Dave Salmoni
Encyclopedia
Dave Salmoni is a Canadian animal trainer, entertainer and television producer
. He has his own production company, Triosphere
, which is based in South Africa
and specializes in wildlife
films.
at the Laurentian University
in Sudbury, Ontario, and wrote his undergraduate thesis on tracking the hibernation
of Canadian black bears. Also while in university, Salmoni was certified in Chemical Immobilization of Wildlife and worked on an elk relocation project and at a deer count station for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
. Salmoni left Canada for South Africa in 2000 as part of the controversial Tiger "rewilding" project. Dave Salmoni was attacked by one of his trained big cats named Bongo, a five hundred pound male African lion
in August 1999 in Ontario, which inspired his making of After the Attack
.
, which describes the progress he and John Varty
made as part of a controversial Bengal Tiger rewilding project, Into The Lion's Den and Sharks: Are They Hunting Us?, both for Discovery Channel
. He starred in the show Animal Face-Off
as a host and expert. He currently hosts and produces the Discovery Channel
show Rogue Nature
, as well as After the Attack and Into the Pride on Animal Planet
.
Salmoni has been criticized by credentialed research biologists for his theatrics in an effort to make more entertaining television at the expense of wild lions. His antics have drawn much concern from the scientific community including the leading big cat conservationists affiliated with notable organizations like Panthera Corporation
and the Wildlife Conservation Society
. There is much sentiment that he is impeding conservation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa and conveys the wrong message about the human-cat interface to viewers in regard to safety, animal behavior and conservation.
He is currently the host of Expedition Impossible
, a Mark Burnett
show on ABC.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. He has his own production company, Triosphere
Triosphere
Triosphere is a progressive heavy metal band from Trondheim, Norway. They released their debut album Onwards in 2007 and their second album The Road Less Travelled in 2010.-History:...
, which is based in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and specializes in wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
films.
Personal life
Salmoni's mother, a competitive figure skating coach, and father, a chemical engineer, fostered his love for the wild. Salmoni studied zoologyZoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
in Sudbury, Ontario, and wrote his undergraduate thesis on tracking the hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
of Canadian black bears. Also while in university, Salmoni was certified in Chemical Immobilization of Wildlife and worked on an elk relocation project and at a deer count station for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Animal training
In 1998 Salmoni began his apprenticeship as an animal trainer at Bowmanville Zoological ParkBowmanville zoo
Bowmanville Zoo is a zoo in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest suppliers of animals for Hollywood movies and television programs. It is Canada's oldest private zoo; founded in 1919, it now hosts over 300 animals. The zoo allows children to ride on the back of an elephant or a...
. Salmoni left Canada for South Africa in 2000 as part of the controversial Tiger "rewilding" project. Dave Salmoni was attacked by one of his trained big cats named Bongo, a five hundred pound male African lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
in August 1999 in Ontario, which inspired his making of After the Attack
After the Attack
After the Attack is a reality television series on Animal Planet. It tells the stories of animal attack victims, recreating each story every episode...
.
Television
He has hosted and produced several television documentaries, including Living with TigersLiving with Tigers
Living with Tigers is a 2003 documentary about tigers in Africa. It aired on Discovery.The sequel to Living with Tigers is Tiger Man of Africa on the National Geographic Channel....
, which describes the progress he and John Varty
John Varty
John Varty is a controversial South African wildlife filmmaker who has made more than 30 documentaries and one feature film. Varty is also leading a controversial project which aims to create a free-ranging, self-sustaining tiger population outside of Asia...
made as part of a controversial Bengal Tiger rewilding project, Into The Lion's Den and Sharks: Are They Hunting Us?, both for Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
. He starred in the show Animal Face-Off
Animal Face-Off
Animal Face-Off is a television program that aired on Discovery Channel and Animal Planet in 2004.-Synopsis:This program centers on a hypothetical battle between two animals that could possibly meet in the wild, or in some cases, have been compared to each other by scientists. CGI replicas and...
as a host and expert. He currently hosts and produces the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
show Rogue Nature
Rogue Nature
Rogue Nature is a reality television program broadcast in The United States on Discovery Channel, Discovery HD Theater and Animal Planet. The show follows host, biologist Dave Salmoni as he explores nature's most dangerous animals to see if they really do go out of their way to kill humans.-...
, as well as After the Attack and Into the Pride on Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
.
Salmoni has been criticized by credentialed research biologists for his theatrics in an effort to make more entertaining television at the expense of wild lions. His antics have drawn much concern from the scientific community including the leading big cat conservationists affiliated with notable organizations like Panthera Corporation
Panthera Corporation
Panthera Corporation is a charity organization devoted to preserving big cats and their ecosystems around the globe. Founded in 2006, Panthera focuses its efforts on conservation of the world’s largest, most imperiled cats—tigers, lions, jaguars and snow leopards—while also developing conservation...
and the Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
. There is much sentiment that he is impeding conservation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa and conveys the wrong message about the human-cat interface to viewers in regard to safety, animal behavior and conservation.
He is currently the host of Expedition Impossible
Expedition Impossible (TV series)
Expedition Impossible is a 2011 American reality television series. The series follows thirteen teams of three competitors as they "solve problems while racing across deserts, over mountains and through rivers" across the nation of Morocco. The first team to cross the finish line after completing...
, a Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
show on ABC.
External links
- Active: Born to be Wild, Dave Salmoni interview / feature, Times Online, February 14, 2004