NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
NAMING THE DEAD S1 (6 x 60)
Wednesdays at 20:30, from 6 August (ends 10 September)
Every year in the USA, around 4.5k unidentified bodies wind up in the county’s morgues. Who are these people? How did they get here? Who have they left behind? What is the story that culminated here? Wall to Wall, the producers behind Born Without Trace and Long Lost Family have secured unprecedented and exclusive access to a unique and remarkable organisation dedicated to restoring the identities of unidentified bodies – knows as Jane and John Does – across North America.
GENGHIS KHAN: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE MONGOLS S1 (6 x 60)
Fridays at 18:50, from 8 August (ends 12 September)
A fearless warrior and ruthless conqueror, Genghis Khan’s epic rise and the Mongolian Empire’s incredible expansion are bought to thrilling life in the six-part series. Drawing on a new translation of “The Secret History of the Mongols,” the series reveals stunning insights into the life and many battles of the legendary ruler know widely as Genghis Khan.
TO CATCH A SMUGGLER S9 (8 x 60)
Thursdays at 18:50, from 14 August (ends 2 October)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso find drugs hidden on and in multiple travelers’ bodies, including a mother trying to cross the border. On an agent’s last day with the team, Homeland Security Investigations take down meth smugglers during a transfer after tracing a loaded car through San Diego. CBP searches for drugs and seizes multiple luxury items in Newark’s shipping facility.
CONSTRUCTION FAILS S2 (6 x 60)
Tuesdays at 18:50, from 19 August (ends 23 September)
Construction fails happen every day, but sometimes the damage is catastrophic. This factual, fast-paced show investigates the most spectacular mishaps, what went wrong, and how the disaster could have been averted. Combining live footage with CGI animation, this show examines well-known disasters, such as the Notre Dame fire, and the collapse of the Georgia Dome, but also more minor incidents. Presented in a light-hearted and accessible manner, Construction Fails shows what happens when things to drastically wrong.
Continuing shows include HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME on Sundays at 21:00, TRAFFICKED: UNDERWORLDS WITH MARIANA VAN ZELLER S2 on Thursdays at 20:30, LOST SHIPS OF WWII S1 on Tuesdays at 21:00, COLOSSEUM: THE RISE AND FALL on Wednesdays at 20:30 and LAWLESS ISLAND S8 on Mondays at 19:40.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILD
HOSTILE WATERS
Saturdays at 18:00, from 2 August (ends 30 August)
Nat Geo wild takes you on a journey through the wildest rivers on the planet. Some of them are the lifeline for an endless array of wildlife, some of which are lethal. As a waterbody, rivers also serve crucial ecological functions by providing and feeding freshwater habitats for aquatic and semiaquatic fauna and flora, especially for migratory fish species, as well as enabling terrestrial ecosystems.
Programming includes:
Death at the River – Saturday 2 August at 18:00
Embark on a riveting journey along the untamed waters of Africa, where the rivers teem with life, and witness the breathtaking struggle for survival against extreme droughts, cunning predators, and opportunistic hunters of all sizes. Africa's rivers, a paradise for predators, become the arena where prey and predator engage in a relentless dance for life. From the crocodile-infested Mara to the arid landscapes of the Luangwa Valley, each river presents a unique set of perils that only the most resilient can endure. Every moment becomes a high-stakes game where only the most cunning and adaptable will emerge victorious.
Africa’s River Titans – Saturday 9 August at 18:00
Africa is a land of giants. Its powerful rivers sculpt the earth and form impressive valleys and waterways home to many imposing and powerful inhabitants. These are the rivers where massive elephants and hippos live, feed and drink and where ancient crocodiles hunt and breed. They share the rivers with other creatures of their kind, such as porcupines, the giant rodents in Africa; the martial eagle, the biggest of its kind on the continent; and the leopard, a giant among the spotted cats.
Wild Mississippi – Saturday 16 August at 18:00
Africa is a land of giants. Its powerful rivers sculpt the earth and form impressive valleys and waterways home to many imposing and powerful inhabitants. These are the rivers where massive elephants and hippos live, feed and drink and where ancient crocodiles hunt and breed. They share the rivers with other creatures of their kind, such as porcupines, the giant rodents in Africa; the martial eagle, the biggest of its kind on the continent; and the leopard, a giant among the spotted cats.
The Flood – Saturday 23 August at 18:00
In the Okavango Delta, the miracle flood is at its peak. Animals that once dominated the land are now constrained to small islands.
Amazonia – Saturday 30 August at 18:00
Stealthy jaguars prowl, army ants swarm and tarantulas bring down rodent prey when seasonal flooding gives way to the dry season and millions of miles of rain forest habitat is revealed.
COASTAL ODYSSEY (8 x 60)
Sundays at 18:00, from 3 August (ends 31 August)
Explore the hidden lives of coastal wildlife, from resilient seabirds and elusive marine predators to creatures that have adapted to life between tides. Witness the effects of environmental changes such as rising sea temperatures, shifting winds, and human influence, that are shaping these delicate habitats. Through mesmerizing underwater footage and dramatic aerial views, this special reveal the untold stories of survival, adaptation, and transformation along the world’s ever-changing shores.
Programming includes:
Croatia’s Coast – Sunday 3 August at 18:00
More than a mere holiday destination, the islands, mountains and forests of the Croatian coast reveal a world of unexpected wildlife and hidden natural treasures. Majestic raptors ride the winds while cicadas sing; geckos defy gravity and the blenny tidal pool-hops. In the mountains, the chamois, lynx and brown bears roam the Velebit range against the backdrop of the breathtaking Adriatic Sea.
Hunters of the Reef – Sunday 10 August at 18:00
Tropical coral reefs are the picture of colorful, light-dappled tranquillity – but that’s a scuba diver’s perspective. To the scaly and gilled inhabitants, it’s a fish-eat-fish environment ruled by pods of dolphins who prowl the area at mealtimes while everyone else runs for cover. Incredible weapons, camouflage, venomous defences and exceptional strategies have evolved among the smaller hunters in constant competition. Lionfish hunt in packs, injecting any objectors with venom from their frilly spikes. The mantis shrimp has polarized vision and the fastest jab on the planet. Cuttlefish morph their skin to match the sand, then attack with tentacle harpoons. The hunt is on in the shifting tides.
Wild Coasts – Sunday 17 August at 18:00
The world’s coastlines are diverse and dynamic. Born from fire and colliding continents… shaped by an unrelenting maelstrom of weather and currents. They are an ever-changing front line, where land meets the sea with violent fury and bountiful riches.
Incredible Animal Journeys – Sunday 24 August at 18:00
Long before us great travellers have crossed our oceans, making incredible journeys to bring new life into the world. From the humpback mom leading her newborn calf across the Pacific, to the green turtle battling sharks to lay her eggs on the beach where she herself was born, join the dedicated moms risking it all so that these great ocean odysseys will continue for generations to come.
Extraordinary Australia – Sunday 31 August at 18:00
Australia’s coastline is a true natural wonder, encompassing a diverse range of bountiful habitats. Coastal seas and lands are realms of epic migrations, mesmerising mating rituals and high stakes battles between predator and prey.
CRITTER FIXERS 4
Mondays at 18:00, from 4 August (ends 22 September)
The Docs at Critter Fixer encounter a ferret with a fractured pelvis, treat a goat with septic arthritis and visit an adolescent groundhog. They also see a kitten who can’t see, soothe a bulldog with a tummy ache, look inside the mouths of snakes, and help a dog with a UTI. Then the Docs take on their toughest surgery ever, operating on a goose with a foreign object lodged in its trachea.
AFRICA - DOUBLE PREMIERE SLOT
Weekends at 14:00, from 9 August (ends 28 September)
Premiere programming includes:
• Secret Ways (3 x 60) S1 E1 – Saturday 9 August at 14:08
• Secret Ways (3 x 60) S1 E2 – Saturday 9 August at 14:54
• Secret Ways S1 E3 – Sunday 10 August at 14:10
Secret Ways of Hyenas – Sunday 10 August at 14:55
In Zambia’s vast and remote Luiwa Plains, Spotted Hyenas reign supreme. These powerful predators are known for their intelligence, strength, and fierce hunting abilities. The big cats of Africa, the Hyena’s main threat, are scarce in this region which has in turn allowed the hyenas to thrive. The lack of any real threat has allowed the clans to expand significantly in size, with the Liuwa hyenas boasting impressive clans that range on an average of 50 members. In the dry season Liuwa Plains are desolate and arid but In the rainy season, it’s a flooded marshland. In this extreme wilderness, these formidable Hyena Clans must rely on many secret weapons, for the battles ahead. They are led by this matriarch, She’s one tough customer, and so are her crew but she also has a soft side. She is a mother and has given birth to the future queen, but her pup must survive against all odds to inherit her crown. For this young cub, all will be revealed as she learns the Secret Ways of Hyenas.
Dung Mafia – Saturday 16 August at 13:51
Heart of the Elephant – Saturday 16 August 14:54
The heart of the elephant is a story of wonder woven together from a tapestry of eye-witness accounts and scientific proof of these gentle giants' intelligence and undeniable emotional capacity, which is far more powerful than we ever acknowledged.
It's a story not just about the love and compassion they feel towards the members of their species but also their ability to distinguish and trust the humans who prove they are deserving of it. A story brought to you by GenSix Productions, and Lion Mountain Media will open your heart to the genuine emotions of this gentle giant.
Tigerfish: Africa's Piranha – Sunday 17 August 13:34
Diving with Crocodiles – Sunday 17 August 14:37
In ‘Diving with Crocodiles’ cameraman and crocodile expert Brad Bestelink undertakes the unthinkable and dives into the waters of the Okavango Delta. Without a cage or any other protection, he gets up close and personal with these fearsome creatures in this groundbreaking film.
Madagascar: Africa's Galapagos – Saturday 23 August at 13:34
Africa's Secret Creatures – Saturday 23 August at 14:37
Ragged Tooth: An Incredible Journey – Sunday 24 August at 14:07
The Ragged Tooth shark’s secret 1500km breeding migration along the South African coastline is punctuated with various dramatic beats, predatory events and hardships. For the first time, footage of the actual act of mating is revealed.
Secret Ways of a Whale Shark – Sunday 24 August at 14:54
An unprecedented ocean odyssey, following in the wake of the largest and perhaps most enigmatic fish in the sea. From the crystal-clear waters of the Seychelles to the frigid, rough South Atlantic seas, join us on an incredible journey following the world's largest fish as she traverses 6000km of ocean.
Ghost of the Silverback – Saturday 30 August at 13:54
A team tracking an elusive 180-kilogram silverback gorilla must journey to a distant war-torn forest to find the holy grail they need to safeguard him… and the rainforest itself.
Pride in Battle – Sunday 31 August at 13:44
‘Pride in Battle’ is the epic story of the rapidly growing Xakanaxa pride as it battles to survive through one of the Okavango’s harshest winters. Twenty-one adults and cubs now make up the group, and because of such a rapid expansion in their numbers, the adults concentrate their hunting efforts on the prey guaranteed to provide the most food – buffalo. A deadly game of
cat and mouse ensues.
Leopards Of Dead Tree Island – Sunday 31 August at 14:47
A dramatic, real-life tale of three leopards plays out in Botswana's Okavango Delta. This is prime habitat for Africa's most secretive big cat. Leopards normally avoid each other but this island is the common hunting ground for all three individuals as they are drawn together by the changing seasons and the movement of their prey. What unfolds is an in-depth look into their lives; following the tension, drama and, in the end, heart wrenching tragedy, as all three seek a common goal - to dominate one of the Okavango's most prized leopard territories.
