Jack Hanna, a wildlife conservationist, TV host and former executive director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been diagnosed with dementia, according to a statement by his daughters.
“Doctors have diagnosed our dad, Jack Hanna, with dementia, now believed to be Alzheimer’s disease.
His condition has progressed much faster in the last few months than any of us could have anticipated. Sadly, Dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to, where people all over the world watched, learned and laughed alongside him,” Kathaleen, Suzanne and Julie Hanna said in a statement.
“A passion for wildlife conservation and education has been at the core of who our dad is and everything he has accomplished with the help of so many.
He has spent his life connecting people and wildlife because he has always believed that having people see and experience animals is key to engaging them in more impactful conservation efforts. He’s always said, ‘You have to touch the heart to teach the mind.’
Even though Dad is no longer able to travel and work in the same way, we know that his infectious enthusiasm has touched many hearts and will continue to be his legacy.”
Hanna, 74, hosted the television shows “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” from 1993 to 2008, “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” since 2007 and “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” from 2011 to 2020.
“Jungle” Jack, who always wore khaki, served as executive director of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The daughters said, “The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been a major part of our lives since we moved to Central Ohio as young girls in 1978.
From day one, Dad advocated for improved wildlife habitats and focused on connecting the community with animals. After he left his active management role as Executive Director in 1992, he continued to be a spokesperson for the zoo until his retirement last year.”
The family said that Jack Hanna was able to engage “with millions of households through his media appearances and weekly television programs.”
“This allowed him to bring an unparalleled level of awareness to the importance of global conservation given the unrelenting pressures on the natural environment. To say that we are abundantly proud to be his daughters is an understatement.”
Hanna’s wife, Suzi, the daughters said, is recovering from “major surgery” as a result of “life-long challenges from her childhood leukemia.”
The family asked for privacy “to keep everyone safe in light of COVID-19 restrictions.”
“While Dad’s health has deteriorated quickly, we can assure you that his great sense of humor continues to shine through. And yes – he still wears his khakis at home.”
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FAQs
What is Jack Hanna's current condition? ›
Although the world-renowned 74-year-old retired as the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium spokesperson in December 2020, his diagnosis of “dementia, now believed to be Alzheimer's disease” wasn't announced until last week.
How is Jack Hanna's wife's health? ›Hanna's wife, Suzi, the daughters said, is recovering from “major surgery” as a result of “life-long challenges from her childhood leukemia.” The family asked for privacy “to keep everyone safe in light of COVID-19 restrictions.”
What did Jack Hanna pass away from? ›In a letter shared Wednesday on social media, the family of the 74-year-old Mr. Hanna said that he had developed what is believed to be Alzheimer's disease and that his condition had deteriorated rapidly in the past few months.
Is Julie Hanna ill? ›She continues to be his rock (and ours, too). We have great respect and admiration for Mom as we move through not only this difficult time with Dad, but also Julie's continued life-long challenges from her childhood leukemia, as she is currently recovering from major surgery.
What is the difference between dementia and alzheimers? ›While dementia is a general term, Alzheimer's disease is a specific brain disease. It is marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer's disease first affects the part of the brain associated with learning, so early symptoms often include changes in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.
Has Jack Hanna ever been bitten? ›But 30 years ago, Hanna endured a beaver bite that took a chunk out of his hand and sent him scrambling to a Manhattan hospital.
What caused Jack Hanna's dementia? ›Jack Bushnell Hanna, a retired American zookeeper and a former director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was recently diagnosed with dementia and what is now believed by his family to be Alzheimer's disease.
What was Jack Hanna accused of? ›In August, a documentary alleged Hanna had improper ties to the big cat trade across the country, using his celebrity to misrepresent the source for the animals used in his many television appearances.
How many vets does the Columbus Zoo have? ›Currently, the Zoo has a staff of four veterinarians and is home to more than 10,000 animals, which demonstrated a real need for expansion.
How many children does Jack Hannah have? ›The Hannas have been married for over 50 years and have three daughters, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Is Jack Hanna's wife okay? ›
What is the story about Jack Hanna? ›In 1972, a three-year-old boy was mauled by a lion at Hanna's farm after the boy slipped past the protective barrier and stuck his arm through the enclosure fence, subsequently losing the arm. Hanna settled a later lawsuit out of court, shut down the petting zoo, and moved his family to Florida.
Who is Julie Hannah married to? ›Julie Hannah and Andy MacAllister had a very glamourous wedding on 7th September in Marbella. Watch out for more stunning pictures coming soon. Julie's dress was designed specially for her in French Chantilly lace and satin faced silk organza.
Is Jack Hanna a good person? ›Jack is a very caring, kind, compassionate person.
Is Jack Hanna still involved with the Columbus Zoo? ›Jack Hanna retired at the end of 2020 after 42 years at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. At his retirement, he was the zoo's director emeritus and had gained a national profile for the zoo. A photo of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium staff for Jack Hanna's 35th "Hanna-versary" in 2013.
What is the 3 word memory test? ›The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
What is life expectancy with dementia? ›The average life expectancy figures for the most common types of dementia are as follows: Alzheimer's disease – around eight to 10 years. Life expectancy is less if the person is diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. A few people with Alzheimer's live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years.
How many children does Jack Hanna and his wife have? ›Though Jack is known for being a TV personality and director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, behind the scenes, he is a loving dad of three kids. The Tennessee native shares his children with his longtime wife, Suzi Egli.
Does Jack Hanna have a pet? ›Jack and his wife, Suzi, live in central Ohio and have three daughters, six grandchildren, and a yellow Labrador.
What kind of hat does Jack Hanna wear? ›
COLUMBUS, Ohio - it was one of countless unexpected fan encounters Jack Hanna has had over the years. But this one stuck with him. It happened in an airport when a woman asked about his famous hat, which, she was displeased to learn, is made of Australian kangaroo.
What animal guy has Alzheimer's? ›"Doctors have diagnosed our dad, Jack Hanna, with dementia now believed to be Alzheimer's disease." The 74-year-old Hanna was a longtime contributor to "Good Morning America" beginning in the early 1980s and is one of the most notable animal experts in the United States.
What does Jack Hanna's daughter do? ›Jack Hanna
Does Dr Priya still at Columbus Zoo? ›Priya is a senior veterinarian at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and helps to provide medical care to the 10,000 animals that are housed there.
Who was fired from Columbus Zoo? ›Former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium CEO Tom Stalf has agreed to pay back $400,000 after investigations last year found that he and other top officials misused zoo resources, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for the taxpayer-supported nonprofit.
How much do Columbus Zoo keepers make? ›| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seasonal Zookeeper salaries - 6 salaries reported | $31,123/yr |
| Ride Operator salaries - 5 salaries reported | $31,599/yr |
| Lifeguard salaries - 4 salaries reported | $35,854/yr |
| Membership Associate salaries - 4 salaries reported | $38,223/yr |
The Columbus Zoo lost its accreditation in October because the zoo "failed to uphold its standards," according to the AZA. In March 2021, four zoo officials misused zoo resources, leading to a loss of more than $630,000, according to an investigation.
Why is the Columbus Zoo shutting down? ›The accreditation denial in October by the association, considered the nation's top zoo-accrediting body, was a major blow to an institution once widely admired in its industry and by the general public. The accrediting body voiced concerns about the zoo's acquisition of ambassador animals.
Did Columbus Zoo lose its license? ›The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has lost its accreditation with its industry's top accrediting body amid concerns regarding its acquisition of animals and inappropriate business practices by the zoo's former leaders.
Where do zoo vets get paid the most? ›The average bonus for a Zoo Veterinarian is $1,488 which represents 2% of their salary, with 100% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year. Zoo Veterinarians make the most in San Francisco, CA at $124,927, averaging total compensation 49% greater than the US average.
What nationality is Jack Hanna? ›
How old is Jack Hanna now? › Does Jack Hanna have a new wife? ›SUZI Egli has been married to legendary animal expert Jack Hanna for more than five decades. It was revealed in April of 2021 that Hanna has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Does Jack Hanna's wife have Alzheimer's? ›"We're saddened by the latest news of Jungle Jack's dementia diagnosis, now believed to be Alzheimer's disease, and Julie's health complications that were shared today in a heartfelt letter written by Jack's daughters.
Does Jack Hanna have any children? ›Jack Hanna
How old is Suzi from Secrets of the Zoo? ›Now the zoo's vice president of animal programs, Rapp, 56, spends the closest thing to an average work day nurturing sick animals, especially cheetahs, and bouncing around from one exhibit to another, making sure that all of her programs are running smoothly.
What is the big cat trade? ›The commercial trade of big cats is legal in most parts of the world, including Europe, South Africa, the US and Asia. That means the laws allow for live big cats to be bred in captivity, used for interactions, kept as pets and exported to Asian countries, where there is a big demand for them and their parts.
How old was Jack Hanna of the Sons of the San Joaquin? ›FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Central Valley lost a legend on Sunday with the passing of Jack Hannah.
Is Hannah married to Josh? ›Hannah Ferrier is married! The Below Deck Mediterranean alumna, 35, has tied the knot with fiancé Josh Roberts. On Tuesday, Ferrier posted a series of photos on Instagram from the wedding ceremony, including a sweet shot of the moment she and Roberts had their first kiss as husband and wife.
Where did Hannah Ferrier meet her husband? ›Josh does not appear to be easily located on social media, but Hannah has given plenty of insight into their romance. She spoke to E! News about her wedding day, during which Josh honoured his Scottish roots by wearing a kilt. Opening up about how they met, she said they came across each other at a Sydney bar.
Where is Julie Hannah from? ›
Hanna was born in Sohag, Egypt. She moved with her family to Irbid, Jordan, where they found themselves on the front lines of Black September, the Jordanian civil war. After fleeing a column of tanks firing on her school, the family escaped and made their way to Beirut, Lebanon.
Who is the most famous zookeeper? ›As America's most famous zookeeper, Jack Hanna captured the attention and hearts of scores of children — and grown-ups — with his animal-centric programming and TV appearances over the past 30-plus years.
What is Jack Hanna's condition? ›Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, he explains. The hallmark symptoms are: Memory loss. Recent memories are lost at first; as the disease progresses, all memories are eventually lost.
Who owns the Columbus Zoo in Ohio? ›1950 to present. The city of Columbus took over management of the zoo in 1951, but later gave up ownership to the Zoological Park Association, Inc., a non-profit organization, in 1970.
How old is Suzi from Secrets of the zoo? ›Now the zoo's vice president of animal programs, Rapp, 56, spends the closest thing to an average work day nurturing sick animals, especially cheetahs, and bouncing around from one exhibit to another, making sure that all of her programs are running smoothly.
Does Jack Hanna have health problems? ›55KRC: Jack Hanna and Alzheimer's disease
Jack Bushnell Hanna, a retired American zookeeper and a former director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was recently diagnosed with dementia and what is now believed by his family to be Alzheimer's disease.
Davidar and brother Mark Davidar is one of the founders of the Sigur Nature Trust (SNT), in Masinagudi, Tamil Nadu, India which is a 30-acre [CONVERT] wildlife reserve. She married Jean-Philippe Puyravaud who is a research scientist trained in remote sensing.
Did Jack Hanna leave the Columbus Zoo? ›Hanna stepped down from the Columbus Zoo's top job in 1992 to become director emeritus and focus on public appearances and his TV career.
Why did the Columbus Zoo lose their accreditation? ›The accrediting body voiced concerns about the zoo's acquisition of ambassador animals. A recent documentary, “The Conservation Game,” raised questions about how celebrity conservationists, including the famous Jack Hanna, acquired exotic animals.