“SHARKFEST” Returning For A 14th Year On Disney+ & Hulu
This summer, National Geographic will be bringing back “SHARKFEST” for its 14th year, which will combine jaw-dropping encounters with groundbreaking science and expert-led storytelling that reveal new insights into the behaviour, power and conservation of one of the ocean’s most fascinating predators.
Throughout the month, Disney will be releasing additional shark documentaries on Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Channel and Disney XD, with select titles also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
It’s also been confirmed that “SHARKFEST” content will also be available on VOD while select programming drops all month long across YouTube channels, including Nat Geo, Nat Geo Animals, Nat Geo en Español, and Nat Geo Kids.
“SHARKFEST” kicks off on July 5th with the release of “Hammerhead Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory” on Disney+ and Hulu, while also airing on the National Geographic linear channel at 9/8c.
In this special, Emmy and BAFTA-winning cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory dives into Mexico’s Pacific waters to discover how protected seas can deliver a spectacle of one of the ocean’s most visually iconic sharks, the unmistakable hammerhead.
Other new documentaries released through the month will cover a wide selection of content from WORLD’S BIGGEST MAKO, exploring whether a once thought to be endangered giant mako may be staging a remarkable comeback, to ATTACK OF THE SAMURAI SHARKS, unpacking a 3,000-year-old cold case involving a skeleton with mysterious bite marks, to SHARK VS. GIANT CROC, which investigates reported clashes between bull sharks and saltwater crocodiles, and more.
Here’s a look at what’s coming for this year’s “SHARKFEST”:
HAMMERHEAD SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY: In Mexico’s Pacific waters, Bertie Gregory goes in search of one of the ocean’s most iconic predators: the hammerhead shark. Once abundant in these seas, hammerhead populations have plummeted, making sightings increasingly rare. Joining forces with leading shark scientists and local experts, Bertie investigates what’s driving the hammerhead decline, and how protected waters offer hope for the future. His journey culminates in a rare and unforgettable encounter that shines a light on the future of one of the world’s most famous sharks.
WORLD’S BIGGEST MAKO: A team of scientists and a cinematographer, including Kina Scollay, Clinton Duffy, and Veronica Rotman, search the waters north of New Zealand to find giant mako. With the help of a local fisherman who has worked this stretch of ocean for decades, they encounter a series of increasingly large mako sharks. While endangered elsewhere on the planet, this team discovers a population of mako that might be making a comeback.
ATTACK OF THE SAMURAI SHARKS: A 3,000-year-old cold case could be the earliest known victim of a shark attack. The skeleton, found in Japan, is covered in unusually deep cut marks. It looks like the victim of a frenzied samurai sword attack, but could his wounds have been caused by a shark? If so, which species of shark is the prime suspect? Shark experts Alyssa White, Gavin Naylor, Kirin Sekito and Masato Nakatsukasa investigate.
SHARK VS. GIANT CROC: Shark experts Nico Lubitz and Adam Barnett head into the wilds of northeastern Australia to investigate reports of bull sharks and saltwater crocodiles clashing along the Daintree River. Who’s the top dog? Attempting to fit a camera to the back of a big territorial boss croc, they risk all to find out.
SHARK ISLAND SHOWDOWN: At remote Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, shark experts Lauren Meyer, Adam Barnett and Charlie Huveneers investigate why tiger, dusky and Galapagos sharks gather here in such high numbers. Through daring dives, tracking technology and bold experiments, they uncover hidden nurseries, shark hierarchies and a rare predator hotspot.
SHARKS: REEF RIVALS: On a remote island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, scientists investigate why huge numbers of sharks gather in one dangerous lagoon. As tides transform the environment, different predators — from lemon sharks to tiger sharks — battle for survival, revealing a complex battleground driven by turtles, birds and shifting hunting opportunities.
GREAT WHITE GAUNTLET: Off Australia’s remote Greenly Island, shark experts Lauren Meyer, Charlie Huveneers and Adam Barnett investigate reports of unusually high great white activity around a thriving seal and sea lion colony. Battling brutal seas and unpredictable weather, the team races to tag a white shark with an onboard camera to uncover how these predators hunt.
Are you looking forward to this year’s “SHARKFEST”? Let me know on social media!
