Animal shows teach rainforest lessons

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Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times Mike Kohlrieser of Understanding Wildlife shows kindergartners, first- and second-graders, Jack and Jill, a pair of kinkajous. Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times
Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times Mike Kohlrieser holds Jack and Jill, a pair of Kinkajous during a "Live Onstage, The Rain Forest" friday morning at the East Gloucester Elementry Schools auditorium. Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times. February 1,2013
Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times Pupils are all smiles as they watch "Live Onstage, The Rain Forest" on Friday morning at the East Gloucester Elementry Schools auditorium.
Kelly, a blue and gold macaw, flies around the East Gloucester Elementry School auditorium, casting a small shadow on the wall.
Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times Mike Kohlrieser of "Understanding Wildlife" shows kindergartners, first- and second-graders a king snake known as during "Live Onstage, The Rain Forest" Friday morning at East Gloucester Elementry Schools auditorium. Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times
Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times Mike Kohlrieser of Understanding Wildlife pats the head of Kelly, a blue and gold macaw during the presentation "Live Onstage, The Rain Forest" on Friday morning at the East Gloucester Elementry Schools auditorium. Desi Smith/Gloucester Daily Times. February 1,2013

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February 1, 2013

Animal shows teach rainforest lessons

Animal show teaches about the rainforest

By Times Staff Gloucester Daily Times The Gloucester Daily Times Fri Feb 01, 2013, 11:11 PM EST

Schoolchildren in Gloucester were treated to comedy and introduced to some exotic animals while learning about the Amazon rainforest and its conservation.

Mike Kohlrieser, founder and director of nonprofit Understanding Wildlife, brought his presentation”Live Onstage, The Rain Forest” to Beeman, Veterans Memorial and East Gloucester elementary schools Friday morning before regrouping for a free presentation, open to the public, Friday night in the Gloucester High School auditorium.

In the 1980s, Kohlrieser said he and wife Marcia became increasingly aware of animals facing possible extinction in tropical rainforests. Using his skills as an animal trainer and stage entertainer, Kohlrieser wanted to educate young and old alike about these animals.

Yesterday’s comedy animal shows sought to recreate the sounds and sights of the Amazon region, and offer the audience a chance to see exotic birds, kinkajous, jungle cats, monkeys and snakes.