 
Marlin Perkins, the godfather of nature programming.
|
|
In Wild Ladies of Viramba, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom looks in on one of the longest and most extensive primate research projects ever conducted. Located in Tanzania's Mikumi National Park, the project has followed the same troop of yellow baboons since its inception in 1974.
In 1975, when the project was in its second year, it was visited by the original Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then in its 14th season with pioneer nature host Marlin Perkins. The result was Baboons of Tanzania.
The show offered viewers in the 1970s a momentary glimpse at a troop of yellow baboons and the researchers who studied them.
It's interesting to note the differences between the original series, which won 41 major awards — including four Emmys — and today's Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. For instance, the new show follows the baboon troop for an entire year, focuses on individuals and covers a much wider range of habitats and behavior. For a side-by-side comparison, be sure to watch Wild Ladies of Viramba when it airs on Saturday, May 15, at 10 p.m. EST.
The clips we've selected from Baboons of Tanzania represent both the series as it appeared in 1975 and the extent of our knowledge about yellow baboons at this time.
We hope you enjoy this journey back in time.
