:40Yeah, I see... I see you, naughty.
18:42I see you, naughty boy.
18:45I see you, I see you.
18:47Can you get around and get another top jaw rope, Rhino?
18:50Quick, quick, quick. You're going in the water, are you?
18:53Bottom jaw will do.
18:55That's a good start.
18:58Got him good? Yeah.
19:00OK, bring the box in.
19:03And a triper.
19:12Just the other one, Rhino.
19:15OK.
19:17Let him come back a bit. Just get the weight on him.
19:20Just get the weight on him.
19:22Bring that box right over the water.
19:25Feed it through.
19:27Go, Jai, go, go, go.
19:29This bloke.
19:32He's only seven years of age.
19:34And he's kind of outgrown this pond.
19:36And we've got a crocodile rescue unit set up.
19:39Come on, Jai.
19:41And we've got these big, heated ponds.
19:43Wait.
19:45Ready for him to go.
19:47OK, let's take the weight up.
19:49And then we're going to put the baby alligators in here.
19:51OK, go. Go, go, go.
19:53Wait.
19:55Go now.
19:57All the way, all the way. Keep going.
20:00OK.
20:02Come on, come on, come on, come on.
20:04There's the cut.
20:06Now, let me show you what a full-kilt male alligator looks like.
20:10Come over here.
20:12That'll do.
20:14This is me old mate.
20:16This is Barney.
20:18Hi, Barney.
20:22He's a naughty boy, that Barney.
20:24He's a naughty boy.
20:26I tell you what.
20:29How about I actually take you inside an alligator's mouth?
20:33Want to come into an alligator's mouth?
20:35I'm going to have to film this. Here we go.
20:37I'm just grabbing you nice and gentle now.
20:39Here we go.
20:41Come with me.
20:43Watch this.
20:53How's that?
20:55He's grumpy, isn't he?
20:58He's grumpy, isn't he?
21:06See if I can get you right inside there, will you?
21:12And over here, just over here, how's his life, GK?
21:15Maybe this is his girlfriend.
21:17I've got to be a bit more careful with her.
21:19Because she really bites.
21:21Hey, sweetheart.
21:24Whoa, whoa, whoa.
21:26This is not good.
21:28Come on, mate, over here.
21:30Give me your water.
21:32Give me your water.
21:34They just love alligators.
21:36They are so cool.
21:38And they're just like the crocodiles.
21:40They actually defend each other.
21:42Let's go inside his mouth one more time.
21:50All right, Stacey, it's back to you, mate.
21:52Ah, he's got me wet.
21:54Just kidding.
22:00I just took you live inside the jaws of a huge, big alligator.
22:05And it's all about timing.
22:07Once bitten, twice shy.
22:09I've been nailed on the hand.
22:11Sometimes the jaws are quicker than the eye.
22:14For everything that happens in front of the cameras,
22:16there's just as much you don't see behind the cameras.
22:20Like what happened after they caught Bluey and where he went.
22:24Just go down here.
22:26Nice and gentle.
22:27Sometimes the release can be just as dangerous as the capture.
22:30Brian will have to keep his wits about him as he releases this crocodile
22:34and then try to remove the remains of the top jaw rope.
22:37Bluey's going to stay in this temporary new environment
22:40while we reshuffle most of our crocodiles for the new crocoseum.
22:44He's a long way from being fully grown.
22:47But make no mistake.
22:48He's fast, powerful, and more than capable of having a real go
22:52at any of these guys in there with him.
22:55But right now, he just wants to hide.
22:58Trying to go back into the box.
23:00Always the way.
23:01Can't get him in the box, and then you can't get him out.
23:05Now there's just one last thing to do.
23:09Once Brian's got the rope off his jaw, they can leave him to settle in.
23:13And before you know it, Bluey will be moving to his new home.
23:16Our brand new crocoseum will seat nearly 6,000 people
23:20and be home to seven of our largest wild-caught crocodiles
23:24in five-star accommodation.
23:28How's this?
23:29We thought everything was going smooth as a zipper with our Komodo dragons.
23:34They were so quiet and so placid.
23:37And then, immediately before the croc live event,
23:40we had a really nasty incident.
23:43There was an attack, and it could have gone bad.
23:46By crikey, we were so nervous leading up to this.
23:49Since they arrived here, our Komodo dragons have been very docile.
23:53But recently, something triggered our big male.
23:56Slim went into an aggressive mode,
23:58and he went straight to the attack of his female keeper.
24:01So we've been really apprehensive about using him for the live broadcast.
24:06But I've got to make the decision.
24:08He's the star of the segment, backed up by a great supporting cast,
24:13including the highly endangered Fijian crested iguana.
24:17And another spectacular species is the Australian perentie.
24:21Set to go, and we're live again.
24:24And here we are, live, back at my home, Australia Zoo.
24:28You know, we get asked to do a lot of endangered species breeding programs,
24:33and one of our fortes is lizards.
24:36Especially iguanas and goannas.
24:39Have a look at this little beauty.
24:41This is Say Say.
24:42No, no, no, this one.
24:43This one's actually Jodie.
24:45And how have they been going?
24:46How's our love of lizards going?
24:47Oh, they're doing really well.
24:48It's only a matter of time we'll have eggs, for sure.
24:50You reckon?
24:51Yeah, absolutely.
24:52So are they kind of making eyes and stuff?
24:53Oh, they're lovers.
24:54Oh, are they?
24:55Yeah.
24:56That's so good.
24:57We've bred a lot of different iguana species,
25:00is one of the rarest iguanas in the entire world.
25:03And Jodie's in charge of breeding.
25:05And with the lizards as well.
25:07Have a look at this little beauty.
25:09What a beauty.
25:10Hey, he's going to bite you.
25:11No biting, mate.
25:12No biting, no biting.
25:14Now this is Ledge.
25:15He's an ear whopper.
25:17How's his breeding been going, Ledge?
25:18Oh, mate, this guy's unstoppable.
25:20He's got more girlfriends than hot dicks.
25:22We've had hot dicks.
25:24Our perentie breeding record is just sensational.
25:28We breed them every single year.
25:30Have a go at his mouth.
25:31He's got a huge, great set of teeth.
25:33And if he was to grab hold of you, your hand would come off.
25:36Wouldn't it, mate?
25:37Look at the size of his head.
25:38And you're scratching the living daylights out of Wes.
25:41I tell you what, he's a pretty big lizard.
25:43In fact, he's one of the biggest lizards in Australia.
25:45Third largest lizard species in the world.
25:48But that's nothing.
25:49That is nothing.
25:50In fact, he would be considered as breakfast for this thing here.
25:54Have a go at this.
25:55Now, he's watching us.
25:57Nice and steady.
25:58Nice and steady.
26:00Really steady.
26:02Because this is the notorious Komodo dragon.
26:08And they've got a switch.
26:11They've got a switch.
26:12Something triggers them to strike.
26:15And they can strike at 20 feet.
26:19We're not sure what makes them trigger.
26:23It's all right, buddy.
26:24Can I pet you?
26:26No biting.
26:28There's my boy.
26:29There's my boy.
26:31Have a go at this bloke.
26:33Isn't he sensational?
26:34Now, we've only just got Komodo dragons here at the zoo.
26:38We're going to breed them up as quick as we possibly can.
26:41Have a go at this boy.
26:43Can I get in here and give you a kiss?
26:47Kissing dragons.
26:49What a beauty.
26:50I get to do the most awesome stuff.
26:52You're all right, buddy.
26:53You're a good Lizzie.
26:55Thank goodness that's over.
26:57Can we get back to a normal life?
27:01Clear.
27:06Crested iguana is one of the rarest iguana species in the world.
27:09And here at Australia Zoo, we have a breeding program for them
27:12to hopefully secure the population out in the wild.
27:17How's this?
27:18Casper, my white crocodile,
27:20finally gets the international recognition that he's always wanted.
27:25Casper's going to be a star.
27:27But it gets better.
27:28My favourite aunt, Dame Edna, is going to feed him,
27:32even though she doesn't know it.
27:34When you're mixing an international celebrity in a live broadcast
27:38with a croc like Casper,
27:40you've got to make sure nothing but nothing goes wrong.
27:45So behind the scenes, preparations are intense.
27:48Edna on that side, and then you can be there,
27:51and the other two, camera two here, so you get close-ups of Edna.
27:54Casper has become notorious,
27:56one of the hardest-hitting cranky crocodiles I've ever seen.
28:00I can't risk anything as tasty as my dear Aunty Edna,
28:05anywhere near Casper's jaws.
28:07So we'll be using a pole to feed him.
28:09The bamboo is soft enough for Casper to bite without hurting himself,
28:13yet light enough for my very famous Aunty to hold safely.
28:18Here's how we normally feed him,
28:20and that's definitely not for my Aunty Edna.
28:27And notice the way he moves around the water,
28:30tracking my footsteps.
28:33Look at that incredible strength and power.
28:37Casper's the most aggressive crocodile we have at Australia Zoo.
28:41This is the first time that someone's fed him off a pole,
28:44and it's a celebrity like Dame Edna, so we're all extremely nervous.
28:48Dame Edna's also meeting our koalas,
28:50and we're setting up a temporary home
28:52so they'll feel safe and comfortable with plenty of gum leaves to munch on.
28:56Paul is Australia's leading koala expert,
28:59and he's supervising the set-up to ensure that no animal gets stressed
29:04or even slightly upset.
29:06These cute little blokes are used to being touched and handled by zoo visitors.
29:10They love us.
29:12Worst case scenario, one of these guys comes down.
29:15Wait until they're down about here.
29:18If you come in low, you can see where I am.
29:21On the telly, you're not going to be seen.
29:24Quickly put him back up out of shot.
29:27If he continues to do it, on the arm off.
29:30On the arm off. As long as we're at one or two.
29:33You good with that?
29:35Gorgeous, isn't she?
29:37But how about this?
29:39Whoever would have thought the person attached to that nose
29:43would be out signing autographs.
29:45There you go. Pleasure.
29:48Crikey! All the staff are becoming celebrities in their own right.
29:54Big Richard and there's a little Richard.
29:57There's a big Richard everywhere.
30:00Good on you, mate.
30:02That's the way.
30:04With exciting wildlife demonstrations running all day,
30:07there's plenty to keep the crowd happy while we wait for the live broadcast.
30:11And here she is.
30:13International celebrity and megastar Dame Edna.
30:17It's not fair! Dame Edna's got better legs than I do
30:21and she's ready to go live to the USA.
30:24Five, four, three, two, one.
30:29Now it's time to meet a very special Aussie icon
30:32and my all-time favourite auntie ever, Auntie Edna.
30:37Hello, Papa!
30:41Hello, Steve.
30:43Oh, lovely.
30:45You know, holo-possums,
30:49Steve Owen is my nephew.
30:52Now, can you see the family resemblance between Steve and me?
30:57They're very alike. Try some glasses, Steve.
31:00Oh, yeah, mate, yeah.
31:01Those glasses. Pop those on. Now watch this.
31:08Isn't it incredible?
31:15Auntie Edna, I'm so proud to have you here at Australia Zoo and helping us out.
31:20And I'm proud of my nephew, Steve Owen.
31:23What I'd like to do is I'd like to name a koala after you.
31:27Dame Edna. Lovely.
31:28Kelsey, bring the little...
31:30Hello. Hello.
31:31Hello, darling.
31:33Here we are.
31:35She'll hang on.
31:36Look, viewers.
31:37Look.
31:38Like that.
31:39She's lovely.
31:41So this is Dame Edna, your namesake.
31:44Oh, lovely. It's got little claws.
31:46Very sharp, aren't they?
31:48It loves my jewellery, viewers.
31:51Gee, it's a real bonus having you here, mate.
31:53And we've got to get back to the adrenaline pump and action of crocodile cuddles.
31:57Yeah, mate, yeah.
31:59Well, you're the only family member that hasn't fed a crocodile yet.
32:02Well...
32:03Today's the day.
32:04So long as I don't have to feed it with myself.
32:07No, I didn't mean...
32:08We've got a safety barrier thing happening.
32:10You just can't lean over too far because it'll come up and grab your upper torso.
32:15I'm pretty particular when it comes to putting people in the firing line with crocodiles.
32:21But as everyone knows, you've got to make exceptions for your family members.
32:26Casper's ready as he'll ever be.
32:28Hungry for a meal and grumpy as always.
32:31He knows something's up, but the cameras and extra people will not worry him any more than normal.
32:38Here we are, Aunty Edna.
32:39Aunty Edna's the only close relative that I've got that hasn't actually fed a crocodile yet.
32:44So...
32:45No.
32:46Today's the day.
32:47Today's the day.
32:48But you know, Steve, everyone wants a piece of me.
32:51Yes.
32:52I just hope that croc doesn't want a piece of me, that's all.
32:56Just don't lean over too far because if he grabs hold of your upper torso, it'll come off.
33:03My upper torso will come off?
33:04Yes.
33:05Crikey!
33:06Wes, my best mate Wes, he'll just kind of be right there just in case a little accident happens.
33:13An accident?
33:14Parsons, stay tuned.
33:17I'm nervous.
33:20What I'll do is, I'm just going to jump in there and take the sting out of him first.
33:27You're going in there?
33:29Yeah, I'm going to go in there and I'll just take the sting out of him and then you'll get the feel for it.
33:32Where is he?
33:33Oh, there.
33:34Yeah.
33:35He's a white crocodile.
33:36I can stand like this.
33:38Don't do this.
33:39I won't.
33:40And Wes will hand you the food, OK?
33:42Here we go.
33:45Wes, my boy.
33:47Of course, crocodiles are ambush predators, so he wants to try and ambush me.
33:50Ambush me?
33:52Here I am, buddy.
33:55Come on, big fella.
33:57Are you ready there, Aunty Edna?
33:59Come on, mate.
34:05Over to you, Aunty Edna.
34:07Crikey!
34:08Right.
34:09Whoa, whoa, whoa.
34:10Crikey!
34:11That's it.
34:12Whoa!
34:13Whoa!
34:14Whoa!
34:15Whoa!
34:16Whoa!
34:17Whoa!
34:18Whoa!
34:19Whoa!
34:20Whoa!
34:21Whoa!
34:22Whoa!
34:23Whoa!
34:26Whoa!
34:27Whoa!
34:28Casper loves his food, but I think he'd prefer a piece of Steve any day.
34:33Get another piece of meat!
34:35Another piece of meat!
34:37Here we are.
34:38Would you like some vegetables?
34:45Over to you, Aunty.
34:48What's the matter?
34:50Steve?
34:51Steve?
34:52Bucky?
34:53Come on, Bucky.
34:55Casper?
34:57Steve, don't get...
35:01Oh, your tempting face.
35:03There we go.
35:04Ah!
35:05Well done, Aunty Edna.
35:08Good, good.
35:12Steve?
35:13Come here, come here.
35:16Steve?
35:17He doesn't like you, Steve.
35:19No, he doesn't like me at all.
35:22What I'd like to do is...
35:24Come in here, come in here, come in here.
35:34Over to you, Aunty Edna.
35:36Bucky!
35:37Bucky!
35:38Bucky!
35:39She's trying to kill me.
35:41Can you get him back over there?
35:44Here.
35:45Move, move, move!
35:46He actually has me cornered.
35:47It's a tight enclosure and it's healthy to keep running around
35:50to stay out of the way of those massive jaws.
35:54Oh, Steve.
35:56Steve, your mother would be very worried if you were...
35:59She knew you were doing this.
36:01You want another game?
36:02Come on, Casper.
36:04Come on, Bucky.
36:05He always likes a second course.
36:10Here he comes, Aunty.
36:14What I'm going to do is use vibration.
36:16Here he comes.
36:17Come on, Bucky.
36:19Bucky!
36:25All right!
36:26Casper's at the point where food doesn't matter.
36:28It's all about me now and time to get out.
36:31Look!
36:32Quick, quick!
36:33Oh, Steve!
36:38Some like you and some don't, I think.
36:40Yeah, this one doesn't like me.
36:42Are there some that like you, Steve?
36:44They are, you know, they're all individuals.
36:46And some like me, some hate me.
36:48Some are blondes, some are brunettes.
36:50Short and fat.
36:51Do they know you're making them into stars in the United States?
36:55They don't.
36:56They don't.
36:57And I don't think they give a rib, either.
37:00To tell you the truth, I...
37:01But about your colour, why is it so pale, Steve?
37:04He's called leucistic.
37:06It's like an albino.
37:07One in 10,000 are that colour.
37:09Will Possums, it's been lovely having you on my programme
37:13with my guest, Steve Irwin!
37:16Thanks, Heidi Edmond.
37:20Thank you so much.
37:21Lovely.
37:22Thanks.
37:23And didn't the press catch a really disconcerting similarity?
37:28Some pretty funny stuff.
37:32You can see the family resemblance.
37:34Well, it's all about the wrinkles, really, isn't it?
37:37This pond's almost ready for another action-packed scene
37:41in the live cross to the USA.
37:44They're draining out most of the water
37:46to catch a young adult male croc
37:48who has to move to another pond.
37:50And they're going to have the help of more superstars,
37:53the Wiggles!
37:55It's going to be hard, dangerous, dirty and slippery,
37:58but I reckon the Wiggles are up for the job.
38:07With the pond nearly empty, there's nowhere to hide,
38:10and with the Wiggles' support,
38:12Steve should be able to grab him quickly in the mud and box him.
38:16What we're going to do is we're going to catch that little crocodile in there
38:19and we're going to shift him over to the crocodile rescue unit.
38:22Just look at him, grumpy as anything.
38:25Crocodiles are camouflaged predators and like to be able to hide,
38:29but draining the pond has left this little guy easier to capture.
38:36You know what I reckon?
38:38Behind the scenes in the rehearsals is always funnier
38:41than when you get out there,
38:43and that's particularly so with the Wiggles.
38:46Crikey, they're good mates of mine and we have a great time.
38:50But check out the fourth Wiggle.
38:52What a funny-looking bloke.
38:54Whoever heard of a khaki Wiggle?
38:56Wes is looking after the snakes
38:58that'll be wiggling all over the Wiggles.
39:00But this is a rehearsal,
39:02and to start with, we're using pretend snakes.
39:05To minimise the stress on the animals.
39:07Huge snake!
39:09Look at him!
39:11He's a huge snake.
39:13This is the biggest snake here.
39:15White Wiggles, this is the biggest snake!
39:19Wow!
39:21Check out that snake that's huge!
39:23What a whopper!
39:25LAUGHTER
39:27I probably don't need any cut there.
39:29No, it's fine.
39:31You wouldn't believe
39:33how much work it takes for live TV.
39:35Massive preparations
39:37and days of rehearsals
39:39for just a few minutes of air time.
39:41Captain, over to you, mate.
39:43I've got Chloe with me.
39:45What are you all going to do?
39:47Pieces of eight.
39:49Hello.
39:51LAUGHTER
39:53That's the thing.
39:55All you've got to do is get the Wiggles
39:57and you've got a hit on your head.
39:59Which camera should I talk to?
40:01This one.
40:03How can we go wrong
40:05with the Wiggles on the show?
40:07I hope he does that on the day.
40:09I hope you do that on the day, Chloe.
40:11Meanwhile,
40:13the mystery car key Wiggle
40:15tries out his driving skills
40:17in the big red car.
40:19And he's starting up.
40:21Can you sing a song?
40:23Sing a song?
40:47Fair dinkum, Wes.
40:49You're much safer sticking to reptiles, mate.
40:53And here's what makes
40:55Wes great.
40:57His skill with dangerous animals.
40:59So you get him into that corner there now, Wes.
41:01OK, Chloe, just jump on in.
41:03LAUGHTER
41:05You want it because the cameras
41:07will be over here, Wes.
41:09While they're in the enclosure,
41:11Wes is responsible for their safety.
41:17I'll just say, get out.
41:19Don't muck around.
41:21Do we wait a while after you say that?
41:23No, if I go get out,
41:25just don't even muck around.
41:27When I got a top jaw rope on
41:29and it's a good one,
41:31you guys can come to the edge.
41:33Yeah, edge of the box.
41:35Every time we deal with
41:37one of these hard-hitting Australian predators,
41:39we set up a detailed safety plan.
41:41This time,
41:43they're especially careful.
41:45They're not only professional croc wranglers,
41:47but also three celebrities involved.
41:49And the whole capture's going live.
41:51Righto.
41:53So you just stay with me
41:55with an extra top jaw rope.
41:57You're just within ten feet of me the whole time.
41:59Rehearsal's over. Wiggles are ready.
42:01The stands are packed.
42:03Camera's rolling. And here they go again.
42:05G'day, everybody!
42:07CHEERING
42:09Welcome to the final night
42:11of the Croc Hunter Live.
42:13We got the Wiggles!
42:15CHEERING
42:17And the Wiggles are my favourite group.
42:19And, of course, Bindi.
42:21So here they are,
42:23especially for you, the Wiggles!
42:25CHEERING
42:27CHEERING
42:29CHEERING
42:31CHEERING
42:33CHEERING
42:35CHEERING
42:37CHEERING
42:39CHEERING
42:41CHEERING
42:43CHEERING
42:45CHEERING
42:47CHEERING
42:49CHEERING
42:51CHEERING
42:53CHEERING
42:55CHEERING
42:57CHEERING
42:59CHEERING
43:01CHEERING
43:03CHEERING
43:05CHEERING
43:07CHEERING
43:09CHEERING
43:11CHEERING
43:13It's enormous. It's the biggest snake you've ever seen.
43:15No, no,
43:16no.
43:17Well this is a big one, though.
43:19Make it the biggest snake in the world.
43:21Wow!
43:23It's a big, bunch of ball.
43:25Wow!
43:27Wow!
43:29It's incredible!
43:31There's water in it.
43:33Wow!
43:35This is Basil.
43:37Good to see you.
43:39Basil's the biggest snake I've ever seen.
43:41Yeah
43:50We got a huge day coming up today fellas, we've got to catch one of the last crocodiles of the week
43:56You gotta give me a hand
44:05Thanks very much
44:09We love this, this is great
44:13African women with their rings around their necks
44:21That was great that couldn't have been better if we planned it
44:26It started to go red and your eyes went bold
44:39You know being the crocodile hunter, it's all about ropes, there's one
44:43Missed him
44:44Got another one here all my life. I've been using ropes to catch wild animals me and these dingoes
44:50We're looking for a wild yaoi so it's all about ropes
44:54No one realizes how much preparation goes on behind the scenes
44:58every little detail you see in the zoo is backed up by careful work that no one ever sees and
45:05Rope is just one important example
45:07You might see them lassoing a croc or two
45:10But before that happens they've tested spliced and double-checked every inch of rope
45:15Lives depend on it and these are one of the life-saving tools of their trade
45:21They go through hundreds of them and every new one is expertly prepared
45:26It's just one aspect of a thorough safety system backing up everything you see on camera during croc hunter live
45:33I'm not actually on anyone at this point
45:35So I'm gonna be just in between the fences in case we're called Toby's on Craig camera one. Yep
45:41Stewie's on camera two
45:43Wes is on the wiggles. Yep, and you're
45:46Following Steve
45:49What what time we're gonna catch it about 10 past so we've got about 10 minutes to wait, okay
45:54Well, we've got everything out in place with top jaw ropes. The Wiggles top jaw right just down there sweet
46:00There's three three for the captain. There's two for Jeff and two for Anthony. Oh, yeah. I'm good with ropes. Oh, yeah
46:07You tired like you were with the same. That's right
46:10Right now this is one of the most dangerous places in Australia zoo
46:15Total safety rules are in force and the Wiggles. They're in the thick of it
46:21G'day, and welcome back to truck on alive now. Have a look in here
46:26Can't see a thing
46:27Doesn't look like there's any crocodiles, but have a look over here
46:30Got a couple of would-be
46:32Crocodile catchers over here. The Wiggles are gonna give me a hand to catch a croc even though we can't see you're up for Wiggles
46:40All right, here we go, we're gonna tackle scrub. He's the last croc we have to catch this week
46:46Here he is down here underneath the bank. You can only just barely see me. You can see the slides down there
46:51Got your right ready there Wiggles
46:53Here we go. Here we go
46:56This should be a piece of cake
46:59Ready Wiggles
47:02Open your mouth there
47:05Open oh
47:07He's angry
47:10He's very angry
47:16That was that one brighter not real good
47:19Crikey, I'm glad the Wiggles are helping. Where would we be without him? It's not very good. It's not very good
47:24Hold your ground. Don't move Wiggles
47:32That's it we got a good one now
47:35You take right around joy, okay box in boys use your rights whenever you feel you've got the opportunity wheels
47:56We go
48:04Oh
48:10Boy slowly slowly slowly
48:16Wait hold it it's biting the box
48:21Now go go go
48:28All right
48:34Hey
48:45Did you say sure you have to take your shirt off in front of the camera
48:54Finally we can all relax after a whole week of drama stress tension success
49:04Did you do an awesome job
49:16You guys none of this would be happening today, I mean, this is the biggest thing that's ever happened to Australia Zoo
49:21We sure appreciate it. Thank you
49:34You