On the eve of Ethe's wedding to Teddy, Donald is called to Madrid Zoo, where Shao-Shao the Giant Panda is showing signs of going into labour. A tearful Ethel asks Paddy to take his place in giving her away. After the baby panda is born he flies home to witness the marriage, to the delight of Ethel.
Donald and Paddy escort an orang-utan to a zoo, which later turns into a raging menace. Meanwhile a young eland with a tooth abscess attacks and kills it's keeper, and Donald comes under pressure from the press to put it down. Elsewhere a blind lady donates a mynah bird to the Bellington Zoo, where it is stolen by an underpriviledged boy from a nearby school.
A number of animals are killed at the Bellington Zoo and suspicions point to a keeper being responsible, it later transpires to be the work of a suspended prison officer who once worked at the zoo. Paddy is offered the post of head keeper at the Bellington and Liz masterminds an education centre at the zoo. Meanwhile Donald fights tooth and nail to prevent Challon using dubious methods to make money using the dolphins at Manford Safari Park.