Animal Park Summer 2021

Ben and Kate return to Longleat, where a lion needs surgery to amputate part of his tail. Kate gets a surprise with the Eland babies, and Ben has a brush with a gorilla.

When one of the park's pygmy goats unexpectedly goes into labour, it's a worrying time for the keepers. Meanwhile, Ben helps the keepers sex their young pancake tortoises.

The tiger cubs are growing fast, but one youngster is fighting with his family. It is normal behaviour, but the keepers must act fast to prevent serious injuries.

The keepers have a challenge on their hands when one of their residents goes missing. How do you find a perfectly camouflaged escaped animal amongst a million trees?

There is more news about Dave the Wolf, who has been suffering from a mysterious illness, and the keepers have a tough decision to make.

The keepers have discovered lumps on the stomach of a zebra called Olivia. The vets perform surgery, but will Olivia survive the operation?

Could native beavers be at the park for the first time since before Longleat House was built? And if so, why would they choose a lake populated by sea lions and hippos?

A mysterious illness appears to be stopping the rock hyrax mum feeding her babies. She is rushed to the vets, but can they get her back to her babies before it’s too late?

The park may finally get its first emu chick, if the keepers can persuade the male emu to sit on the eggs. Kate spots a wild white-tailed sea eagle visiting the park.

Kate and Ben find out what lengths the keepers go to for one of Europe’s oldest elephants, and wildlife photographer Hamza witnesses some unique tiger behaviour.

Willow the aardvark has been hand-reared since birth. Now it’s time to reunite her with her family. Will she be welcomed with open arms, or will they see her as a threat?

The threat of a deadly disease forces the keepers to take action when the ankole cattle have to be screened for TB, a dangerous challenge for the biosecurity team and the keepers.

The keepers are trying a new strategy to get the koalas mating - they have paired up two couples in separate enclosures. But aggression soon threatens the breeding programme.

An armadillo emergency could spell the end for one of the park’s favourite couples, but what will the vet find when he comes to check on Polly?

Thorn the giraffe is having problems with his hooves, but for the vet to get close enough to fix them, he needs to be within kicking distance of the giant animal.