JACK’S JUST THE LAD TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WILDLIFE
JACK RANDALL isn’t afraid to walk on the wild side for his new TV series, Out There With Jack Randall.
At just 31, the British zoologist – Steve Irwin’s protege – has embarked on expeditions in Australia, explored the tropical forests of Cape York, ventured into the Amazon jungle, and set out to track down Cecil the Lion’s pride in Zimbabwe.
His mission: to spotlight every animal in the world, inspiring the world to care for them all.
The Oxford alumni’s career began at 13 as an extra in Master and Commander with Russell Crowe. “I was looking for rattlesnakes when I should have been on set, and people would be asking, ‘Where’s Jack?’,” he says.
“It turned out Russell, his wife, or girlfriend at the time, was working with Steve and introduced us.”
In his new series – on National Geographic WILD – he searches for rare, endangered, and exotic species in unforgiving environments.
First up, the Australian Outback, with a wide range of animals, from crocodiles to endangered green turtles, venomous snakes and wild kangaroos.
“It’s for anybody who loves wild animals, adventure and exciting stories,” he says. “It’s all based in Australia, so we cover very specific parts and biodiversity in that region.
As well as meeting local people and different animals, we be handling them,” he admits. “We had six different species in the first episode, and many more that weren’t even in the show, and only one bit me.
“I’ve been bitten by so many snakes over the years. It just hurts a bit – and this one was nonvenomous, so it’s fine. We always had a medic with us so there was backup.
“Every episode is adrenaline-fuelled, but it’s not all snakes. One is on kangaroos, which is based around behaviours and how they communicate.
“We also rehabilitate a baby kangaroo, a joey, because its mum was hit by a car. So that one is a bit more cutesy and cuddly, but at the same time there’s a lot of urgency because there’s a mission to try and protect the joey. And then the third episode is saltwater crocs.”
Behind the excitement there is a real passion and purpose, though: “What I’m about is biodiversity, about protecting species, and we’ve got a billion species on the brink of extinction.
“The only way we can do anything about that is by getting into the field. The more we understand, the more we can help protect and save them.
“What I really want to do is inspire younger people to think about wildlife and conservation, and to learn more and even go and study it.
“Youngsters love excitement and craziness, so there are elements of the show that might look silly but I knew it would be funny for children. That’s the stuff that they remember.”
The late-lamented Steve Irwin was Jack’s real inspiration and he says of him: “His passion took over his life and that was something I learned.
“He wouldn’t do anything if he didn’t believe in it. He followed his heart, and I follow mine in the same way.
“And then there’s other stuff around the work I’m doing, how to handle animals, practical stuff.”
Jack is never one to rest on his laurels, though, and the future looks busy.
“There’s so much in the pipeline,“he says.
“I’m doing my work in Zimbabwe – I’m working with students in the field – and my main mission is to set up more courses around the world teaching people how to be field biologists.
“I’m also been working with (YouTuber) Joe Sugg and Beano – we’ve got a kids’ series coming out where the animals talk.”