Jack Hanna
Known as Jungle Jack, this retired wildlife educator and Columbus Zoo director emeritus brought animal encounters to television; his filmed adventures live on in Jack Hanna’s Passport.
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Latest
Jack’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Hearst Media Production Group
ABC
Syndication
SyndicationOverview
- Also known as
- Jungle Jack
- From
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Work
- Wildlife educator, television host and author
- Zoo career
- Columbus Zoo director, 1978–1992; later director emeritus
- National breakthrough
- Good Morning America, 1983
Mini bio
Learning around animals.
Jack started working for his family’s veterinarian at eleven. After college, he and Suzi opened Pet Kingdom in Knoxville. He directed the Central Florida Zoo from 1973 to 1975 and became Columbus Zoo director in 1978.
From the zoo to your living room.
Twin gorillas born at Columbus led to a Good Morning America invitation in 1983. Animal Adventures followed in 1993, Into the Wild in 2007 and Wild Countdown in 2011. His family often joined the journeys.
The adventures continue on screen.
Jack retired at the end of 2020. His family announced in 2021 that dementia prevented his usual public work. Passport, launched in 2024 with host Alfonso Ribeiro, revisits his earlier adventures. Its recent releases are archival journeys, rather than newly filmed trips.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2024Jack Hanna’s PassportFeatured in archival wildlife adventures; hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro
- 2011Jack Hanna’s Wild CountdownHost
- 2007Jack Hanna’s Into the WildCreator and host
- 1993Jack Hanna’s Animal AdventuresHost
Awards
Quotes
You have to touch the heart to teach the mind.Jack Hanna, as recalled by his daughters
His daughters shared this saying in their April 7, 2021 family letter.
Trivia
- He brought a donkey to Muskingum College, where it lived at his fraternity house.
- Jack and Suzi met at Muskingum and married in 1968.
- He started the Columbus Zoo’s Wildlights holiday celebration in 1988.
- His childhood hero was Wild Kingdom host Marlin Perkins.
Find Jack
Find his family’s updates and the wildlife adventures he shared.
Are you Jack Hanna?
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