ANIMAL PLANET DEDICATES MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 22 TO RHINOS WITH A WORLD RHINO DAY MARATHON

WHAT: In recognition of World Rhino Day, Animal Planet airs some of the most captivating rhino programming during a morning marathon. Programming includes BATTLEGROUND: RHINO WARS, SAVING AFRICA'S GIANTS WITH YAO MING and SAVING RHINO PHILA. *Please see full-marathon programming below.

WHY: Animal Planet's sounding its horn about World Rhino Day in honor of the five remaining, endangered species of rhino: black, white, Javan, greater one-horned and Sumatran. Every year, the threat to rhinos alarmingly escalates due to habitat loss and poaching of rhino horn, which erroneously is believed to possess medical benefits. As a result, approximately one rhino was killed for its horn every eight hours last year alone. At this rate, extinction is imminent, but it can be thwarted by awareness and activism.

WHEN: Animal Planet's World Rhino Day programming marathon airs Tuesday, September 22, from 7 AM - 12 PM ET/PT.

WHERE: Only on Animal Planet; for more information, visit AnimalPlanet.com/rhinos.

WORLD RHINO DAY Schedule:

BATTLEGROUND: RHINO WARS - "Bring in the Big Guns" - From 7 - 8 AM ET/PT

A team of four US Special Forces operatives arrives in South Africa to join the fight to save the rhino. Merging world-class training with bush warfare, they join a local anti-poaching corps to bring the fight to the enemy. Arriving in South Africa one week before a potential rhino poaching frenzy, a four-man team trains with a local anti-poaching corps to defend these endangered creatures from the onslaught.

BATTLEGROUND: RHINO WARS - "Playing with Fire" - From 8 - 9 AM ET/PT

The Ops take the rhino poaching fight into the reserves, into the townships and across the border. The team's intelligence specialist reports back with a shocking update: a group of poachers plan to shoot a rhino and any ranger who gets in the way.

BATTLEGROUND: RHINO WARS - "Hell to Pay" - From 9 - 10 AM ET/PT

It's Operation Full Moon Two and the team's final week in South Africa. Working with local rangers and trackers, the unit prepares an ambush to intercept an active group of poachers hunting a rhino on a nearby reserve.

SAVING RHINO PHILA - From 10 - 11 AM ET/PT

Animal Planet shares the story of a South African rhinoceros named Phila, the poachers who have harmed her many times and the people trying to save her.

SAVING AFRICA'S GIANTS WITH YAO MING - From 11 AM - 12 PM ET/PT

Basketball superstar and wildlife advocate Yao Ming travels to Africa to help spread awareness about the cruelty of poaching. On his journey, Yao sees for himself the evidence of a losing battle, where Africa's giants are senselessly slain every day for their tusks. Yao, who is a cultural icon in both his native China and in the US, quickly realizes the real war is not in Africa but in the marketplace.