August 2013 – Daktari TV Show

Daktari Season Four Episode Guide

Published on August 26, 2013April 11, 2014 by susanwbailey3 Comments

The following episode guide for Season Four was contributed by Ken Lynch who hails from Australia. Photos are by Patrick Sansano. Patrick is from France and has an excellent and entertaining Episode Guide of his own which I encourage you to visit. If you don’t speak French, use Google Translate to read his commentary.

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The Fourth Season

Note: photo slide show of Season Four at the bottom on this post.

A half season of 15 episodes was screened between September 1968 and January 1969 six months after the conclusion of the 27 episode Season Three in March 1968.

However, the decline of the series was perhaps foreshadowed by a switch in time slot from a Tuesday to a Wednesday night in the US.

One of the core cast, Yale Summers, left the series after three seasons and Cheryl Miller was starting to become too old to play the ‘young innocent’ any more. In fact, a new shot of the older, longer-haired Miller is featured in the last season’s introductory titles.

Two new cast members were drafted – Jenny Jones (played by 7-year old Erin Moran) and Bart Jason, a camera-safari guide who was once a ranger. The first episode introduces them and sets them up for their stay for the rest of the series. Unfortunately, this new focus produced several overly saccharin episodes.

A few of the same production crew remained for this third season, notably writer Malvin Wald (5) while Marshall Thompson increased his behind-the-scenes involvement by writing one episode.

Regular Paul Landres returned to direct 4 episodes with Dick Moder (3). A new director Alan Crosland directed 3 while Marshall Thompson directed yet one more.

Fourth Season Episodes (First aired on Wednesdays on CBS)

4.1 (75) A Family for Jenny (First aired 25 Sept 1968)

When some orphans come for a visit to Wameru, Jenny Jones hides out with Judy, so that she will not have to return to the orphanage in Nogoro. Broken-hearted that Tracy will not adopt her, she agrees to return to the city with him. While driving to Nogoro, Hedley intercepts them and warns the two of a killer lioness on the loose. He informs them that the government has sent in a professional hunter, Bart Jason, to bring her down. It is Tracy who discovers that the lioness has a cub, perhaps the reason for her vicious tendencies, and he and Jenny set out to save her. Jenny is fearful that the cub will be made an orphan like herself, and as Jason and Tracy follow their prey, she follows the cub.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald. Joan Anderson guest stars and would return in Episodes 4.6 and 4.8. Jack’s absence is explained early in the episode as being “back in the states on a research fellowship”. Marsh’s ultimate decision to adopt Jenny becomes clear when he refers to her as “Paula” on their trip into the bush. Cheryl Miller changes her look (mini skirt, boots) and is now more credible as the big sister (the actress was born in 1943 while Erin Moran was born in 1960!).

4.2 (76) Clarence the Lionhearted (First aired 2 Oct 1968)

Survival is the lesson that Clarence and a native tribesman-turned poacher must learn when they are faced with existing in the bush as outcasts. While Dr. Tracy is testing Clarence’s lionhood and ability to protect his own territory, the native who refuses to leave his land after it is evacuated by the government, stalks his future prey – Clarence. The lions come to Wameru and attach the animals in the Compound.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Alan Crosland. Includes one of the longest introductory segments (9 minutes). Some scenes of Judy and the baby bear playing in the cage are repeated from the first season. This episode continues the trend of showing newly filmed multiple animals at outdoor Africa USA locations, although a scene of lions from Episode 1.18 is re-used.

4.3 (77) African Heritage (First aired 9 Oct 1968)

A famous child author, Jan Ferris, who longs to write adult best sellers like her father, comes to Africa looking for excitement, violence and adventure. Discovering that life at Wameru Compound is too tame for her, she attempts to provoke an incident by entering a cage housing a sick cheetah after earlier seeing Dr. Tracy and Mike inside removing her cub. However, the cat lunges at her, escapes and desperately searches for her baby who is sleeping with Jenny in her room. Not until they hear Jan scream do Daktari and his household awake and become aware of danger, but by then the crazed cheetah is poised for attack outside Jenny’s window.

Notes: Joe Higgins makes a brief third appearance at the start in a new role after having played Lansing in Episodes 1.17 and 2.13. Watch for a look at Cheryl Miller’s long hair in the night time scene.

4.4 (78) The Outsider (First aired 16 Oct 1968)

Dr. Tracy’s new neighbours are newlyweds Anne and Alfred Benton. A big game hunter, Benton loses his hunting cheetah and comes to Daktari for help. Unknown to Benton, Mrs. Benton has secretly released the cat. Now, concerned for its life, she steals away to hunt for her husband’s pet on her own. While searching in the bush, she comes face to face with a wild killer cheetah.

Notes: Directed by Dick Moder. This is a fairly routine episode. Paula seems to have taken over the role of researcher from Jack (also note her wearing the same top as in the previous episode). Mike does not appear in this episode.

4.5 (79) Strike Like a Lion (First aired 23 Oct 1968)

A young and wealthy idealist from the States, Andy Brewster, disillusioned by man’s lack of concern for his fellow man, comes to Africa and enlists in a small country’s rebel army. His first assignment is to come to Wameru and get Bart Jason, well known all over the continent for his skill with weapons and knowledge of jungle warfare, to join the cause.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Alan Crosland. Scenes of lions from Episode 4.2 are re-used here. Lawrence Templar makes an impressive guest star in a story that makes a political statement. Jenny does not appear in this episode.

4.6 (80) Adam and Jenny (First aired 30 Oct 1968

The paths of a wild jungle dog and a runaway orphan named Adam cross with a lonely native couple living in an isolated bush area. The result involves Daktari, Paula, Mike, Hedley, Miss Pearce – and especially Jenny and Judy – conspiring to help Adam until he can find a real home of his own. While the two littIe schemers attempt to coax the husband and wife into adopting Adam, the boy finds himself alone in the bush – face to face with the vicious dog.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. A young Louis Gossett guest stars as an old man. Joan Anderson returns for the second time as June Pearce after being in Episode 4.1 and would return again in Episode 4.8.

4.7 (81) A Man’s Man (First aired 6 Nov 1968)

When a father and son, estranged by the death of his mother, are reunited at Wameru Compound, the tension rises. The father, Chet Rainey, a famous wild game hunter and oil tycoon, fears that his wife’s sensitivity may have had too great an influence on the boy. He sets out to make his kind of man out of his son, Ted. Bart agrees to take Chet and Ted on a camera safari. In the mountainous terrain, Ted at first seems to lack the stamina for the hunt, but when the party becomes separated, a stalking leopard tests not Ted’s, but Chet’s manhood.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Once again, Cheryl Miller rarely appears in this episode. It is actually the first episode in which Ross Hagen has the largest part in the episode and it also displays the obvious problem with the fourth season – the omnipresence of Erin Moran. The ‘leopard rocks’ from past episodes (particularly from the first season) are featured.

4.8 (82) The Runaways (First aired 13 Nov 1968)

When Jenny overhears Dr. Tracy and the orphanage worker, Miss Pearce, discussing the children’s show for the home in which Toto is to star, Jenny mistakenly thinks that she is being returned to the orphanage for good. Scared and hurt, she takes Judy and a small lion cub who has been temporarily separated from her sickly mother, and they head for the bush. But the mother lioness soon discovers her cub missing, breaks out of her cage, and in a rage follows her baby’s scent to Jenny’s treehouse hideaway where the helpless group is hiding unaware of their danger.

Notes: Directed by Alan Crosland and co-written by Doris Dowling who had actually previously appeared as an actress in Episodes 1.12, 2.10 and 3.11. Joan Anderson guest stars again after having been in Episodes 4.1 and 4.6. Her character was obviously designed to be a love interest for Marsh. Sid Melton has one quick scene too. Jenny’s bedroom is the one previously used by Paula who now has another one.

4.9 (83) African Showdown (First aired 20 Nov 1968)

When a backslapping American rancher, Joe Wonder, buys the homestead next to Wameru Compound, Daktari and his staff become suspicious of his motives after he uses guns. It soon becomes apparent that he intends to fence off his part of the bush for controlled game hunting, and charge hunters high fees for killing the stray animals from the reserve. After overhearing Daktari say that he can find no legal way to stop Big Joe, Jenny and her animal friends sneak over to his ranch at night and begin to cut down all his barbed wire fences – unaware that Wonder is on guard.

Notes: Directed by Dick Moder. Alan Hale Jr guest stars. Watch for when Paula shows some affection on Bart’s return from safari! Paula says Judy is five years old which doesn’t seem right when she was originally in Clarence and Flipper some 5-6 years earlier. Another odd occurrence is Mike flying a plane for the first time in over 80 episodes!

4.10 (84) Once Upon a Fang (First aired 27 Nov 1968)

When a teenage storyteller, Usumbu, is banished from his village, he runs into danger – a leopard who attacks him. Dr. Tracy, out observing herd movements, rescues Usumbu and takes him to Wameru. While Usumbu is recovering, Dr. Tracy, Paula, Mike and Jenny discover that it is more than the leopard clawing that is hurting Usumbu. After enchanting Jenny with his stories and puppets, he tells them that he was banished because he felt that being a warrior was more important than preserving the heritage of the tribe – his inherited craft. He runs away to again face the leopards in the bush just as Dr. Tracy finds a way for him to both prove his dignity as a man and his talent as a storyteller.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Ten episodes into the final season, there are several welcome references to Jack Dane, including the suggestion to ring him in the States. Bart is on safari and does not appear.

4.11 (85) The Divining Rods (First aired 11 Dec 1968)

An all-out fight for water breaks out between Dr. Tracy and aging Charlie Rone, chief engineer for a native resettlement project, when he errs in calculating the watershed, making Wameru Compound and the surrounding game reserve a virtual desert. Bart, who has known Rone for years, soon learns that he is insecure about his job since a young and very well-educated assistant, Tom Otis, joined him. Stubborn in his refusal to admit his mistake, he forces Tracy to go to Nogoro where the violation of Wameru’s water rights will be exposed. While Tracy is gone, Rone comes to the reserve and urges Bart to help find ground water for Wameru so that he can meet his project deadline and save the animals too. When the scientific instruments for water discovery fail to yield results, Bart turns to the natural talents of Wameru Center. He and Rone take two pet elephants out in the bush to use their sensitive trunks as divining rods in a race with time to tap water before the reserve animals die of thirst.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Bruce Bennett (a former Tarzan) had guest starred in a role in Episodes 3.1 and 3.18, but here he plays a different one.

4.12 (86) Discovery (First aired 18 Dec 1968)

Judy’s life is endangered when momentary greed overcomes a husband and wife team distinguished for their motion picture documentaries on African wildlife. Judy stumbles onto a cave filled with rare and ancient artefacts, and when the photographers see her discovery, they devise a “get rich quick” plan which includes a well·publicised expedition to the cave. As they make their escape, a landslide seals Judy inside, but the two decide that her silence will increase the fame which they have spent a lifetime seeking.

Notes: Directed by John Florea who again does some fancy shots. Listen for Judy doing a Tarzan call. Bart does not appear.

4.13 (87) Jungle Heartbeat (First aired 1 Jan 1969)

Confrontation with an angry medicine man and the dangers of black magic begin to complicate Daktari’s work with the chief’s son who is dangerously ill. Crucial in the search to hopefully cure the sick boy are some seemingly unimportant questions asked by Jenny – why the caged tiger paces back and forth and why the captive elephant sways in the same rhythm?

Notes: Written by Richard Carlson and directed by John Florea. The elephant’s name is Lydia, the name of the elephant from the first season. Listen for when Marsh refers to the music man as “Shelly Manne”, the writer of the Daktari theme music.

4.14 (88) A Tiger’s Tale (First aired 8 Jan 1969)

When a Bengal tiger (Serina), formerly a pet of Dr. Tracy’s, shows up at Wameru Compound after three years, Mike and Marsh attempt to discover the mysterious reasons for her return. She becomes vicious in her cage so Marsh lets her go, tracking her into the dense bush country. It appears that he is being led into a trap when the tiger brings him to her sick cub – and a full-grown lion poised for attack.

Notes: Co-written by Marshall Thompson and directed by Dick Moder who shows an interesting new shot from inside the house looking out onto the verandah. Another nod to early Daktari history is the reference to Doris, an older chimp, who was a ‘friend’ of Judy – Doris was the name of the chimp played by Judy in the Clarence movie. Paula does not appear.

4.15 (89) Judy Come Home (First aired 15 Jan 1969)

An all-out search of the dense bush country surrounding Wameru is called after Judy and Clarence disappear. When four days have passed and there is still no trace of them, Jenny starts to worry. Fearing that they have been killed, she refuses to do anything but stand vigil. In an attempt to cheer her up, Marsh gets out Judy’s box containing souvenirs of past escapades. Using these as props, he begins to tell “Judy and Clarence’s Tales” while waiting to hear word of their rescue.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Dick Moder. The review of past episodes provides a fitting conclusion to the series.

Photo Slide Show Season Four

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Daktari Season Three Episode Guide

Published on August 2, 2013July 22, 2016 by susanwbailey9 Comments

The following episode guide for Season Three was contributed by Ken Lynch who hails from Australia. Photos are by Patrick Sansano. Patrick is from France and has an excellent and entertaining Episode Guide of his own which I encourage you to visit. If you don’t speak French, use Google Translate to read his commentary.

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The Third Season

Note: photo slide show of Season Three at the bottom on this post.

A full season of 27 episodes was screened between September 1967 and March 1968 five months after the conclusion of the 29 episode Season Two in April 1967.

Again, many of the same production crew continued their involvement in the second season. Writers such as Malvin Wald (8) and William Clark (3) were joined by new regulars Richard Tuber (2) and Ted Herbert (7) with Alan Cailllou also returning to write another episode. In fact, Malvin was promoted to Associate Producer for this season.

Regular Paul Landres returned to direct 13 episodes with John Florea carrying the bulk of the remainder (9) with Dick Moder (6).
The core cast remained the same for this third season, although the introduction included a new clip of Yale Summers with a giraffe instead of an elephant.

Storylines were again interesting although there was an increasing focus on Judy – reflecting her popularity at the time. It was not until the fourth and final season that the problems associated with changes to the cast started to set in.

Third Season Episodes (1st aired on Tuesdays on CBS in US)

3.1 (48) Judy and the Astro-Chimp (First aired 5 Sept 1967)

The space age comes to the Compound when Sally the Astro-Chimp lands there due to a malfunction in her capsule’s guidance system. Judy finds the famed animal and trades her binoculars for a silver space helmet. Everyone mistakes Judy for Sally and she plays the role as the world’s most valuable chimp to the hilt. When identities are finally straightened out, Judy is commended by an Air Force doctor for finding and taking care of their prize possession and Judy decides to tum down a very interesting offer.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Judy plays a dual role in this episode. Cheryl Miller wears dark glasses throughout for some reason. Some footage of Marshall Thompson on-location in Africa is used again. An interesting looking dream sequence involving Judy and the team in ‘civvies’ is also featured.

3.2 (49) The Execution (First aired 12 Sept 1967)

A leopard attacks Hedley and Marsh without apparent provocation and Daktari decides to operate when he learns the animal is suffering from a brain tumour. Judy’s mother instinct takes over and she secretly adopts the patient’s cub. The cured leopard returns to the compound in a rage and is about to be shot as Judy realises she must save a life.

Notes: Directed by Dick Moder. Hedley sings the song he sang in Episodes 1.10 and 1.11 when in the cage with Hercules the Bear.

3.3 (50) Crime Wave at Wameru (First aired 19 Sept 1967)

When the royal lion cub is brought to the Compound for its annual checkup, Marsh learns Hedley is being forced to retire as District Officer. He and Paula rush to the village hoping to convince the governor to retain their friend while Judy releases the caged cub and tacks an old ransom note to Clarence. The official party frantically searches for the “kidnapped” animal and is fired on by an unusual band of poachers. By performing an act of heroism, Hedley saves the cub and is assured of his position.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. The General returns from Episode 2.26 with Hedley’s 2-I-C (Bob Doqui) returning from the original Clarence film. Doqui had also appeared in a different role in Episode 2.8. This is a rather touching episode revolving around the potential departure of Hedley (a little like Mike’s ‘departure’ in Episode 2.24). It is also good to see the Paula bedroom set return in its original form from the first season serving as a mechanism for Paula to re-live some memories.

3.4 (51) Goodbye, Wameru (First aired 26 Sept 1967)

A famed African journalist, a college friend of Mike, comes to the Compound determined to prove in print that its work is at a standstill and useless. Efforts to impress the writer fail, so Jack, Mike and Paula conspire to put him in a dangerous position, save his life and get him in their debt. The plan succeeds until Marsh learns the details and exposes the scheme as dishonest. All seems lost until Judy uses her head for a change and gives the visitor a new insight into the Compound.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Dick Moder. Clarence Williams III guest stars as a character with strong views like Link Hayes (in Mod Squad).

3.5 (52) Killer Tribe (First aired 3 Oct 1967)

Judy is unhappy at being used in an experiment for chimps in space, so she runs off with a strange native believed to be from a legendary killer tribe. When Marsh and his friends discover Judy, they find she has been made ruler of the people who worship chimpanzees. Power has gone to Judy’s head and, though the intruders are in danger, they must talk their little friend back to her senses.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Don Pedro Colley guest stars. There is some continuity with the previous episode when there is a mention of a space research project contract as well as the happenings in Episode 3.1. Watch for when Jack puts a protective arm around Paula at the native camp.

3.6 (53) Scent of Fear (First aired 10 Oct 1967)

When Senor Perez comes to the Compound to be trained by Marsh as a game warden, he and the animals take an instant dislike to one another. The team prepare to operate on a wild dog, the animal escapes. Then Paula orders Perez away when she discovers he is a former bullfighter who has lost his courage. When the missing dog returns and attacks, the man loses his fear and, in saving lives, he regains his valour.

Notes: Written by Richard Carlson and directed by Dick Moder. Guest star Nico Minardes had previously appeared in Episode 1.7. Features a lot of animal footage as Marsh escorts the trainee around the reserve. Another amusing dream sequence is featured (see Episode 3.1).

3.7 (54) Return of the Phantom (First aired 17 Oct 1967)

Marsh Tracy stalks a famous leopard to save him from a native hunter who has spent his life tracking the elusive animal. During the hunt, a strange bond forms between the two men as the phantom leopard leads them into the bush blighted by drought where a jungle fire is an ever present danger.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Percy Rodriguez returns in a different role after having been in Episode 1.2. The phantom leopard had first appeared in Episode 2.10. The Wameru Sub-District Office (a wooden shed) is seen for the first time.

3.8 (55) Countdown for Judy (First aired 24 Oct 1967)

Judy becomes critically ill when she eats berries poisoned by a new farmer in the area, and Daktari can’t treat the chimp without knowing the nature of the poison. Everyone at the Compound searches for bushes bearing the drug, an urgent mission which becomes perilous. As Judy lies motionless, Hedley unknowingly frightens away the one man who can help.

Notes: Guest stars Karl Swenson using an Irish accent. Directed by John Florea who tries a new way of transitioning between scenes by going in and out of focus. The farmer’s house looks suspiciously like the Compound house re-dressed with vines. A new angle looking into the dispensary from the window is featured. The interplay between Judy and Toto is quite good in this episode.

3.9 (56) Judy and the Jailbirds (First aired 31 Oct 1967)

When two old ex-convicts attempt a return to their comfortable jail by being convicted of stealing Clarence, Judy foils the plot to the despair of the conspirators who find themselves forced to devise a more serious crime.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Sterling Holloway guest stars. The wooden Sub-District Office hut features for the second time. This is a slapstick episode for children – especially with the two bumbling jailbirds and Hedley’s moustache cap and riot helmet. It’s almost like it is set up as a pilot for the two guest stars!

3.10 (57) One of Our Cubs Is Missing (First aired 7 Nov 1967)

Judy rescues a cub during a brush fire and Jack and Mike theorize on whether he will return to his burned-out home or search for his family’s new quarters. They send the cub back into the jungle over Paula’s objections, so she assigns Judy to go and guard the baby. Judy feeds the cub’s transistor collar to an ostrich and, with communication with the Compound lost, Paula goes in search of the pair. She lands in the middle of a dangerous situation but learns something new about animal behaviour.

Notes: Written by Alan Caillou and directed by Dick Moder.

3.11 (58) Judy and the Thoroughbred (First aired 14 Nov 1967)

Marsh Tracy comes face to face with an arrogant Italian countess, too stubborn to admit that the reason her champion race horse is lame is that she has mistreated him in her eternal quest to win at everything she attempts. Because the Italian countess is so desperate, Dr. Tracy agrees to treat the animal even though her merciless tactics threaten to undermine the affection training program at Wameru.

Notes: Directed by John Florea. Guest star Doris Dowling had previously appeared in different roles in Episodes 1.12 and 2.10 and again plays a hard-hearted woman. Cheryl Miller is absent throughout the entire episode (supposedly doing her mid-term exams).

3.12 (59) Return of Ethel and Albert (First aired 21 Nov 1967)

Paula banishes two inseparable compound companions to a pen, Ethel the hippopotamus, and Albert the donkey, after they destroy her flower bed. She soon regrets it when the two escape into the bush to become the likely prey of a dangerous leopard.

Notes: Written by William Clark and directed by Paul Landres. Ethel had been appearing fleetingly in previous episodes. Some previously used on-location shots of an African village appear again. Paula and Jack have a full-scale argument but actually have a quick kiss at the end of the episode. This time Mike appears briefly at the start and is then absent in Nagoro, while Hedley has another day of feeding the compound animals by himself.

3.13 (60) Judy and the Wizard (First aired 28 Nov 1967)

Wulpole the Wizard brings his famous trained chimp, Bonnie, to the Compound for treatment and Judy’s heart goes out to the man who does not realise his star is suffering from old age. Walpole refuses to accept the fact Bonnie is too old to perform any more and leaves in the middle of the night. Before he gets away and before Marsh is able to inform him there is a new life in sight for the team, Judy trades places with Bonnie and creates an apparent kidnapping.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Bonnie was actually the name of the chimp that Judy played in the original Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion movie. It is rare to see Jack and Mike in casual clothes rather than their ‘work uniforms’.

3.14 (61) Clarence’s Love-In (First aired 5 Dec 1967)

Jack’s latest experiment with Clarence almost ends in a disaster when the defenseless lion runs away into the bush after Jack tells him he can’t eat until he cooperates. Further complications arise when Clarence is “adopted” by three lionesses and is forced to choose between a wild existence as head of a pride or his comfortable home as a compound pet at Wameru.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Dick Moder. There is some welcome interplay between Jack and Paula again. Listen for the ‘groovy’ love-in music! This episode seems to include almost every clip of lions screened to date.

3.15 (62) The Elephant Raid (Part 1) (First aired 12 Dec 1967)

Wameru compound is threatened when it is found to be in the path of an advancing elephant herd that has already trampled a nearby village in search of food and water. Dr. Tracy finds himself caught between his personal desire to save the huge animals and the conviction of an Army strategist and friend, sent to the area by the government, that the entire herd must be destroyed for the sake of the inhabitants.

Notes: Written by Richard Tuber and directed by John Florea whose new transitional techniques get tiresome. Kenneth Toby guest stars as the Colonel, a sympathetic character who throws some light on Marsh Tracys’ background in WW2.. A combination of quick edits with a common overlay creates an impressive elephant stampede at the African village. However, the use of Indian elephants with stuck-on big ears spoils the effect later on.

3.16 (63) The Elephant Raid (Part 2) (First aired 19 Dec 1967)

As the Colonel’s plans to destroy the huge elephant herd that is overrunning the countryside become a reality, Marsh Tracy and his assistants are forced to battle time and the impending destruction of Wameru in an attempt to save the herd from being fatally trapped in a maze of land mines and incendiary charges.

Notes: Written by Richard Tuber and directed by John Florea. Kenneth Toby guest stars as the Colonel. Thompson gives a narrative summary over footage from Part 1. Includes the first ever look inside the large storage sheds in the compound. Florea’s transitional techniques are obvious again.

3.17 (64) Miracle in the Jungle (First aired 26 Dec 1967)

A criminal named Simon Matanga invades the Compound determined to recover a fortune he buried while briefly serving as a government official. Clarence temporarily frightens him and Judy presents the uncovered money to Sister Maria Francis. The nun settles Daktari’s debts with a portion of the gift, resulting in the arrest of Compound personnel and their possible death at the hands of Matanga.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Jan Clayton had appeared as the memorable Mrs. Fusby in Episodes 1.10 and 1.11 and so it is good to see her again as an Irish nun. The lounge set is bought out of mothballs and features again extensively. Judy has humorous scenes questioning Toto near the end.

3.18 (65) Riddle of the Bush (First aired 2 Jan 1968)

A mysterious stranger runs into Paula and Jack while they are surveying an unmapped part of the jungle rumoured to be a secret elephant graveyard. Even after they discover he is one of Dr. Tracy’s former university professors, he remains secretive about his reason for exploring the region. However, his desire for fame and recognition is clear and, before he is exposed, the professor jeopardizes the life of a diseased baby elephant.

Notes: Directed by Dick Moder. Harold Gould (who was actually Thompson’s age) guest stars as the older professor. Judy plays detective investigating the elephant’s disappearance.

3.19 (66) The Big Switch (First aired 9 Jan 1968)

When Judy starts tampering with Daktari’s medical supplies. turmoil develops and the fate of a banished native chief, not to mention some of Dr. Tracy’s experimental animals, hangs in the balance. In spite of Judy’s good intentions, a tribal war almost erupts when the medicine that Judy gets the former chief to take makes him feel strong enough to challenge the new chief to a deadly contest.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Rex Ingram guest stars again after having previously been in Episode 2.16.

3.20 (67) License to Kill (First aired 16 Jan 1968)

An ex-champion boxer is attacked by a crazed lioness at Wameru Compound, and Dr. Tracy must struggle to protect the valuable cat when the fighter gets a warrant to kill her. Dr. Tracy’s predicament is worsened since the lioness, entrusted to him, is the good luck symbol of the neighbouring native village.

Notes: Co-written by Ted Herbert and William Clark and directed by John Florea. Ron Hayes returns for a fourth time after playing the noteworthy character Roy Meadows in Episodes 1.5, 1.10 and 1.11. As a result, it is hard to accept him in this different role.

3.21 (68) Judy Strikes Back (First aired 23 Jan 1968)

Automation comes to Wameru in the form of an electric alarm system when Dr. Tracy and his assistants must protect valuable vaccine for the district office. Judy and her animal friends feel they have been unfairly replaced as the compound guards, so they devise a plot that will save the vaccine from an “intruder” – all to prove that they are superior to the automation invasion!

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres.

3.22 (69) The Killer Cub (First aired 30 Jan 1968)

A young, cattle-killing cheetah and an embittered rancher come into conflict and Dr. Tracy must find a cure for the cub’s deadly instincts before the rancher has him destroyed. Tracy’s job is complicated when the cheetah, used to life in the bush, goes on a hunger strike and refuses to respond to the clinic’s affection treatment.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Guest star Bruce Bennett had appeared in a different role in Episode 4.11.

3.23 (70) Toto the Great (First aired 13 Feb 1968)

When Judy tries to trick Dr. Tracy by dousing Toto instead of herself with a bottle of elephant scent developed by the clinic as a leopard repellent for livestock, Toto unintentionally frightens a marauding cat with her smell and is mistaken for the reincarnation of a great chief by two wandering tribesmen. Before the mystery can be solved, Toto faces a charging rhino and the natives must test their own courage when they are called on to save Judy’s life from an attacking leopard.

Notes: Directed by John Florea.

3.24 (71) The Lion Killer (First aired 20 Feb 1968)

When a wild game hunter and his vicious dog, named Shaka, attempt to attack harmless Clarence, Dr. Tracy intervenes, only to have his professional code put on the line. At the request of the hunter, he must either operate on the dog for a tumour, knowing that he will recover to kill more animals or else refuse to save Shaka’s life. After Tracy decides to cure the dog, Judy begins to campaign to make Shaka, a Rhodesian Ridgebacked hound trained to kill lions, and amiable Clarence – friends.

Notes: Directed by John Florea. Shaka is only the second animal Paula does not like. The team wear jackets throughout this episode.

3.25 (72) The Killer of Wameru (First aired 27 Feb 1968)

Judy plays mother to a starving lion when drought leads him to Wameru. The chimp’s attempts to feed the cat after he returns to the bush almost cost Judy her life. She finds herself in the path of a native hunting party ready to throw their spears at the lion whom they suspect of being a cattle killer. Paula, who has been tracking Judy, intervenes but it is up to Dr. Tracy to prove the innocence of the wandering cat.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres.

3.26 (73) Monster of Wameru (First aired 5 Mar 1968)

A get-rich•quick scheme backfires when a native masquerades as a gorilla in an effort to attract tourists to his village. Spurred on by his brother who needs money for a dowry to marry the daughter of a neighbouring village chief, the “monster” causes panic to run rampant around Wameru whenever he makes an appearance.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by John Florea. Lots of history on the discovery of mythical animals is the core of this episode. Bob Doqui makes his third appearance in yet another role after being Episodes 2.8 and 3.3.

3.27 (74) The Will to Live (First aired 12 Mar 1968)

Jack and Mike tangle over the scientific question of heredity versus environment. Their theories are tested by experience in the bush when Serang gets lost and apparently reverts to the wild. When the cat discovers the two men, unarmed and treating Prince for a spear wound, he poises for attack. Rescue by Marsh, Paula and Hedley with their tranquillising dart gun seems highly unlikely.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Thompson only appears in a few scenes. The interplay between Jack and Mike and their ‘graduation’ to being lone surgeons is featured heavily. This was Yale Summers’ last episode that was broadcast.

Here is a detailed review of Season Three.