SHATTERING SHARK MYTHS; SHOWCASING AWE-INSPIRING SHARK BEHAVIOR; DIVING INTO SHARK HOT SPOTS WORLDWIDE

NAT GEO WILD'S THIRD ANNUAL "SHARKFEST" REVEALS THE TOP U.S. SHARK BEACHES AND A PREDATORY PHENOMENON

Weeklong Event Begins Sunday, July 5, at 8/7c Only on Nat Geo WILD

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - JUNE 19, 2015) Every year as summer approaches, the world's fascination with sharks resurfaces. The apex predator is vital to balancing the ocean's ecosystem, but its reputation has been battered by myths and fabrications. Nat Geo WILD's third annual SharkFest continues a tradition of focusing on the facts, featuring a week of insights from shark experts and incredible footage of shark behavior to get a comprehensive look at the species in all their glory.

This year concentrates on the world's shark hot spots, diving into feeding frenzies and exploring the country's top shark beaches in SharkFest, a week-long event beginning Sunday, July 5, at 8/7c. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com/sharkfest and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NGC_PR.

"Shark encounters captivate us every summer, but sadly the fear mongering and myth spreading overshadow these magnificent creatures and their vital place in the ocean's ecosystems," said Geoff Daniels, EVP and general manager, Nat Geo WILD. "The fact is, your chance of getting attacked by a shark in your lifetime is 1 in 11,000,000.[1] You are also 30 times more likely to be killed by lightening than to be killed by a shark. So it turns out that it is safe to go back in the water, as long you've got the facts."

New premiere Shark Alley kicks off the week, following the sardine run - one of the largest migrations on earth - featuring millions of sardines moving up the southeastern coast of Africa with sharks hot on their tails. The sardines' only defense is to join together into giant shoals, continually changing the size, shape and direction of their massive bait ball as they try to elude their predators. The result is a synchronized spectacle of fish swimming for their lives.

Then we dive into America's coastlines, with the premiere of United Sharks of America, exploring when, where and why beachgoers are most vulnerable to a shark attack. Experts discuss why shark attacks seem to be increasing, which sharks are the most dangerous, and how to avoid a shark encounter.

Black tip shark encounters are on the rise, but beachgoers can take some comfort in knowing that their bites are rarely fatal. "When they bite people, they sense immediately that this is not a prey item that is on their menu," said Dr. Dan Abel, professor of marine science at Coastal Carolina University. "These bites rarely do much damage. They bite and then release."

SHARKFEST PREMIERES:

Shark Alley Premiering Sunday, July 5, at 8/7c The great sardine migration is a thousand-mile gauntlet of death, with billions of sardines forming shoals that can be seen from space and by sharks on the hunt for an easy meal. It's the ultimate shark fast food, with bronze whalers, ragged tooths, hammerheads, black tips, tigers and bulls all showing up for the chase. The largest predation event on earth serves up ambush after ambush, climaxing into a colossal feeding frenzy.

United Sharks of America Premiering Sunday, July 5, at 9/8c Some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States also feature the highest incidences of shark encounters. Filled with the latest shark facts, United Sharks of America counts down America's shark hot spots and offers an essential guide to shark activity and avoidance. The leading experts deconstruct shark attacks and provide valuable tips to stay out of their path. Learn about shark hunting techniques, hear from shark attack survivors and get to know the wide variety of shark species that thrive along the coastal U.S.

SHARKFEST WEEKLONG SCHEDULE:

SUNDAY, JULY 5
7/6c - World's Deadliest Sharks
8/7c - Shark Alley - PREMIERE
9/8c - United Sharks of America - PREMIERE
10/9c - Shark Kill Zone

MONDAY, JULY 6
7/6c - Australia's Deadliest Shark Attacks
8/7c - The Whale That Ate Jaws
9/8c - Shocking Sharks
10/9c - Ragged Tooth Sharks

TUESDAY, JULY 7
7/6c - 10/9c - When Sharks Attack Marathon

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
7/6c - When Sharks Attack: Florida Frenzy
8/7c - Shark Battleground: The Red Triangle
9/8c - Red Sea Jaws
10/9c - Shark Attack Experiment

THURSDAY, JULY 9
7/6c - When Sharks Attack: Panic in Paradise
8/7c - Australia's Deadliest Shark Attacks
9/8c - United Sharks of America
10/9c - Shark Alley

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About Nat Geo WILD

Experience the best, most intimate encounters with wildlife ever seen on television. Backed by its unparalleled reputation for quality and blue-chip programming, Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. From the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of our oceans, to the protected parks on our doorsteps, Nat Geo WILD will use spectacular cinematography and compelling storytelling to take viewers on unforgettable journeys into the wild world. Launched in 2006, Nat Geo WILD is part of National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and is available in more than 90 countries and 100 million homes. Nat Geo WILD HD launched in the U.K. in March 2009, and is also available in Greece, Latin America, Poland, Spain and Russia. Further expansion is expected globally. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.

[1] International Shark Attack File Data, 2005-2014