River Monsters Season 1.01 Recap “Phiranna”
April 9, 2009 by Healthy Shana
Show: River Monsters
Network: Animal Planet
Episode Title: Phirannas
Original Air Date: Sunday, April 5th 5:00 PM EST/PST
The premise from the premier episode or River Monsters originated from an incident back in In 1976 when a packed coach crashed into the Amazon killing 39 people.
In this clip from episode 1 of River Monsters our host takes a dip in a river filled with phirannas.
River Monsters - Swimming with Piranhas - A funny movie is a click away
When the bodies were pulled out, some had been so viciously mutilated by Piranhas they could only be identified by their clothes. Extreme angler Jeremy Wade investigates the Piranha.
In this episode we also got to learn more about other types of phirannas. Don’t get caught this this one at night, meet the vampire phiranna.
Image Credit: Animal Planet
Jockeys - After The Track
March 16, 2009 by Healthy Shana
The jockeys of Santa Anita kick back after the track, and one of the younger jockeys gets some ribbing from the veterans. New episodes of Jockeys air Friday nights at 9PM E/P only on Animal Planet.
Young jockey Brandon Meier sets out to prove his skills on the track, and take home a $49,000 purse in this clip from Jockeys.
Jockeys “Chantal vs. Mike”
March 10, 2009 by Healthy Shana
The drama for these jockeys doesn’t end when the race is finished. Off the track, gorgeous jockey Chantal Sutherland makes the emotional decision to leave her family in Canada for California to be closer to her boyfriend fellow jockey Mike Smith and ride at Santa Anita racetrack.
New Show Alert: “Dark Days in Monkey City” Animal Planet
February 17, 2009 by Healthy Shana
“Dark Days in Monkey City” is an intensely visual series that reveals intense tales of love, treachery, betrayal and triumph among several monkey characters including Portia, Lear, Hector, Gemini and Pandora.
A new series by Animal Planet takes the style of graphic novel animation and live action along with star voice-over talent, and brings a wholly unique primate drama to the smallscreen.
The channel described the premise as an adventure within the jungles of the isle of Sri Lanka - in the deserted city of Polonnaruwa, also known as Monkey City, where large populations of toque macaques live on the streets and have turned it into a savage battlefield.
The series will premier on Animal Planet on Tuesday, February 24th 10PM EST
Watch the Press Video for the new show below.
New Show Alert: “Jockeys” Animal Planet
January 30, 2009 by Healthy Shana
Have you ever needed to win so badly that you would be willing to break 50 bones just to do it? What about winning but never really getting any recognition? Well that’s what Jockey’s usually face when they compete and Animal Planet is now taking a look at this profession.
Jockeys are normally self employed, nominated by horse trainers to ride their horses in races, for a fee (which is paid regardless of the prize money the horse earns for a race) and a cut of the purse winnings.
I had not really gotten into the sport until the Kentucky Derby event in 2008 and all the publicity that was placed around the horse that was hurt. To be honest I still don’t know much about the industry but I can saw that some people might argue against the sport and the industry in itself and the cruelty that take place. I was browsing around and found blog by Adam Spradling where he says “however, it could also put a bad spin on the industry and misrepresent the majority of the horse world, jockeys, or horses. If the show is purely entertainment driven, then the episodes will be edited to squeeze in the most possible”.
Watch the preview for the show below which airs on Animal Planet on Friday, February 6th 9PM ET/PT
Image Credit: Donald Mirale / Animal Planet
Untamed & Uncut Returns to Animal Planet
January 28, 2009 by Healthy Shana
Untamed & Uncut returns to Animal Planet this winter with all new episodes showing real life encounters that have been caught on video. Due to its raw and extreme content it is one of the most popular series on the channel.
Untamed & Uncut preview content
Back in January they showed an amazing episode of a man being dragged by a bronco. Watch it below and stay tuned for the upcoming episode on February 6th at 8PM EST for the Jockey’s Themed episode to witness unbelievable moments from the racetrack.
Untamed & Uncut (dragged by Bronco 1/19 )
Video: Behind the Scenes on Orangutan Island
January 26, 2009 by Healthy Shana
Alain Compost was the cameraman on Season 1 of Orangutan Island on Animal Planet. There are currently 10 great video clips to watch on HowStuffWorks.com. Watch the videos here for behind the scenes clips as I get you caught up in the action of Season 2, which began back in November.
This season, the two groups of 35 orphaned orangutans may have some major changes to life on the island in the remote locale of Borneo. Lone Droscher-Nielsen, project manager at Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, is faced with some tough choices about the next steps for these primates.
With limited island sanctuaries, Lone has to decide if she should merge the two groups and move them to a larger island that is better able to sustain the group. If younger orangutans join the ranks that would mean bigger food fights, more juvenile antics, new island discoveries and a chance for the older orangutans to nurture and teach the younger ones. The fragility of the orangutan species is also ongoing and not just as a result of Indonesia’s rapidly disappearing wilderness; some of the orangutans are fighting an unknown illness that could threaten their survival.
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Whale Wars 1.03 “Mystery Ship”
December 4, 2008 by Healthy Shana
Whale Wars (Animal Planet)
Episode 1.03 “Mystery Ship”
Original Air Date: Friday, November 28th 9 PM ET/PT
In the previous episode of Whale Wars Ben and Giles of Sea Shepherd are being held hostage aboard the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru #2, Captain Paul Watson is pleased at the international media storm he has created, and rejects an offer from whalers to release the hostages.
He forces the Australian and Japanese governments to get involved and at last negotiate for their return. As the Sea Shepherds head to pick up their crew members, they decide to attack the Japanese vessel that held them hostage. In the process, they lose radio contact with their outboard boat and fear the four crew members aboard are lost in the middle of the pitch-black, cold Antarctic night.
For more details about the show and the whaling controversy visit http://animalplanet.com/whalewars
Image Credits: Animal Planet
“Dancing with Dogs” debuts on Animal Palnet
December 3, 2008 by Healthy Shana
First there was “Dancing with the Stars.” Now Animal Planet offers us “Dancing With Dogs.”
The new special, which airs Saturday, Dec. 6, introduces viewers to a different kind of dance competition, where four legs rule, wacky wardrobes are encouraged, and incidental bathroom breaks are common.
Based on the real-life sport of canine musical freestyle, “Dancing With Dogs” features dog-and-owner dance teams that boogie down to rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, classical, and country in hopes of snagging the top title at the World Canine Freestyle Organization’s International Competition.
The “dancers” include Poodles, Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers, and several mutts. This year’s favorites include Vera, a 7-year-old Golden Retriever and her owner, Cassandra Hartman, and Callaway, an 8-year-old Golden Retriever and her owner Laurie Sullivan.
Actor and comedian Alec Mapa, who owns dogs named Ozzy and Sweet Pea, will host the competition. “I’ve been dancing with my dogs for years,” Mapa said in a statement. “At last, it’s so exciting to know that I’m not alone. There are others out there dancing with dogs, and it’s time to go public!”
“Dancing With Dogs” premieres Saturday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on Animal Planet.
Watch below as contestant Carrie Nellie dances with Callaaway.
<em>Image 1: Host Alec Mapa w/ Patie Ventre and her Border Collie Dancer.
Image Credit: Katja Heinemann/Animal Planet
Image 2: The award for Dancing With Dogs.
Image Credit: Katja Heinemann/Animal Planet
Orangutan Island Returns
November 21, 2008 by Healthy Shana
Orangutan Island has returned to Animal Planet for a second season which began on November 9th.
Visit the Orangutan Outreach website for more info: http://redapes.org
Watch the 30 second promo spot below as part of Animal Planets Wild 100.