ANIMAL PLANET’S “THE ZOO” RETURNS WITH ALL-NEW SEASON FULL OF RARE MOMENTS AND “FIRSTS”
March 13, 2020
Animal Planet’s THE ZOO takes audiences behind the scenes at the world-famous Bronx Zoo for a fourth season to share remarkable stories that shine a light on amazing animals, the expertise of staff, and their unique relationships with the animals in their care. The series explains the day-to-day activities at the Bronx Zoo and its sister parks as it focuses on the importance of zoos and aquariums to a wide range of global wildlife conservation efforts. The all-new season of THE ZOO premieres Saturday, Apr. 4 at 9PM ET/PT.
Last season, THE ZOO introduced viewers to extraordinary and diverse wildlife including Peaches the adorable warthog and Mott Mott the marmot who both learned the ropes to becoming animal ambassadors; Barbara Gordon, the Rodrigues fruit bat pup who was reintroduced to her colony in “Jungle World”; and Bouba the Andean bear who was reunited with his loyal mate, Nicole. Animal Planet audiences also had an up-close look at the building and opening of the Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit at the New York Aquarium that included moving of a group of large sand tiger sharks to their new habitat.
In this all-new season of THE ZOO, zoo staffers will experience many rare moments and “firsts”, including the arrival of two adorable Red Panda cubs; the hatching of Roti Island snake-necked turtles, a functionally extinct species; and the arrival of Bala, the fourth cub of the beloved snow leopard, K2. Audiences will see the keepers devise an ingenious toy for an anteater named Velcro, which will keep him enriched while showcasing his extraordinary tongue to the public and perform the first known allergy test on a rhinoceros named Penny after she develops some skin sensitivities. Animal Planet viewers will also meet an abundance of unforgettable animals including tigers, giraffes, puffins and flamingo chicks, as well as witnessing animal rescues and rehabilitations, and animals being released into the wild.
U.S audiences can view new episodes each week, in addition to streaming all previous seasons of THE ZOO in their entirety, on the Animal Planet GO app. Viewers can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #InsideTheZoo and follow Animal Planet on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates. Audiences can also enjoy more episodes of the original mid-form series, THE ZOO: FROM THE INSIDE, which goes behind the scenes for exclusive looks at operations zoo guests never see. The web series will be available to fans on Animal Planet GO.
THE ZOO is produced for Animal Planet by Left/Right and Copper Pot Pictures. Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Anneka Jones and Michael LaHaie are the executive producers; Jessie Findlay is co-executive producer for Left/Right. David LaMattina and Chad Walker are the executive producers for Copper Pot Pictures. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer and Patrick Keegan is supervising producer.
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About Animal Planet
Animal Planet, one of Discovery, Inc.’s great global brands, is dedicated to creating high quality content with global appeal delivering on its mission to keep the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way. Available to 360 million homes in more than 205 countries and territories, Animal Planet combines content that explores the undeniable bonds forged between animals and humans, optimized across all screens around the world. In the U.S., Animal Planet audiences can enjoy their favorite programming anytime, anywhere through the Animal Planet Go app which features live and on-demand access. For more information, please visit www.animalplanet.com.
About Discovery
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.