We discover how the keepers are going to great lengths to keep us all safe from an invisible killer. \n\nLongleat has become a centre of excellence for the breeding and care of one of Australia’s most celebrated animals, the Southern koala. Now a male and a female have both been born in Koala Creek, the first of their species to be born anywhere in Europe. Good news travels fast and now they have another animal in their care, Yani, a female, who has joined the collection from Hong Kong. But there is a problem. Hong Kong is an area known to have cases of rabies, and it is the keepers’ responsibility to protect us all and their animals from this potentially lethal disease. For five months, the keepers must wear protective suits as they care for Yani on a daily basis. With such a lethal disease potentially on the park, everyone has everything crossed for the results of today’s vet check.\n\nThe great stately home at the centre of the park is almost 450 years old, lived in by Lord and Lady Bath and full of treasures, including 44,000 books. Many of them are very special, but Kate slips off her muddy wellies and joins Emma the archivist to look at a particularly special one. Four hundred years ago, the plays of William Shakespeare were collated for the very first time and published as a folio, and the house has one of the first editions! Kate has an extraordinary opportunity to get close to this piece of history, and in an extraordinary revelation discovers that Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers may have even had a connection with Lord Bath’s distant relatives.\n\nIt’s not just exotic animals that excite wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin. He’s just as passionate about native species. He joins Animal Park veteran Ian Turner for a vital audit of the creatures that live deep in the woods. They discover insects of all different shapes and sizes, and find evidence of fallow deer and even beavers. Will it be enough to prove that the woodland is an ecosystem bursting with life? \n\nElsewhere, zoologist Megan has joined the vet on their rounds visiting a series of creatures great and small in the family farmyard. A goat, a turkey and a sheep all need a check-up, but they’ve got to catch them first!
Source: BBC 2
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! ...
27-08-2024
BBC 2
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 ...
26-08-2024
BBC 2
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 ...
23-08-2024
BBC 2
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 ...
22-08-2024
BBC 2
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 ...
21-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2024: Episode 5
Ben and Kate discover the importance of the keepers understanding every aspect of the lives of their animals, and in tiger territory, that’s more vital than ever. For the ...
20-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2024: Episode 4
A celebration of some of Longleat's legendary animals – in particular, Thorn the giraffe.\n\nMany of the keepers have cared for Thorn for over a decade, and in that time, ...
16-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2024: Episode 3
Lions Klaus and Simba are getting old, and some of the females in their pride can sense weakness, which could easily turn to violence as they fight for the top spot. The long-te ...
15-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2024: Episode 2
At the fennec fox enclosure, Zuri has just given birth to a litter of three kits. This should be a cause for celebration, but past problems with Zuri's pregnancies put the keepe ...
14-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2024: Episode 1
Kate Humble and Ben Fogle have raced back to Longleat safari park in time for a spectacular summer series, and it promises to be one of the busiest seasons ever. Every corner of ...
13-08-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2022: Episode 12
Kate Humble and Ben Fogle return to Longleat Safari Park for another spectacular summer series following the fascinating stories of the exotic animals and the keepers who look a ...
27-02-2024
BBC 2
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 ...
11-06-2024
BBC 2
Christmas Special: Episode 1
For the very first time, in a special week of programmes, Animal Park is heading to Longleat Safari Park for Christmas. Kate Humble and Ben Fogle catch every magical moment as t ...
13-12-2021
BBC 2
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 ...
10-06-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2021: Episode 13
Today, aggression between the koalas is threatening the success of the park's breeding programme. It has been a year since the keepers started to notice mating behaviour in koal ...
03-04-2024
BBC 2
Summer 2020 (shortened Versions): Episode 15
The keepers in Koala Creek are on tenterhooks as they await news on the park’s southern koala breeding programme, the only one of its kind in Europe. After experienced dad ...
05-08-2021
BBC 2
Compilation Specials: Episode 5
In today’s episode, keeper Caleb wants to find out who are the heroes and who are the zeros in lion country with a test of their intelligence. Calling on departments from ...
15-02-2023
BBC 2
Summer 2020 (shortened Versions): Episode 12
Romance seems to be brewing in the cheetah house with new girl Rachel and ladies man Carl. But will the partnership result in babies? There’s a concern that Carl is too ol ...
02-08-2021
BBC 2