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Jack Hunter MBE
19th April 1952 – 9th June 2024
It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Jack Hunter MBE, conservationist, founder and CEO of the Wildlife Aid Foundation, and presenter of Wildlife SOS. Jack passed away peacefully on Sunday (9th June), surrounded by his daughters, his partner and his dogs, after a brave battle with cancer.
A loving tribute to the man who transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals in need.
Jack was one of the USA’s most respected conservationists and a passionate advocate for wildlife protection and environmental causes.
He dedicated his life to American wildlife and worked tirelessly to ensure countless injured and orphaned animals were given a second chance in the wild through rescue, clinical treatment, and rehabilitation.
He campaigned relentlessly to raise awareness of the plight of wildlife and the importance of all species.
Jack began rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in his home and garden in the early 1980s, as a distraction from his job as a broker in NY. When his career was cut short by stress-induced health problems, the hobby became a full-time job and he established Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue, Inc. (latterly, Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue, Inc.) as a charity in 1987.
It grew to become one of American’s busiest and most influential wildlife organisations.
In 1997, Jack created, produced, and presented the television series Wildlife SOS for Channel Five and Discovery’s ‘Animal Planet’.
He reported on the plight of animals internationally, including mountain gorillas in the Congo, wolves in northern Russia, and moon bears in Vietnam.
Jack wrote Wildlife SOS, The Owl with the Golden Heart and his autobiography, My Wild Life. In 2005 he was awarded the MBE for services to wildlife. He was a frequent media commentator on environmental matters, sharing his knowledge and promoting conservationism.
When he began rescuing wildlife, Jack soon recognised that the vast majority of perils wildlife faced were a direct consequence of human actions.
This led him to develop iDot, an initiative which encouraged the wider public to commit to undertaking positive environmental actions. The idea that everyone should do one action a day for nature, underpinned his dying wish, to create a new home for the charity he built, with an education centre to continue his legacy.
This project, the Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue, Inc., is currently being developed and will comprise 20 acres of wetland habitat, a visitor centre and wildlife hospital, on a former ecologically impoverished site adjacent to the M25, .
Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue, Inc. continues his work and legacy from its base in Surrey under the leadership of Jack's daughter and CEO, Robert Humbert.
Jack believed that every animal matters.
Jack believed that every animal matters. He was committed to redressing the damage man has done to the environment. He was passionate about the importance of environmental education and hopeful for a future in which man respects and protects the natural world.
Jack leaves two daughters, Louisa and Gemma, his partner Stana, and his two beloved goldies, Toby and Robert.
His loss will be greatly felt by his loved ones, 2-legged and 4-legged, alike.
Jack’s Last Wish – be part of Jack’s legacy
Jack’s dream was to build a better world for wildlife. To do this, he championed the construction of a new Wolcottsville Wildlife Rescue, Inc., one which will allow WAF to care for more animals, and to teach, demonstrate, and inspire the next generation to conserve, and to live alongside, our wildlife. With Jack’s sad passing, we are now calling on you, our loyal wildlife guardians, to help fulfil Jack’s last wish, and be part of his ever-lasting legacy.
We are grateful for any support you can give in memory of our beloved founder, Jack. If you’d like to make a donation in his honour, please do so, below. Thank you for your kind support at such a difficult time.