Programming line-up for July 2024's Nat Geo WILD Sharkfest and Discovery Shark Week.

by Thinus Ferreira

The TV waters are shark-infested as Discovery Channel and National Geographic compete with a duelling Shark Week and a Sharkfest in July.

Discovery Channel (DStv 121) has its Discovery Shark Week that kicks off Monday 15 July at 17:00, with three local shark experts - Zandile Ndhlovu, Leigh de Necker and Dr Alison Towner who appear across various episodes over the week.

Ndhlovu, known as The Black Mermaid, appears in Monster Hammerheads: Species X and Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier, with De Necker who appears in 6000-LB. Shark. Towner is an expert who appears in Great White Danger Zone.

On Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182 / StarSat 221) the channel's Sharkfest starts on 20 July on weekends at 18:00, and runs until 28 August with shark-themed programming that will also be available on the streaming service Disney+.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Shark scientist Dr Alison Towner appears in Great White Danger Zone on Monday 15 July at 17:15 as her team investigates a new Great White hotspot off the South African coast, uncovering unusual behaviours in these predators. 

"Southern African white sharks are currently a subject of intense mystery. Human activities and killer whale predation have drastically shifted their habitat use in this region," she explains.

"Great White Danger Zone investigates how white sharks are adapting to these changes at the southern tip of Africa."

Zandile Ndhlovu appears on Tuesday 16 July at 18:10 as she dives with Dr Austin Gallagher in the Turks and Caicos, investigating a potentially new species of aggressive Hammerhead sharks in Monster Hammerheads: Species X. 

"Joining Monster Hammerheads: Species X was an incredible opportunity to combine my passion for freediving and showcasing the beauty and diversity of sharks," says Zandile Ndhlovu, South Africa's first black female freediving instructor and founder of the Black Mermaid Foundation.

She also joins Dr Gallagher’s team in Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier on Sunday 21 July at 17:15 where they study massive great whites in New Zealand.

In 6000-LB. Shark on Saturday 20 July at 18:10, the marine biologist Leigh de Necker teams up with Tom "The Blowfish" Hird to track down massive Great White Sharks off the coast of New Zealand.

"Filming 6000-LB Shark for Discovery Shark Week 2024 in New Zealand was truly one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life," she says.

"To witness these magnificent creatures in their element, surrounded by five, six, even seven at a time, was awe-inspiring. These weren't just any sharks - we're talking chunky animals between 3.5 and 5.5 meters in size! My marine biologist brain was in overdrive! Why were there so many sharks? Why were some so large? What were they feeding on? Could any be our South African sharks?"

Other Discovery Shark Week programming this week include:

Deadliest Bite, Tuesday 16 July 17:15

A group of shark experts set out to discover which shark species has the deadliest bite. Using bite force meters, biomedical imaging, and a cutting-edge super slow-motion camera rig, they'll document and analyse shark bites like never before.

Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood, Wednesday 17 July 17:15

After fatal shark attacks in 2022 and 2023 off the shore of a Mexican fishing village, shark attack survivor Paul De Gelder joins shark investigator Brandon McMillan to work with locals to identify the killers and help prevent future attacks from happening.

Alien Sharks: Ghost of Japan, Thursday 18 July 17:15

Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante explores the alien world of Japan's oceans. Teaming up with deep-sea shark expert Christina de Silva, they search for the extremely rare Japanese angelshark, the "ghost of the sea".

Jaws vs. Leviathan, Friday 19 July 17:15

In New Zealand, a clash of titans is about to erupt: the Great White versus a massive leviathan. Dr Tristan Guttridge and Kina Scollay simulate epic battles and study orca tactics to discover the ultimate predator.

Sharks of the Dead Zone, Saturday, 20 July 17:15

Dr Tiara Moore has discovered bull sharks thriving in polluted, algae-filled lagoons. Teaming up with Dr Craig O'Connell, they study why pregnant females still migrate there and how their pups survive in a seemingly hostile environment.

Shark Attack Island, Sunday 21 July 18:10

A South Pacific paradise has become a shark attack hot spot with Bull, Tiger and Great White sharks moving closer and closer to resort beaches. Seven people have been killed in just the last five years, some in knee-deep water only steps from the sand.

NAT GEO WILD

National Geographic's latest Sharkfest will run over four weeks on the Nat Geo WILD channel, with 26 hours of shark programming.

Some of the shark programming include:

Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast, Saturday 20 July 18:00

Anthony Mackie returns to his hometown of New Orleans in this hour-long special where he investigates a fishing phenomenon called depredation, in which a shark preys upon a fisherman's catch and consumes it before it can be retrieved.

Shark Attack 360, Sunday 21 July 18:00 (ends 25 August)

Eight hourlong episodes. Nat Geo Explorer and Marine Biologist Dr Diva Amon leads a team of scientists to uncover new facts about shark attack cases with the help of real-world experiments and a state-of-the-art immersive lab to bring us closer to sharks than ever before.

Baby Sharks in the City, Saturday 27 July 18:00

Shark biologists have discovered a nursery of Atlantic great whites right off the coast of New York City. Watch as they deploy a state-of-the-art camera tag to reveal the secret life of the baby great white for the first time in these Atlantic waters.

Sharks Gone Viral, Saturday 3 August 18:00

It's a social media feed frenzy as comedians Helen Hong, Keon Polee and the Sklar Brothers deep dive into the internet’s wildest shark videos - from lightning-fast shark attacks to sharks living on a golf course - while a panel of experts explore the science behind social media's most influential fish.

Supersized Sharks, Saturday 10 August 18:00

Norfolk Island off the Australian coast is home to some of the largest tiger sharks in the world. For the first time, scientists are diving in to answer why there are so many huge tigers there. Shark biologists Lauren Meyers, Charlie Huveneers and Adam Barnett lure the giants to their boat to investigate and make a surprising discovery.

Attack of the Red Sea Sharks, Saturday 17 August 18:00

This special investigates why sharks killed three people in less than a year in the coastal waters of Red Sea resorts. Multiple witnesses captured the gruesome attacks, with the videos quickly going viral, sparking confusion and hysteria. Are these attacks part of a growing trend that is becoming more common worldwide?

Shark vs Ross Edgley, Saturday 24 August 18:00

Swimmer and shark advocate Ross Edgley faces his greatest challenge yet as he attempts to pit his mind and body against the most formidable predator in the ocean. Testing the limits of his speed, strength, hydrodynamics and endurance, Ross will push his body to its extremes to understand what makes sharks such incredible and versatile predators.

The 7th annual SharkFest kicks off on Nat Geo WILD today, now running for 3 weeks until the end of July with various fascinating shark shows.

The 7th annual SharkFest kicks off on Nat Geo WILD (Dstv 182 / StarSat 262 / Cell C black 221) today, that instead of a week will now roll out shark-themed programming over 3 weeks until the end of July.

Nat Geo WILD starts its 2019 SharkFest with When Sharks Attack on Saturday, 6 July at 18:00 that has 6 episodes broadcast in 2 episodes at a time.

Experts try explain why Florida’s coastline is known as the shark capital of the world and why Reunion is one of the world’s deadliest islands after a sudden 23 horrifying attacks, including 9 deaths.

Investigators believe they must solve the greatest shark attack mystery of all time before history repeats itself, off the coast of Jersey, and they try to understand why, after centuries of living in harmony, the number of attacks by the Great Whites prowling the coast of West Australia sky-rocketed. Then the Seychelles is rocked by two deadly shark attacks in two weeks. 

Cannibal Sharks is on Sunday 7 July at 18:00, taking a look at the many shark species in our oceans, in which two of the world’s leading shark experts unpack and analyse the mounting evidence that shark-on-shark attacks happen a lot more than people realised.

Shark Kill Zone on 14 July looks at the surprisingly diverse ways sharks hunt and the solutions they have found to catching prey.

Man vs Shark on 21 July follows Jeremiah Sullivan’s lifelong mission he describes as "one man, one shark, no cages" for mankind since he first jumped in the water with the oceans most infamous predators 50 years ago.

On 28 July in Operation Sharklift, in a world-first, scientists catch, crane-lift, and relocate huge Bull sharks away from busy Noumea harbour to a pristine coral reef, far from people.

Eyewitness Shark Attack, with 3 episodes from 18:48, shark attacks caught on video reveal clues to help us understand these finned creatures like never before. Prepare for some frightening moments as a great white lunges for a shark researcher, or when a cage diver is horrified when a shark gets stuck in the cage and there is simply no way out.

Great Shark Chow Down on 28 July at 19:00 was produced in South Africa in which the world's leading scientists and cinematographers relive 5 five extraordinary shark feeding events. 

From being surrounded at night by 700 grey reek sharks, to a 300-strong gathering of blacktip, dusky and bronze sharks feeding on thousands of bait fish, to the spectacular sight of more than 200 blue sharks feeding on the carcass of a 7-ton whale; this is an unmatched exploration of from around the world. 

Shark expert, Greg Skomal also leaves the viewer with the sobering reminder that shark numbers worldwide are in decline. How much longer will we be able witness such extraordinary shark gatherings?

"With so many sharks off the coast of South Africa, we hope that this year’s Shark Fest helps present these misunderstood predators in a new light, and helps create an understanding of why we need to protect them," says Evert Van der Veer, Fox Networks Group Africa general manager.

"Always a fan favourite, I am sure audiences will feel inspired, learning more about their amazing lives."

Nat Geo WILD literally jumping the shark with jaws-dropping documentaries for its 6th SharkFest week starting 16 July.

Nat Geo WILD (Dstv 182 / StarSat 262 / Cell C black 221) is once again doing a SharkFest week for a 6th time in 2018, starting Monday 16 July with several jaws-dropping documentaries that will bring new insights about several shark species from the world's top shark researchers.

"What is better than one day of shark TV? A week of SharkFest," says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo WILD.

"We are literally jumping the shark this year by serving a supersized feeding frenzy of jaw-some shar specials, and by taking the first bite, we're giving Nat Geo WILD viewers a week of the shark shows they love. Why wait, when we need to inspire everyone to save our sharks now, more than ever?"

Nat Geo WILD will show new shark behaviour captured on camera in 700 Sharks, show expert insights on why the world's most massive shark species congregate in one region called "shark central" off the coast of South Africa in Big Sharks Rule, do a breakdown of why sharks are the apex oceanic predator in Shark v. Tuna, as well as scientific analyses of shark attacks and why they occasionally mistake humans for prey in When Sharks Attack.

Nat Geo WILD's 6th SharkFest premieres include:

Shark v. Tuna  Monday 16 July 18:00

Witness a clash of oceanic titans in the remote crystal-blue battlefields of Ascension Island. Yellowfin tuna and mako and tiger sharks are all apex predators, but to these sharks, yellowfin tuna are the ultimate prize. The tuna are often faster, fitter and bigger than the sharks, reaching well over 113 kilograms. Any shark hunting these beasts needs brute strength and a little bit of luck to capture one. But when a third player enters the game, the scales tip. Who will win? 

When Sharks Attack: Anatomy of a Shark Attack (6 episodes)
Monday 16 July 19:00 / Tuesday 17 July 19:00 / Wednesday 18 July 19:00 / Thursday 19 July 18:00 & 19:00, Friday 20 July 18:00

Without a doubt, sharks are the most notorious and feared predators in the ocean. In recent years, the number of shark attacks around the world has risen, and understanding how these predators think and behave is more important than ever. Experts break down stories from shark attack survivors, and the science behind shark behaviours and attack methods, to reveal how to handle an attack.

700 Sharks  Tuesday 17 July 18:00

Imagine diving into the ocean only to discover that you are surrounded by one of the largest shark frenzies on the planet. Well, that is exactly what these researchers did in the name of science. In Polynesia, the largest school of sharks - about 700 - patrols the waters en masse. Follow an international team of scientists as they study these magnificent creatures at night, when they are most aggressive, to discover their mysterious hunting strategies and social behaviours. The result: incredible new behaviours never seen before, or caught on camera.

Big Sharks Rule  Wednesday 18 July 18:00

It is an ocean of giants. South Africa has a dramatic, rocky coast that is raked by churning currents. Warm, cold, rich and murky water collide to create "shark central", with enough food to sustain the biggest. Giant sharks like great whites, tiger sharks, bull sharks, ragged tooth sharks, and whale sharks all reign supreme in these waters.