Welcome inside the gates of Animal Planet groundbreaking new series - LOUISIANA LOCKDOWN, premiering Friday, June 1, at 10 PM ET/PT, set inside one of the country's largest maximum-security penitentiaries, Angola Prison.

This summer, Animal Planet's Saturday nights are overrun with feisty felines and conniving canines with the return of hit series MY CAT FROM HELL and BAD DOG!

Watchitoo, the interactive SaaS-based company that provides professional HD video collaboration and streaming technologies, announced today that it has been selected by Animal Planet to power its after-show discussion for the new mini-series WHALE WARS: VIKING SHORES.

Once upon a time, there lived a little mermaid in an underwater kingdom. She ventured to surface, longing to communicate with people on land... This is a fairytale told and retold to children everywhere. What if there's a kernel of truth that lives beneath the legend of the mythic mermaid? Now, in MERMAIDS: THE BODY FOUND, premiering Sunday, May 27, from 9-11 PM ET/PT, Animal Planet brings viewers into the world where the legend is real. The film blends real-life events and phenomena with the story of two scientists who testify they found the remains of a never-before-identified sea creature. Spectacular CGI animates a world where mermaids really do swim below the water's surface, cooperatively hunt with dolphins and may continue to survive in an intricate society where they stay hidden in fear of their Earth-bound relatives.

Watchitoo, the interactive SaaS-based company that provides professional HD video collaboration and streaming technologies, announced today that it has been selected by Animal Planet to power its after-show discussion for the new mini-series WHALE WARS: VIKING SHORES.

WHALE WARS: VIKING SHORES, a new five-part series beginning tonight, April 27, at 8 PM (et/pt) with a two-hour premiere follows Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as it sets sail to end this ancient traditionknown as 'The Grind' - Faroese for 'whale drive' - that takes place every summer.

This June, Kentucky's best-kept secret 'Turtleman' returns to Animal Planet with 16 brand-new, 30-minute episodes beginning Sunday, June 3, at 10 PM (et/pt).

Animal Planet's Emmy-nominated WHALE WARS returns for a fifth season beginning Friday, June 1 at 9 PM (ET/PT) with eight engaging new episodes and a one-hour recap special documenting the Sea Shepherd's annual whale defense campaign in the Southern Ocean.

This Upfront season, Animal Planet advances its richest slate of original programming to date. The Planet's bringing back 13 returning 'Surprisingly Human' hit series and introducing a pack of new titles. Heading into the Upfront with strong momentum, Animal Planet has seen a nearly 25 percent ratings increase with both men and women driving gains.

Animal Planet announces the renewal of an even bigger version of last summer's smash hit HILLBILLY HANDFISHIN' for a second season with some added elements.

For three successful seasons of Animal Planet's RIVER MONSTERS, extreme angler Jeremy Wade has taken viewers along as he unravels freshwater fish tales of giant killers - where sometimes the fact really is stranger than the fiction!

Today, Animal Planet announces the renewals of three popular series: PIT BOSS, MY CAT FROM HELL and PIT BULLS & PAROLEES. The trio of cat and dog programs helped drive record viewers to the network's Saturday night in first quarter and delivered all-time highs for each of its recent season.

Yet, there is still an important decision to be made in 2012. Animal Planet is asking the country to unite for Decision 2012: electing America's favorite pet. Will the Dog, Cat or Independent Party pull away with the win?

FRONTIER EARTH WITH DAVE SALMONI takes the network's 'Surprisingly Human' tagline to the next level in a six-part natural history series, where viewers embark on a Salmoni-guided journey to the frontlines of major ecosystems, unfolding the plights of the world's most enigmatic animals.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has signed a distribution agreement with Animal Planet, the world's only entertainment brand that fully immerses viewers with the animal kingdom. The deal will see ITVS GE distribute 150 hours of Animal Planet programmes to all territories outside of North America.

WHALE WARS: VIKING SHORES, a new five-part series beginning Friday, April 27, at 8 PM (et/pt) with a two-hour premiere follows Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as it sets sail to end this ancient traditionknown as 'The Grind' - Faroese for 'whale drive' - that takes place every summer.

Africa's vast Serengeti plays host annually to one of nature's greatest and most intense dramas - an epic journey by more than two million animals desperately searching for food and water. Their 2,000-mile trek is fraught with danger, and, unfortunately for many, they won't make it to the end.

This March, Animal Planet kicks off kitty mania with all-new, must-see episodes of MUST LOVE CATS, beginning on Saturday, March 10, at 8 PM (ET/PT).

For three successful seasons of Animal Planet's RIVER MONSTERS, extreme angler Jeremy Wade has taken viewers along as he unravels freshwater fish tales of giant killers - where sometimes the fact really is stranger than the fiction!

Animal Planet has had its strongest February prime in nearly 10 years, delivering double-digit growth among 654K P2+ viewers (+13%), 489K HH (+14%), 292K P25-54 (+18%) and 277K P18-49 (+16%). Animal Planet also had record highs among men and women demos, including its best-ever February performance among M25-54 (+32%, 151K) and M18-49 (+19%, 135K), as well as its best prime delivery in nine years among W18-49 (+14%, 142K).

Africa's vast Serengeti plays host annually to one of nature's greatest and most intense dramas - an epic journey by more than two million animals desperately searching for food and water. Their 2,000-mile trek is fraught with danger, and, unfortunately for many, they won't make it to the end.

This March, Animal Planet kicks off kitty mania with all-new, must-see episodes of MUST LOVE CATS, beginning on Saturday, March 10, at 8 PM (ET/PT).

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications LLC, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized, online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment.

Animal Planet is heating up your winter blues with a HILLBILLY HANDFISHIN' marathon on Wednesday, February 8 starting at 8 PM (et/pt), leading up to a brand-new episode at 10 PM (et/pt). Additionally, three new episodes follow on Sundays at 8 PM (et/pt), beginning February 12.

This President's Day, Animal Planet pays tribute to our nation's heads of state - and their famous first pets - by announcing DECISION 2012: ELECT AMERICA'S FAVORITE PET.