Animal Planet Celebrates a Long Awaited Panda Birth and Chronicles the Remarkable Journey

Animal Planet Celebrates a Long Awaited Panda Birth and Chronicles the Remarkable Journey

- A PANDA IS BORN Premieres Saturday, December 10, at 8 PM (ET) with Never-Before-Seen-on-TV Birth -

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Not many creatures can captivate people like giant pandas. With their bold markings, roly-poly physique and distinctive play, they're adored around the world. They're also one of the most critically endangered species on the planet. Thanks to the efforts of the keepers and veterinary staff at the Smithsonian National Zoo and knowledge sharing between the United States and China, on July 9, 2005, success was achieved and a giant panda cub was born. Premiering Saturday, December 10, at 8 PM (ET), A PANDA IS BORN follows the zoo staff as they endure three nail-biting, unsuccessful seasons of panda mating for the National Zoo's female, Mei Xiang, and her mate, Tian Tian, culminating in the gripping event of an actual panda birth, never before seen on television.

Animal Planet partnered with the Smithsonian National Zoo in 2000 to cover the lives of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and chronicled their journey in MEET THE PANDAS: WASHINGTON'S NEW POWER COUPLE. Over the past five years, Animal Planet has shot original footage for A PANDA IS BORN, chronicling the ups and downs of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian's reproductive struggles and finally the ultimate reward -- a panda birth -- alongside the keepers and vets who care about them the most. Through compelling video, viewers will learn about the mysteries of panda reproduction, as well as the broader context of panda care on their home turf in China. Featuring interviews with Mei Xiang and Tian Tian's keepers and members of the National Zoo's veterinary staff, the program sheds light on what it took to bring the cub Tai Shan into the world and the complex challenges involved in the fight to save the giant panda species.

A PANDA IS BORN primarily focuses on the struggle of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian to become parents, and also covers the 30-year history of giant pandas at the National Zoo from the original pair, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, to the present day. The special shows viewers the progress that has been made, and provides a timeline of the long wait for a successful panda birth.

"This touching special recognizes and celebrates the amazing connection between humans and animals," said Maureen Smith, executive vice president and general manager, Animal Planet. "Exploring this story illustrates that connection in its purest form by showing how invested everyone was -- from the zoo's staff to the production team and the public -- in the reproductive success of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian."

A PANDA IS BORN was produced by Film Garden Entertainment. Nancy Jacobs Miller and Michelle Van Kempen are the executive producers for Film Garden Entertainment. Amanda Crane is the co-executive producer for Film Garden Entertainment. Gary Benthin is the writer and supervising producer for Film Garden Entertainment. Alexandra Bennett is the executive producer for Animal Planet.

Animal Planet, available in 87 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network brings people of all ages together by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals through an array of fresh programming that includes humor, competition, drama and spectacle from the animal kingdom. Animal Planet is a property of Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 90 networks of distinctive programming represent 25 network entertainment brands. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates 120 Discovery Channel Stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Source: Animal Planet

CONTACT: Melissa Olear of Animal Planet, +1-240-662-2946,
Melissa_Olear@discovery.com

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/

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