The network, Animal Planet, unveiled their new and returning programs. New shows that will be on the channel include Deadly Islands, Ice Lake Rebels, Pool Master, and Redwood Kings.
Specials will also air on Animal Planet, including a two hour film starring Martin Sheen. Sheen plays Old Thomas Nickerson who tells about his life as a cabin boy on a whaling ship. He co-stars with Jonas Armstrong, according to Entertainment Outlook. On another special, basketball star Yao Ming goes on an expedition to save Africa’s elephants and rhinos from extinction. This show is a Discovery Global Initiative working in conjunction with the WildAid organization.
According to the Associated Press, Marjorie Kaplan, group president of Animal Planet and TLC, said, "We believe that there is a value to a planet filled with life, and that every living creature has value. That's an ethos that underlies what we do."
Animal Planet programming also includes a number of established series including Finding Bigfoot, My Cat From Hell, Pit Bulls & Parolees, River Monsters, and Treehouse Masters.