Space Coast zoo woos TV's Jack Hanna.(The Orlando Sentinel)

MELBOURNE, Fla. _ Jack Hanna has traveled the planet in search of everything from humpback whales in Alaska's Glacier Bay to a rare all-white black bear on a remote island in the province of British Columbia.

Now, a contingent from the Brevard Zoo is trying to convince the adventurer that the Space Coast is "the best place in the world" to call home.

The group is trying to raise $1 million and has launched a letter-writing campaign to lure Hanna and his popular syndicated television show Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures away from Tampa's Busch Gardens to the small, community-built zoo in south Brevard County.

Their efforts may be futile.

Hanna's representatives have discussed similar proposals with Citrus County and the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, where Hanna is director emeritus. They also are negotiating the terms of a new annual contract with Busch Entertainment Corp., the parent company of Busch Gardens and Sea World.

As for Hanna, he seems happy with his current home.

"I've been here for 10 years," he said. "They helped develop the No. 1 animal show in the country."