WILD WEDNESDAYS RETURN TO SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) WITH TWO NEW SPECIALS

"HONEY BADGER GRIT" PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 AT 8 PM ET/PT

"COBRA KING" PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 8 PM ET/PT

Dare to Adventure Into Primitive Terrain

NEW YORK - July 27, 2017 - Journey into the depths of exotic habitats with some of nature's most extraordinary creatures with two brand-new Wild Wednesday specials on Smithsonian Channel. From the dry, barren terrain of the Namibian savanna to the lush rainforests of India, meet two of nature's most unique creatures - the tenacious honey badger and deadly king cobra. Follow these incredible animals on Smithsonian Channel as they navigate their unforgiving environments and fight for survival in HONEY BADGER GRIT, premiering Wednesday, August 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and COBRA KING, debuting on Wednesday, August 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Honey badgers - more closely related to weasels and skunks than actual badgers - are notoriously aggressive and mean. Grit, an 18-month-old honey badger, is tough, but he's never been on his own and must prove he has what it takes to survive the harsh plains of Namibia. He must battle through sharp thorns, tackle venomous scorpions and fight off African honey bees in order to eat the necessary three pounds of food a day. HONEY BADGER GRIT shows Grit as he becomes independent and fearless, while learning to choose his battles wisely to survive some of nature's most ferocious predators.

Slither into the rainforests of the Western Ghats in southern India with COBRA KING, and meet the longest-living venomous snake on the planet. The king cobra's venom glands inject up to one-and-a-half teaspoons of lethal liquid neurotoxins in one stab - a dose potent enough to kill a full-grown Asian elephant. These dangerous snakes are sacred in India, but often enter homes unwelcomed. COBRA KING follows wildlife biologist Gowri Shankar, who has dedicated his life to protecting and researching snakes, as he leads a special task force to rescue poisonous snakes from local villages and return them to their natural habitats.

HONEY BADGER GRIT and COBRA KING are produced by Jess Reiss and Graeme Duane of Earth Touch. Tim Evans and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Weapon Hunter, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.