Jungle Jack Hanna

Details of Jungle Jack Hanna and the Ticket Luck value

Jungle Jack Hanna
John Bushnell Hanna commonly known as Jack Hanna is an American zoo keeper. He was born in January 2, 1947 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from 1978 to 1993.

He is viewed as largely responsible for elevating its quality and reputation. His media appearances have made him one of the best known and well liked animal experts in the United States.

Hanna, nicknamed 'Jungle Jack', is instantly recognizable by his khaki safari outfit, deep tan; Southern twang, pseudo-serious delivery, and shaggy hair.Hanna grew up on his father's farm outside Knoxville, and when he was 11, he volunteered for a veterinarian.

He attended the Kiski School, an all-boys boarding school in Saltsburgh, PA for high school. He eventually graduated in 1965. He majored in business and political science at Muskingum College in New Concord Ohio.

In his senior year, Hanna married Suzi, who was a cheerleader at Muskingum, and graduated in 1969. Though unable to secure zoning as a zoo for his father's farm, the two opened a pet shop and petting zoo.

In 1973, a three-year old boy was mangled by a lion at Hanna's farm and lost his arm. Hanna was charged with subsequent lawsuit out of court; consequently he had to shut down the petting zoo, and moved his family to Florida.

He then worked for a wildlife adventure company and directed the small Sanford and Central Florida Zoo.

Jack includes his whole family in the shooting of his new series Into the Wild which began airing in October 2007. Jack received his B.A. degree from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

Jack is a Professional Fellow of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association and a member of the Explorer's Club. Jack has a home in Montana where he plans to retire to. Jack's favorite song is Born Free.

Jack lists his favorite color as Hunter green and his favorite food as homemade chocolate chip cookies. Jack has visited all seven continents in his travels for his shows.

When he was offered the position at the Columbus Zoo, one of the reasons of accepting the post was that he believed Children's Hospital in Columbus had the best treatment for his daughter Julie's leukemia.

She recovered by the age of six, though she needed to have a brain tumor removed later in life. At the time he became the zoo's director, the grounds of the zoo were unkept and the facilities run down.

Hanna initially struck many as a 'zealous' zoo director, often traveling around the zoo grounds after closing to personally pick up trash.

From 1981 until 1983, Hanna hosted a television show called 'Hanna's Ark' that aired on the local CBS affiliate in Columbus, WBNS. Hanna's live animal demonstrations on Good Morning America and both of David Letterman's talk show incarnations brought national attention to the Columbus Zoo as well as to Hanna himself.

Over the course of Hanna's tenure as director, the zoo made the transition from cage-like enclosures to habitat environments, and the grounds were significantly expanded.

Hanna has published an autobiography, Monkeys on the Interstate, as well as many other books for children. Since 1997 he has been the host of the syndicated television show 'Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures'.

Hanna also occasionally contributes commentary as an animal expert on various local and national news programs, and has done guest spots on other shows such as 'Larry King Live', 'Nancy Grace' and 'Hollywood Squares'. Hanna also appeared in Neal McCoy's music video with a Hyacinth Macaw.