National Geographic’s Fin-Favorite Summer Event Returns With Even More Shark-Filled Fun, Kicking Off With Marquee Special HAMMERHEAD SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY

SHARKFEST Programming Will Stream July 5 on Disney+ and Hulu

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic’s annual summer event SHARKFEST returns for its fin-credible 14^th year, combining jaw-dropping encounters with groundbreaking science and expert-led storytelling that reveal new insights into the behavior, power and conservation of one of the ocean’s most fascinating predators.

The shark-infested celebration kicks off July 5 with HAMMERHEAD SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu and airing on National Geographic at 9/8c. The special follows Emmy^®- and BAFTA-winning cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory (@BertieGregory) as he 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.

Additional fin-tastic programming will roll out throughout the month across Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Channel and Disney XD, with select titles also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. 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.

This summer’s line up spans everything, 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. Full programming details include the following:

• 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 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.

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About National Geographic Content

Representing one of the largest brands on social media with over 800 million followers and over one billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches up to 402 million households in at least 170 countries and 30 languages across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and streaming services Disney+ and Hulu, in addition to being a global digital, social and print publisher. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA Award-winning film “Free Solo”; Oscar-nominated films “Sugarcane,” “Fire of Love,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and “The Cave”; Emmy® Award-winning franchises "Race Against Time" and “Secrets of”; Emmy Award-winning series “Animals Up Close” and “Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller”; and Emmy-nominated series "A Real Bug's Life" and “Tucci in Italy,” in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize finalists and Webby wins. Visit nationalgeographic.com and natgeotv.com or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit.

About Disney+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment, gold-standard family programming, the most trusted news, and global sports programming from ESPN. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings in the U.S. whereby bundle subscribers can now stream Hulu and ESPN content directly in the Disney+ app. Subscriptions also include access to the Disney+ Perks loyalty program including special discounts, everyday savings, and early access to exclusive experiences that only Disney can offer. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

About Hulu

Hulu is a leading premium on-demand and live streaming service in the U.S. that offers an expansive slate of entertainment from every major U.S. broadcast network as well as 20th Century Studios, ABC, ABC News, ESPN, FX, Searchlight Pictures, and many more. For more than 17 years, Hulu has provided on-demand access to hit TV series and films, award-winning Originals and exclusive licensed content. With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of 95+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels and can access Hulu’s on-demand library, plus Disney+ and ESPN in their respective apps, all in one plan. Hulu is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings with different combinations of Disney+ and ESPN and can be further personalized through a variety of premium add-on subscriptions. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.