A mobile zoo offered school children a chance to meet a host of animals, including a tarantula, a scorpion and a lesser bamboo rat.
Pupils from Mendlesham Primary School were treated to a visit from Our Animal World, a mobile petting zoo.
The children encountered creepy crawlies including Curly the tarantula, Helen the green bean stick insect, Severus the scorpion and Matilda the centipede, as well as Doris the lesser bamboo rat.
Tessa Sait, executive headteacher at Mendlesham Primary School, said: “The children had a fantastic time and absolutely loved all the animals.
“It’s wonderful to give the children the chance to see these creatures close up, inspiring a lifelong love of the environment and the animal kingdom.”
Students learned about species adaptations, such as stick insects’ camouflage and cockroaches’ ability to survive months without food.
They also learned about life cycles, including how butterflies and moths develop from pupae to adults.
Laura Jackson, owner of Our Animal World, said: “We had a lovely day. The children were really engaged with our visit and loved meeting the animals.
“We find that hands-on learning really sticks with the children and the more understanding they have of animals and their environments, the more they want to protect them.
“Our goal is to encourage children to develop a love of the natural world and the environment that they keep through their lives.
“Meeting these animals in a safe and controlled environment can also help them overcome any fears they may have.”
