ANIMAL PLANET EXPLORES THE CREATURES AND ECOSYSTEMS OF "WILD MEXICO," PREMIERING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

-- Blue Chip Nature Special Wild Mexico Delves into the Unique Ecosystems That Give Life to These Magnificent Animals--

(August 28, 2014) - Mexico is a country full of rich landscapes and diverse ecosystems ranging from deserts and rainforests to lofty mountains and mangrove swamps. Scattered among these varied backdrops, the some of the most amazing animals on Earth can be found -- from tiny Mexican jumping spider, to the intimidating jaguar. Viewers will experience the variety of wildlife that the mysterious Mexican terrain offers including spider monkeys, devil rays and the majestic gray whale. Ultramodern camera technology captures this extraordinarily unique animal kingdom and Mexico's most amazing natural wonders, uncovering secrets that can't be found anywhere else on earth. The one-hour special, WILD MEXICO, airs on Tuesday, September 23 at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

In WILD MEXICO, viewers are taken deep into the Mayan rainforest where a secretive and powerful assassin, the jaguar, lurks in the dense jungle stalking its next meal. Meanwhile, a troop of spider monkeys is led high into the treetops by its matriarch to escape the grasp of any number of predators.

Encompassing over five thousand miles of coastline, Mexico is a sanctuary to nine species of whales, including the grey whale. With over 20,000 of them making a yearly pilgrimage from the Arctic to give birth, the warm waters of the Baja peninsula become an aquatic nursery. Underwater cameras capture the incredible act of a mother whale teaching her 3-month-old calf to dive and feed before heading out to open seas.

The elusive "mobula," or devil ray, live in the nearby Sea of Cortez. WILD MEXICO follows these unique creatures to expose a magnificent and rarely seen behavior. When the ocean is calm, hundreds of rays gather and launch into acrobatic leaps that reach over six feet in the air.

WILD MEXICO explores the country's changing ecosystem, which provides a vital environment for the endangered Kemp's ridley turtle to lay its eggs. Mexico also offers a protective microclimate for millions of monarch butterflies that arrive each year following an internal system, much-like GPS.

Across the epic lands and waters of Mexico, nature continues to thrive and surprise. From the bizarre to the magnificent, to the playful and awe-inspiring, the animals in this ancient country continue to impress and mystify.