National Geographic’s “Yellowstone Live” Captures the Drama of America’s Natural Wonder During the Most Dynamic Time of Year [Video]

June is one of the most dynamic times of year in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Life emerges from months of bitter-cold winter. Flowers are blooming, rivers are rushing and Yellowstone is bustling with new life. As Yellowstone National Park and its environs awaken, cougar cubs venture out from their underground dens, black bear cubs learn to hunt and bison must protect their young calves from hungry predators. There’s spontaneous drama unfolding everywhere at every moment.

YELLOWSTONE LIVE begins its four-night live event on Sunday, June 23, at 10/9c on both National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD, and premieres the following three nights at 9/8c. YELLOWSTONE LIVE returns for a second season with more animals, cameras and live locations showcasing wildlife from one of America’s most cherished national parks and its surrounding areas. Taking place across three states – Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming – the four-night event, which garnered 13 million viewers in its debut last summer, covers the expanse of nearly 3,500 square miles of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem – one of the largest nearly intact environs on Earth.

Returning to co-host the live broadcast is Josh Elliott (CBS News, “Good Morning America”), and animal expert, zoologist, and naturalist Chris Packham (“Earth Live”), both reporting live from National Geographic’s wilderness home base at West Yellowstone’s Bar N Ranch. Jenna Wolfe (“First Things First,” “Today”) serves as the roving reporter throughout the live programming.

As roving reporter, Wolfe appears from the American Prairie Reserve (APR), a partner of one of National Geographic’s Last Wild Places initiative partners, which aims to protect the places that sustain life on Earth, with a goal of protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030. APR is one of the world’s remaining wild intact prairie grasslands and is working to create the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48 states. Wolfe is stationed on the ground to cover all the action as researchers and animal experts track and study bison, relocate prairie dogs into new habitats and release rescued birds of prey back into the wild. Elliott, Wolfe and Packham, supported by eight live crews, give viewers unprecedented access to prime locations throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – from the Gallatin Mountain Range, Lamar Valley, Grand Prismatic Spring to Old Faithful and many more iconic and hidden locations.

YELLOWSTONE LIVE brings back Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Bob Poole (“Earth Live”) and revered wildlife cinematographer Susan Gibson (“Planet Earth II”) to showcase the park’s spectacular landscapes and wildlife. Based north in the park, Poole plans to capture footage of herds of bison and elk with their newborns as they take their first steps and try to cross fast-flowing rivers while Gibson sets her sights on Grizzly 399 – the most famous wild grizzly bear in the world as she proudly parades her beautiful two cubs in Grand Teton National Park. Both Poole and Gibson guide viewers with real-time narration while the animals forage for food and try to evade deadly predators. Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Jeff Hogan (“Wild Yellowstone”) is also on tap; the renowned crew sets out to track elusive animals, such as cougars and their cubs and the area’s largest wolfpack, the Wapiti.

“YELLOWSTONE LIVE is all about our ongoing commitment to give viewers unprecedented access to the most stunning, natural treasures on Earth,” says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment at National Geographic. “This four-day live event is an epic journey into the heart of America’s most iconic national park at its absolute peak to explore the full majesty of this magnificent land and witness all the wonder of new life bursting forth in ways that will create an unforgettable experience for the entire family.”

Boasting 25 cameras strategically placed across multiple locations, YELLOWSTONE LIVE reveals the park’s wildlife in intimate detail by employing cutting-edge camera technology to give exclusive access to animals across the park, including many firsts and new features:

· Burrow Cam: At APR, an area not covered in last year’s broadcast, crews employ a unique “Burrow Cam” to show live footage of prairie dogs in their underground homes. Wolfe assists the team in moving and releasing a family group of as many as 20 prairie dogs into its new wild home.

· Bison Cam: At APR, the live production and National Geographic’s Labs teams fit cameras to America’s heaviest land mammal – the bison – offering a unique perspective of this exalted animal with the “Bison Cam.”

· Beaver Den: Infrared camera technology gives a personal look at a beaver family inside its lodge as parents keep their home safe while attending to their kits’ every need.

· Eagle Nest: Using fixed-rig cameras, the broadcast follows a bald eagle family as busy parents rush to feed hungry chicks preparing to leave the safety of their nests for the first time.

· Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center: Cameras return to the sanctuary to test the abilities of bears with new stunts and challenges.

· Yellowstone After Dark: The action doesn’t stop when YELLOWSTONE LIVE goes off air each of the live four nights. A specialist wildlife team heads into the darkness to film ‘Yellowstone After Dark,’ with a state-of-the-art SELEX system thermal camera. Developed for military use, it allows the crew, for the first time, to film Yellowstone at night in close-up detail when some of its most elusive creatures are at their most active.

YELLOWSTONE LIVE is produced by Plimsoll Productions and Berman Productions, Inc. for National Geographic. For Plimsoll Productions, James Smith, Martha Holmes, Grant Mansfield, and Andrew Jackson are executive producers. For Berman Productions, Inc., Al Berman is executive producer. For National Geographic, Kevin Tao Mohs serves as executive producer and Drew Jones is supervising producer.