MEET THE M.C.
Legendary conservationist Jack Hanna served as host of the finalist screening for the 2011 IUOW Film Competition.
Jack Hanna
Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
In partnership with Rain Bird Corporation, Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and host of "Into The Wild" is dedicated to spreading the importance of environmental awareness and water conservation throughout the world.
Jack is a popular and respected animal expert whose love of animals, enthusiasm, and personable nature have made him a frequent guest with various animal companions on TV shows such as "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "The Late Show with David Letterman," and "The Maury Povich Show."
The route to becoming a celebrity began in his family's bathtub, where Jack raised bluegills and then created a backyard menagerie. As a boy he befriended a veterinarian who worked at the Knoxville Zoo. He followed the vet as he made his rounds caring for ailing animals.
Jack Hanna was thrust into the national spotlight following his 1978 appointment as Director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, Jack has become a national celebrity who serves as a spokesman for environmental conservation and the zoo.
His infectious enthusiasm and hard work, earned him the nickname "Jungle Jack," and turned the routine Columbus Zoo and Aquarium into a remarkable success, known internationally for its extensive conservation and education programs. Today, the zoo is the city's top tourist attraction.
A Professional Fellow of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association and a member of the Explorer's Club, Jack is also an active supporter of the Leukemia Society and serves on the boards of several educational institutions. While he takes all of his civic duties seriously, wildlife conservation remains and always will be Jack Hanna's true calling.
Jack received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, and did graduate work at the University of Tennessee. He currently resides in Dublin, Ohio with his wife Suzi. They have three daughters.