Martin William Kratt (born December 23, 1965) is an American zoologist, educational nature show host and YouTuber. He and his brother Chris created the children's television series Kratts' Creatures and Zoboomafoo, as well as Be the Creature, which runs on the National Geographic Channel and Knowledge Network. They are the main characters on the animated TV series Wild Kratts, which airs on PBS Kids.

Early life and education

A grandson of musical-instrument manufacturer William Jacob Kratt Sr., Martin was born on December 23, 1965, in New Jersey to William (born 1928) and Linda (born 1939). He and his younger brother Chris grew up in Warren Township, New Jersey, They attended Watchung Hills Regional High School. Martin attended Duke University where he majored in zoology. He became a research assistant for a howler monkey project under Dr. Kenneth Glander in Costa Rica.

Career

Shortly after graduating from Duke, Martin worked with Dr. Patricia Wright in Madagascar as well as Dr. John Terbogh in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Martin and Chris together created the children's television series Kratts' Creatures and Zoboomafoo, as well as Be the Creature, which runs on the National Geographic Channel and Knowledge Network. They are the main characters on the animated TV series Wild Kratts, which airs on PBS Kids. The other show he created is called Wild Alaska Live. They also appear as themselves in the Odd Squad episode "Night Shift".

Personal life

Martin married Laura Wilkinson in 2000 and has two sons, Ronan (born 2003), a soccer player and Gavin, both of whom have had roles on Wild Kratts. As of 2008, Martin and his brother Chris lived in Ottawa, Ontario, where their series Wild Kratts was produced. Both Martin and Chris were inducted into their high school's hall of fame in 2013.