Catch up TV

Christmas 2024: Episode 1

Deck the halls with sloths and wallabies because Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are racing back to Longleat Safari Park for a magical series of Animal Park at Christmas. An army of keepers have been deployed to bring yuletide cheer to every single one of their wonderful creatures, from meerkats to monkeys and lions to lemurs. Everyone’s joining the party, as wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin and zoologist Megan McCubbin are teaming up to ensure we don’t miss a moment of animal magic as the big day draws closer.\n\nIt was the best early Christmas present ever when four incredibly cute tiger cubs were born at the park last summer. They are about to have their first Christmas – and our cameras are capturing every moment. Last time we saw them, they had just been born. But now, we’re going to need bigger stockings – because my, how they’ve grown. As they’ve become more active, keepers have become increasingly concerned about one of the cubs. She appears to be limping, and with only 400 Amur tigers left in the wild, the keepers need to do everything they can to ensure her health. But what will an urgent vet visit reveal? Later, we see the cubs take their early steps into the larger drive-through. How will the cub cope? We won’t miss a moment.\n\nHamza’s back with his camera and zoom lens to help the keepers over the festive period. He’s checking on some new arrivals, who are spending their first Christmas at the park. Two young red deer stags have joined the herd and are just beginning to establish themselves in the group. The keepers are hoping for babies next year, but can Hamza tell if the new boys are ready for a Christmas romance?\n\nElsewhere, Ben and Kate are giving the cheeky macaques a wonderful treat – their very first tin of Christmas sweets. But which ones will be left till last, the walnuts, the raspberries... or the egg?\n\nMegan McCubbin is back to help the keepers. It’s festive treats aplenty, and the lucky anteater is getting her first gingerbread man, while the meerkats have their own Christmas village scene to investigate. Will these amazing animals get in the yuletide spirit?\n\nMegan and Hamza are joining forces to bring season’s greetings to the animals. They have some huge treats for the gorillas in the form of two edible Christmas stars, but will they prefer Megan’s honey or Hamza’s peanut butter?

Source: BBC 2