Jack Hanna‘s family has revealed that the conservationist is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
The 76-year-old’s wife, Suzi Hanna, opened up in a new feature for the Columbus Dispatch, revealing that her husband’s ailment has advanced faster than they had expected it to.
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Former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium director Jack Hanna, a famed animal expert who has appeared on countless television programs and talk shows over the years with various wild animals, has been diagnosed with dementia, “believed to be Alzheimer’s disease,” his family announced.
The 74-year-old’s family announced the news in a letter, telling fans, “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.”
The note continued, “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,’” his family wrote. “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.”
Our thoughts are with Jack and the Hanna family.
When we last heard from Jack, he was speaking out about the gorilla Harambe in 2016.
Jack Hanna is speaking out to address the death of Harambe the Gorilla, who was shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo to save the life of a young boy who fell into the primate’s enclosure.
The 69-year-old famed zookeeper, who is the director emeritus of the nearby Columbus Zoo, says that the gorilla’s death was necessary.
“No one loves gorillas more than the Columbus Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the zoo world. We have given millions of dollars to preserve these animals,” Jack said in an interview with Good Morning America.
Jack says that the commotion from the crowd agitated the animal. “That gorilla was upset. Having worked with these animals for 35 years, I’ve seen them take a green coconut, which you can’t even bust open with a sledgehammer, and squish it… You’re dealing with human life or animal life here, so what is the decision? I think it’s very simple to figure that out.”
“Once that dart would go into that beautiful, big Silverback male… what’s he going to do with a child right there? He’s going to jump,” Jack explained about what would happen if a tranquilizer was used. “The power this animal has is beyond comprehension. They’re a magnificent creature. There’s no doubt in my mind that that child would not be here today if they hadn’t made that decision at the Cincinnati Zoo… a dart takes too long. The child would not have a chance.”
Watch a video of the incident below and read what celebrities are saying about the death of Harambe.
