Q&A | Jack Hanna answers your burning questions
We asked for 20 minutes of time from Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, to ask him questions that fans might if they ever got the chance. Three hours later, Hanna was still telling stories. This is the edited version of that conversation.
Favorite animal? “Tough one, but it’s the lion. It’s been my favorite since I was a kid. My mom took me to see 'Born Free' (a 1966 British movie featuring lions) when I was 16. And I said when we were walking out I wanted to be a zookeeper. I asked Sue (his wife) after we got engaged if we could go to Africa someday. Then we danced to the 'Born Free' song at our wedding reception. There are so many beautiful animals I love, but the lion is special to me.”
Smartest animal? “Not a good joke anymore but probably Sue. Elephants are so smart or have intelligence, and a lot of people don’t realize that. I think the elephant will be proven in time to be among the smartest animals on the planet.”
Most beautiful animal? “Definitely Sue … sorry. But I would say the snow leopard.”
Most misunderstood animal? “Snakes and sharks. It’s terrible that sometimes people are attacked by both of those, but those two are definitely misunderstood by the public.”
Most lovable animal? “I think most would say the koala, and they are lovable. But for me it was our dogs. One retriever and one lab. We lost them a couple years ago, and they were family. I once owned a pet shop, and I would bring them home all the time. We have always had dogs, and we are considering getting some new ones this year.”
First pet? “I told my dad I wanted a dog and I got a parakeet instead. He said, 'Jack, this is a living creature and you have to care for it every day.’ He was testing me before he would get me a dog. I took care of Petey the parakeet for four years, and I buried him in a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box at the top of the hill on our farm. When I lost Petey I cried, and it taught about love, responsibility and death.”
Coolest animal experience you have had? “Visiting the mountain gorillas (in Rwanda). I’ve done it 17 times. It’s just an experience that feels like it’s on a different planet.”
Has an animal ever harmed you? “A young elephant almost broke my ribs in Georgia. It pushed me against a post with his head. There was the beaver that took a chunk out of my hand on David Letterman’s television show. I’ve been bit a few times. I was bitten by an anaconda when I was helping a guy at a Florida zoo. It was a huge anaconda, 15 feet long. He had my whole hand in his mouth. His jaws froze and I was in shock and didn’t feel a thing. It took a few minutes for me to get my hand out. Some guy took pictures of this, and he ended up selling them to a magazine and everyone thought I was eaten by a snake. Oh, I also got kicked by an ostrich in California right in the nuts and that put me in the hospital.”
IN THE SERIES:
Jack Hanna remembers beaver bite on Letterman show
How many khaki outfits do you have? “Hell, I don’t know. I have a whole closet full. I do have one of these safari outfits set aside for my funeral. I said 'Sue, I’m not wearing a damn suit when I’m dead.’”
Most embarrassing moment? “The debacle at Buckingham Palace when I talked about putting on underwear in front of Prince Phillip and I got yelled at repeatedly by some royal person or someone for doing everything wrong.”
Proudest accomplishment? “Very simple. The Columbus Zoo. When I go back there I like to walk around by myself and I am in disbelief. I can’t believe what we turned it into. And it’s so strongly connected to our family. Every Sunday for years Sue, the girls and I would go to church, have a picnic and then pick up trash as a family. The TV stuff is, whatever, I am proud of it, and winning Emmys and stuff gets attention, but what I really live for is the Columbus Zoo. No one can ever take that away from me.”
Biggest regret? “I work day and night. I got to see my daughters do cheerleading one time when they were in high school. I could kick myself in the damn head because I will never get those days back. But I don’t want to relive that again with my grandkids. I want to see my grandson in England play sports. I have another who plays college basketball. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to provide for my family, but it hurts I was away from them so much.”
If you weren’t a zookeeper, what would you be? “I would be a farmer. My dad was real close to buying a pig farm for Sue and I in Tennessee. I would have been happy with that life. Sue, not so much. She said her prayers about that one.”
What makes you mad? “When people talk about how animals should be back out in the wild and zoos are bad or prisons for the animals. Millions are spent on these zoos, and the animals have a better environment than some people have.”
Do you eat meat? “Yes. I’ve never been rude to anyone from the general public. But I was eating a hamburger in an airport in Minnesota once and this lady tore into me for eating meat. I’ll admit I gave it right back to her.”
Do you have any phobias or fears? “I don’t dive below 50 feet in the ocean anymore. I’m a little weird about heights when I’m climbing mountains or I’m close to a ledge hiking. I don’t like that. And I don’t like my colonoscopies at all.”
When are you going to retire? “I am at the zoo a few more years. And then after that they want to use my name and stuff, and all that’s fine. But if they ever need anything after that, I’ll be there.”
How do you want to be remembered? “As a simple guy from Tennessee who tried to do right by people and his family. And someone who tried to get the world to protect our animals. Someone who never changed who he really was.”
