Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd Return to Save the Seals! WHALE WARS: SEAL WARS, August 15 on Animal Planet

The world’s largest marine mammal slaughter of 85,000 still-nursing baby seal pups begins annually on July 1 in Namibia. WHALE WARS: SEAL WARS is a shocking one-hour special documenting this brutal ritual. Premiering Wednesday, August 15 at 9 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT on Animal Planet, the special follows the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s 2011 mission in Namibia – known as Operation Desert Seal. In the face of heavy security and threats of violence, Sea Shepherd launches its riskiest mission to date in an attempt to end the clubbing of fur seals along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.

Conservation groups – including Sea Shepherd – violently oppose the slaughter of Namibia’s seals. For 139 days along the Namibian coast, terrified seal pups are rounded up and brutally beaten to death for their pelts – just hours before tourists come to see the protected species. While filming the cull is illegal, Sea Shepherd has a long legacy of defending seals around the world and in WHALE WARS: SEAL WARS, Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society launch Operation Desert Seal despite dangerous opposition. Viewer discretion is advised.