Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown Season 6 Episode 18 Great Gorilla Countdown

In season 6 episode 18 of Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown, entitled "Great Gorilla Countdown," viewers are taken on a journey through the world of gorillas. Host Jack Hanna counts down his five favorite gorilla encounters, from his experiences working with gorillas in Africa to his encounters with them at zoos in America. Throughout the episode, Jack shares fascinating facts about gorillas and highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.

The episode begins with a look at the western lowland gorilla, one of the most populous subspecies of gorilla. Viewers are treated to footage of Jack's time spent with a family of western lowland gorillas in the forests of Gabon. Jack describes how gorillas communicate with one another through a series of vocalizations and gestures, and how they use their impressive strength to move through the dense jungle terrain.

Next, the episode shifts focus to the mountain gorilla, perhaps the most well-known subspecies of gorilla. Jack shares his experience trekking through the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda to visit a family of endangered mountain gorillas. Viewers are introduced to the intricate social dynamics of gorilla families, and how each individual plays a unique role in the group.

As the countdown continues, viewers are introduced to the eastern lowland gorilla, a subspecies that has been hit particularly hard by habitat loss and poaching. Jack shares his experience working with conservationists in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect eastern lowland gorillas and their habitat, and highlights the urgent need for continued action to save these incredible animals from extinction.

The penultimate segment of the episode showcases the impressive strength of gorillas, as Jack shares footage of a silverback gorilla lifting a tree trunk with ease. Viewers also learn about the close relationship between gorillas and humans, as Jack shares his experience visiting a western lowland gorilla habitat at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio.

Finally, the episode concludes with a look at the importance of conservation efforts to protect gorillas and their habitat. Jack highlights the crucial work being done by organizations such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center in Africa, and encourages viewers to support these and other conservation efforts.

Overall, the "Great Gorilla Countdown" episode of Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown is a fascinating and informative look at these incredible animals. Viewers will come away with a newfound appreciation for gorillas and a deeper understanding of the challenges they face in the wild.