MUMBAI: This August 15, Animal Planet adds new flavour to its most celebrated programming line-up ‘Yeh Mera India’. Commemorating the 69th year of India’s Independence, Animal Planet will launch a new campaign taking viewers on an exotic journey to explore some of the rarely seen and endangered wildlife of the country. Travelling across the Himalayan Mountains, down the mighty River Ganges to the rainforests of Shola and the Western Ghats, the month-long programming line-up ‘Yeh Mera India’ will intrigue viewers to relish India’s incredible wildlife and its pristine natural beauty.

In celebration of the spectacular wildlife, Animal Planet will launch a new YEH MERA INDIA Anthem, composed by popular Bollywood composers, the Meet Brothers. Aiming to capture youth and sensitise viewers about the dazzling array of fauna found in the country, the three-minute multi-lingual anthem has passionate lyrics, vibrant choreography and mesmerising performances. Choreographed by Feroz Khan, directed by Vishal Punjabi and sung by Meet Brothers, Shibani Kashyap and Neha Bhasin, the composition is in three most widely spoken languages – Hindi, Tamil and Bangla, is melodious and peppy.

Premiering August 15, every night at 8 pm, ‘Yeh Mera India’ will showcase how India, which is home to over a billion people, supports a fantastic variety of wildlife. It brings a realistic and hopeful picture amongst the complex human-wildlife interactions.

The month-long programming will offer insights into how some of the endangered animals like the elephant, the guar (Indian bison), the nilgiri tahr, the sambhar (the largest of Indian deer), abound in the lush forests are vulnerable owing to urban development, habitat destruction and poaching. It also projects illustrious works of renowned conservationists and experts like Valmik Thapar, Dr Ullas Karanth, Jeremy Wade, Steve Backshall, and Niall McCann who have been exploring and supporting the conservation of wildlife in India.

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, EVP and GM – South Asia, Rahul Johri, said “’Yeh Mera India’ is an initiative to build viewers’ interest and pride in the wildlife of India. The programming will reveal the magnificent natural heritage and will inspire audience to preserve it for future generations.”

Renowned Bollywood composer and singer Manmeet Singh said, “Yeh Mera India’ anthem is a vibrant song which is reminiscent of the rich wildlife and unparalleled natural beauty of this country. It’s a musical tribute to the independence of animals.”

Leading Bollywood composer Harmeet Singh added, “Dedicated to the splendid animal kingdom, ‘Yeh Mera India’ Party in the Jungle theme for this anthem is both sensational and celebratory. The soundtrack is designed to match the progressive state of mind of today’s youth.”

The captivating programming line-up will include the following episodes:

‘Nagarahole -Tales From an Indian Jungle’ will join conservation zoologist and wildlife expert Dr. K. Ullas Karanth as he investigates Nagarhole National Park, home to largest animal species in India and highlights threats to its precious ecological heritage.

‘The Pack’ will follow wildlife filmmaker, Senani, who has been tracking one of the least filmed large mammals of the Indian subcontinent - the wild dogs (dhole).

‘Creatures of the Great Rains’ will navigate through flood plains in Kaziranga, Assam, which are the only place where highly endangered Indian rhinoceros flourish, alongside ferocious water buffaloes and herds of Asian elephants.

‘Wandering Lions of Gujarat’ will draw focus on the Asiatic lions of Gir Forest, which were once on the brink of extinction and have registered a remarkable growth in the last few years.

Against a backdrop of unsurpassed natural beauty, Saba Douglas Hamilton teams up with renowned tiger expert Valmik Thapar to track down the tigers of Ranthambhore in ‘Search for Tigers’.