Meet the Frontera Friends: Inspiring Environmental Awareness in Rio Grande Valley Kids

At Edutainment Zone, we believe learning is most meaningful when it’s rooted in curiosity, creativity, and connection to the real world. That’s why we created the Frontera Friends — a collection of original animal characters inspired by the wildlife of the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

Each of these 12 characters represents an animal with a real connection to our region, many of which are endangered or threatened. Through storytelling and play, the Frontera Friends help children explore important ideas like conservation, empathy, and belonging.

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most ecologically unique places in the country — a crossroads for animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. But many of these species are struggling to survive due to habitat loss and environmental change. The Frontera Friends were designed to help families fall in love with this place and its animals — and to help children see themselves as protectors of the natural world.

The Frontera Friends: Animal Characters Created for Rio Grande Valley Kids

Oxy – Ox (Bos taurus)

Oxy is strong, steady, and dependable — just like the real-life oxen that helped build early Texas communities. Though not a native species, oxen played an important role in agriculture and transportation across the state.

Ocel – Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

Ocel is sleek, curious, and quiet — a perfect reflection of the endangered ocelots that still live in dense brushlands of South Texas. With fewer than 100 left in the wild, they are rarely seen, but their presence reminds us how precious and fragile our local ecosystems can be.

Mona – Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Graceful and determined, Mona represents the iconic monarch butterflies that pass through the Rio Grande Valley each fall during their incredible 3,000-mile migration from Canada to Mexico. She reminds us that small creatures can take on epic journeys — and that every flower and milkweed plant along the way matters.

Pigmy – Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)

Pigmy may be small, but don’t underestimate her — this tiny owl is a bold and fearless hunter. Once common in South Texas, she now survives in protected thorn forests and teaches us that even the smallest voices can be powerful.

Lobo – Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)

Once roaming freely across Texas, Lobo now represents a species fighting for survival through reintroduction programs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. As the smallest and rarest subspecies of gray wolf, Lobo reminds us that strength often comes in tight-knit families and sharp instincts.

Jagu – Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Jagu is mysterious and powerful — a nod to the majestic jaguars that once lived in South Texas. Though the last confirmed sighting was decades ago, their presence lives on through legend and conservation. Jaguars love water and often hunt in rivers, showing that even the fiercest animals can be graceful swimmers.

Garu – Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)Garu is sleek, quick, and hard to spot — much like the elusive jaguarundi, a small wildcat that may still exist in South Texas but hasn’t been seen in years. Agile in trees, on land, and even in water, Garu is a master of adaptation and quiet strength.

Ursu – Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Once lost to the region, black bears like Ursu are slowly returning to South Texas from northern Mexico. With a powerful build and a nose that can detect food from miles away, Ursu teaches us about patience, awareness, and how nature can find its way back when given the chance.

Cima – Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)

Cima is adventurous and daring, much like the desert bighorn sheep that now scale the cliffs of West Texas after a successful reintroduction. Known for climbing near-vertical rock faces with ease, Cima inspires us to take bold steps and trust our footing.

Verdi – Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

Verdi is calm and determined, gliding through ocean waters to the beaches of South Padre Island — the only nesting site for this critically endangered species in the U.S. She reminds us that cycles of life, like sea turtle nestings, depend on protection, care, and a safe place to land.

Whoopy – Whooping Crane (Grus americana)

Tall, graceful, and surprisingly loud, Whoopy spends winters along the Texas coast, including areas near the RGV. As one of the rarest cranes in the world, her powerful call can be heard for over a mile — a voice of resilience and renewal.

Beni – Red-Crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis)

Colorful, social, and full of personality, Beni represents the vibrant flocks of red-crowned parrots that call South Texas home. Though endangered in their native Mexico, these birds have found refuge in the Valley’s neighborhoods and treetops — showing how nature can sometimes thrive in unexpected places.

The Frontera Friends are more than just characters — they’re an invitation to explore, imagine, and care. Each one carries a story rooted in science, conservation, and culture, helping children build meaningful connections to the world around them. Whether used in classrooms, at home, or during play, the Frontera Friends bring the natural beauty of the Rio Grande Valley to life in ways that are playful, powerful, and unforgettable.

And here’s a fun detail: at Edutainment, every child gets to choose their own Frontera Friend to wear proudly on their uniform. From Lobo to Mona to Ocel, families can select their favorite character, choose the color of the shape, and even decide between a heart or circle backdrop. So if you ever spot someone out in the world wearing a gray shirt with a Frontera Friend on it — you just might have run into an Edutainment student in the wild.