Animal Planet’s MONSTER WEEK is a jam-packed, monster-fest week, showcasing legendary creatures from wildly popular shows like GATOR BOYS (May 23),BIGGEST AND BADDEST (May 23),KILLER ALIENS (May 25) and the network premiere of the landmark specialMONSTER SQUID: THE GIANT IS REAL (May 22). Boasting fan-favourite titles, MONSTER WEEK gives viewers behind-the-scenes access into monster hunters and their quests…and digs deeper into our fascination with these creatures. The special week is also set to include a plethora of Canadian premieres: BIGFOOTVILLE (May 20), MAN-EATING SUPER CROC (May 21),BEAST TRACKER (May 24), and RISE OF THE JELLYFISH (May 26).
Highlights from Animal Planet’s MONSTER WEEK include:
BIGFOOTVILLE
Monday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
The documentary focuses on Kiamichi Mountains around the town of Honobia, Oklahoma, and follows researcher David Wilbanks and journalist Cindy Bear as they investigate sightings, footprint finds, and unusual tree formations in the Kiamichi Mountains.
MAN-EATING SUPER CROC
Tuesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT PT
A man-eating crocodile terrorizes a town in the Philippines until a team of brave hunters captures a Super Croc bigger than any other… over six meters long. But did they get the right crocodile? Is there another one in the swamp that’s even bigger?
MONSTER SQUID: THE GIANT IS REAL
Wednesday, May 22 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
It is the stuff of legend. A giant beast of the deep, with razor-toothed suckers and eyes the size of dinner plates. After an epic and elusive search, the creature has been found and captured on film for the first time. Tales of the creature have been around since ancient times – the Norse legend of the sea monster the Kraken, and the Scylla from Greek mythology might have derived from the giant squid. This massive predator has always been shrouded in secrecy, and every attempt to capture a live giant squid on camera in its natural habitat – considered by many to be the Holy Grail of natural history filmmaking – has failed. Until now.
GATOR BOYS
Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
Meet Animal Planet’s GATOR BOYS – Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle – two men who defy death capturing alligators with their bare hands. The GATOR BOYS keep people safe as they simultaneously defend blameless gators and other wildlife displaced by South Florida’s urban sprawl, moving them to safety before trappers – who kill and sell the animals for their skin and meat – get to them.
BIGGEST AND BADDEST: “Anacondas: Heaviest Snake in the World”
Thursday, May 23 at 9 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT
Anacondas are the heaviest snakes in the world. But just how big do they get? In a repeat of the series premiere, Niall McCann arrives in Venezuela on a mission to capture and measure the largest Anacondas in the Amazon. Along the way, McCann discovers the huge variety and abundance of wildlife here – and has an incredible encounter with the biggest snake he’s ever tackled!
BEAST TRACKER
Friday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
From the murky alligator swamps of Louisiana to Hawaii’s pristine but deadly waters to the snake-infested waterways of Florida, humans are struggling to find balance between conservation and survival as deadly animals increasingly find their way into our everyday lives. Dr. West is the BEAST TRACKER and he’s on a mission to investigate the fine line between thrive and survive.
KILLER ALIENS
Saturday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
This compelling two-hour special examines how the Sunshine State is being overrun by non-native species such as pythons, feral hogs, lizards, and even Gambian rats the size of cats. With no natural predators, the populations of these alien invaders continue to multiply, threatening local communities.
RISE OF THE JELLYFISH
Sunday, May 26 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
There’s an invasion underway: An army of brainless, bloodless phantoms, billions strong, is taking over the oceans, destroying the food supply, and turning beaches all over the world into battle zones. After 600 million years of evolution, jellyfish are the planet’s ultimate survivors, flourishing even in the face of climate change and pollution. Are they really mindless blobs or is the enemy smarter than anyone ever predicted? Could this be a real life war of the worlds?