Real Life in the Zoo

The animals play the main role in this series. The animals are the real main characters and the supporting roles are for the caretakers or zoo staff. Decisive for the program is the camera technology, which shows the animals' lives everywhere behind the scenes and out of sight of the audience. We experience the 24-hour feeling within the walls of the zoo, just like the animals themselves. The program is recorded at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, the Netherlands.

Genre: Documentary, Family, Reality,

Actor:

Creator:

Country: Netherlands,

Type: tv

Season: 7

Episode: N/A

Duration: 45 minutes

Release: 2019-06-16

Rating: 9

Season 1 - Real Life in the Zoo
2019-06-16
We see how the battle breaks out when a new male is introduced to the group of ring-tailed lemurs. The young sniper fish are given shooting lessons by the oldies and giant pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen embark on the adventure that will hopefully lead to mating and... young pandas.
2019-06-23
We see the adventure of African elephant Tooth taking his first steps as a breeding bull. The heavily traumatized brown bears Keta and Maria are slowly learning what it means to live carefree as a bear in the bear forest and how does the icy truce between the ring-tailed lemurs end?
2019-06-30
We discover the world of the poison dart frog, which has a very special way of reproduction. The brush pigs fight without hesitation for food with their much larger neighbors; the African elephants. And at night clouded leopard male Rama and female Hyma are suddenly much more interested in each other than before.
2019-07-07
Dadon, a brown bear, returns from his CT scan. The result must determine whether he can wake up from his anesthesia and return to his beloved bear forest. Giant tortoise Mien is restless. She is looking for a place to bury her eggs. And clouded leopard Hyma is also pregnant. Due to inexperience, it often goes wrong with a first litter. The cubs only have a chance of survival if Hyma has enough maternal instinct.
2019-07-14
A romance blossoms between Orang Utans Bako and Tjintah. Penguins Snavel and Opa are getting new challenges for more exercise. Siberian tiger Colina suddenly has no appetite anymore and that is alarming. And it is winter in the park. The brown bears have disappeared into their burrows, but the giant pandas are having the time of their lives in the snow.
2019-07-21
We see how roloway Akua enters toddlerhood. She terrorizes her peers, but especially the meerkats have to suffer. Family expansion at the Orangutans arrrives when Tjintah has her fourth cub. And are young also coming to the giant pandas? Female Wu Wen is fertile. This takes no more than three days and only happens once a year. Time for male Xing Ya to take action.

Season 2 - Real Life in the Zoo
2020-06-06
The new breeding bull Tusker meets the ladies elephants. The giant tortoises have a new home, with more corners where Mien can escape Sjaak. And brown bear Mincho is locked out of his hiding place. He must learn to hold his own between the other bears and the wolves.
2020-06-13
Brown bear Mincho, who can no longer hide in the inner enclosure, confronts the wolves. Polar bear Freedom retreats into her farrowing hole and soon the two cubs scream: less than 30 centimeters long, pink, blind, deaf and completely helpless. Finally orangutan Minggu, 6 months old, finds that she has far to go before climbing independently, but does mother Tjintah think that as well?
2020-06-20
With the mandrils your origin determines your place. Children of a low-ranking female also automatically have a low position in the ranking. But young man Kalle no longer wants to go along with that and seeks confrontation. The young clouded leopards grow up. So fast, in fact, that son Badai slowly becomes a danger to his sisters and mother. Elephant bull Tusker has already sired 14 offspring in his previous zoo. He therefore appears to know exactly what to do when female Duna enters her fertile period.
2020-06-27
Giant panda female Wu Wen comes into her fertile period two months earlier than expected. Within a period of 72 hours, male Xing Ya must be ready to mate with her. Zebra stallion Kutze is slowly maturing and wants to become the boss of the group. He will fight the current leader. And giraffe Zeus, who was alone since the death of his girlfriend Twigga, is finally getting company again.
2020-07-04
The giant pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen have not paired despite all the efforts of their caretakers. The period in which this should be possible has passed, so it will now take another year before it can happen again. But then Wu Wen still has one last revival. Barbary Macaque Viktor has been found in a city plantation, with a diaper and collar on. He has probably never been in contact with peers. He needs to learn how to act like a barbary macaque. Otherwise, the group, especially alpha male Kees, will forcefully let him know that he is not welcome.
2020-07-11

Season 3 - Real Life in the Zoo
2021-07-17
Tapir Tygo meets a fertile female for the first time in his life. Black rhinoceros Naima turns against her daughter Mara. She needs space now that a new cub is on the way. Gentoo penguin Anoeska is lonely because she is the only one who cannot swim yet. She is desperately looking for contact.
2021-07-24
The life-threatening Komodo dragons turn out to have a very romantic side. Green sea turtle Midas has a fight with the sharks in the aquarium, but Midas is not afraid of anything. And Indian rhinoceros Namasté is pampered with a massage.
2021-07-31
Black rhinoceros Naima retreats to her stable. She can give birth at any moment. Walking leaf Phileine appears to be able to reproduce without a man. Asian elephant Sunay is going through puberty and is targeting his defenseless grandmother Irma. And amur leopard Kitan enters the domain of female Vatne.
2021-08-07
The surgeonfish are not eating enough because they are intimidated by the other fish. Passionflower caterpillar Sofietje eats all the way around and then transforms into a beautiful butterfly Sofie. And Okapi Kamina just doesn't want to eat anymore. What's wrong with her?
2021-08-14
Elephant Fahim has a delay in his social development because he grew up in loneliness. He meets a fertile female for the first time. Rüppel vultures Kik and Daan have to leave the nest by their parents. But Dan doesn't dare. And the super big tough rhinoceros Vungu turns out to have a very small heart. He is afraid of his own shadow.
2021-08-21
Great unrest among the gorilla group of silverback Bokito. Grandma Annette is not doing well. Elephant Bangka gives birth to a baby boy after a gestation period of 22 months.

Season 4 - Real Life in the Zoo
2022-04-23
A bonobo family arrives from a zoo in Germany. How does mother Eja lead her family safely into this new world? African elephant Duna killed her own calf three years ago. Now she is going to give birth again. Can she finally prove that she is a good mother after all? And we get to know a very special animal that only leaves its hiding place among the leaves in the dead of night: the spotted cuscus.
2022-04-30
Argument among the polar bears. Yuka was always at the bottom of the hierarchy with his sister, mother and grandmother. But he is growing up and no longer wants to wait his turn. Brown bear Wolke misses her twin sister Tory, who died just before winter. She can no longer find her place in the forest. And what about giant pandas Wu Wen and her son Fan Xing? Wu Wen appears to have a strict parenting style.
2022-05-07
Bonobo mother Eja and her family are disturbed in the middle of the night. A group of 9 bonobos arrives led by female Lisala. What does that mean for the position of mother Eja? Orangutan Minggu is two and takes every opportunity to sneak away from mom Tjintah. But he thinks it is still far too early for that. And what is the similarity between a millipede and an agate snail?
2022-05-14
Brown bears Ljalja and Malysh make the trip of a lifetime. From a dilapidated amusement park in Ukraine to the bear forest in the Netherlands. Little elephant Bumi is becoming increasingly rude to his neighbors, the brush hogs. But they turn out to be stronger than he thought. And four little giant tortoises are big enough to live with the real giants. But they are four females. Men Sjaak and Baba immediately take action.
2022-05-21
Kantjils are very timid animals. They hardly show themselves. Until female Noodle notices a new male among the bushes. Mandril Valentino, the undisputed leader of his group, is growing old. Younger male Ayo senses this and makes a bid for the throne. And Flamingo Ciske leaves the nest. But do the other flamingos give him a place?
2022-05-28
Giant panda Fan Xing is almost two years old. What does his future look like? Ukrainian bears Ljalja and Malysh meet the other inhabitants of the forest: the bears and the wolves. And spring brings baby news to the bonobos!

Season 5 - Real Life in the Zoo
2023-02-26
Seahorses washed up on the beach regain their strength in the zoo and then make an exciting journey back to sea. The baby gorilla Ajabu is in danger when his teenage brother makes off with it. And there is an adoptable chick for two puffin men who have completely found each other. But can they also care for a little one?
2023-03-05
Seahorses washed up on the beach regain their strength in the zoo and then make an exciting journey back to sea. The baby gorilla Ajabu is in danger when his teenage brother makes off with it. And there is an adoptable chick for two puffin men who have completely found each other. But can they also care for a little one?
2023-03-19
Animal life also sometimes has concerns. Sumatran Jay Thrush has lost its voice. Then try to seduce a female as a jay thrush. Giraffe Kalishi is a year older than her sister, but why is she a head shorter? And Koffer the boxfish is built securely with its armor but very slow. How does he get food if the other fish are always too fast for him?
2023-03-26
Even as an animal in the zoo you have to be able to stand up for yourself. The lions no longer let youngest sister Mette join them for dinner. She will have to fight for a living. The pelicans face competition from cormorants from the city. And how does the ant plant ensure that an army of ants protects it from locusts?
2023-04-02
Reproduction is natural, but that does not mean that it naturally goes well. Elephant Faya has her first calf but she doesn't want to accept it. Young vulture Pien goes from the incubator to the nest of her adoptive parents. Are they willing to take care of her? And the gelada women have already fired two men. Will Jabba be able to mate with them?
2023-04-09
Every animal life has moments of tension. The crocodiles fight for the favorite beach to lay eggs. The newborn gelada young still have to learn how to deal with aggressive Egyptian geese. A young rüppel vulture has been sitting on the edge of her nest for weeks, looking down. Doesn't she dare to fly? And will elephant Faya finally accept her young one?

Season 6 - Real Life in the Zoo
2024-02-03
Gentoo penguins Joey and Anouska make a love nest with pebbles, but you have to be careful, because there are more hijackers on the coast. Giant panda Wu Wen suddenly behaves aggressively towards daughter Fan Xing. Has the natural moment of shedding arrived? Gorilla leader Bokito dies completely unexpectedly. How does the group respond to the loss of their leader?
2024-02-10
Since Bokito's death, the Rotterdam gorilla group has been adrift. How will they continue without their leader? Cleaner shrimps Teddy and Lizzy are the cleaning crew of the aquarium, but that is not without danger. Elephant bull Tooth returns to his old herd in Rhenen. Is he still the shy boy from a few years ago or is he no longer willing to be messed with?
2024-02-17
Pygmy hippopotamus Eveline is overweight and needs to go on a diet. But Eveline herself does not seem to agree with this. Brown bear Malysh is causing a stir in the Bear Forest. It looks like he is still producing testosterone even though he has been neutered. The search for his missing ball begins. Young zebra stallion Kytoko must provide offspring in his new herd. But does Kytoko actually know how to seduce a woman?
2024-02-24
In Rhenen the gorillas get new housemates: five colobus monkeys. Gorilla man Barney doesn't like commotion and when he sees the colobuses, they have to get away. Hyena woman Kaidi has given birth to two cubs; Kanzai and Khenzi. And boy Kanzai soon learns that he has to watch out for his dominant sister. Sea turtle Midas doesn't like sharks much, as they steal his endive. And then three new sharks arrive from Spain. Of course Midas is not looking forward to that.
2024-03-02
Malayan bear Cindy can never be found in the tree. This is striking for this species, which is known for its climbing talent. José from the zoo in Rhenen visits a nature conservation project on Borneo and at the same time gets inspiration for Cindy's climbing problem. Orangutan man Bako can dig in the sand for hours. Daughter Minggu and her mother Tjintah watch intently to see what he actually pulls out of the ground. Young sea lion man Don is a real 'Don Juan' and makes frantic attempts to seduce the ladies in the group. There's just one problem: Don isn't the leader of the group; that's Nick. And it tolerates no competition.
2024-03-09
Red panda female Kwina is participating in a study to help her peers in the wild. Janno from the zoo will take the results of the research to the nature conservation project in India and Nepal. Plants have an ingenious way of combating pests such as lice. They use scents to call in help from predatory ladybugs and ruthless parasitic wasps. And these pierce their victims alive to lay eggs. Female Lace Chilly Noodle is quite shy when she is joined by male Pincho. He helps her thaw. But then something dramatic happens.

Season 7 - Real Life in the Zoo
2025-05-10
Three koalas are coming to the Rhenen zoo. How do they react to their new enclosures after their long journey and do they find their way around? The bison in Rotterdam are experiencing a baby boom. There are already four healthy young when little Eli is born. He has to drink immediately after birth, but he just can't seem to do it. Will he make it through his first night...? And red-bellied tamarins Pablo and Chili are becoming parents of twins for the first time. The two little ones are growing like weeds and with them their mischievous nature!
2025-05-24
Giant panda Wu Wen is torn when Xing Ya tries to seduce her. Elephant bull Tooth has been in the zoo for a year now, but things are still not going well between him and Duna. Okapi Mbuti gives birth to a healthy daughter: Makimzie. The bears in the Bear Forest in Rhenen live together with a pack of wolves. There is a fight over the food, especially during mealtime. Physically, the bears are a lot stronger than the wolves, but if you are not strong, you have to be smart, so the wolves use their famous 'pickpocket technique'.
2025-05-31
Young giraffe stallion Jafari is very impressed by the scents that the ladies in the herd spread. However, he has very special habits to find out whether a female is fertile. Giant panda Wu shows abnormal behavior and eventually withdraws into her maternity den. Could this mean that she is indeed going to give birth to a long-awaited cub, or maybe even two? Koala male Arru suddenly shows worrying behavior: he sleeps on the ground. And that is abnormal behavior for a koala. It is feared that Arru may be ill.
2025-06-14
Hawaiian goose Guus behaves like the queen of the aviary in Rhenen. How will she react if another Hawaiian goose suddenly arrives? The Rotterdam zoo is working on a unique project to increase fish populations near corals in order to maintain those coral reefs. This could be groundbreaking for the survival of corals worldwide. Orangutan male Bako has been suffering from a severe respiratory infection for years and it is only getting worse. He will have to be put under anesthesia to undergo an examination. The only question is whether the weak Bako can handle this.
2025-06-21
In the zoo of Rhenen, koala female Leumeah shows changes in behavior and that could indicate that she is in her fertile period. Humboldt penguins Jesse and Geertje are very old and that is part of old age ailments. Together with a group of other penguins they will have to undergo an X-ray scan, but these penguins do not like changes at all. So the question is whether they will let themselves be captured. And the newborn Visayan warty pigs in Rotterdam get to know their father Elvis, but that is not entirely without risk. How will he react to his young?
2025-06-28
Meerkat brothers Barry and Bob are far too lazy and therefore overweight. For more than 30 years, the Rotterdam Zoo has been working on a groundbreaking vaccine against the deadly elephant herpes virus. Polar bear female Huggies may have osteoarthritis. To know for sure, she needs to undergo a scan, but that is not an option for a polar bear in the warm summer weather. Fortunately, the keepers have come up with a test; without Huggies having to go under anesthesia.