Manny Puig

Dangerous animals expert and wildlife entertainer Manny Puig is known for his fearlessness and big personality.

Growing up in Florida, Puig was exposed to all kinds of animals and developed a keen interest in wildlife from a young age. He started going on camping trips and expeditions, and learned to hunt when he was still a boy. Puig quickly became adept at riding and catching alligators, as well as animal handling on movie sets and training as an underwater photographer. He started a company named Extreme Encounters, and has appeared on numerous television shows including Jackass, Wildboyz and Gator Boys. He was also a host on wildlife programme Savage Wild, and often appears as an expert on nature documentaries and late night talk shows. Puig has a low-intervention approach, often avoiding the use of safety equipment, cages, and protective gear, preferring to get back to basics and connect with the animals more naturally. This has earned him a reputation as a daredevil, pulling off dangerous stunts and approaching wild animals fearlessly. His job hasn’t come without injury though, and he has had to have a finger removed after he was bitten by a snake.

A Shark Week expert and much loved animal entertainer, Puig continues to delight audiences with his stunts and shows. Despite now being in his 60’s, he shows no signs of shying away from nature’s biggest predators anytime soon and continues to regularly appear on television.