© Copyright 2007 — Victory Publishing, Inc., 1007 Ave. K., Marble Falls, TX 78654 — (830) 693-7152
By CHRIS PORTER • Daily Tribune Staff
MARBLE FALLS - As “Jungle” Jim Klinger pulled the tarantula out of its case, the students’ reactions were not wholly unexpected.
Shrieks filled the air, and several of the assembled Colt Elementary School first-graders hid their eyes as Klinger set the hairy spider on the front of his shirt.
“They won’t bite you unless you provoke them,” Klinger said. “No one’s ever died of a tarantula bite, either. But can you guess how tarantulas try to scare away predators?”
Students peppered the air with guesses, their momentary fright forgotten.
Klinger smiled. Mission accomplished.
Klinger, an Indiana native and Austin resident, brought his “Bugs of the World” presentation to Colt Thursday as part of the school’s ongoing science curriculum.
“The kids have been studying insects and reptiles at different levels, and this gave them a chance to see them not in pictures, but in real life,” Colt Elementary Principal Lexia Ball said. “It goes right along with the curriculum.”
Klinger began collecting insects at age 5, and became a full-time naturalist seven years ago, after working for years in food marketing.
“I took my hobby and turned it into my business,” he said. “I love it.”
Klinger’s collection includes several live lizards, turtles, frogs, snakes, insects and arachnids, along with mounted butterfly and insect collections.
At one time, he owned the world’s largest millipede, a 15-inch African black millipede featured in the 2005 Guiness Book of World Records.
The 256-legged creature died about a year ago after living to the ripe old age of 4, Klinger said. He’s raising a replacement, which has so far grown to about 6 inches.
In the meantime, he said he’ll continue touring Texas with his menagerie, hosting shows in libraries, schools and public exhibitions - in between trips abroad to collect more specimens.
“My goal is to get over to Asia, but I haven’t got that far yet,” he said.
Ball said she’s glad students had the chance to view some of the creatures they’ve been studying up close.
“Hopefully, it will give them an interest in nature, and in conservation,” Ball said.
chris@thepicayune.com
‘Jungle’ Jim entertains, educates
at Colt Elementary
 |
 |
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
|
||||||||