CBS today announced the 18 castaways who will compete on Survivor: Gabon - Earth's Last Eden, when the 17th installment of the Emmy Award-winning series premieres for the first time in high-definition Thursday, Sept. 25 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Marooned in the wilderness, 18 individuals will embark on an amazing African adventure, battling extreme conditions and interacting with wildlife such as elephants and gorillas, while attempting to forge alliances with strangers from diverse backgrounds. "In a strange coincidence to Earth's Last Eden - good vs. evil emerges as a major theme this season. I think the audience will quickly identify with one group or the other," host Jeff Probst teases. Will the group of deceitful castaways outlast those individuals who play from their heart or will the forces of evil prevail? Will temptations interfere with logical decision-making? More importantly, which side will come out on top?

In a Survivor first, the magnificent landscape, natural elements, and fascinating wildlife featured on Earth's Last Eden will be enjoyed by viewers in high-definition, enhancing the overall experience of the show. Probst claims, "Shooting in HD is like adding another character to the show. The detail is so sharp you can't help but feel as though you are experiencing the adventure yourself."

Castaways competing on Survivor: Gabon - Earth's Last Eden (in alphabetical order) are:

RANDY BAILEY

49

Eagle Rock, Mo.

Wedding Videographer

JACQUE BERG

25

Santa Barbara, Calif.

Medical Sales

DANNY "GC" BROWN

26

Portland, Ore.

Maintenance Man

MICHELLE CHASE

24

Los Angeles

Music Production Assistant

CRYSTAL COX

29

Durham, N.C.

Former Olympic Gold Medalist

ROBERT "Bob" CROWLEY

58

Portland, Maine

Physics Teacher

KELLY CZARNECKI

22

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Retail Sales

ACE GORDON

27

Naples, Fla.

Jewelry Sales

CHARLIE HERSCHEL

29

New York

Lawyer

KEN HOANG

22

Westminster, Calif.

Professional Gamer

CORRINE KAPLAN

29

Los Angeles

Pharmaceutical Sales

DAN KAY

32

Boston

Lawyer

JESSICA "Sugar" KIPER

29

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Pin-up Model

GILLIAN LARSON

61

Temecula, Calif.

Retired Nurse

MARCUS LEHMAN

28

Atlanta

Doctor

SUSIE SMITH

47

Charles City, Iowa

Hairdresser

PALOMA SOTO-CASTILLO

24

Downey, Calif.

Student

MATTY WHITMORE

29

Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Personal Trainer

Survivor: Gabon - Earth's Last Eden is hosted by Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Doug McCallie are executive producers.

For more detailed information on Survivor: Gabon - Earth's Last Eden and the 18 castaways, log on to CBS.com/Survivor.