When he isn't globe-trotting for his TV series "Jack Hanna's Into the Wild," or making appearances with furry friends that seem like barely controlled mayhem on "Late Show with David Letterman," America's best-known zookeeper tries to tame his computer.

The Tennessee-born Hanna recently released "Romp, Stomp, Waddle Home!" (Thomas Nelson, $12.99), an interactive book where kids help him lead lost animals to their correct habitats. And in September, he'll publish another children's book, "Passport Into the Wild," as well as an autobiography, "Jungle Jack Hanna: My Wild Life and Times."

Special (ENLARGE)

Jack Hanna suggests exposing children to animals at an early age.

Special (ENLARGE)

Jack Hanna's book

LIVING Latest Headlines: [an error occurred while processing this directive] • More Living Stories • Living photo galleries • Georgia Aquarium news and photos • Zoo Atlanta news and photos

With a few weeks of prime zoo-going time remaining before school starts, we talked with the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium's director emeritus about all sorts of wild things.

Q: Do you have advice for parents who want their young children to get the most out of their first visits to a zoo?

A: I highly suggest exposing children to zoos and animals at an early age. Studies have shown that children who love animals or who have pets turn into more kindhearted adults. ...

Most children will never have the opportunity to see these animals any place besides a zoo. It is important for them to see these magnificent animals in person and learn about the creatures we share the planet with.

Q: If you could be one animal at the zoo, what would you be?

A: I'd like to be a hippo. Hippos have an impressive life span — they can live to be about 40 or 50 years old. I mean, who wouldn't want to play, sleep and relax in the water all day long?

Q: You're rarely seen without a "safari" shirt on. Have you ever worn one to an event and thought, "Oops, wrong fashion statement"?

A: I certainly feel like a fish out of water when I have to wear anything besides my "safari suit." ... Recently I spoke at a black-tie fund-raiser at the Whitehall Palace in London ... and I wore my safari suit. I got some pretty strange looks!

Q: You've brought animals on "Late Show with David Letterman" many times. What's it like to appear on Letterman, and what's he really like?

A: Letterman is by far the most quick-witted TV personality that I've worked with. ... One of the reasons I love the "Late Show" is I have the opportunity to reach ... perhaps an audience that wouldn't typically watch "Jack Hanna's Into the Wild."

Although my appearances with animals can seem a little haphazard, we always have everything under control. ...

Letterman is a very private person. ... We both have homes in Montana, not too far from each other, and we've never gotten together for dinner. I respect his privacy.

Q: Your TV shows have taken you to the globe's far reaches. Is there one place that stands out as perfect to watch wildlife?

A: I always love traveling to Africa. The mountain gorillas of Rwanda are magnificent, and Botswana's Okavango Delta is one of the best wildlife viewing locations in the world.

Q: "Jack Hanna's Into the Wild" airs in Atlanta at 5 a.m. Mondays. What audience do you think WATL here is shooting for — insomniac 8-year-olds?

A: Oh, man! Well, we got a late start in our first season — we're just grateful that WATL believed in us and added us to the roster. We should have better time slots for season 2. ... In fact, starting in October, "JHITW" will air on Fox-owned WAGA in Atlanta.

Q: It was reported that you were key in recruiting the Georgia Aquarium's executive director Jeffery Swanagan to run the Columbus Zoo. What did he do in Atlanta that made him right for the Columbus job?

A: In 1980 I hired Jeff right out of college to develop the Columbus Zoo's education department. After several years, he moved on to the Atlanta Zoo, and then to the Florida Aquarium where he was able to turn around a struggling facility.

Jeff's next stop was researching, designing and managing the Georgia Aquarium. He traveled all over the world to see the best aquariums, and the result of his hard work was your state-of-the-art aquarium. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it for the first time. When our director announced his retirement, I knew right away that Jeff would be a great fit here.