National Geographic is making a splash this July with the ninth annual Sharkfest on Monday, July 5.
The event will premiere with the marquee Sharkfest special Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth at 7.30pm AEST, Monday July 5.
It will be followed by the first episode of When Sharks Attack at 10.30pm AEST.
Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth follows the global movie star as he embarks on a personal mission to investigate how we can live more harmoniously with sharks.
Chris Hemsworth
The one-hour documentary special from Nutopia (One Strange Rock) features shark icon and conservationist Valerie Taylor, who takes Chris Hemsworth for a shark dive to experience firsthand the awe and beauty of nurse sharks, and other preeminent shark experts who are exploring new preventative measures and the latest technology to help stave off shark-human encounters.
National Geographic’s originals take viewers up close and personal with one of nature’s most feared and often misunderstood creatures. Other marquee special events include Shark Attack Investigation: The Paige Winter Story, where experts unpack the details of Winter’s attack and the inspirational story of how the teen remains an advocate for sharks, and the action-packed six-part series Shark Attack Files, which investigates bizarre and fascinating shark behavior, featuring footage from actual attacks, interactions and behavior captured by both professionals and observant bystanders.
Sharkfest will also see the Australian premieres of Rogue Shark? and Sharks Vs Dolphins: Blood Battle.
Rogue Shark? explores a series of shark attacks that occurred in remote islands of the Whitsundays. Was a rogue serial killer on the loose? Or was something new drawing sharks and humans into conflict?
Sharks Vs Dolphins: Blood Battle looks at the battle for supremacy raging off the coast of Australia. Sharks and Dolphins have shared the ocean for millenia but scientists are only just beginning to understand the relationship between the pair.
Additional highlights on National Geographic include six new episodes of fin-favorite When Sharks Attack, which takes a look at why there are spikes in shark attacks; find out what happens when two of the deadliest predators face off in Croc That Ate Jaws; Shark Gangs reveals what is behind the shark behavior of hanging out in groups.
“The mysteries of the ocean’s most iconic predators are so vast, even with eight years of shark-focused content under our belt, there still remains more to be discovered,” says Janet Vissering, senior vice president of development and production, National Geographic Partners. “Like every year, shark scientists and oceanic experts have pulled out all the stops for this year’s Sharkfest, revealing new discoveries, shocking revelations and bizarre shark behavior never seen before. It’s going to be jaw-some!”
Sharkfest’s full original programming lineup is below.
SHARK BEACH WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH
National Geographic — Premieres July 5, at 7.30pm AEST
Chris Hemsworth is on a mission to uncover the science of shark behavior and discover how humans and sharks can safely coexist. After an increase in local shark attacks along the east coast of Australia, Hemsworth seeks to understand different species of sharks and their behaviors while also exploring new preventative measures and the latest technology to help stave off shark-human encounters.
Chris Hemsworth
WHEN SHARKS ATTACK
National Geographic — Premieres July 5, 10.30pm AEST
(Continues nightly July 5-12, 10.30pm AEST)
The world’s beaches quickly turn deadly in this deep-sea saga when sharks descend, shocking the local community and sending scientists reeling. What causes these spikes in activity? And how can they be prevented?
ORCA VS. GREAT WHITE
National Geographic — Premieres July 6, at 7.30pm AEST
Off the coast of South Africa in 2017, orcas began hunting and killing great white sharks. Now, researchers in New Zealand set out to discover if it could happen again. Diving with several shark populations along New Zealand’s southern coast, they investigate this murder mystery and seek answers to this burning question: have their local orcas developed a taste for great white sharks?
CROC THAT ATE JAWS
National Geographic — Premieres July 7, 7.30pm AEST
From mysterious severed heads and ambush attacks to mob hunts and stand-offs, what happens when two of the deadliest predators on the planet go head-to-head?
ROGUE SHARK?
National Geographic — Premieres July 8, 7.30pm AEST
In October 2018, the remote islands of the Whitsunday in Australia were rocked by a series of shark attacks. Incredibly, all the victims were attacked in the same small patch of ocean, no larger than four football fields. Was a rogue serial killer on the loose? Or was something new drawing sharks and humans into conflict?
SHARK GANGS
National Geographic — Premieres July 9, 7.30pm AEST
For years sharks have been viewed as solitary predators, but scientists have recently discovered a surprising new behavior. In this special, we reveal how this apex predator likes to hang out in gangs. So what is behind this behavior? Do sharks enjoy a social life, or are they working together to become even more effective hunters?
GREAT BARRIER REEF: A LIVING TREASURE
National Geographic — Premieres July 11, at 9.30pm AEST
The Great Barrier Reef is a living, breathing organism supporting the richest, most complex ecosystem on the planet. Narrated by multi-award winning actor Russell Crowe and directed by Emmy-award winning cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick.
SHARK ATTACK: THE PAIGE WINTER STORY
National Geographic — Premieres July 12, at 7.30pm AEST
Paige Winter was only 17 years old when she lost a leg and portion of her hand to a shark. Experts unpack the details of Paige’s attack to determine what kind of shark is responsible and what can be done, if anything, to avoid this happening again. Despite all Paige has lived through, this inspirational teen remains an advocate for sharks and, with the guidance of professionals, takes brave steps to overcome her greatest fears.
SAND EATING SHARKS
National Geographic – Premieres July 13, at 7.30pm AEST
In Fernando do Noronha, offshore Brazil, lemon sharks have mastered the art of catching sardines in the surf zone with the help of unexpected allies.
SHARK ATTACK-TICS
National Geographic – Premieres July 14, at 7.30pm AEST
Giant, fierce, or just plain weird, each shark species comes with a set of weapons and attack manoeuvres to survive in its own corner of the ocean.
WORLD’S BIGGEST BULL SHARK?
National Geographic – Premieres July 15, at 7.30pm AEST
It was a freak encounter that broke all the records. In 2012, off the coast of Florida, shark scientist Dr. Neil Hammerschlag caught the mother of all bull sharks—it stretched more than 10-feet long and weighed over 1,000 pounds! They named her Big Bull and set her free. Bull sharks in Florida patrol the beaches, terrifyingly close the swimmers, and feast on seasonal migrations of baitfish. Many long thought these sharks were just well-fed, but now some scientists believe that Big Bull is the matriarch of a unique population of giants. There is only one way to find out … and you gotta get close.
WORLD’S DEADLIEST SHARK?
National Geographic — Premieres July 16, 7.30pm AEST
The great white has a reputation for being the scariest in the sea, but Explorer Jacques Cousteau called the oceanic whitetip “The most dangerous of all sharks …” Two teams of experts dive deep into the world of the oceanic whitetip to reveal what makes this species a top contender for the title of “world’s most dangerous shark.”
THE SHARKS OF HAWAII
National Geographic — Premieres July 20, at 7.30pm AEST
A living Eden for all creatures, Hawaii is home to multiple species of shark and their behaviour there is not seen anywhere else on earth.
SHARK ATTACK FILES
National Geographic — Premieres July 26, at 10.30pm AEST
This action-packed series is an investigation into bizarre and fascinating shark behavior. Featuring footage from actual attacks, interactions and behavior captured by both professionals and observant bystanders, every twist and turn leaves viewers sitting on the edge of their seats. Scientific experts and investigators dive deeper into the mystery of these unexplained behaviors and come to a stunning revelation that ties these extraordinary events together.
SHARKS vs DOLPHINS: BLOOD BATTLE
National Geographic — Premieres July 30, at 7.30pm AEST
Off the coast of Australia a battle for supremacy rages on. They’ve shared the ocean for millenia but scientists are only just beginning to understand the relationship between sharks and dolphins.