Cheeky chimps, white rhinos and the mountain gorilla – final episode of Vet Adventures is a must-see

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It is a wonderful moment as he tracks down some white rhinos that have been released back into the wild after a 25-year absence, but as usual the programme is packed with adventures as Luke follows the rehabilitation of two young, cheeky chimps and heads deep into a forest to find one of the world’s most mystifying creatures, the mountain gorilla.

The exciting five-part series on Sky1 HD and Sky1 has followed Luke across the world as he encounters and treats a huge variety of animals in desperate need of help, pushing him professionally and emotionally to the limit.

Part travelogue and part veterinary adventure, the programmes see the intrepid vet from the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) doing whatever he can to help animal sanctuaries, charities and shelters, meeting inspiring people who dedicate their lives to protecting injured and orphaned animals along the way.

EPISODE SYNOPSIS

EPISODE 1 – ZAMBIA

First episode in and it's a return to Africa. Luke is on his way to Lusaka, the bustling capital city, to work with a local dog charity. He goes on a patrol across town to crack down on the illegal practice of selling puppies on the streets; coming across young street vendor Richard who is given the opportunity to turn his life around. But will he take it? On the outskirts of town, Luke visits a wildlife sanctuary where he helps an abused baboon, greets a pack of lions, determines the sex of three infant Serval cats and tests some vervet monkeys for tuberculosis. It’s then a trip into the heart of darkness as he is sent to investigate the mysterious death of more than 30 buffalos in Kafue National Park, before a very special visit to an endearing elephant orphanage.

EPISODE 2 - PERU

Luke is off to one of the most remote cities in the world as he flies into Iquitos, situated in the heart of the Amazonian rainforest. His journey starts above a bustling meat market in the centre of town, where a dog clinic is already underway by a group of volunteer vets from his own charity. Always one to get his hands dirty, he is soon on the streets catching a dog that is in urgent need of attention. Jumping on the back of a motorbike-taxi, he heads to the outskirts of town to see one of the world's most enigmatic and also highly endangered creatures, the Amazonian manatee. Later on, Luke is confronted by an epic four-hour surgery on a female dog, before setting off down the magical Amazon River where he is in his element treating (and fighting) monkeys, macaws, buffalos and disgusting tropical maggots.

EPISODE 3 – NEPAL

A breathtaking adventure at the top of the world for our travelling vet as he lands in Nepal's third largest city Pokhara. He is straight to work tackling the country's animal welfare issues, the most notable being the neglectful treatment of the working equine that traipse up and down the small mountain paths all day long. In town, he helps a fledgling animal charity, rescuing a maggot-infested dog and tracking down a cancer drug that can help save the many street dogs which are blighted by a sexually transmitted disease. After a brief visit to check on an injured steppe eagle, it is up into the mountains for our intrepid vet as he flies into “the most dangerous airport in the world” in order to help an isolated community. Whilst up there, he is excited by the opportunity to get his hands on some hairy yaks.

EPISODE 4 – COSTA RICA

In the penultimate episode of the series, Luke is in the tropical rainforests of this Central American country and he is most certainly outside his comfort zone as he travels the length and breadth of the country helping a host of different animals. After attempting to catch a fiery racoon, Luke is presented with one of those moments that can never be predicted: teaching a new born sloth to poo. At a local horse ranch, Luke tries to change the traditional method of castrating the horses. Jumping on a boat he journeys to a remote tropical island where he gets friendly with a group of howler monkeys, a baby anteater and wild boar. But there is one last surprise in store as Luke is told he must take a local surgical exam before he can operate on a small island full of castaway dogs. Will he pass?

EPISODE 5 – UGANDA

The final episode of the series kicks off in style as Luke hits the streets of Kampala in order to catch a dishevelled dog. It is then off to see some of the world's most endangered animals. He helps treat a couple of chimpanzees at a sanctuary on Ngamba island, where he also follows the rehabilitation of two young and very cheeky chimps.  He tracks down some white rhinos that have been released back into the wild after a 25 year absence and after a long drive into the dense countryside he spends an even longer day helping a community of farmers with all their livestock. It is then time to fulfil a boyhood dream: heading into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to track down one of the world's most mystifying creatures, the mountain gorilla.

The series has been presented and narrated by Luke Gamble.