The Selous Game Reserve in the heart of Tanzania is one of the world's last remaining true wildernesses, a gem of Africa. Hidden among the reserve's pristine lakes are a unique group of mammals — the Bandits! This tight-knit group of banded mongooses are miniature heroes, pitting their wits against all that nature can throw at them. Bandits of Selous is packed with characters and interweaving storylines, which are sure to captivate viewers.
This episode will be broadcast in high definition.*This Season on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
RHINO NIGHTS — Premiered Sunday, March 2, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
The private life of Africa's black rhino has long remained a mystery. Poached to the brink of extinction, their limited numbers and highly aggressive behavior have made studying this one-ton powerhouse a dangerous — and near impossible — feat. But some say the rhino has a gentler side. Wildlife expert Saba Douglas-Hamilton investigates the truth behind these claims. Her search takes her into the unforgiving landscape of Namibia. Along the way, Saba must face her greatest fears as she attempts to gain entry into the rhino's secret world. What she ultimately discovers could change the world's perception of these enigmatic creatures forever.
SNOW LEOPARD'S LAIR — Premiered Sunday, March 9, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
High in the mountains of Pakistan lives a cat so elusive, only a privileged few have ever filmed it. The beautiful snow leopard is so notoriously difficult to track, that experts can't even say how many are left in the wild. Driven by a passion to uncover the myths surrounding this icon of the wilderness, journalist Nisar Malik and wildlife cameraman Mark Smith embark on an amazing journey through one of the most remote — and scenic — places on earth. What they discover goes far deeper than they ever imagined... to the very heart of the snow leopard's battle for survival.
ELEPHANT NOMADS — Premiered Sunday, March 16, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
Deep in the heart of Namibia's Namib Desert, an elephant population has made a dramatic comeback after being poached to the brink of extinction. Each and every family member is critical to the continued recovery of these desert elephants and the pressure is on the female leaders of the herd to ensure their safety. Three matriarchs — and their families — make an epic journey across an unforgiving landscape in search of water and food. Along the way, they'll be forced to make life and death decisions and the future of Namibia's Elephant Nomads will rest on their failures and their successes.
RETURN TO PENGUIN CITY — Premiered Sunday, March 23, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
Millions of Adelie penguins storm the beaches of Antarctica every October, as they undertake an annual migration to their breeding grounds. For over half a century, researchers have been coming here, hoping to unlock the secrets of these penguins' lives. Braving fierce storms, outsmarting predators, and scaling rogue icebergs — these birds are extraordinary survivors. But they may now face the ultimate challenge. In Return to Penguin City, scientists Grant Ballard and Viola Toniolo discover that rapid climate changes may not only affect the penguins in Antarctica, but could also have major repercussions well beyond this remote corner of the world.
BANDITS OF SELOUS — Premieres Sunday, April 27, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
The Selous Game Reserve in the heart of Tanzania is one of the world's last remaining true wildernesses, a gem of Africa. Hidden among the reserve's pristine lakes are a unique group of mammals — the Bandits! This tight-knit group of banded mongooses are miniature heroes, pitting their wits against all that nature can throw at them. Bandits of Selous is packed with characters and interweaving storylines, which are sure to captivate viewers.
BUFFALO WARRIOR — Premieres Sunday, June 1, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
A former buffalo hunter turned "buffalo whisperer," Lindsay Hunt has persuaded one of Africa's most dangerous beasts to trust him. For two years, Hunt has been getting up close and personal with the most volatile, temperamental and aggressive animal in Africa — the Cape buffalo. Now, with an outbreak of Bovine tuberculosis threatening the Cape buffalo population, Lindsay's expertise is more valuable than ever. Lindsay furiously works to save the Cape buffalo by breeding the remaining uninfected. His efforts could revive the declining population of the world's moodiest beast.
PREDATORS IN PERIL — Premieres Sunday, June 8, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
This dramatic hour tracks the lives of a wild community locked in an eternal battle for survival. At the heart of the story is a pride of lions whose relationships take a series of unexpected turns when their dominance is challenged by other species in reserve — elephants, leopards, buffalo and hyena. As their saga unfolds against the stunning backdrop of Mala Mala, South Africa's premiere game reserve, witness family feuds and secret trysts, shocking scandals and extraordinary heroics. But as drought settles over the region, even these ancient enemies find common ground in their struggle to survive.
CRACKING THE HUMPBACK CODE — Premieres Sunday, July 6, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
Mysterious and misunderstood, scientists know very little about humpback whales. But even as the first scientific breakthroughs are made, the whales' very existence is threatened and the species could disappear before we have a chance to decode their secrets. Three of the world's leading whale experts are on a mission to uncover the truth about the lives of these gentle giants. For two years the team has worked in the turquoise waters of Hawaii on a unique project to decipher the code of the whale song — the most complex acoustic display in the animal kingdom. It's a race against time to prove that these huge creatures have a language of their own, and intelligence far beyond our understanding.
HYENA QUEEN — Premieres Sunday, July 13, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
She was heir to the dominant female, but then her mother was killed and her clan taken over by a rival. This is the epic tale of a young spotted hyena as she struggles to reclaim her rightful place as queen of the largest hyena clan in East Africa.
TBD — Premieres Sunday, August 10, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
Check back for more information.
CHEETAHS: AGAINST ALL ODDS — Premieres Sunday, August 17, at 7 PM (ET/PT)
In the Serengeti, cheetahs lead uneasy lives. In order to hunt, females must leave their cubs alone and exposed to the savagery of more powerful predators. Even scrounging scavengers can gain the upper-hand over this slender and graceful speedster. This extraordinary tale follows two cheetah mothers, struggling to raise their young in the face of constant danger. As their fortunes rise and fall, experience battles for the upper hand and success against all odds.
* Where high definition is available