ANIMAL PLANET CELEBRATES WORLD ANIMAL DAY WITH A SPECIAL PROGRAMMING LINE-UP

ANIMAL PLANET CELEBRATES WORLD ANIMAL DAY

WITH A SPECIAL PROGRAMMING LINE-UP

New Delhi, September 26, 2011:  If you adore animals and love the planet, tune into Animal Planet to celebrate the World Animal Day on October 4^th.  Bursting with intriguing facts and enchanting animals, Animal Planet commemorates World Animal Day with a full day programming line-up from 12 noon to 12 midnight inspiring viewers of all ages.

Kicking off the day to celebrate all things wild and spotlight some of the rarest and greatest creatures on the planet, Animal Planet follows the lives of several unique species like River Dolphins in India, Hyenas in East Africa, Pygmy Elephants in the jungles of Borneo, Wild Wolves in Ethiopia, Bat-Eared Foxes in Namibia and Ferocious Crocodiles in Africa. 

Discussing the special Animal Planet Marathon on the World Animal Day, Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager (South Asia), Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “We dedicate this special day of the year to highlight the wonderful animal kingdom and the amazing relationship it enjoys with humans. Over the years, we have witnessed a growing sensitivity and commitment amongst viewers for Animal Planet's breathtaking and awe-inspiring content. I am most excited to present this year’s 12 hours programming marathon which will do it all - inform, entertain and connect."

Viewers can immerse themselves in the jungle, the water and the desert to see their favourite animals - - swim in Ganges with river dolphin, a mythical creature endowed by local legend with mystical and healing powers; travel to Thailand to follow the gripping story of two monkeys who fall in love and face rival faction; join the race to save the pygmy elephant in Borneo’s deep forests; get stunning insight into the lives of bat eared foxes in Namibia; get privy to the mating rituals of the ferocious African crocodiles and team up with divers who live and breathe their passion for sharks in the islands of Polynesia.

Celebrate the World Animal Day with special programming marathon on Animal Planet, on Tuesday, October 04, from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Animal Planet’s ‘World Animal Day’ programming line-up includes:

12 noon - Lions and Giants

For decades the Savuti pride on the western Boundary of the Chobe National Park in Botswana has ruled supreme. This pride of lion numbering up to 40 individuals has made hunting elephant their specialty.  A few breakaway lionesses and a group of elephants are forced to leave Savuti and travel north, to the Chobe River.

1 pm – Ghost of the Ganges

Seldom seen, the Ganges River Dolphin is a creature from another age, and a creature out of time. Constantly singing, almost completely blind, endowed by local legend with mystical and healing powers, the unseeing guardian of an ancient faith, it is a creature as elusive and mysterious as the Giant Squid or the Loch Ness Monster.    

2 pm - A Hyena Princess

This is the epic tale of a young spotted hyena as she struggles to reclaim her rightful place as queen of the largest clan in East Africa. Her life of dominance ends when her mother is killed and a rival female takes over. In this film we see the other side of hyena life; loyal, affectionate, playful and extremely skilled hunters.

3 pm – A Monkey’s Tale

In the mountains of Thailand, two young monkeys are falling in love. This is the story of their lives, as two rival factions of the local simian population declare war to keep them apart. This gripping, real life drama leads up to a dramatic and unimaginable ending of this familiar tale.

4 pm – Ethiopian Wolf

The programme follows the lives of the endangered Ethiopian wolf through the eyes of a young female wolf called Saba. Through Saba the viewer will learn about the various threats that face the Ethiopian wolf; human encroachment, disease, competition for food.

5 pm – Borneo’s Pygmy Elephants

The Pygmy Elephant is much more special and unique than anyone had ever thought possible. Now the scientist race is on to save the Pygmy Elephant before it's swept away by the wave of development that's overwhelming its forest home. Little is known about this fascinating creature because it lives a sedentary life deep in Borneo's forest.

6 pm – Namibia’s Bat-Eared Foxes

This programme gives a stunning insight into the lives of these remarkable creatures. Bat-eared foxes may be small, but they have huge ears sensitive enough to pick up sounds made by insects under the surface of the Kalahari Desert, thus providing their main source of nourishment.

7pm - Ferocious African Crocodiles

Ferocious African crocodiles - they inspire fear and even fascination.  They are said to kill nearly 3,000 people a year in Africa - the highest incidence being in Tanzania.  This film takes viewers face-to-face with the formidable killer, to witness its behaviour underwater and unique survival and predatory methods and meet those who share its habitat.  Viewers are privy to their mating rituals and will be moved by the tender care they give their young.

8 pm - Secrets of the Serpents

This programme uncovers the secrets which have made snakes such a highly efficient group of predators surviving over 100 million years. It shows how cobras, vipers, pythons and sea snakes catch their prey, escape predators themselves and find a mate - even under water.

9 pm - Snakes on the Menu

In this programme, viewers journey across Cambodia to witness the illegal wildlife trade.  From restaurants serving pangolins and snakes, to poachers hunting tigers, the programme follows the trail in a hard-hitting look at a disturbing practice.

10 pm – Cheetah: The Winning Streak

Cheetahs, the elegant hunters of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, are a species at risk -- even within the boundaries of one of their last sanctuaries Following the journey of several young mothers and cubs, the film shows why certain cheetahs possess a distinct edge over others in the game of survival, and how some male and female cubs develop the skills and instincts that make them winners while others perish.

11 pm - Smile of the Shark

The programme tells the incredible story of the divers who live and breathe their passion for sharks. In the islands of Polynesia, the people believe that the sharks were reincarnations of their ancestors.

For further information, please contact:-
Atul Malikram
9827092823