DAVE SALMONI NAMED HOST OF ABC'S EPIC SUMMER SERIES, "EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE"

Adventurer, zoologist, big cat trainer and all-around risk taker Dave Salmoni has been named host of ABC's epic summer series, "Expedition Impossible," which features ordinary people doing the extraordinary in the biggest adventure of their lives.

Featuring high adventure and human drama, "Expedition Impossible" will feature 13 teams of 3, racing on an expedition across vast deserts, over snow capped mountains and through raging rivers. Each week a new stage of the expedition will be revealed to the teams. Will they crumble under the pressure of having to think clearly in the wilds of the great outdoors, or will they find a way to work together to complete their adventures? After 10 stunning legs of competition, one team will cross the finish line first to claim victory.

Mark Burnett and Lisa Hennessy serve as executive producers. Both the television show and format will be distributed internationally by Mark Burnett International Distribution.

BIOGRAPHY

DAVE SALMONI

Host of ABC's "Expedition Impossible"

Dave Salmoni wears many hats. He's an adventurer, a zoologist, a renowned animal trainer and a television host. Born and raised in Canada, he now splits his time between Toronto and South Africa, where he follows his passion for the outdoors by hosting and producing wildlife documentaries.

Salmoni's career began 10 years ago, when he embarked on a life changing adventure to Africa to train captive-bred Bengal tigers how to hunt and survive in the wild. To achieve this, he lived in a tent in the African bush for five years as he combined his trainer and zoology techniques. This process was documented and became Discovery Channel's "Living with Tigers." Following this experience, Salmoni's career has blossomed and allowed him to live the life he always dreamed of back in Canada. As a child, the only place he could stay out of trouble was in the wild, where there are no rules.

Salmoni has been to some of the most dangerous places on Earth for "World's Deadliest Towns." He was accepted into a wild pride of African Lions in "Into the Lion's Den," then followed that feat by living in a tent in the Namibian bush in order to save a pride of problem lions in "Into the Pride." He has traveled the world and experienced forgotten cultures on productions such as "Rogue Nature" and various Shark Week programs. The quintessential adventurer and not happy when confined to city life, Salmoni is constantly seeking his next exotic journey. Where most survivalists go to "survive," he goes on vacation.

In his down time, Salmoni likes to stay at his family's cottage in Ontario, which is surrounded by an abundance of wildlife. He's an avid outdoorsman, enjoys sports and construction projects.

Salmoni was named one of Cosmopolitan magazine's Fun and Fearless Males (2008) and was included as one of People's sexiest bachelors (2009).