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Published -
- March 25, 2020
- 3:25 pm
Turtleman
It’s been over a decade since the famous and funny Turtleman segment first aired.
Why did the “Turtleman of Wild Kentucky” episode become so famous and what did it do for Turtleman’s career?
In the summer of 2011, a new hero emerged on cable television: the “Turtleman.” The star of the Animal Planet show “Call of the Wildman,” Turtleman—real name Ernie Brown Jr.—gained a devoted following for his unorthodox methods of capturing nuisance animals. But it was one episode in particular that made Turtleman a household name.
That episode, titled “Turtleman of Wild Kentucky,” follows Turtleman as he attempts to rescue a hapless turtle from an abandoned mine shaft. The minute-long clip has since become one of the most watched clips in Animal Planet history, racking up millions of views on YouTube.
In the episode, Turtleman is called to a small town in Kentucky to rescue a turtle that had fallen down an abandoned mine shaft. After donning his signature bandana and cargo shorts, Turtleman begins his mission to retrieve the turtle. But there’s a catch: the mine shaft is too small for Turtleman to fit in, leaving him with one option.
Without hesitation, Turtleman strips down to his skivvies and slathers his body with pork fat. He then lowers himself down into the mine shaft, using only his bare skin to coax the turtle into climbing onto him for a ride to safety.
As Turtleman emerges from the mine shaft, turtle in hand, he’s greeted by the cheers of the townspeople who had gathered to watch the spectacle.
The “Turtleman of Wild Kentucky” episode quickly became the stuff of legend, earning Turtleman a dedicated fanbase and a reputation as an animal-saving hero. Despite the controversy and concerns of some animal rights activists, Turtleman remains a beloved TV personality, inspiring admiration and even Halloween costumes.
In the years since “Turtleman of Wild Kentucky,” Turtleman has continued to capture the hearts of viewers with his fearless and entertaining animal rescues. But it’s that one episode that will always be remembered as the turning point in Turtleman’s career, the moment when he staked his claim as one of reality TV’s most unforgettable personalities.
