Animal Park Catch up, Summer 2022: Episode 2 on BBC 2

Animal Park

Summer 2022: Episode 2

Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are back for another sunny summer series, following the lives of the exotic animals at Longleat Safari Park and the keepers who look after their every need. \n\nThe keepers are nervously waiting for a new arrival - a capybara, the largest rodent in the world. He’s in a lovely new home, and after a month’s mandatory quarantine, he's allowed out into his very spacious enclosure. But this isn’t without risk. The keepers must ensure that every inch of the fence line is secure, because they want the capybara to explore his enclosure - not the rest of the Longleat estate. Our cameras capture his release, but within seconds the keepers’ fears are realised, and he disappears from view. Do they have an escaped animal?\n\nYesterday we showed the incredible story of the birth of Europe’s first southern koala joey, and today we continue to follow its journey. Now six months old, the keepers are nervously doing everything they can to ensure its survival. We find out why baby koalas eat their mum’s poo, and when they take their first steps to independence. But there’s one big question - is this joey a boy or a girl? A visit to the vet will provide the answer but that also means a first separation from mum. Will the keepers be able to safely lift the youngster from Violet without causing either too much stress? \n\nElsewhere in the park, Ben and Kate have been following the journey of Willow the aardvark since she was born at Christmas in 2020. Her mum couldn’t feed her, so she was hand-reared for five months, and since then she has grown to be bigger than the rest of her family. Ben helps with one of her regular check-ups, crucial to ensure her continued health.\n\nThe team are constantly trying to imitate natural environments and create fresh ways to keep the animals engaged. Megan McCubbin helps the keepers stimulate the meerkats' senses with a variety of smells. Will they prefer lavender, eucalyptus or fruit tea? Or the box they arrived in? Hamza Yassin uses his powerful macro lens to help keepers identify whether any of the lorikeet eggs have hatched.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Animal Park

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 5

In this episode, the keepers use a piece of kit with the animals that they have never used before. \n\nThe keepers and Hamza are putting to the test some new research that claim ...

30-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 4

In this episode, we discover if any of the park’s residents could use a rudimentary tool. \n\nLongleat is home to a group of critically endangered western lowland gorillas ...

29-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 3

We say goodbye to a Longleat legend, celebrating her life and the impact she has had on keepers and visitors. Hippos arrived in the park from Uganda nearly half a century ago, a ...

28-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 2

We follow Longleat’s keepers on a trip to Australia, with some astonishing news with global implications. \n\nLongleat is home to the only public southern koala breeding ...

23-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 1

Kate Humble and Ben Fogle return to Longleat Safari Park for a glorious summer series following the remarkable lives of the exotic animals and the keepers committed to helping t ...

22-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2024: Episode 10

Every year, visitors to Longleat Safari Park get to see thousands of exotic creatures from around the world, but three years ago a native species made an entrance like no other! ...

21-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2024: Episode 9

Along with feeding all the animals at Longleat Safari Park, the keepers need to keep an eye on their mood, behaviour, love life and, of course, their health. And that’s be ...

20-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2024: Episode 8

The keepers at Longleat Safari Park are getting to know three very special new arrivals – cheetah brothers Adjani, Temba and Lunis. They have a vital mission: to make a lo ...

16-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2024: Episode 7

It’s a truly momentous occasion for the keepers. They have incubated and successfully hatched one of the world’s most threatened bird species – the critically ...

15-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2024: Episode 6

One of Longleat Safari Park’s biggest achievements to date has been the work put into the crucial breeding programme of the endangered southern koalas. Previously on the p ...

14-01-2025

BBC 2

All episodes