Marlin Perkins

Marlin Perkins (March 28, 1905-October 5, 1986) was a zoologist and the host of the television program Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

He began his zoological career as a laborer at the zoo in Saint Louis, Missouri. He rose through the ranks, becoming the reptile curator in 1928. Perkins served as directors of the New York Zoo in Buffalo, New York and the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois, then returned to the Saint Louis Zoological Park as director in 1962. Perkins joined Sir Edmund Hillary as the zoologist for one of Hillary's Himalaya expeditions in 1960. He became host of Wild Kingdom on its debut in 1963. Through his fame on television, he became an advocate for the protection of endangered species. He retired from zookeeping in 1970. Perkins died of cancer in 1986.

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