Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom celebrated its 50th anniversary last month. The show began broadcasting on January 6, 1963, with Marlin Perkins serving as host. The show took viewers to the far corners of the world and studied wild animals in their natural habitats.
According to Jim Fowler, who succeeded Perkins as host in 1986, “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom brought the world’s most exotic places and creatures right into Americans’ living rooms. Over the years it became a Sunday evening tradition for families all across the country. We pioneered a new television genre—the reality show. Of course, at the time we just wanted to create the most entertaining and educational show we could.
“I can’t tell you how many people tell me that they pursued a career in zoology, wildlife conservation or a related field because of Wild Kingdom,” Fowler said. “Beyond the awards and the ratings, the show’s positive impact is truly astounding.”
The original Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom continued, with Peter Gros joining Fowler as the show’s co-host, upon Marlin Perkins’ retirement. It continued in syndication through the mid-1990s.
The Wild Kingdom story didn’t end there, however. From 2002 through 2011, the Animal Planet network was home to a new series of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom shows. These hour-long programs built on the Wild Kingdom heritage by offering viewers compelling wildlife stories in a one-hour documentary format.
From its premier 50 years ago, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom has entertained, educated and inspired generations of Americans. Today, co-hosts of the original Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Jim Fowler and Peter Gros, help heighten awareness about environmental issues through numerous appearances across the country on behalf of the company.
Many in the insurance industry have probably had the privilege of meeting either Jim Fowler or Peter Gros at an industry event where Mutual of Omaha had a booth, along with live animals. And if you ever get a chance to talk at length with either Fowler or Gros, you will hear some interesting stories about filming wildlife.
“We’re excited to celebrate a half century of adventure, and we’ve got lots of exciting things planned to kick off Wild Kingdom’s next 50 years,” Fowler said. “Wild Kingdom has always been ahead of its time, and we’re moving forward on initiatives that will thrill our current fans and engage new generations.”
