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United States Jack Hanna has transitioned from zoo director to acclaimed wildlife conservationist and television personality, celebrated for bringing exotic animals to a global audience.
Acquired over 400 episodes of Jack Hanna’s shows, including "Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild" and "Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown," in late 2023.
Partnered with Jack Hanna and the Columbus Zoo to sponsor the Emmy Award-winning 'Jack Hanna's Into the Wild' and a new show on ABC. The partnership dates back to the 1970s when a Nationwide executive was involved in selecting Hanna as director for the struggling Columbus Zoo.
Jack Hanna served as director from 1978 to 1992, transforming it into a leading zoo. The Columbus Zoo also honored him and Suzi Hanna through the creation of the Jack and Suzi Hanna Fund, supporting Wildlife Conservation.
A program co-founded with Jack Hanna, integral to helping wildlife and people in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This work became one of the Zoo's signature conservation initiatives.
Hanna credited pet food companies with assisting zoos in developing nutritious diets for exotic animals, particularly during his early tenure at the Columbus Zoo.
Jack Bushnell Hanna, born on January 2, 1947, in Knoxville, Tennessee, began his career in wildlife early, volunteering for a family veterinarian at age 11. He attended The Kiski School, graduating in 1965, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts from Muskingum University in 1968. In his early career, after an attempt to open a petting zoo resulted in a serious incident in 1972, he worked for a wildlife adventure company and directed the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens from 1973 to 1975. His life took a significant turn when he accepted the director position at the Columbus Zoo in 1978, driven in part by a desire for his daughter to receive treatment at Columbus Children’s Hospital.
Upon his arrival, the Columbus Zoo faced significant challenges, with unkempt grounds and run-down facilities. Hanna implemented a revitalization strategy, personally engaging in maintenance and actively promoting the zoo. His efforts to raise the zoo’s public profile and secure funding were highly successful. He hosted a local television program, “Hanna’s Ark,” from 1981 to 1983, on WBNS, a CBS affiliate in Columbus. His live animal demonstrations on national television shows like “Good Morning America” and the David Letterman Show brought widespread attention to both the Columbus Zoo and himself. Under his leadership, the zoo transitioned from traditional cage-like enclosures to more natural habitat environments, significantly expanded, and experienced a more than 400% increase in annual attendance. Hanna was appointed director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 1992.
Throughout his career, Hanna authored an autobiography, “Monkeys on the Interstate” (1989), and numerous children’s books. He also hosted syndicated television shows such as “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures,” “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild,” and “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown.” His television library was acquired by Hearst Communications in late 2023. He made guest appearances on various news programs and shows like “Larry King Live” and “Maury,” contributing as an animal expert. Hanna received the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award in 2018 for his conservation work and officially retired from the Columbus Zoo in June 2020. In 2011, he provided expert assistance to Ohio police during the Zanesville exotic animal escape incident.
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