Clare Balding holding a cute panda cub in Operation Wild – Image Credit: BBC/Helen Quinn
The BBC have announced their up-coming wildlife-based science series ‘Operation Wild’ will be hosted by Clare Balding and veterinary surgeon Steve Leonard.
Over the course of this three-part BBC One series, Clare and Steve will be joining teams of pioneering vets throughout the world. These teams will be attempting to save animals lives using world-first operations and the latest cutting edge techniques, that have often been adapted from human medicine.
Clare Balding with the panda cubs at Ya’an Bifengxia Giant Panda base in Wolong China – Image Credit: BBC/Helen Quinn
Speaking about the programme, Clare said: “Being an animal lover, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this new series and it was fascinating to see the new ways in which extremely talented vets are saving these precious animals.”
Amongst other animals featured in the series will be a moon bear in Laos named Champa, Thandi the South African white rhino and a giant panda from Sichuan Province in China.
Steve Leonard with an Elephant in Laos who has recovered well from a medical procedure to fix an infected leg – Image Credit: BBC
Steve Leonard, who’s previously appeared in such TV wildlife documentaries as ‘Nature’s Newborns’ and ‘Orangutan Diary’ said: “I loved being part of the show and being hands on with the animals. The vets we meet in this series are truly brilliant, using pioneering techniques which are so important for the animals and which, hopefully, will set a precedent and be used again. ”
The air date and time for episode 1 of Operation Wild has now been set for Wednesday, 6 August, 2014 at 9:00pm on BBC One.
In this newly released preview clip, Clare Balding meets Xi Xi to find out what happens when giant pandas have twins:
