The Secret Life of the Zoo Season 2 Episode 9 Growing Pains

As the title suggests, episode nine of season two of The Secret Life Of The Zoo, named "Growing Pains," explores the process of growth and development in a range of different animals at Chester Zoo.

One of the main storylines follows the progress of two lion cubs, born just a few weeks prior. The cubs are growing rapidly, and the keepers monitor their progress closely, ensuring they are healthy and well-fed. As they start to develop their personalities, the keepers observe one cub becoming much bolder and more adventurous than its sibling, while the other is more timid and cautious. The cubs' mother is also adjusting to her new role, and the keepers watch as she learns to juggle the demands of feeding and caring for two lively cubs at once.

Another animal experiencing growing pains is Koda, an anteater who has recently been separated from his mother and is learning to fend for himself. Koda's keepers have taken on the task of training him to use a special feeding tube, which will help him to grow and develop healthily. In this episode, Koda starts to get the hang of using the tube independently for the first time, giving his keepers hope that he will be able to thrive on his own.

Elsewhere in the zoo, the keepers are monitoring the progress of a group of rare macaws who have been bred at Chester Zoo. The macaws are a critically endangered species, and the breeding program is a vital part of efforts to conserve them in the wild. The keepers are delighted when the young macaws start to emerge from their nest box, signaling that they are growing strong and healthy. However, they soon realize that one of the baby macaws is struggling to keep up with the others, and they are forced to intervene to ensure it gets the best possible chance of survival.

Meanwhile, the zoo's meerkats are also experiencing growing pains, as a group of new pups emerge from their burrow, eager to explore their surroundings. However, with lots of other meerkats around, the pups’ safety is not guaranteed, and the keepers must keep a close eye on them to ensure they don't end up in harm's way.

Finally, the episode also features an update on the progress of the zoo's Tasmanian devil breeding program, which is aiming to establish an insurance population of the endangered species. The keepers take the viewer behind the scenes to show how they are monitoring the health of the devils and ensuring they are ready to breed when the time comes.

Overall, "Growing Pains" offers a fascinating insight into the complex process of growth and development in a variety of different species at Chester Zoo, highlighting the challenges and rewards of breeding and caring for animals in captivity.