PARK LIFE!

KATE HUMBLE AND BEN FOGLE LOOK BACK AT THEIR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AT LONGLEAT

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A SNAIL that scientists believed to be extinct, fruit bats, lions and more - it can only spell the return of the popular BBC series, Animal Park.

And along with the furry favourites and other interesting friends from the animal kingdom, presenters Ben Fogle and Kate Humble, zoologist Megan McCubbin and TV presenter and wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin, are also back.

This series, filmed at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire, saw Ben, 51, whose other presenting credits including Countryfile and Cash in the Attic, mark a career milestone. He’s been a fixture on the show since 2001, helping to give viewers an insight into the lives of the animals, keepers and more.

"I can’t believe it's my 25th year!," says Ben, who became a familiar fixture on the small screen after his 2000 stint on BBC reality show Castaway.

“Returning each year to Longleat is like coming home to a family we've built over the years among the animals, the caretakers, Kate (Humble) and everyone who works hard to make Animal Park come together. This year was made even more exciting by the return of the hippos! They haven’t had them at Longleat for 50 years!”

In June, Longleat revealed that hippos Lola and Hodor, a mother and son, had arrived from Whipsnade Zoo, to join Matylda and Manon, who arrived from the Czech Republic.

Animals have long been a fixture in his life, his father is Bruce Fogle, a famous vet who has appeared on TV and written numerous books on pet care, and in the upcoming series there is no shortage of interesting onscreen companions.