Animal Airport
Welcome to Heathrow Airport's Animal Reception Centre: a unit that's equipped to deal with almost any species and which receives around 200,000 animals each year.
Heathrow Airport in London, one of the world's busiest, isn't full of just people from all around the world who pass through its doors. This series tells tales of the many creatures that end up at the airport's Animal Reception Centre - some legally, many illegally - and the staff who handle arriving and departing shipments of animals in every shape, size, breed and colour. Along with thousands of cats and dogs, the centre has welcomed sloths, giant octopi, bears, elephants, tigers, lions, sharks, alpacas, venomous snakes, vampire bats, and Britain's equestrian team.
Type: tv
Season: 3
Episode: N/A
Duration: N/A minutes
Release: 2000-05-22
Rating: 7
Season 1 - Animal Airport
2000-05-22
Heathrow's Animal Reception team deals with an illegal shipment of chameleons from Ghana in Africa. They're bound for Japan but with many dead on arrival, this consignment is going nowhere. It's a challenge to save the surviving chameleons from severe dehydration, but is it already too late? In one of the terminals Attendant Ross and Animal Welfare officer Sharon seize a pet dog from a mother and her young daughter who had innocently carried it in a holdall in the main cabin of the aircraft. Gucci the Bishon Frise has travelled illegally from the Middle East. To the consternation of its young owner it must be detained while checks are carried out on its documentation. Airside, a Giant Tortoise flies in from the Seychelles: but trying to move a mammoth box weighing a quarter of a tonne poses its own unique problems.
2000-05-29
Four cheetahs are detained on their way from South Africa to Russia. Despite their ingenuity and best efforts the staff cannot find two of the cheetah's identifying microchips and they have to prepare for the big cats' extended stay. Animal Health Inspector Sharon is called to an illegal bulldog, which has been brought into the UK from Eastern Europe without the correct vaccinations. His owners cannot afford to pay his quarantine and he may have to be destroyed. Animal Health officers Stuart and Chris take on the resident grumpy African Dwarf Crocodile, in an attempt to clean out its cage.
2000-06-05
Animal Health Officer Stuart confronts a man attempting to smuggle a tortoise into the UK. The man becomes violent when Stuart discovers he s hidden it in his underpants. At the Animal Reception Centre some escaped Tarantulas need repackaging which is bad news for Mel who's arachnophobic. Two Siberian Foxes make an overnight stay en route from Moscow to the United States. A Lion Cub - whose travel crate isn't strong enough to hold it - is detained by the manager of the ARC and a tiny Teacup Schnauzer prompts an investigation. Is it too young to have travelled?
2000-06-12
An American woman’s hopes of a family reunion are dashed when her son is denied entry in to the UK and his dog is stranded in transit. Behind the scenes with the sniffer dogs a couple are caught carrying £15,000 in cash out of the country. Some geriatric monkeys fly in from a Danish primate sanctuary to spend their retirement in the UK; but they’re so well packaged that their padlocked crates must be broken in to give them something to eat. Manager Rob Quest is in for a treat when an unusual shipment of insects and reptiles arrives and it’s feeding time for the resident monitor lizards and rats are on the menu.
2000-06-19
A consignment of cheetahs must be x-rayed when the team can't find their microchips. There's a dramatic seizure of an illegal puppy arriving from Africa, and two sea lions pass through customs - but are they as gentle as they look?
2000-06-26
A distressed ring-tailed lemur is brought into the Ark after being found loose in a London park, and a woman is in tears as her two huskies - one trained to warn her about seizures - are quarantined. A tortoise makes the fastest journey of its life when owners move from UK to US, a young foal with its mother flies in, and there's a microchip mystery to solve.
2000-07-03
In this episode, the team navigate the chaos of the busiest day at Heathrow's Animal Reception Centre. With new quarantine laws in effect, tempers flare, and pets from around the world flood in for reunions with their owners. Watch as the staff grapple with paperwork complications, unexpected bills, and the illegal arrival of two dogs from Poland. Experience the controlled chaos, long waits, and heart-warming reunions that unfold in the race against time to process over 200 animals. Don't miss the drama, laughs, and challenges faced by the dedicated team on this unforgettable day at the Animal Reception Centre.
2000-07-10
There's deadly tarantulas, Cuban crocs, VIP pooches, and a bamboo-loving lemur! Ross faces a hairy situation as he deals with tricky tarantulas from Cameroon. Susie and Tristan gear up for a daring mission with aggressive Cuban crocs at the Sea Life Aquarium. Watch as pampered Italian pooches get a reality check, we bid farewell to the cheetahs that stole the Ark staff's hearts, and a Bamboo Lemur makes a rare appearance, adding to the excitement at the world's busiest airport for animals.
2000-07-17
Join Animal Health Inspectors Sharon and Deborah as they track down a consignment of puppies brought into the UK illegally and uncover an illegal puppy trade. It's feeding time for the resident rock python, but who will volunteer for the task? Plus, a grumpy mastiffs bark appears worse than his bite.
2000-07-24
When Animal Health Inspectors detain a dog that might be carrying rabies, its angry owner follows Sharon back to the ARC. Is a calf living in a suburban garden legal? Two rams give the staff the run-around, and will the resident lemurs be happy about moving to their new home?
2000-07-31
An alligator snapping turtle is found in a British country pond - can Stuart catch it safely? The race is on to clear 10,000 butterfly pupae through customs before their magical transformation. The Team encounter the challenges of handling venomous king cobras, plus a rescued chimpanzee with a sweet tooth refuses water and will only drink orangeade.
2000-08-07
Endangered Spoon-Billed Sandpipers fly in from Moscow in a last ditch attempt to save them from extinction, there's unexpected drama when a South African guard dog falls sick in transit from Johannesburg, and how do you measure a tricky boxer?
2000-08-14
There's an emotional journey as a distressed man faces the challenge of getting his dog back to the USA amid freezing temperatures. The handlers deal with a tough-talking Brazilian street dog who then has a heart-warming reunion its owners. A zoo closure sees Heathrow's Ark turn into a temporary haven for an ibis, a coati, an adventurous sloth named Cinnamon and their old friend Mango the cockatoo.
Season 2 - Animal Airport
2012-06-13
Ross confronts an angry cat, Stuart saves a fragile Tarsier and keeps an eye on five bear cuscuses. Sian faces the challenge of handling 35 alpacas from Australia and there's a heart-warming reunion of German Spitz Rocket with his owner after a long flight.
2012-06-20
Supervisor Ross sets a trap for an uninvited guest - a Muntjack deer on the loose in the aircraft maintenance yards. Meanwhile, Debs tackles a parrot identification puzzle, and Stuart rushes to ensure a Yorkshire Terrier named Lily can make her flight to Rome.
2012-06-27
Will comes to the aid of some shaken cats, and some miniature donkeys are too big for the forklift. Meanwhile, Ross races against the clock to pack a shipment of Tortoises safely....but will he get them ready in time?
2012-07-04
Ross faces off with a feisty bulldog.... but is his bark worse than his bite? Chris deals with badly packed peafowl from Miami, and Sian races against time to get a Dublin-bound dog on its flight. Plus, there's a unique shipment of lambs arriving from New Zealand, and discover the behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent the introduction of diseases into the UK.
2012-07-11
Follow the journey of Bentley, a rescued puppy from Bahrain, making his way to a new home in Denver. The Animal Airport team handle the challenges of transporting eagles from Tanzania, and face the urgency of saving a sick foal in distress on the airport perimeter.
2012-07-18
In this episode of Animal Airport, a diabetic dog arrives from its 24-hour flight from Australia requiring urgent insulin, two raccoon dogs found roaming in Wales find a temporary home at The Ark, and there's a bad smell emanating from a shipment of mealworms with a quarter of a million in a foul state.
2012-07-25
Grace loses her way whilst transporting a support dog, and a Tarantula shipment is missing some passengers! Meanwhile, the rescue centre braces itself for a huge influx of rescued animals, but can the team find room for them all?
2012-08-01
The Animal Airport team handle an emergency influx of sick exotic animals rescued from a private zoo....and they all require a vet check-up. Stuart gets to grips with a tricky skunk, Tara looks after a rare fur-less cat, and the Team hunts down a stowaway reptile in the hold of a foreign plane.
2012-08-08
Stuart struggles with a pair of King Vultures, Chris gets a bit too close to a lively Cayman, and some climbing South American Tayras give Ross the run-around.
2012-08-15
Stuart intercepts a shipment of reptiles and finds illegally-packed Monitor Lizards crammed into bags. They must all be re-packed and it's a race against time to get the shipment ready for the onward flight to Miami. Rob and Suzie treat health issues in rescued pythons, nervous Shitsu Alfie won't come out to play, and there's reports of a swan trapped by netting.
2012-08-22
Stuart handles some VIP parrots, and Animal Health Officer Anne embarks on a journey to Germany to split up a warring wolf pack. Careful handling of the Arctic wolves is needed - and she will be overseeing their transport to a sanctuary. Expert courier Matt Ford also transports exotic birds to their new homes, and collects elephant shrews, while Anne ensures a safe journey for all.
2012-08-29
Max the retriever goes missing, causing a whirlwind of delays and expenses. Owner Javier faces unexpected challenges and expenses amounting to £700. Meanwhile, alpaca breeder Nick anxiously awaits the arrival of his valuable stud males, only to encounter paperwork issues that extend his ordeal for seven long hours. An exotic tree kangaroo passes through the Ark on its way to Belfast Zoo, and there's the heart-warming reunion of Luigi the Chihuahua with his owner after a nerve-wracking flight from Florida.
2012-09-05
The staff get hands-on wrangling snakes - including an angry Rock Python. Chris deals with the owner of an illegal terrier who has failed to pass the UK's strict pet regulations, and aggressive trained attack guard dogs are too much for Ross to handle.
2012-09-12
Lisa deals with an aggressive quarantined rabbit who's stirring up trouble. Staff get a rare glimpse of two Clouded Leopards arriving for a new life, and Stuart deals with a shipment of poorly-packed reptiles.
Season 3 - Animal Airport
2019-01-08
Deputy manager Ross has to pick up a pair of penguins who have missed their flight, there's confusion on the runway as the team track down ten cats and a pack of huskies arrive at the ARC.
2019-01-15
Ten thousand bees cause a buzz at the ARC, a puppy heading to the United States can't fly as it has no water and a big bird with a dangerous reputation ruffles some feathers.
2019-01-22
A rare exotic shipment from Madagascar gets the ARC staff excited, apprentice Hayley gets hands on with some race horses and a Labrador relocating from America is delayed at the Centre.
2019-01-29
Deputy manager Ross has to inspect fifty feisty falcons, the ARC's resident snakes and lizards are given their regular checks and a very vocal cat from Russia is making itself heard.
2019-02-05
An expensive rabbit arrives from Iran, Deputy manager Susie trains a fire crew how to handle the ARC's more dangerous guests and a two-legged rescue dog called Bouncer charms the staff.
2019-02-12
A puppy from down under melts some hearts, a pedigree falcon flies into the Animal Reception Centre from the United States and a bizarre case of crabs are detained after being smuggled in.
2019-02-19
Intern Dan calls for back up when a cat called Mischief lives up to its name, a rescue dog with a taste for travel checks in and there is a paperwork problem for a wallaby from Australia.
2019-02-26
The Apprentices get hands on with a crocodile for the very first time. A rescued street dog from Thailand is a hit on social media and a shipment of 300 creepy crawlies are checked in.
2019-03-05
There's trouble with two rescue dogs from South Korea when one refuses to leave her travel box. A delivery of toucans gets the team in a flap and a stowaway keeps the staff guessing.
2019-03-12
A pair of asthmatic cats need some medicine, a worried owner is waiting to collect her horse from Australia and two hairless dogs check in dressed for the occasion.
2019-03-19
Deputy Manager Ross spots a suspicious package in a shipment of geckos, a rescue cat from Dubai urgently needs to see a vet and an angry dog calls for desperate measures.
2019-03-26
A pair of ferrets causes chaos at the centre, a large flock of birds need to be released and an American shepherd puppy has the staff smitten.
2019-04-02
Five rescue puppies push the team to the limit. Supervisor Shannon has to track down a missing shipment of reptiles and a hairless Sphynx cat from Russia joins a big feline family.
2019-04-09
Supervisor Anna gives Intern Dan a lesson in dealing with an aggressive cat. A badly behaved parrot ruffles some feathers and a dog from Texas raises alarm bells for the team.
2019-04-16
A pair of young Cassowaries poses a surprising risk, the team are shocked when a puppy with an injury is brought in and two cats from New York are feeling the stress of transatlantic travel.
2019-04-23
Twenty little blue penguins make a rare trip to the UK, Apprentice Dan is set a tricky tortoise challenge, and a couple of pedigree pups arrive for the largest dog show in the world.
2019-04-30
Supervisor Anna has to give a diabetic dog his medication, an exotic fish from Los Angeles needs rescuing by the team and a young vulture keeps Supervisor Shannon on her toes.
2019-05-07
The team race to get two bickering border collie puppies onto their Canadian flight. Some unusual kittens lay on the charm and three pet parrots fly in from the South Africa.
2019-05-14
A tiny puppy from Russia raises suspicions amongst the team. A king vulture loses its temper as Deputy Manager Ross tries to check its ID and a fun-loving ferret is keen to escape.
2019-05-21
The team need to check on the health of a shipment of reptiles from Africa. A large dog from South Africa needs collecting up from the aircraft and there is a close encounter with a macaw.
2019-05-28
The team have their hands full dealing with 96 alpacas from New Zealand. A dog from Australia is keen to make himself heard and a stowaway hermit crab finds itself a long way from home.
2019-06-04
The team have to overnight a large shipment of fifty birds that have been delayed. Two cats arrive from down under and a little dog from China raises alarm bells amongst the staff.
2019-06-11
Seven hungry baboons arrive from Kuwait and prove to be demanding customers. A cat called Tippy travels in a box that maybe too small and a dog comes in with an alarming cough.
2019-06-18
Today, a poorly pooch has supervisor Anna and the team worried. Two cats fly in from Hong Kong for a long awaited reunion and a Senegal parrot attempts a great escape.
2019-06-25
A pair of puppies gets stuck in transit, there is confusion out on the runway and it's a race against the clock to get tens of thousands of butterfly pupae out before they hatch.
2019-07-02
A mammoth shipment of two thousand reptiles must overnight at the ARC, a cat from Siberia needs attention and the centre reaches capacity as all the kennels fill up with cats and dogs.
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