Animal Planet to investigate Tsunami

Media release, June 22

New Delhi

Did the animals know that the tsunami was coming? How do animals react when a natural disaster strikes? And what can we learn from them? For answers to these questions, an Animal Planet team investigated animal behavior before, during and after the tsunami disaster. The channel will present the remarkable findings in its premiere programme TSUNAMI: Animal Instincts.

Featuring compelling videos and engrossing stories, interviews with scientists and conservationists, eyewitness accounts, original footage from the tsunami-struck countries and archival footage from the channel, TSUNAMI: Animal Instincts tells the story of how different animal species sounded the alarm much before the killer waves struck. The programme features astonishing survival stories, like the divers in Thailand who were guided to safety by dolphins. TSUNAMI: Animal Instincts also highlights the manner in which people and animals worked together during the tsunami tragedy to help one another.

The one-hour programme TSUNAMI: Animal Instincts will premiere on Animal Planet on Monday, June 27 at 11 pm.

According to Raja Balasubramanian, Brand Director, Discovery Networks India “It turns out that technology may not be a match for animal instinct. Animal instincts and senses proved to be far more effective than any man-made warning system. Humans also have an intuitive side, but we often cloud it by our intellect. We tend to rationalise things, while an animal senses something and simply reacts to it.”

“Examining the animal behaviour, the programme uncovers how birds, elephants, reptiles and other animals can detect an impending natural catastrophe. It also provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of animal instinct, teaching us what we can learn from them to safeguard our future,” he added.

TSUNAMI: Animal Instincts is narrated by Animal Planet’s Lyndal Davies.

For further information, please contact:

Rajiv Bakshi

Manager - Corporate Communications

Discovery Networks India

011- 51491164; 098109-99796