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National Geographic May 2023 Premieres Announced

The National Geographic May 2023 premieres have been announced. Read on to see what is coming to Nat Geo, Nat Geo WILD and Disney+ next month.

The National Geographic May 2023 programming includes A Small Light, Wild Life, Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, Home in the Wild, To Catch a Smuggler, Wicked Tuna, Land of the Giants: Wild Fish, Critter Fixers: Country Vets, and Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet.

The AAPI Heritage Month marathon starts on May 5 at 9 a.m. EDT on National Geographic with Ancient China From Above, and on Nat Geo WILD on May 9 at 11 p.m. EDT with Lost Cities with Albert Lin: Stonehenge.

National Geographic May 2023 Premieres Announced

Vet Appreciation Week runs from May 15 to May 20 on Nat Geo WILD featuring all-day content from The Incredible Dr. Pol, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet, Jungle Animal Rescue, Secrets of the Zoo: Columbus, Tampa + Down Under, and Critter Fixers.

Make sure to also catch new episodes from Drug Lords: The Takedown every Wednesday at 10/9c and back-to-back episodes of To Catch a Smuggler: South Pacific every Saturday at 9/8c on National Geographic.

National Geographic May 2023

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAY 2023 PREMIERES

A SMALL LIGHT

Produced by ABC Signature and Keshet Studios, A Small Light will have a multiple launch on Monday, May 1, at 9/8c with a simulcast across National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD and Lifetime.

Based on an inspiring true story, Miep Gies (Bel Powley) was young, carefree and opinionated — at a time when opinions got you killed — when Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis during WWII.

National Geographic May 2023

Told with a modern sensibility, A Small Light shakes the cobwebs off history and makes Miep’s story more relevant than ever, forcing audiences to ask themselves what they would have done in Miep’s shoes; and in modern times, asking if they would have the courage to stand up to hatred. Some stood by, Miep stood up.

On Saturday, May 6 at 8/7c, Freeform will encore the premiere episodes. For the full series run, two episodes will debut every Monday at 9/8c on National Geographic, stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, and will be available on the Nat Geo TV and ABC apps.

National Geographic May 2023

“Pilot” Premieres May 1 at 9/8c
Miep Gies, a young, carefree secretary, agrees to help her boss Otto Frank hide his family after the Nazis invade Holland. Summoning courage she didn’t know she had, Miep faces her first task: getting Otto’s teenage daughter Margot past a Gestapo checkpoint.

“Welcome to Switzerland” Premieres May 1 at 10:15/9:15c
With the Frank family secure in the Secret Annex, Miep’s Jewish dentist asks if she knows of a place where he can hide. Overcome by the need to help just one more person, Miep finds new and more dangerous ways to evade the Nazis.

WILD LIFE

From Oscar-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Wild Life follows conservationist Kris Tompkins on an epic, decades-spanning love story as wild as the landscapes she dedicated her life to protecting.

After falling in love in midlife, Kris and the outdoorsman and entrepreneur Doug Tompkins left behind the world of the massively successful outdoor brands they’d helped pioneer ― Patagonia, The North Face and Esprit ― and turned their attention to a visionary effort to create national parks throughout Chile and Argentina via their nonprofit Tompkins Conservation.

Wild Life chronicles the highs and lows of their journey to affect the largest private land donation in history.

Wild Life will also be simulcasted on Nat Geo WILD on 5/25 at 9/8c.

LIFE BEFORE ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS

The spirit of the land guides Alaska Natives through every season. Tig Strassburg passes on knowledge and skills to his seven children. The younger Apassingoks become the village providers.

Joel Jacko combines traditional and modern methods. Jody Potts-Joseph builds a new life in her native village. Marvin Agnot upholds coastal subsistence. And John and Teresa Pingayak train the next generation.

“Uncertainty of the Future” Premieres on May 2 at 8/7c
The spring thaw brings new opportunities for Alaska’s Indigenous people but also unforeseen dangers.

“Good Day to be Indigenous” Premieres on May 2 at 9/8c
Alaska’s Indigenous peoples survive and thrive in extreme climates by following the lessons passed down through the generations.

New episodes premiere every Tuesday at 8/7c and 9/8c.

HOME IN THE WILD

Jim and Tori Baird thought their days of professional adventuring were over when their son Wesley was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder. But after learning from doctors that being immersed in nature could have a positive impact on his development, they take Wes and his baby brother on expeditions into the backcountry to see if an off-grid life would be not only possible but beneficial for their family.

“The Adventure Begins” Premieres on May 2 at 10/9c
Professional adventurers Jim and Tori Baird take their two young kids on their first overnight canoe trip and must navigate treacherous rapids.

“Passing the Test” Premieres on May 2 at 10:30/9:30c
Jim rappels the canoe down a cliff. Tori solos a set of Class III rapids. And the family notices Wesley making developmental strides.

Catch the finale episodes premiering on May 9 at 10/9c and 10:30/9:30c.

TO CATCH A SMUGGLER

Every year, 124 million people enter the U.S. through our nation’s airports. It’s a nonstop human tidal wave; hidden amongst them is an endless stream of contraband and ill intentions. Defending our borders are the vigilant men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, whose agencies make up a three-tiered defense of America’s airports. Using every tool available to them, DHS will stop at nothing to catch a smuggler.

“Boatloads of Coke” Premieres on May 10 at 9/8c
CBP finds an SUV loaded with meth at the border and counterfeit cash in Atlanta. Operation Blood Moon yields 2000 kilos of cocaine in Puerto Rico.

“Hot Drugs” Premieres on May 17 at 9/8c
In the heat of El Paso, CBP stops 30 kilos of cocaine from crossing the border. Officers intercept $150K worth of illegal pills in Philadelphia.

New episodes premiere every Wednesday at 9/8c.

WICKED TUNA

“Can’t Miss a Beat” Premieres on May 7 at 9/8c
As the fleet jockeys for position, the Hard Merchandise races to catch one more fish before Dave has to take time off for his heart procedure.

“Blue Gold Rush” Premieres on May 14 at 9/8c
The fish are biting, and the market is on fire. The question isn’t whether boats will hook up – it’s who will catch the biggest bluefin of them all.

New episodes of Wicked Tuna premiere every Sunday at 9/8c. Past seasons are now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

LAST OF THE GIANTS: WILD FISH

“The Mighty Tarpon” Premieres on May 7 at 10/9c
Shadowed by an armed police escort, Cyril and his team embark on a grueling mission to find Central America’s most explosive predatory fish: the mighty tarpon. Tasked by a local scientist with finding multiple tarpon across Nicaragua, they’ll have to navigate through lost jungle rivers and lagoons, and dodge marauding crocodiles, venomous snakes, hunting sharks and massive stingrays.

“No Sudden Movements” Premieres on May 14 at 10/9c
Cyril and his team head out to sea through backbreaking waves and jagged reefs with their armed police escort to collect the tarpon DNA samples desperately needed by Nicaraguan scientists. But the Caribbean Sea is full of predators and dangerous obstacles, and to find the giant tarpon they’re after, the crew must brave toothy barracudas, lurking sharks, and minefields of needle-like sea urchins.

New episodes of Last of the Giants: Wild Fish premiere every Sunday at 10/9c. Past seasons are now streaming on Disney+.

NAT GEO WILD

CRITTER FIXERS: COUNTRY VETS

“Sherlock Hodges” Premieres on May 6 at 9/8c
The Docs at Critter Fixer assist a fellow black farmer, treat a rescued pigeon with a surprising injury, and get to the bottom of a dog’s immobility.

“We Fix ‘Em All” Premieres on May 13 at 9/8c
The Docs at Critter Fixer give hope to the families of a dog with a tumor, a goose that’s ill and a young cancer patient who wants to be a vet.

New episodes of Critter Fixers: Country Vets premiere every Saturday at 9/8c. Stream all seasons now on Disney+.

DR. OAKLEY, YUKON VET

“Boatload of Bull” Premieres on May 6 at 10/9c
Dr. Oakley transports a bull and horse across the sea, performs a cuteness check on chinchillas, and treats a working dog with a suspicious limp.

“Like Mother, Like Daughter” Premieres on May 13 at 10/9c
The team performs a checkup on a pair of scrappy lynx and tricks two reindeer into cooperating for an important procedure. Sierra takes charge on clinic day.

New episodes of Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet premiere every Saturday at 10/9c. Stream all seasons now on Disney+.

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