WILD KINGDOM was hosted by Zoologist and zoo curator Marlin Perkins.
The half-hour nature program aired Sundays on NBC-TV until 1971, when
it went into syndication. Perkins was host for most of the show’s history
until he was forced to retire in 1985 for health reasons. Perkins died the 
following year at the age of 81. Jim Fowler, seen below, a long-time
assistant of Marlin’s became the host.  

   
                                                     Jim Fowler   

     
                    Marlin Perkins with one of his many animal friends