Rain forest critters visit Franklin students

These four Franklin Elementary students had the opportunity to hold a kinkajou, also known as a honey bear, one of several rain forest animals brought to an assembly at the school Friday by Wildlife Encounters. The kinkajou scrambled for the grapes the children held. In the wild, the kinkajou eats honey. These students were at the kindergarten-second grade assembly.

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Children in grades kindergarten through fifth at the Le Mars school explored rain forest habitats, plants and animals in a special assembly.

Wildlife Encounters, a non-profit organization based in Gretna, Neb., brought its "Wonders of the Rain Forest" assembly to Franklin Friday.

Stacey Smith talked with students about rain forest habitat and animals.

Smith's husband, Kip, brought out the first rain forest guest, a parrot named Sully. Parrots, she explained, live in the canopy layer of the rain forest.

Four students were chosen to hold the next guest, a kinkajou, also called a honey bear, because it gathers honey in the forest.

Every animal has a special adaptation to help it survive, Stacey explained. A kinkajou's thick fur protects it from bees as it raids the hives for honey.

The third guest, a red tail boa snake, brought screams from several in the audience, including some teachers.

Stacey explained the snake's job in the rain forest is to eat rodents.

Larry, a lemur from Madagascar, leaped into the gym on a leash. His leaping ability serves him well in the rain forest, helping him jump up to 30 feet from tree to tree, Stacey said. His long tail is strong and helps "steer" him in his leaps.

Lemurs, of which there are 40 different species, are endangered, Stacey said.

Franklin teacher Connie Hoffman bravely volunteered to have three hissing cockroaches placed on her shoulders.

A 3-foot-long morelet's crocodile, named Dundee, also visited the students. Kip carefully carried the crocodile, which can grow as big as 6 to 9 feet in length, to meet the students.

The final guest was Cara, a capuchin monkey. Capuchins are very smart animals, Stacey said, and use their knowledge to exist in the rain forest. The monkey's long tail also helps her move.

The Smiths answered questions from the students, such as whether the animals came from the forest.

Stacey explained the animals they have come from zoos or have been pets that are no longer wanted.

"None of our animals are from the wild," Stacey said.

The Wildlife Encounters program was brought to students with help from one of the school's volunteers, who applied for a Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) grant through Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart employees are eligible to apply for the $250 grant after completing 25 hours of volunteer services with a nonprofit organization, according to a store spokesman.

Organizations that can benefit from the VAP program include nonprofits such as educational facilities, law enforcement, fire departments and city, state or county agencies.