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SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE USES NEW TECHNOLOGY TO CAPTURE AFRICAN WILDLIFE STRUGGLING TO EXIST; AIRS MAY 13 ON ANIMAL PLANET

–Network Triggers Additional Lush Natural History Specials to Premiere in 2014-2015, Including SNOW WOLF FAMILY (Working title) and WILD MEXICO –

March 27, 2014

(New York) - The only television destination dedicated to the animal world, Animal Planet continues its tradition of delivering the highest caliber of wildlife programming and working with the most skilled partners in the natural history filmmaking. Two-hour special SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE premieres on Tuesday, May 13, at 8 PM (ET/PT); SNOW WOLF FAMILY (wt) is slated in 2015 and WILD MEXICO is slated in 2014.

            In each of these benchmark natural history specials, the introduction of ultramodern camera technology lends a crystal-clear view into the constantly evolving animal kingdom from every vantage point imaginable. Viewers are given a fascinating look at the never-before-witnessed behaviors of some of Earth's most enigmatic species. 

            SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE transports viewers to Africa during the final days of the longest dry season in living memory. More than 65 high-tech, remote-control cameras and expert visual teams film the wild animals of Zambia's Luangwa Valley. Thirst has trapped the hungry animals close to the Luangwa River - the last substantial source of water and food for hundreds of miles - and its banks and surrounding land are transformed into killing fields. The valley has become a temporary home to an extraordinary assortment of herbivores and predators, including lions, leopards, wild dogs, elephants, Nile crocodiles and hippos. SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE gives viewers unprecedented access to the both the harrowing and uplifting sides of the circle of life as these species collide in a daily battle for existence.

            In addition to SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE, two other Animal Planet natural history programs provide unparalleled access to nature using state-of-the-art technology:

  • SNOW WOLF FAMILY (wt)

In SNOW WOLF FAMILY (wt), veteran wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan attempts what no other person has ever done before - immerse himself among a wild wolf pack in one of the remotest places on Earth - Ellesmere Island, Canada.  These arctic wolves are naïve to mankind with little to no exposure to humans, so Buchanan must tread carefully to gain their trust and acceptance. His mission is to film their stories, giving us an intimate and raw glimpse into their unique pack life. Just south of the North Pole, Ellesmere Island's rugged terrain, extreme weather conditions and variety of wildlife add to the adventurous landscape of this epic special. 

  • WILD MEXICO

Mexico is a country full of rich landscapes, ranging from deserts and rainforests to lofty mountains and mangrove swamps. Scattered among these varied backdrops, only the greatest variety of wildlife can be found, including jaguars, devil rays, spider monkeys and gray whales. The hour-long special WILD MEXICO reveals this diverse country's most treasured gems with only the most stunning imagery. 

SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE is produced for Animal Planet by Tigress Productions. Dick Colhurst is executive producer for Tigress. For Animal Planet, Erin Wanner is executive producer, and Hilary Tholen is associate producer. SURVIVING THE KILL ZONE was developed by Kurt Tondorf, vice president of development for Animal Planet. SNOW WOLF FAMILY (wt) is produced for Animal Planet by BBC. Ted Oakes is series producer and Tim Martin is executive producer for the BBC and Krishna San Nicolas is producer for Animal Planet. WILD MEXICO is produced for Animal Planet by Sky Vision. lan Marsh is producer/director for Sky Vision, and Krishna San Nicolas is producer for Animal Planet.

Animal Planet, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. Animal Planet consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 95 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; Animal Planet L!VE, the go-to digital destination for round-the-clock, unfiltered access to the animal kingdom; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service, and merchandising extensions.

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