Who Is Chris Kratt? Wild Kratts and Kids’ Wildlife TV

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Chris Kratt holds a small animal while standing outdoors.

Chris Kratt is a real wildlife educator, television host, and creator who works with his brother Martin Kratt as one half of the Kratt Brothers. In Wild Kratts, he voices an animated version of himself; the animal science is real, while the Creature Power adventures are fictional. Across several children’s programs, the brothers have used real animal behavior, habitats, and adaptations as the basis for funny, energetic stories that help young viewers remember science.

Who is Chris Kratt?

Chris Kratt is a wildlife educator and television creator who has spent much of his public career helping children learn about animals. He works closely with his younger brother, Martin Kratt, and together they are known as the Kratt Brothers.

Their shows start with the idea that animals can carry a story. Instead of presenting wildlife facts as a classroom lecture, Chris and Martin meet animals, explain what makes them unusual, and show how those traits help each animal survive in its habitat.

For example, a program might explain why a cheetah can sprint so quickly, how a bat uses sound to find its way, or what helps an octopus avoid predators. The science is real, but the presentation is made for children and families.

In live-action programs, Chris appears as himself: enthusiastic, curious, and willing to get close to animals when it is safe and appropriate. In Wild Kratts, he voices and helps shape an animated version of himself.

Chris Kratt stands outdoors during a wildlife education activity.

Is Chris Kratt the same person as the character in Wild Kratts?

The animated Chris in Wild Kratts is based on the real Chris Kratt. He has the same name, works with animated Martin, and shares the real Chris’s interest in animals and their abilities. Chris Kratt is involved in the show, including as the voice of the animated character.

The animated Chris is not a literal version of the real person. Wild Kratts is an adventure cartoon, so Creature Power Suits, villain plots, high-tech inventions, and many dramatic rescues are fictional storytelling devices. A child cannot activate real “creature powers” by wearing a suit or scanning an animal.

The animal information beneath those adventures is intended to be grounded in real science. When the show explains that a peregrine falcon is built for fast flight or that beavers change waterways by building dams, it is drawing on real adaptations and animal behavior.

For example, you might tell a child: “Chris Kratt is a real wildlife educator, but the cartoon version gets imaginary powers so the show can demonstrate what an animal can do.” That keeps the fantasy and the science clearly separate.

What shows has Chris Kratt made with Martin Kratt?

Chris and Martin Kratt have created and appeared in several animal-focused television series. Each uses a different format, but all are meant to build curiosity and respect for wildlife.

  • Kratts’ Creatures introduced many young viewers to the brothers’ live-action animal programming. It used animal encounters, field segments, and comedy to explain how different creatures live.
  • Zoboomafoo mixed live action, animal guests, puppetry, and short educational segments. The brothers hosted from “Animal Junction,” where each episode used a theme such as animal senses, movement, or habitats. Zoboomafoo, the talking lemur character, was inspired by a real Coquerel’s sifaka named Jovian.
  • Be the Creature was aimed more toward family viewers and followed Chris and Martin as they explored the lives of animals in the field. Its premise was to consider the world from an animal’s point of view.
  • Wild Kratts combines animation with live-action segments. The animated adventures introduce a wildlife problem or animal ability, while the live-action portions connect the story back to real animals and science.

For example, a family that starts with Wild Kratts may enjoy Zoboomafoo next if they want more real animal footage and a gentler preschool-oriented format. Older children who enjoy seeing the brothers outdoors may also respond well to Be the Creature.

Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt film a wildlife segment outdoors.

Why do Chris Kratt’s shows work so well for kids?

The Kratt Brothers’ programs give children a reason to care about a fact before asking them to remember it. Rather than beginning with a definition of an adaptation, a story might show an animal escaping danger, finding food, caring for young, or moving through a difficult habitat. The science then explains how the animal succeeds.

Humor matters, too. Chris and Martin often act surprised, make mistakes, or tease each other lightly, which makes them approachable on screen. Their shows treat curiosity as something worth keeping.

Animal encounters also make abstract ideas easier to understand. Camouflage is clearer when a child sees an animal blend into leaves or sand. Echolocation is easier to remember when it is connected to a bat finding insects in the dark.

In Wild Kratts, animal abilities often help solve a fictional problem. That gives the facts a role in the story and can prompt useful follow-up questions, such as why an animal has a certain body shape or what happens when its habitat changes.

What animal and conservation lessons can children take from Wild Kratts?

Wild Kratts often reinforces that animals are not props, pets, or superheroes waiting to be used by people. Each species has adaptations that help it live in a particular environment, and disrupting that environment can affect its ability to survive.

Children may come away with lessons such as:

  • Wild animals need space, food, shelter, and conditions suited to their species.
  • A behavior that seems strange, such as a skunk spraying or a porcupine raising quills, can be a useful defense.
  • Habitats such as forests, wetlands, oceans, grasslands, and coral reefs support many connected forms of life.
  • Human actions, including pollution, habitat loss, and illegal wildlife trade, can harm animals.
  • Protecting wildlife does not mean approaching or handling it; it usually means observing from a respectful distance and supporting healthy habitats.

The show’s conservation message is generally broad rather than a set of instructions for children to carry out on their own. It should not be treated as guidance for interacting with wildlife. A cartoon character may closely observe an animal during a story, but in real life children should follow local rules, stay with a responsible adult outdoors, and leave wild animals alone.

For example, if your child becomes interested in a local bird after an episode, watch it from a distance, notice its habitat, and learn what it eats. Trying to catch it, feed it unsuitable food, or bring it home is not wildlife education.

Chris Kratt observes a sea turtle in a natural outdoor setting.

Where can you find official Chris Kratt and Wild Kratts information?

For current information, use official sources rather than fan pages, reposted clips, or social-media rumors. Episode availability can change by country, streaming service, and local public television schedule.

  • PBS and PBS KIDS pages are useful for Wild Kratts episode information, games, clips, and family learning materials in the United States.
  • The official Kratt Brothers website and verified Kratt Brothers social channels are the best places to check for news about the brothers’ projects, licensed products, and announced appearances.
  • Your local PBS member station can help with broadcast schedules and may share information about station-supported activities.
  • Official venue pages are the safest source for dates, locations, ticket details, and age guidance for live events.

If a post says a new season, tour date, or product is coming soon, check whether the announcement also appears on an official Kratt Brothers, PBS, broadcaster, or venue channel. This is especially useful for live events, since old dates and unofficial ticket listings can remain online after plans change.

Common questions about Chris Kratt

Are Chris and Martin Kratt brothers? Yes. Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt are brothers and longtime creative partners.

Are they real scientists? They are wildlife educators and trained biologists who have built television programs around animal science. Their shows are educational entertainment, so the fictional story elements should be separated from the real science they explain.

Do Chris and Martin Kratt still make content? Wild Kratts and related projects have continued to have an active public presence, but production news and episode availability can change. Check official Kratt Brothers and PBS channels for current announcements.

Which show should a new viewer start with? Wild Kratts is usually the easiest starting point for a child who enjoys animated adventure. Zoboomafoo is a good choice for younger viewers or for families looking for more live animal segments.

Conclusion

If your child is excited by Chris Kratt, use that interest as a starting point for real-world observation. Watch local animals from a distance, visit a zoo or nature center that supports education, or look up a species featured in an episode together. For schedules, new releases, and event news, check PBS, the Kratt Brothers’ official channels, and official venue listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chris Kratt a real person?

Yes. Chris Kratt is a real wildlife educator, television host, and co-creator of the Kratt Brothers’ animal programs. The animated Chris in Wild Kratts is a fictional version of him.

What is Chris Kratt known for?

He is best known for creating animal-focused children’s television with his brother Martin, including Kratts’ Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature, and Wild Kratts.

Are the facts in Wild Kratts real?

The show’s action and Creature Power Suits are fictional, but its explanations of animal adaptations, habitats, and behavior are based on real wildlife science.

Where can families check for official Wild Kratts news?

PBS and PBS KIDS, the official Kratt Brothers website and verified channels, local PBS stations, and official event venues are the most reliable places to check.

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