Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
Premiering in 1963 broadcast on prime-time from 1968-1971 and airing in syndication until 1988 the Emmy Award-winning Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom was one of the longest-running and most beloved television series of all time. A pioneer of the narrative nature-documentary format the educational series followed venerable host and ecologist Marlin Perkins (later joined by Jim Fowler Peter Gros Stan Brock and Tom Allen) as he trekked to the farthest reaches of the globe to study wild animals in their natural habitats.
Episodes
Near Barrow, Alaska, Jim Fowler and Peter Gros journey out onto the ice pack via helicopter and snowmobiles to observe two different research projects in progress at Point Barrow. The study includes research being done on the ringed seals and the polar bears who depend upon these seals as their prey.
In the desert outback of Australia, Jim Fowler joins University of New South Wales wildlife biologist Dr. Terrence Dawson on a sheep ranch near the remote town of Broken Hill where a research project is being carried on to determine what degree of competition exists between the kangaroos and domestic sheep being introduced to the area.
Jim Fowler and Peter Gros journey together to the wilds of Manitoba along the northwest shore of Hudson Bay to observe the steps being taken by authorities to reduce a hazard posed by polar bears which annually congregate in the area of Cape Churchill as they wait for the great bay to freeze so they can go out on the ice to hunt seals.
Jim Fowler travels to Nepal to participate in the capture and research work being done to bring the magnificent Royal Bengal Tiger back from the brink of extinction. Join Jim and a research team as they try to find ways to keep villagers from killing these great cats, which often raid their cattle and sometimes kill people.
Jim Fowler on location in one of India's extensive tiger sanctuaries. Following the activities of a large female tiger and her two large two-year-old cubs.
Tom Allen and Peter Gros have traveled to the waters of Dangerous Reef off the southern coast of Australia, to observe the attack behavior of the Great White Shark, with researcher Jeremiah Sullivan, to test a new armored diving suit. Tom and Peter first dive in the shallows and swim free as they watch the prey of the sharks, Australian seals and sea lions. A shark comes toward them, and they take refuge in the shark cage, which is furiously attacked. Later, testing a small mobile shark cage, Tom is attacked by an enormous Great White Shark, who severs his air line, power hose and tether to the mother ship, and Tom barely escapes with his life. Finally, the armored suit, designed by Jeremiah, is tested on a dummy that has been filled with fish bait. A shark comes and attacks the cage savagely, then goes after the dummy. An inspection of the dummy afterwards shows that the armored suit did in fact provide important protection.
