Forrest Galante

Forrest Galante is a Zimbabwean-American outdoor adventurer, wildlife biologist, television personality, and conservationist known for his work at the intersection of science and exploration. Galante specializes in wildlife biology, focusing on the study and documentation of animals on the brink of extinction. During his youth, he explored the African bush, learning to handle snakes, trap small animals, and snorkel the reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, he attended an English boarding school and led the Junior Herpetology Society, studying native flora and fauna. After political unrest prompted his family to relocate to California, Galante pursued free diving and spearfishing, eventually achieving a world record in pole spearfishing. He is certified as a SCUBA dive master, 100-ton ship captain, and EMT, and holds a biology degree from UC Santa Barbara with an emphasis in marine biology and herpetology.

Following college, Galante traveled to 46 remote locations worldwide, working with and photographing rare wildlife, including crocodiles, white sharks, venomous snakes, and other elusive species. His television career began with an appearance on Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid," where he completed a 21-day survival challenge in northwestern Panama and earned a high primitive survival rating. In a subsequent expedition, Galante and his team used specialized suits to swim alongside American crocodiles, capturing natural behavior for the film "Dancing with Dragons."

Galante developed and hosted the television show "Extinct or Alive" on Animal Planet, documenting his global search for animals believed to be extinct. He also hosts "Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante" on Animal Planet and has appeared on multiple Shark Week programs. Galante produced the History Channel show "Face the Beast." His fieldwork includes the rediscovery of the Fernandina Tortoise and the identification of a Pondicherry shark specimen in Sri Lanka, both species previously thought to be extinct. Galante has documented evidence of the continued existence of eight animals once believed extinct, contributing to wildlife conservation and biodiversity research.

Galante is the author of the book "Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery," which combines memoir and biological adventure, recounting his experiences rediscovering species and navigating challenges in remote environments. He has appeared on Shark Week, "The Joe Rogan Experience," The TODAY Show, and The Nightly Show. Galante continues his work in field research, television, and conservation advocacy, promoting wildlife conservation and biodiversity awareness to a global audience.