Animal planet celebrates Indian wildlife

Animal Planet adds new flavour to its most celebrated programming line-up Yeh Mera India. Commemorating the 69th year of India’s Independence, Animal Planet will launch a new campaign taking viewers on an exotic journey to explore some of the rarely seen and endangered wildlife of the country.

Travelling across the Himalayan Mountains, down the mighty River Gangesto the rainforests of Shola and the Western Ghats, the month-long programming line-up Yeh Mera India will intrigue viewers to relish India’s incredible wildlife and its pristine natural beauty.

In celebration of the spectacular wildlife, Animal Planet will launch a new Yeh Mera India Anthem, composed by popular Bollywood composers, the Meet Brothers. Aiming to capture youth and sensitise viewers about the dazzling array of fauna found in the country, the three-minute multi-lingual anthem has passionate lyrics, vibrant choreography and mesmerising performances.

Choreographed by Feroz Khan, directed by Vishal Punjabi and sung by Meet Brothers, Shibani Kashyap and Neha Bhasin, the composition is in three most widely spoken languages – Hindi, Tamil and Bangla, is melodious and peppy.

Premiering August 15, every night at 8 pm, Yeh Mera India will showcase how India, which is home to over a billion people, supports a fantastic variety of wildlife. It brings a realistic and hopeful picture amongst the complex human-wildlife interactions.

The month-long programming will offer insights into how some of the endangered animals like the elephant, the guar (Indian bison), the nilgiritahr, the sambhar (the largest of Indian deer), abound in the lush forests are vulnerable owing to urban development, habitat destruction and poaching.

It also projects illustrious works of renowned conservationists and experts like ValmikThapar, Dr. UllasKaranth, Jeremy Wade, Steve Backshall, and Niall McCann who have been exploring and supporting the conservation of wildlife in India.

Rahul Johri, EVP and GM – South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific said YehMera India is an initiative to build viewers’ interest and pride in the wildlife of India. The programming will reveal themagnificent natural heritage and will inspireaudience to preserve it for future generations.”

Renowned Bollywood composer and singer Manmeet Singh said, “YehMera India anthem is a vibrant song which is reminiscent of the rich wildlife and unparalleled natural beauty of this country. It’s a musical tribute to the independence of animals.”

Leading Bollywood composer Harmeet Singh added, “Dedicated to the splendid animal kingdom, YehMera India’s Party in the Jungletheme for this anthem is both sensational and celebratory. The soundtrack is designed to match the progressive state of mind of today’s youth.”

The captivating programming line-up will include the following episodes:

Nagarahole -Tales Froman Indian Jungle will join conservation zoologist and wildlife expert Dr K UllasKaranth as he investigates Nagarhole National Park, home to largest animal species in India and highlights threats to its precious ecological heritage.

The Packwill follow wildlife filmmaker, Senani, who has been tracking one of the least filmed large mammals of the Indian subcontinent - the wild dogs (dhole). Creatures of the Great Rains will navigate through flood plains in Kaziranga, Assam, which are the only place where highly endangered Indian rhinoceros flourish, alongside ferociouswater buffaloes and herds of Asian elephants.

Wandering Lions of Gujaratwill draw focus on the Asiatic lions of Gir Forest,which were once on the brink of extinction and have registered a remarkable growth in the last few years. Against a backdrop of unsurpassed natural beauty, Saba Douglas Hamilton teams up with renowned tiger expert ValmikThapar to track down the tigers of Ranthambhore in Search for Tigers.