The frozen wastes of the far Arctic north, the slopes of Mount McKinley, the icy Ruth glacier deep within the sheer granite walls of America’s deepest canyon, home to one of the world’s largest bears…. Emmy Award winner, wildlife expert and conservationist Jeff Corwin is set to explore one of the unexplored wildernesses on earth — Alaska.

Known for his knowledge of the animal kingdom and keen interest in conservation, the American shares his passion with viewers in a new eight-part series, Into Alaska with Jeff Corwin, on Discovery Channel. The show premiered on February 19, at 8pm.

How long did the shooting of Into Alaska take?

It was filmed in a year… from summer to winter. We did everything from rappelling and climbing into the heart of a glacier, to climbing North America’s tallest mountain. It was really an incredible adventure. We filmed there in summer when it was really nice. We went to Haines, Alaska, in winter to witness the gathering of 60,000 bald eagles. We’re talking temperatures that were many degrees minus Fahrenheit.

How vital is patience in wildlife photography?

I think what is needed in stuff like wildlife filming is patience, a sense of fortitude and a sense of ambition because when we go out and do a film like we do, it doesn’t happen in one or two nights or even two weeks. It can take many, many weeks to make one show.

If you watch one of the shows I did, whether it was in Australia or South America or India, what you’re looking at is sweat, blood and tears. You’re looking at triumphs and failures. You’re looking at about 40 hours of material in a one-hour show.

Which is the toughest animal you have dealt with?

I would say the only time that I ever really felt in danger was once when I was a graduate student in my very early 20s, I was bitten by a coral snake, which is similar to a cobra. It’s a snake from the jungles of South America. I almost died.

The last experience was when I was doing a show in Cambodia and I got roughed up by an elephant, which was a little scary. But for the most part, it’s been pretty harmonious and peaceful.

You are photographed hugging bears, sitting between elephants, getting cosy with chimps… Do you prepare before you dare to get so close to them?

I think the affinity I have with wildlife is based on a combination of life experience and first-hand field experience. My education is a biologist’s. It’s also something I love. If you have a passion, it could be a fuel that allows you to achieve things that maybe are different from what other people would like to do.

For me, it’s a part of my being. I’m energised by really unique moments of observation, to be in the wild, to be in Ranthambore and see a wild tiger pursuing a wild sambar deer or to go out with the Erilu and watch them and study and explore the snake life of remote India, or being in Africa and seeing the mass migration of wildebeest through the Serengeti. These are moments I’ve lived my whole life for and I feel very blessed that I get to experience that.

How did you start off with animals? When did passion become profession?

I’ve always had a passion for wildlife and I had experiences since I was six-years-old. But I think the moment, that really crystallised who I am and what I do, was going to the rainforest of Central America when I was about 16 and exploring that habitat.

What was your reaction to Steve Irwin’s death? Did you know him?

My reaction, I think, was at a personal level. It was at a level of a father and a husband. That’s something that can’t be replaced. On a personal level myself, I did not know Steve Irwin, other than his work, but I thought it was just incredibly tragic.

What has been the greatest risk you have run?

I don’t look at the encounters that I’ve had as being dangerous. We are actually very careful. Most often, the most dangerous moments have less to do with animals and have, unfortunately, more to do with our human species. I’ve been in some situations where there have been military coups. I’ve been on planes that have had to make emergency landings. I’ve been in hot-air balloon accidents. Those things to me are far scarier than any animal could ever be.

Any global trend that worries you?

imate change and global warming worries me. It could potentially have a huge impact on Alaska, just as it could have an impact on India. How it’s impacting Alaska is that many of the great glaciers are melting and they’re melting at a far faster rate than any of us would have predicted. There’s also warming which could potentially change the landscape. That ultimately affects the wildlife.

Have you ever come to India?

I have been to India a number of times. I have done a couple of shows in India that are some of the best shows I’ve done. I’ve done them in Ranthambore and Jaipur and Chennai and Gir. So I love India. If I find a place I love, I tend to go back and India is one of those places.

Which Indian animal/area would you love to work on?

While I was in India, I had incredibly great opportunities to see wildlife, everything from wild tigers in Ranthambore to the last Asiatic lions in Gir Forest, to the crocodiles in Chennai. India has never failed me when it comes to providing great adventure and opportunity to see wildlife. My favourite Indian animal is probably the… I want to say the tiger, but everyone likes tigers, so it’s King Cobra.

You are known to be a collector of artefacts. What are the rarest pieces in your drawing room?

From my numerous trips to India, we have an India room in our house. We have ancient palace doors that we’ve actually made a part of our house. The centre part of our room has a beautiful Ganesh that I came across. He weighs about 600 pounds…. I wouldn’t call them souvenirs. I would call them pieces of the road that allow me to go back to those places.