Smithsonian Channel Slates Premieres for Wildlife Block

NEW YORK: Smithsonian Channel is presenting five weeks of all-new wildlife specials this summer as part of its Wild Wednesdays programming block.

Beginning July 13 at 8 p.m., Smithsonian Channel will air hour-long specials showcasing some of the world’s fiercest predators. The programs bring viewers to the predators’ habitats and seek to uncover the mysteries behind their behavior. The specials will investigate killer hornets, desert lions, sharks and more.

Wild Wednesdays will kick off with Hunting the Hammerhead, which takes viewers to Bimini in the Bahamas. There, shark expert and sensory biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell sets out to find the elusive great hammerhead shark, which rises from the depths during certain months each year to hunt venomous stingrays. O’Connell will try to discover their killing tactics and capture the feeding event on film.

In addition, Dragon Island will air on July 10. The title explores the Komodo Dragons, the largest living lizards on the planet. Viper Queens, which offers a look at three different forms of vipers, is set for July 27. Killer Hornet Swarm, meanwhile, will air on August 3 and Desert Warriors: Lions of the Namib is slated for August 10. The former delves into the world of the deadly Japanese Giant Killer Hornets, while the latter shines a light on the desert lions of the Namib, which are on the brink of extinction.