Animal Park Catch up, Summer 2024: Episode 6 on BBC 2

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 programme, Kate Humble and Ben Fogle were thrilled to meet Hazel and Monty – the first and second southern koalas to be born in Europe. Today marks another huge milestone as the keepers attempt to establish a new bloodline with Dennis. He’ll be mixed with females Maisie and Yani. With mating season soon to begin, the three koalas will need to move in together. But Yani has only ever lived alone, so has not met Maisie, let alone Dennis. The team has no idea how she will react to meeting another koala. First, the keepers introduce the females and are on high alert for any worrying behaviours such as ear flicking. This initial stage goes well, but before the girls start mixing with Dennis, there’s another hurdle to clear. Dennis, Maisie and Yani all need to pass a health check from the vet. Southern koalas are prone to poor health and diseases, so James the vet must ensure they are in good condition before any breeding can go ahead. A lot is riding on this check-up. If any of these endangered creatures show signs of ill health, they will not be given the green light to breed. Thankfully, they are given a clean bill of health, and the decision is made to mix all three. As the keepers ready themselves for the mixing, all eyes are on Dennis. Will he try to mate with Maisie or Yani? How will they react? And will a vital new bloodline be established?\n\nOver in Tiger Territory, there is a huge success story for global conservation. Amur tiger Yana has given birth after weeks of nervous anticipation. This is only the second time in the park’s history that a litter of rare and endangered Amur tiger cubs has been born. But the big question is: how many are there? Kate races up to find out. Later in the episode, the keepers take a vital step forward in their care. Up until now, they've only been able to observe the cubs from afar. Today, they must briefly separate mum from her cubs to perform quick health checks and change the bedding. Will the keepers have time to do their checks and even tell what sex the cubs are before getting them back with their ferocious mum?\n\nBen is with the cheeky macaques and their keepers. He’s helping to give them a good workout and test their agility, using an exciting and new method of enrichment. It’s a monkey lilo made from hessian, filled with barley straw. The macaques investigate, jump and float on them, but it’s not long before they work out how to rip them apart!\n\nElsewhere, zoologist Megan McCubbin is at Half Mile Lake to offer her expertise on the latest park conservation project. Can she find evidence of native Eurasian otters? And what can she tell by sniffing their poo?\n\nWildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin is always on hand to help the keepers understand more about their animals, and with a new species at the park, his help is more valuable than ever. The six African painted dogs are settling in well, and the keepers are getting to know their personalities and behaviours. Keen to understand even more, Hamza has rushed down with his specialist kit to observe the dogs during a carcass feed, but can Hamza figure out who is top dog?

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