Bionic Buzz sat down with Peter Gross, one of the longtime faces of NBC’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild, to talk about his incredible journey through wildlife television and conservation.
Peter joined Wild Kingdom in 1987 and has spent nearly four decades bringing audiences face-to-face with animals and ecosystems all over the world. In our interview, he shares how his lifelong passion for nature led him into wildlife filmmaking and ultimately onto one of television’s most iconic nature series.
We also dive into the episode “Reef Revival,” where Peter takes viewers beneath the surface to witness reef restoration efforts firsthand. During the episode, he swims alongside sea turtles and explores coral environments that are both breathtaking and under serious threat from rising ocean temperatures.
Peter explains the dangers of underwater heat waves, a little-known phenomenon causing coral bleaching and reef collapse around the globe. By translating complex science into real-world understanding, he helps show just how urgent—and solvable—these environmental challenges truly are.
Throughout our conversation, Peter reflects on the evolution of Wild Kingdom, from its early days to its modern mission of conservation storytelling. Rather than simply showcasing animals, today’s series focuses on action, solutions, and hope—highlighting the people on the front lines working to protect our planet.
This interview is both inspiring and eye-opening, offering a powerful reminder of why wildlife storytelling matters more now than ever.
Watch Reef Rival: https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/reef-revival
Footage b-roll is courtesy of Hearst Media Production Group.
Interview and video edited by Steve Sievers of Bionic Buzz®
Bionic Buzz
https://www.mutualofomaha.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wildkingdomtv
https://www.instagram.com/wildkingdomtv/
https://www.instagram.com/peterwgros/
https://www.tiktok.com/@wildkingdomtv/
https://www.youtube.com/wildkingdom