CAST OF ANIMAL PLANET'S HIT SERIES "WHALE WARS" RECONVENE IN REUNION SPECIAL TO DIVE DEEPER ON THE ISSUES AND ACTION

Journalist Lisa Ling Hosts Special with Captain Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd Fan Favorites Immediately Following the Season Finale on Friday, August 12, at 10 PM

(New York, New York, July 5, 2011) - After an exhilarating, heart-pounding and potentially final season of Animal Planet's most-watched and talked-about series, WHALE WARS, Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherds are basking in a hard-fought, if not cautious, victory. Hundreds of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary were saved this year by the Sea Shepherds through their direct-action efforts, followed by the unprecedented cancellation of the Japanese whale hunt. But will the whalers return next season as recently suggested in news reports? Now crew members from Sea Shepherd have the chance to share all details of their unforgettable and undoubtedly rewarding campaign with unfiltered commentary, behind-the-scenes knowledge and viewer questions.

The one-hour reunion special WHALE WARS: War Stories will premier Friday, August 12, at 10 PM (ET/PT) immediately following the season finale of WHALE WARS. Five Sea Shepherds - along with Captain Watson - sit down with host Lisa Ling to talk about what happened when the cameras were and weren't rolling. The reunion will include the best-of and never-before-seen footage of the dramatic conflicts between Watson's international conservationist group and the whaling industry and discussion about some of the harrowing decisions the crew made to keep themselves and their crew out of jeopardy. Joining Watson are helicopter pilot Chris Aultman, Gojira Captain Locky MacLean, bosun Benjamin "Pottsy" Potts, quartermaster and rescue swimmer Fiona McCuaig and crane operator Matt Smith as they discuss their three-month adventure that put their lives on the line to defend whales in the treacherous waters and climate of Antarctica.

Ling is the host of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network's OUR AMERICA WITH LISA LING, one the network's most popular series which returns with an all-new season this fall.

WHALE WARS: War Stories is produced by The Lizard Trading Company for Animal Planet. Liz Bronstein is the executive producer for The Lizard Trading Company, and Jason Carey is the executive producer for Animal Planet. Charlie Foley is the vice president of development for Animal Planet.

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, 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. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 96 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.