{{Short description|American television presenter (born 1988)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Forrest Galante | image = Forrest Galante.jpg | caption = Galante with a pangolin in 2018 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|3|31}} | birth_place = California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Television host | known_for = ''Extinct or Alive'' on Animal Planet | relatives = | website = {{url|forrestgalante.com}} | alma_mater = University of California at Santa Barbara }} '''Forrest Galante''' (born March 31, 1988) is an American outdoor adventurer, wildlife biologist, and television personality. He primarily seeks out animals on the brink of extinction. He is the host of the television shows ''Extinct or Alive'' and ''Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante'' on Animal Planet, and has appeared on multiple Shark Week shows.
== Early and personal life == Forrest Galante was born on March 31, 1988 to an English-Jewish family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fogarty |first=Bob |date=2023-02-21 |title=Forrest Galante {{!}} A Wild Life of Rediscovery |url=https://www.jordanharbinger.com/forrest-galante-a-wild-life-of-rediscovery/ |access-date=2026-01-20 |website=Jordan Harbinger |language=en-US}}</ref> Shortly after his birth in California, Galante and his family moved to Harare, Zimbabwe, where his mother ran a safari business.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.com/2013/12/24/profile-forrest-galante/|title=Profile: Forrest Galante|last=Cabakoff|first=Rachel|date=December 24, 2013|website=The Santa Barbara Independent|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> He and his sister were raised on a farm.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Garden|first=Psychic|date=2021-06-08|title=[Nature/Sustainability] An interview with: Forrest Galante|url=https://www.the-psychic-garden.com/post/an-interview-with-forrest-galante|access-date=2021-06-24|website=Psychic Garden|language=en|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205351/https://www.the-psychic-garden.com/post/an-interview-with-forrest-galante|url-status=dead}}</ref> Throughout his youth, Galante spent time exploring the African bush, learning to wrangle snakes, trap small animals, and snorkel the reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2016 |title=Forrest Galante |url=https://www.spearingmagazine.com/forrest-galante/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025034424/https://www.spearingmagazine.com/forrest-galante/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-10-25 |access-date=March 31, 2019 |website=Spearing Magazine}}</ref> In Zimbabwe, he attended an English boarding school and headed up the Junior Herpetology Society, studying native flora and fauna.<ref name=":0" />
In 2001, following Robert Mugabe's violent political uprising in Zimbabwe, the Galante family farm was invaded and burnt, leading the family to flee to California.<ref name=":0" /> He resumed his education in Santa Barbara, where he graduated from high school and later earned a degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.<ref name=":1" />
Galante married science teacher Jessica Evans in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Couple marries on tropical island and invite sharks, stingrays and pigs to the reception |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/couple-marries-on-tropical-island-and-invite-sharks-stingrays-and-pigs-to-the-reception/news-story/cdaed1e56b56aae506d76f648860ebe9 |access-date=31 October 2025 |work=Caters News |publisher=news.com.au |date=18 August 2015}}</ref> The couple has two sons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Galante |first1=Forrest |title=5 Animals That Have Only Been Seen Once |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn6kBpULlaQ |access-date=17 May 2026 |work=YouTube |date=16 May 2026}}</ref>
== Career == In 2013, Galante made his first foray into television with an appearance on the Discovery Channel's ''Naked and Afraid'', where he participated in the show's 21-day survival challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forrestgalante.wixsite.com/mysite/post/survival |title=Survival |date=March 15, 2019 }}</ref> He completed the challenge—being dropped with a stranger in the remote section of northwestern Panama—and scored a primitive survival rating of 8.8, one of the highest in the show's history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starcasm.net/top-ten-naked-afraid-psrs-time-along-dubious-lows/|title=Here are the top ten Naked and Afraid PSRs of all time (along with a few dubious lows)|last=John|date=June 7, 2017|website=starcasm.net|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref>
In 2016, Galante and his photographer wore special suits developed in Auckland, New Zealand, that mimicked a crocodile's scaly skin to aid in their study of American crocodiles in Central America. The suits blocked their bodies' electric currents, allowing them to swim alongside and capture the reptile's natural behavior. The duo came within inches of the crocodiles, filming them in their authentic habitat for their film ''Dancing with Dragons''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/85609105/scaly-suit-wins-over-crocs|title = HECS wetsuits: Kiwi scaly suit wins over crocodiles|date = October 25, 2016}}</ref>
On June 10, 2018, Galante's docuseries, ''Extinct or Alive'' premiered on Animal Planet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/animal-planet-greenlights-new-series-extinct-alive-1113638|title=Animal Planet Greenlights New Series 'Extinct or Alive' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 21, 2018|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> Galante has stated that he is committed to uncovering the Thylacine and, after two expeditions, would continue searching.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bender |first1=Kelli |title='Extinct or Alive' Adventurer Forrest Galante Hasn't 'Given Up Hope' Tasmanian Tiger Is Alive |url=https://people.com/pets/extinct-or-alive-forrest-galante-tasmanian-tiger/ |website=PEOPLE.com |language=EN}}</ref>
Galante produced the History channel show ''Face the Beast'', wherein two men attempt to retrace the steps of predators going on unexplained killing rampages against humans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maglio |first1=Tony |title=Animal Planet's 'Extinct or Alive' Finds Its First 'Extinct' Species Alive |url=https://www.thewrap.com/extinct-or-alive-fernandina-tortoise-forrest-galante-animal-planet/ |website=TheWrap |date=20 February 2019}}</ref> He has appeared in the ''GQ: The Breakdown'' video series.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Breakdown |url=https://www.gq.com/video/series/the-breakdown |website=GQ Videos |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, he testified in front of the United States Congress to promote legislative changes and increased funding for conservation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Planet's Forrest Galante Tells Senators Innovative Predator Deterrents Could Become the Standard |url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/7/animal-planet-s-forrest-galante-tells-senators-innovative-predator-deterrents-could-become-the-standard |website=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works |language=en}}</ref>
His first book, ''Still Alive: A Wild Life of Rediscovery'', was published in June 2021 by Hachette Books, and is described by the publisher as "part memoir, part biological adventure".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/forrest-galante/still-alive/9780306924262/|title=Still Alive|date=2020-10-09|isbn=9780306924262 |language=en-US|last1=Galante |first1=Forrest |publisher=Grand Central }}</ref> In this book, Galante discusses his passion for bringing attention and research funding for preservation of ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bova|first=Dan|date=2021-06-07|title=Forrest Galante Is Still Alive (And Wrote a Book About It)|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/373734|access-date=2021-08-09|website=Entrepreneur|language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, Galante serves as an advisory board member for Colossal Biosciences, a company that is seeking to genetically engineer extinct species such as the woolly mammoth<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-06 |title=Mammoth |url=https://colossal.com/mammoth/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Colossal |language=en}}</ref> and dodo<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-31 |title=Dodo Bird {{!}} Reviving the Dodo |url=https://colossal.com/dodo/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Colossal |language=en}}</ref> back into existence to repair human-caused holes in world ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Our Advisors |url=https://colossal.com/advisors/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Colossal |language=en}}</ref>
=== Expeditions === In his search for unique wildlife, Galante has visited over 60 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Q & A with Forrest Galante |url=https://borealism.ca/blogs/articles-interviews/nature-and-human-nature-with-forrest-galante |website=Borealism |date=September 19, 2019 |access-date=17 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
During filming for ''Extinct or Alive'' in 2018, a camera trap caught apparent footage of a Zanzibar leopard on Unguja Island. The animal appeared smaller than specimens from the mainland, and seemed to have smaller, more solid spots than normally seen on African leopards. Further investigations are planned to confirm whether or not this is a Zanzibar leopard, and whether a viable population still exists.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Li, J. |url=https://www.insideedition.com/zanzibar-leopard-captured-camera-despite-being-declared-extinct-43962 |title=Zanzibar Leopard Captured on Camera, Despite Being Declared Extinct |publisher=Inside Edition |access-date=2018-08-16}}</ref>
While shooting footage for season two on the remote Galápagos Islands in February 2019, biologist Washington Tapia-Aguilera, four Ecuadorian park rangers, and Galante's team discovered a single female Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise, which had been presumed extinct since 1906.<ref name="NatGeo"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/20/galapagos-rare-tortoise-species-considered-extinct-until-now/2930134002/|title=Not seen for 100 years, a rare Galápagos tortoise was considered all but extinct – until now|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> Trace evidence found on the expedition indicated that more individuals likely exist in the wild, and new searches were being planned to find a male Fernandina Tortoise that could potentially save the species.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Ryan W. |title=Not seen for 100 years, a rare Galápagos tortoise was considered all but extinct – until now |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/20/galapagos-rare-tortoise-species-considered-extinct-until-now/2930134002/ |website=USA TODAY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/02/20/world/americas/ap-lt-ecuador-giant-tortoise.html|title=Tortoise Feared Extinct Found on Remote Galapagos Island|agency=Associated Press|date=2019-02-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-02-21|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Galante and his team claimed the discovery, but this has been disputed by Tapia-Aguilera.<ref name="Undark">{{bulleted list|{{Cite magazine |last=Wight |first=Andrew |date=March 4, 2020 |title=In the Bombast of an American TV Host, Colonial Science Lives On |url=https://undark.org/2020/03/04/colombia-reptile-parachute-science-forrest-galante/ |magazine=Undark Magazine |access-date=April 17, 2024}}|{{cite web |title=In the bombast of an American TV host, colonial science lives on |url=https://www.salon.com/2020/03/08/in-the-bombast-of-an-american-tv-host-colonial-science-lives-on_partner/ |website=Salon |language=en |date=8 March 2020 |first=Andrew J. |last=Wight |access-date=April 17, 2024}}}}</ref>
== Criticism == Galante has been accused of claiming credit for discoveries previously made by scientists, and has been derided as a "parachute scientist", a practice described as "colonial" and exploitative of scientists in developing countries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wanted: 'Extinct or Alive' |first=Tito Genova |last=Valiente |work=BusinessMirror |date=June 18, 2021 |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/06/18/wanted-extinct-or-alive/ |access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>
Galante's claim to have rediscovered the Fernandina Island tortoise in 2019 was disputed by Washington Tapia-Aguilera, a biologist at the Galapagos Conservancy and director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative.<ref name="NatGeo">{{cite magazine |magazine=National Geographic |title=Fernandina giant tortoise—once thought extinct—found in Galápagos |first=Jill |last=Langlois |date=February 22, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/extinct-fernandina-giant-tortoise-found}}</ref><ref name="Undark"/> Tapia-Aguilera said that he actually decided where to look for the tortoise, and that "Ecuadorian park ranger Jeffreys Málaga was the one that knew the land, tracked the tortoise, and ultimately made the discovery before calling over the rest of the team."<ref name="Undark"/>
His claim of rediscovering the Rio Apaporis caiman was also contradicted by a ''Journal of Herpetology'' article written by Sergio A. Balaguera-Reina, a biologist at the Universidad de Ibagué and Texas Tech University.<ref name="Undark"/><ref>{{cite journal |title=Rediscovering the Apaporis Caiman (Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis): Notes from a Long-Anticipated Expedition |year=2019 |first=Sergio A. |last=Balaguera-Reina |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=310–315 |doi=10.1670/19-028}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{wikiquote}} *{{official website|https://www.forrestgalante.com}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55wcxVrSxek Forrest Galante Finds Long-Forgotten Animal Species on Extinct or Alive - Collider MasterWork] via YouTube
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Galante, Forrest}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American biologists Category:American people of European-Jewish descent Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Survivalists Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni Category:Mass media people from Santa Barbara, California Category:Scientists from Santa Barbara, California