Explorer, Amazon Jungle guide, Wildlife expert, Producer, Author
"Rusty's way with animals, including humans, is magical."
-Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic
Rusty Johnson is the main character, consulting producer, and originator of Travel Channel's HOTEL AMAZON and has consulted for National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, A&E, and Dateline.
An explorer, wildlife expert, and Amazon jungle/shaman guide for over two decades, he has appeared with his wildlife on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Today Show, and free flew a hawk on The Late Show with David Letterman 14-stories high over 49th street in New York City.
He has given over 3,000 presentations with his large array of wild and endangered animals at venues such as Princeton University, The American Museum of Natural History, and The Explorers Club where he was one of the youngest people ever inducted into the prestigious club.
He has led over 30 expeditions into the Amazon to film, guide, and deliver malaria nets, medicine to children of the jungle where they have nicknamed him Tarzan Santa Claus.
Rusty has testified during a federal grand jury pertaining to an Australian animal smuggling ring and he has successfully brainstormed clandestine explosive detection techniques with animals for a post 9/11 anti-terrorism Commander.
He has interviewed the infamous satanic serial killer the Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez) in order to explore the mind of a human predator.
He is the author of a book entitled The Twilight of the Wild (Foreword written by Jim Fowler of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom) which features his 3,000 mile trek through southern Africa.
