Animal Park Catch up, Christmas 2022: Episode 1 on BBC 2

Animal Park

Christmas 2022: Episode 1

It’s time to deck the halls because Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are heading back to Longleat Safari Park for a magical week of programmes. \n\nOne of the park's best Christmas presents ever has arrived, but there is a problem – it’s hiding! Last summer, before we were even thinking about our Christmas lists, keeper Sam had everything crossed that her gorgeous red panda Emma might be pregnant. Well, she was. Emma gave birth to two cubs, but they are so reclusive that Sam can’t check how they are doing. Her solution is to rig some cameras to see what's going on after dark.\n\nElsewhere in the park, one of the biggest presents has arrived for one of the biggest animals. It’s up to keepers Matt and Cerys to haul an enormous rope into position so that the four gorillas have plenty to play with on Christmas day. It needs to be done correctly because a silverback gorilla can be as strong as 20 humans. Initially, the gorillas don’t appear to be too keen on their new toy, so wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin decides to train his lens on the group to see if a struggle for dominance is affecting their behaviour.\n\nAlong with Hamza, Megan McCubbin is spending her first Christmas at the park, and she is kicking off with her favourite Christmas tradition – decorating the tree. What will the rhinos make of this towering creation, and how long will it survive?\n\nBen attempts to get a flock of parrots on side with a giant food-covered bauble, and Kate encourages the macaque monkeys into a snowball fight.\nA 24-foot Christmas tree is delivered to the Great Hall. Can the team manoeuvre it into place without damaging countless family heirlooms, and will it fit?

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Animal Park

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 13

It’s a momentous day in Wolf Wood at Longleat after a turbulent year. Eliska, the matriarch of the pack, died along with her unborn pups, before further tragedy with the d ...

28-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 12

Visitors to the Africa Reserve at Longleat enjoy an idyllic scene of zebra, giraffe and ostrich that could rival the African savannah. These amazing views are in fact the culmin ...

25-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 11

Over the years, Wolf Wood at Longleat has seen more plot twists than a soap opera, but last year it was struck by tragedy on another scale when the matriarch for the pack, Elisk ...

24-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 10

In 2022, there was a milestone moment when Bart the capybara arrived. He was the first of his species to be under the care of the keepers, and as it's the world’s largest ...

23-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 9

Ever wondered how it would feel to be eaten by a pride of lions? Well now you can find out, because Kate and the team have managed to capture a prey’s-eye view of exactly ...

22-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Animal Park

Summer 2023: Episode 6

We get to know some of the incredible animal heroes at the park who are helping their wild cousins across the globe.\n\nOne such animal is Anne the Asian elephant, who was rescu ...

21-04-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

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