Jack Hanna, the star of award winning animal television shows, is coming to Great Bend on Oct. 16, 2014, Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Scott Gregory announced Thursday.
No doubt he’ll have some interesting, live visual aids for the Great Bend Zoological Society fundraiser, which will be held at Barton Community College’s Fine Arts Auditorium.
While presenting the award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series at the 2012 Daytime Emmy Awards show, the famed zookeeper brought a lemur, porcupine and 5-foot-long alligator on stage. The alligator nearly ate the Emmy meant for “Elmo” puppeteer Kevin Clash, who wasn’t in attendance.
Hanna’s own TV show, “Into the Wild,” won Outstanding Children’s Series in 2008, 2011 and 2012, and Outstanding Travel Program in 2013. “Jungle Jack” is still making new episodes of “Into the Wild,” but also has a new series, “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown,” which can be seen Saturday mornings on many ABC network affiliates, including Wichita-Hutchinson station KAKE, at 9 a.m.
“It’s probably a once-in-lifetime opportunity to have Jack Hanna at our facility,” Gregory said. Even though the program is intended as a fundraiser, the ticket prices will be “family friendly.” Gregory said he hopes the zoo will be able to sell tickets online via the zoo page of the City of Great Bend website.
For 35 years, Hanna has been associated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, where he is still director emeritus, but before that he worked at a smaller zoo, Gregory said.
“He’s sympathetic to the plight of the small zoos,” Gregory said, noting Hanna is also a past board member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Hanna made the Columbus Zoo and himself famous after making his first of many appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman” in 1985. He was also a regular guest on “Larry King Live.”

Excitement builds
Also speaking at the press conference Thursday were Christina Hayes, Great Bend Community Coordinator, and Dennis Neeland, a member of the Zoo Society’s Board of Directors. Hayes started the program by saying, “We have exciting news for you today,” and Neeland said the program fits his group’s mission of educating the public and providing financial support for the zoo, which is working to become an accredited facility of the AZA.
In addition to Hanna’s program at BCC, Zoo Society members plan to offer a meet-and-greet event and a silent auction.
Dr. Rick Abel from Barton Community College said the show will be another opportunity for the public to see the completely remodeled Fine Arts Auditorium. Abel noted that Hanna’s trip to Great Bend coincides with the college’s annual Jack Kilby Science Day. Even if the zookeeper cannot arrive early enough in the day to speak at the morning program, Hanna’s animal handlers and some animals may be available.