Sharing a Love of Creatures Great and Small

Twenty years later, I met a real "Grizzly Adams," and John Rohloff, founder of Creatures Great and Small, is taking his love of animals and people on the road to share with America. I caught up with John and his lovely wife, Donna, in Pauls Valley during the recent BrickFest celebration. Their custom-designed Rainforest Adventure trailer, which features many colorful and life-like exotic animals of the rainforest, was painted by the renowned artist Tracy Beasley. "Our trailer was made possible by a donation by on of our loyal supporters" shares John, who runs the not-for-profit educational and awareness program with his wife. "We can fit all of our animals inside the trailer and van for transport and then everything breaks out so that we can get the animals and people closer together."

John, who has been involved with exotic animals for over 20 years, has been recognized for his work and is supported and endorsed by people like Boyd Matson of National Geographic.

"In 1998, when the Arbuckle Mountains caught fire, I lost everything...including my best freiend," shares John, who is still emotional about his loss. "Tosh was a tiger, but he was also my best friend and I still miss him very much. I also lost two lions and a cougar that day, as well as my home. In fact, I almost lost my own life, but God left me here for a purpose--I belive that purpose is to use my God-given ability with animals to educate others on how to take care of our precious earth."

John Rohloff has rescued abandoned and abused exotic animals for many years and fondly remembers living in a tent among his "family" before the fire. "When I saw where John lived and saw how happy he was, I wanted to experience the happiness that he found with such basic elements," says Donna, who married John on January 20, 2001. "He would sleep with tigers and play with and care for everything from giraffes to rhinoceros."

John says that his life was saved and that he received an even better life through the death of his friends. He took his love for animals and people and began studying about the environment and what is happening all over the world. He and Donna designed and developed their own unique band of "edutainment" that has made them in demand for schools, festivals and events, trade shows and even state park programs. "Our program gets individuals, especially children, to look at the rainforest and see how the smallest to the greatest animals are important to our world and then we share how each and every human is equally as important and special," shares John, who firmly believes

With approximately 150 species of animals disappearing forever every day of the year, the Rohloffs strive to be the voice of these treasured natural resources that are falling by the wayside unnoticed. Exploring options to alternative energy sources, discussing ways to conserve what we consume, and seeing how recycling affects each person is the first step says John, who adds that he is not teaching kids, he is inspiring future scientist, veterinarians, politicians and environmentalist. With so much knowledge in the world, the Rohloffs believe that a way can be found to stop the extinction of the Asian Elephant, cheetah and apes over the next 20 years.

"There has not been such a mass species destruction since the time of the dinosaurs," shares Donna, as she hand-feeds a three-month old macaw. "once these animals are gone, we can't bring them back."

Another popular program that the Rohloffs are bringing to  the children and teens of the United States is their "ENDANGERed" series that encourages youth to "end anger" by exploring non-violent ways to live. "Humans are the only animals that have anger, as all other animals react out of fear or hunger." shares John, who stresses that just like every animal is special, so is every person. "If we can start channeling all that energy into positive directions, think of how much could be accomplished."

John and Donna also team up with other talented "edutainers" like Chris and Audrey Moss, who founded Tropical Illusions, another environmentally conscious program. Chris is one of the top illusionist in the country and brings his "magic with a message" to the program by making some of John's animals disappear and reappear. He goes on to explain that, in the real world, when animals disappears, the reality is that they will not "magically reappear" one day.

While the programs do have a serious message, the tone of the presentations is light-hearted, humorous and filled with lots of fun live exotic birds, reptiles, insects and animals from the rainforest and around the world. John also uses "animatrionic animals, which are life-like mechanical props made to look like real animals-John has a toucan and a baby Elephant. He is able to communicate with the audience via a remote communication device that has delighted thousands of surprised participants by talking back and carrying on conversations with them. The Rohloffs design the program curriculum around the needs of each audience and are professionals in every sense of the word. If you would like to find out more information on how your school, festival or event could host Creatures Great and Small's Rainforest Adventure, visit their website at www.creaturesgreat.org