'Hillbilly Handfishin' Returns to Animal Planet on 2/12; 'Must Love Cats' on 3/10

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications LLC, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized, online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 96 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the number one pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.

TELEVISION SERIES/SPECIALS: The following series/specials reflect Animal Planet's top series and specials for Winter/Spring 2012:

FINDING BIGFOOT

Season Two Premieres Sunday, January 1, at 10 PM (ET/PT)

From small towns in the South to remote areas of the Pacific Northwest and into Canada, four eccentric but passionate researchers and adventurers embark on one single-minded mission - to find the elusive creature known as bigfoot or sasquatch. Bigfoot Field Research Organization members Matt and Bobo, science teacher Cliff, and skeptical biologist Ranae engage in the ultimate quest in search of proof that bigfoot really does exist and is alive and well in North America. By examining photos and videos of the creature, speaking to local witnesses, using new technology and luring the mysterious beast with the team's squatch calls, the group uncovers startling evidence of the legendary and highly intelligent enigma that has eluded capture for centuries and fascinated man for just as long.

AMERICAN STUFFERS

Series Premieres Thursday, January 5, at 10 PM (ET/PT)

Take a peek into the unusual. Snuggled deep in the backwoods of Romance, Arkansas is a taxidermy shop where people come far and wide to say farewell to their pets in a special way through pet preservation. Taxidermist Daniel Ross, owner and founder of Xtreme Taxidermy, makes his business a family affair, including wife LaDawn, who handles the books, and his three young boys, who help out around the shop which is right in their backyard! Xtreme Taxidermy is the only business of its kind that specializes in pet preservation, and clients come from far and wide to bring Daniel their beloved, dead pets. With the help of three eccentric employees - Fred, Joseph and Dixie - Daniel and team give grieving clients an alternative to burial or cremation. While nothing can bring back these animals, Daniel and his artistic team attempt to come as close as science and art can allow. They recreate the illusion of life, and clients return home with their pets for eternity.

MY CAT FROM HELL

New Season Premieres Saturday, January 7, at 8 PM (ET/PT)

Behaviorist Jackson Galaxy has seen it all. He's seen everything from spastic cats that break up relationships to violent felines that put their owners in the hospital. Follow Jackson as he brings his unique understanding of cats to desperate families on the verge of giving up on their furry companions.

GATOR BOYS

Series Premieres Sunday, January 8, at 9 PM (ET/PT)

Follow the death-defying exploits of Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle, two extraordinary alligator trappers who risk injury and death to hand capture nuisance alligators that have invaded the back yards, swimming pools, garages and bedrooms of Florida Everglades residents. The duo gets face to face with ferocious alligators whose jaws have 3,500 pounds of crushing power per square inch. The goal of Gator Boys Alligator Rescue is to get alligators out of harm's way before they are captured and killed by rival trappers who kill the gators and sell them for their skin and meat.

PUPPY BOWL VIII

World Premiere Sunday, February 5, from 3-5 PM (ET/PT)

PUPPY BOWL is back for its eighth consecutive year with an all-star, all-adorable cast that's ready to mix it up on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium. PUPPY BOWL VIII brings viewers a loveable lineup that's itching to play in a winning combination of terrier tackles, touchdowns, puppy penalties, fumbles and fido first downs. Featuring fan favorites like the water bowl cam, kiss cam and an aerial view of the field provided by a blimp and its hamster pilots, this year's big game adds Meep the Bird, that will tweet all the action from inside the stadium, and a piggy pep squad, that will "ham" it up on the sidelines and squeal with delight for its favorite pups.

HILLBILLY HANDFISHIN'

Series Returns Sunday, February 12, at 8 PM (ET/PT)

HILLBILLY HANDFISHIN' is a trip of a lifetime for fish-out-of-water, adventure-seeking clients who want nothing more than to surprise themselves - and maybe gross themselves out - by doing things they never thought they'd do. Led by Oklahoma hand fishermen and self-proclaimed hillbillies Skipper Bivins and Trent Jackson, the clients get a taste of the Oklahoma lifestyle by going through the paces of noodling catfish with no fishing rods or hooks.

MUST LOVE CATS

Series Returns Saturday, March 10, at 8 PM (ET/PT)

MUST LOVE CATS, the series that celebrates fascinating felines and the fascinating people who love them, returns with six all-new episodes. Musical host John Fulton, who combines his love for ditties with kitties, spans the globe to share a potpourri of amazing feline stories, jam-packed with interesting factoids and trivia bits.

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