The much anticipated Survivor season 42 premieres on March 9, and it's time to take an in-depth look at one of the new castaways, 31-year-old Omar Zaheer. This Canadian exotic animal veterinarian is thrilled to achieve his lifelong dream of competing on Survivor. Jeff Probst claims this is the toughest season of Survivor yet, and even though Omar has never gone camping or even slept outside, he's hoping to use his people and animal skills to get ahead.
With 26 days and no food, Omar along with the other new castaways will experience the same intense, expedited gameplay, similar to Season 41. Fans, however, mostly disliked this new era of Survivor season 42. They lamented that the season focused too much on advantages and not enough on the players. Omar and his ambitions for a silly yet strategic gameplay, as well as his interesting background, could be the anecdote the fans need for this new season.
Omar's An Exotic Veterinarian
According to his bio on CBS, Omar is an avian and exotic animal veterinarian. He credits his love of birds as the main reason for his career endeavors. Omar is accustomed to the tough competition seen on Survivor because his residency program for an exotic veterinarian specialty has an acceptance rate of only 3-5%. He studied at Ontario Veterinary College for many years and this Survivor contestant currently earns a living by working at an emergency veterinary and referral hospital in South Newmarket, Ontario. Even though birds are his favorite, Omar works with animals of all shapes and sizes, including rhinos, snakes, and cheetahs. He's hoping to spot some exotic fruit bats on the islands of Fiji.
Omar Is A Canadian Survivor
Like Season 41 winner Erika Casupanan, Omar joins the small number of Canadians to compete on Survivor. Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, he now lives in Whitby, Ontario. Here Omar works in a nearby animal hospital. Omar is no stranger to surviving with limited means. His family grew up with financial and personal struggles in Canada. His family is also Muslim and maintains values such as: abstaining from pork, alcohol, and premarital sex. Omar's father passed away in 2017, and since then, Omar remains extremely close to his family, who he cites as his reason for playing Survivor. They're all rooting for another Canadian Survivor winner.
Omar's Instagram
Fans can find Omar on Instagram (@ozaheer24). He mainly posts photos of himself and animals that come through his hospital, but fans can also see Omar spending time with his friends, girlfriend, and nieces. In his free time, Omar loves to watch TV, play Settlers of Catan, and train animals.
Omar's Survivor Idols
Omar has some titans of Survivor that he's hoping to model his game after. They include social powerhouses like Kim Spradlin and Tyson Apostol, as well as strategic masterminds like Rob Cesternino and Cirie Fields. Most notably, he finds a kinship with winner Natalie Anderson, citing similarities between his East Indian and her Sri Lankan culture. Omar believes that similar to Natalie, who has some Survivor regrets, he has the ability to fully assess all outcomes of a scenario before acting. Will Omar live up to the legacy of his Survivor idols, or will this exotic veterinarian's lack of outdoor experience lead to his downfall?
Sources: CBS, Omar Zaheer/ Instagram