Mermaids: The Body Found

Mermaids: The Body Found is a science fiction program directed by Sid Bennett Steve Gomez. It is presented in the style of a documentary and aired on Animal Planet on May 27, 2012 and later again on Discovery Channel on June 17, 2012. A sequel, Mermaids: The New Evidence, aired May 26, 2013.

Synopsis
The program tells the story of a scientific team's investigative efforts to uncover the source behind mysterious underwater recordings of an unidentified marine body. The show presents the controversial aquatic ape hypothesis as evidence that mermaids exist, along with a digitally manufactured video.

Criticism
Mermaids has been criticized for giving the impression of being an actual documentary, when in fact much of the material was made up, and the scientists shown were actors.