Discovery Channel Brings Back OUT OF THE WILD, 2/17

Nine ordinary Americans volunteered to participate in one of the world's most intense tests of will in the hit series OUT OF THE WILD: VENEZUELA, an eight-part riveting depiction of man's and woman's struggle against all that Mother Nature has to throw at them. The strangers were flown in, dropped off and abandoned in a remote corner of Venezuela's southern frontier - a lost world that once lured explorers in search of El Dorado, the legendary City of Gold. They had only the clothes on their backs and a few basic supplies. Their goal? Find their way back to civilization.

Discovery Channel viewers will meet the daring people who abandoned the comforts of home to test their ability to survive in one of the most physically and mentally demanding environments in the world when the series premieres Thursday, February 17 at 10PM E/P.

In the fall of 2010, a group of amateur hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts put their lives on hold to undertake the opportunity, and challenge, of a lifetime. After a three-day crash course in basic survival skills, including skills used by the Pemon Indians - the indigenous Indians that inhabit this area of Venezuela, the volunteers were flown in and dropped off on top of 9,200-foot Mt. Roraima (the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel "The Lost World"). There they were given the first piece of a rudimentary map (additional pieces were given to the team along the route), a compass and a few basic tools and told to hike to civilization. They had no idea how far they would have to go or how long it would take them.

Throughout their journey down the mountain, through dense jungle, across open savannah and down a river the group faced extreme challenges: hunger and exhaustion as well as Jaguars and venomous snakes and spiders. They also battled hypothermia, flash floods and raging storms. The team was forced to work together to scavenge for food, build shelters and protect themselves from these dangers - not to mention the onslaught of biting insects attacking them incessantly.

Their only lifeline was a GPS beacon they could activate to summon a search and rescue helicopter to evacuate them. And some chose to do just that.

For all their struggles, the brave volunteers weren't being offered a million-dollar prize or seven-figure job at the end of their journey. Their reward was the chance to have a life-changing experience.

OUT OF THE WILD won a Creative Arts Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming in 2009. The series is produced for Discovery Channel by Pilgrim Films & Television. Craig Piligian and Doug McCallie are executive producers. For Discovery Channel, Christo Doyle is executive producer.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.1 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 180 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

 

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