When Animal Planted aired the special “Mermaids: The Body Found” last year there was a lot of talk both online and offline about the authenticity of the video that was shown. Take a look.

The video (looking much like an entry-level student film) was passed around online and many people believed it to be real. (Don’t ask me how)

This year, the Animal Planet team is back and with new video evidence of yet another “Mermaid”. Last year’s special was re-aired this Sunday with a live interview with the head biologist Dr. Paul Robertson.
Dr. Robertson and his team from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) investigate a possible Mermaid carcass that was found and the conclusion is that its organs and skeletal structure are unlike anything they’ve seen before. A crossbreed between humans and marine animals. The scientists in the roundtable discussion conclude that it must be a new form of evolved humanoid species that are very similar to dolphins.

Enter reality…

Dr. Robertson is actually Andre Weidman, actor. (IMDB). Hired by the television show to help them trick their audience into thinking that what they were watching on their screens was real. In fact, Animal Planet went a step further and used actual recorded underwater anomalous sounds from the NOAA databanks and weaved it into their mermaid story to lend some credence. The sonar sounds that were presented from the NOAA archives are real, but not mermaid related.

Why?

Why would Animal Planet do this? Ratings.

‘Mermaids: The Body Found’ brought in 3.6 million viewers that Sunday night. Making the telecast one of the most watched ever.

Animal Planet actively choses to make a mockery out of Cryptozoology. Even though it’s widely accept by many in the field that mermaids are just folklore, it still hinders the very little credibility and progress that has been made in the field. And for what? 3.6 million viewers? They sold their viewers intelligence alongside with their integrity. What a shame.