Photo by Erik Callender
Recent projects
Menghayati!, a children’s television program on PBS.
Erik’s Reptile Edventures, live animal shows with a purpose
Madagascar LIVE volumes 1 and 2, children’s books.
wildlife educator and herpetologist
Erik Callender
about
Erik Callender is a wildlife educator and herpetologist. He shares his childlike enthusiasm for animals through environmental education, filmmaking, and producing his PBS children’s series Menghayati!.
After graduating from Suffolk Community College in 1999 with a degree in Veterinary Science, he became a New York State Licensed Veterinary Technician. Shortly after, he attended Stony Brook University from 2002 - 2006 where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and Biology.
In February of 2006 Erik became the founder and Director of “Erik’s Reptile Edventures” Live Animal Shows with a Purpose. It is this same purpose and commitment to education and conservation that made it possible for his vision to expand beyond the classrooms. In 2011 he became one of the first people to create a Distance Learning Program to connect children to the Rainforests of Ranomafana Madagascar.
In 2015 he also shared in the success of a New York Emmy award for a short documentary about following his dreams, and did his first TEDx talk at Stony Brook University. He became a founder/ executive Director of the Not-for-Profit Wildlife Kids Club International INC. In 2017 they broke ground for their first environmental School in Madagascar, and created a documentary called “Doing The Reptile Rumba From The Rainforest of Ranomafana,” that aired on PBS stations nationwide. Even through the pandemic Erik and his team remained inspired.
To date, Erik has published two children’s books “Madagascar LIVE” volumes 1 and 2, and five children’s nature magazines “Nature Now” and “Nature Now 360”. Today he continues his mission through the creation of a children’s television program called Menghayati! that’s been airing on PBS stations in the United States since November of 2022. His love for the natural world continues to shine through with clarity for the love animals, conservation, and by sharing this knowledge with children and families worldwide.
Erik’s fascination with animals started when he found bullfrog tadpoles at the age of 6. This enthusiasm has transferred to his passion for environmental education.