The Wildlife Docs Season 1 Episode 18 The Fast and the Furriest

The Wildlife Docs is a television series that provides viewers with an inside look at the daily lives of the animal care experts at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Each episode focuses on the experiences of the dedicated team of wildlife professionals as they work to ensure the health and wellbeing of the diverse array of creatures that call the park home.

In season one, episode 18, "The Fast and the Furriest," the Wildlife Docs team is tasked with caring for some of the park's most agile and speedy residents. From cheetahs and servals to lemurs and sloths, these animals require a unique approach to their care in order to thrive in their captive environment.

The episode begins with a look at the training process that takes place between keepers and the park's cheetah population. With speeds that can surpass 70 miles per hour, cheetahs require a lot of space to run and play in order to maintain their physical health and mental wellbeing. This means that keepers must work closely with the animals to develop trust and positive reinforcement techniques that will encourage the cheetahs to participate in their care and enrichment activities.

Next up, the team shifts their focus to the park's servals, a largely nocturnal species that is native to the grasslands and savannas of Africa. Because servals are highly intelligent and inquisitive creatures, they require a lot of mental stimulation in order to thrive in captivity. The keepers at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have developed a series of enrichment activities that allow the servals to engage in a range of natural behaviors, from stalking and pouncing to scent marking and foraging.

Moving on from the cats, the episode introduces viewers to a group of lemurs – primates that are native to Madagascar. These animals are known for their distinctive vocalizations, which include a range of chirps, hoots, and grunts that are used to communicate with members of their troop. At Busch Gardens, the Wildlife Docs team has worked to create a habitat that mimics the lemurs' natural environment, complete with a variety of different trees and plants that provide the animals with opportunities for climbing, foraging, and socializing.

Finally, the episode wraps up with a look at the park's sloths. These slow-moving creatures are often considered to be among the world's laziest animals, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, sloths are highly specialized creatures that are perfectly adapted to the rainforest environment, and they require a lot of specialized care in order to thrive in captivity. From specially designed feeding regimens to habitat modifications that encourage natural behaviors like stretching and climbing, the Wildlife Docs team is constantly working to ensure that the park's sloths are healthy and happy.

Overall, "The Fast and the Furriest" is an exciting and informative look at the world of animal care at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. With its focus on some of the park's most interesting and challenging residents, the episode provides viewers with a glimpse into the day-to-day work of the wildlife professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that these animals receive the best possible care and attention. Whether you're a fan of cats, primates, or sloths, there's something for everyone in this engaging and informative episode of The Wildlife Docs.