Animal Park Catch up, Summer 2023: Episode 10 on BBC 2

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 rodent, there was much excitement. Things have been turned up a notch now because a female has arrived, and that means one thing – the possibility of a giant rodent romance. Aella has arrived from a collection in Scotland, but this species originates from South America, where they live in large highly sociable groups. All points to these two getting along, but there is no guarantee. \n\nIn their first outing, there doesn’t appear to be much of a spark. The keepers, concerned that they may be playing it cool and might be in need of some privacy, decide to rig cameras to see what they are like away from prying eyes. The next day, the keepers come in to review the footage, and they are amazed to discover this love story has certainly escalated. In fact, so much so that it’s enough to cause the keepers to blush! \n\nOn the other side of the park, Kate heads to Koala Creek, but she is not there to meet those famous marsupials. She has come to be introduced to a bettong and a long-nosed potoroo, two species that have been badly affected by the Australian wildfires but now play a vital role in the recovery of those forests.\n\nWildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin switches to his macro lens to try and work out which spiders are boys, and which are girls, in a vital breeding programme, but he must be careful as the Desertas wolf spider is not only one of the rarest but is also venomous. \n\nZoologist Megan McCubbin is an expert on native wildlife, and she and the keepers are desperate to know if any bats roost in and around the centuries-old house that sits at the heart of the park. With special low-light cameras rigged and an incredible bat detector that allows their high-frequency calls to be audible to us, they settle in for the evening. Amazingly, the bats begin to emerge, but how many different species can they detect?

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