>> larry: tonight -- jack hanna is back. >> these are poison glands behind his ears. behind his eyes there. that's a neurotoxic poison. only if you eat the frog. >> larry: with his menagerie of gila monsters, monkeys, and nature's finest, freakiest, and -- >> that's a hissing cockroach. >> larry: -- friendliest features. >> larry: plus, we'll relive one

of our finest or fondest animal moments. kikajus and camels coming your way next on "larry king live." >> larry: this is -- hey, i'm in the spirit. this is an annual event that i always look forward to. jack hanna, the director emeritus of the columbus zoo, host of "jack hannah's into the wild" on tv. and a group of animals that the kiddies love and adults learn a lot. we do it around the holiday season. we start with a camel? >> yeah. >> larry: we have never started with a camel. >> i like your jacket there, though. >> larry: i'm hip, huh. >> you are hip. >> larry: tell us about this camel. >> this is a dromedary camel. the camel's the oldest domesticated animal in the world, they say. in the world. which is thousands and thousands of years. the jacksons here have raised this camel. they use it a lot pour christmas pageants as well as obviously educational shows. but the camel, larry, can survive in deserts.

it can survive for several weeks without water. the fat is stored in its hump. some people think it's water. the sandstorms in the desert get real bad. the animals' eyes have two eyelids so the sand can't get inside their eyes. look at the little ears. nature made the little ears. that way the sand doesn't blast their eardrums or get inside their ears as well. remember one thing. for a person to have camels in the middle east or australia -- by the way, most camels in the world are domesticated. this is one hump for a dromedary camel and two humps for the bactrian camel. it's used for transportation. it's used for food if the camel dies. people eat camel meat. that fur is used for coats. the bones in the camels are used for knitting needles, tools and weapons. everything -- oh, yeah, the dung even, the poop. how are you going to cook a steak or beans or anything out in the desert? there's no wood. you take the dried feces, and as you go along in your caravan,

about three days later you cook it and it cooks your food. >> larry: he's 3 years old. and lawrence of arabia rode these kind of people. >> did you ever ride a camel? >> larry: i did. in israel. >> did your legs get sore? >> larry: i didn't ride it that long. i jumped off. >> my wife got blisters and she's still not healed. >> larry: how's life? how are things going? >> traveling to malaysia and africa. and just got back from rwanda. >> larry: you never stop. do you ever think about retiring? >> i tried to but i don't know what i would do with myself. >> larry: now, we have a bush baby. >> this is a bush baby. we'll put it right -- >> larry: does that mean it lives in the bush? >> right on larry's shoulder? you think? >> yeah. definitely. >> larry: okay. i'm a glutton. put him on my shoulder. >> this is a bush baby. we filmed the bush baby in africa. this animal is nocturnal. when we film it we film it at nighttime. you see all these little eyeballs out in the trees. they're not big trees.

it's a pollinator. it goes from one tree to another tree, it defecates and poll naits. it's an amazing defense mechanism. it sleeps in a big ball, 30 or 40 of them get in a big old ball together like this. it looks like a big blob. so therefore, predators like birds and birds of prey -- are you comfortable? >> larry: yeah. he's furry. he's not light. he's fooling with my earpiece. >> larry, this is a presimian, too. this is premonkey, preape. thousands of years. look at the hands on this. i don't foe if you can see them on larry's shoulder. little hands. just like your hands. incredible shot if you can get the hands of this animal. >> larry: look at that. >> turn this -- i love the bush baby. >> larry: there he is. wow. >> there's the little hand. >> larry: they grip too. >> look at this. a thumb. just like your hand. see how they grip? isn't that amazing? great shot. national geographic again. >> larry: we have great shots on this show. and now the world's favorite, i think. the penguin.

>> yep. this is gary stafford from world wildlife zoo down in phoenix, arz. you can have some water. >> larry: hey, it's a set. >> i'm sorry. >> larry: it's okay, jack. it's a penguin. what's the story with the penguins, and why do we love them so much? >> what is it about a penguin, they're black and white. you've seen "march of the penguins." remember the ones in the antarctic. >> larry: great movie. >> this is a blackfooted penguin. some people don't know this. out of 17 species of penguins, only five live in cold weather. only 5 out of 17. this blackfooted penguin out of south africa if it was in cold weather it wouldn't last several days. but the ones in the "march of the penguins," the emperor penguin, those can go in 50 to 100 below zero. by the way, they're monogamous. they mate for life. the female lays the egg. immediately, the male comes and sits on it. the female leaves and goes out to sea. she leaves him there for 40 days. he loses over half his body weight while she goes out and screws -- goes out and mess as round in the ocean and eats fish

and everything in the ocean. she comes back and the poor guy's about dead, sitting on the chick. >> larry: how did they get that setup? >> i don't know. >> larry: not fair. not fair. >> people should clap for the -- >> larry: protest. >> they have more feathers than any bird in the world. we film these, larry, it's very difficult under water. because they're black and white and they're like a little bullet underwater. so very, very difficult to film. >> larry: they're adorable. >> no one has ever eaten a penguin. other than shackle-ton -- or shackelford. shackle-ton i think was his name. in antarctica. his boat was there for the whole winter. they tried to eat one penguin and it didn't work. that's why you go to the antarctic, they're not afraid of you -- >> larry: they don't eat them because they don't taste good? >> exactly. in the antarctic they collect the eggs and they do a great job. >> larry: and this segment is a cervelle. am i pronouncing that right? >> cervil cat. this is a cervil cat, larry,

from moorpark college right anywhere california. a lot of people, this is their second year of school. they're students. they learn to work with the animals themselves. not just educational. anyway, larry, this is a cervil cat from africa. you don't see these very often. this cat -- because i -- this cat was found up in egypt. if you ever watch like discovery or national geographic, you'll see the cervil cat drawn on their mummies and on the pyramids inside. even the pharaohs were even buried some of them with the cervil. it was a very regal animal. this is one of the few cats in the world, larry, that can jum. and catch a bird in free flight. they can jump up in the air six to eight feet and grab a bird flying by. isn't it magnificent? >> larry: magnificent is the right word. >> look at the back of the ears. they're called eye spots. hold on a second. see those things behind the ears? those are called eye spots. if this cat is eating something and let's say a hyena or something would come up to take it from it, it would think the cat's looking backwards. those are eye spots they're called on certain animals.

>> larry: nature builds all things into these animals. >> their legs are different lengths. the front hind legs that gives him -- it's almost like a pogo -- >> larry: they can spring. >> jump up and catch birds. >> larry: okay. we're just getting started. a kookaburra is next. what is a kookaburra? we'll find out next. at the first sign of a cold...

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>> larry: we're back with jack hanna's big night here on "larry king live." our first segment was titled "africa." this is called "birds." this is a kookaburra. what exactly is a kookaburra? >> our good conservation friend, steve irwin, i know you remember steve, been to your show many times. >> larry: sure. >> this is from his country. this is the kookaburra from australia. it's camouflaged when it sits on a tree. eats snakes and frogs and that type of thing. it's got a sound. i don't know if i can get it to do this. larry, tell me -- >> larry: well, i'll tell you one, we can't top that. good night. >> larry, i'm sorry, this makes my day, it really does. it's hard for him to do it. i can't believe he did this perfectly. that's a perfect kookaburra call. when you're in the outback in

australia and you're at nighttime and you hear that and you don't know what it is, let me tell you something, you go what is that? >> larry: you're not kidding. >> that's how they call each other. it's called a laughing kookaburra. do it one more time. don't you like that? >> larry: i've got birds right behind me. >> come on. >> larry: that was good. >> we can replay it. just replay it. >> larry: these are the biggest and smallest owls, right? >> larry, this is -- i've never done this before ever. this shocked me. this is susan, my wife. i didn't know she was going to bring an animal out. she's never done this before. >> larry: this is your wife? >> this is my wife. >> larry: i know. you looked like you didn't know her. >> i didn't. because i never knew she was going to do this. >> we surprised you. >> that was great. this is the largest owl in the world, the eurasian eagle owl. the largest owl in the world. what sue has is the smallest owl in the world, the screech owl. many different types of owls throughout the world. but i'm going to ask you a

question. what animal is found on every continent in the world except antarctica? >> larry: the owl. >> species of owl. that's right. let me show you something, larry. people ask, why does he turn his head that way. both these owls. the eyes are so big. i was going to say if i see pretty girl, you can take your eyeballs and look without moving your head. the owl, look at him. he cannot do that. his eyes are so big in his eye socket he can't turn his eyes. plus the ears aren't up here where the little tufts are. the ears are on the side like a cup. so these owls, this one likes to eat insects, by the way, too. but that owl if he's after a mouse or rat in this room and i put two mice down at nighttime he can hunt them with echo location without having to see them. his brain is very small. how much do you think an owl weighs? think about it.

>> larry: 35 pounds. >> you hear that? i'm not laughing at you. >> larry: what does it weigh? >> only two pounds. it's all feathers and hollow bones. can you imagine this? >> larry: my goodness. >> look at this, larry, it just disappears inside of him. >> larry: okay, the wise old owl. the american bird. the bird that salutes this country. you don't see many of them. i was driving in montana once with ted turner and we saw one fly, and he went nuts. a bald eagle. >> every time i see a bald eagle -- they're coming back pretty good. because of the endangered species. you he notice this bird's wing has dropped here. melanie from -- a beautiful farm near the jacksons, they rescue bald eagles for not just alaska, all over this country. this is a big alaskan bald eagle, i think. it looks like one. and they're much larger -- i say much larger. larger than florida bald eagles and other birds that might live

in ohio. >> larry: this is the bird of america. >> exactly. the white head appears after four years. a lot of eagles are shot thinking they may be a buzzard or something but they're an immature bald eagle. look at the talons. i don't know if the camera can pick that up. it's very important to see those talons. if melanie were here without a glove on and that were a wild bird, larry, those talons would go through her skin, through the muscle and break her bone in a split second. the pressure on her arm right now is lightning anything you can imagine. >> i work out. >> look at that beak there. that beak is used for tearing. can you imagine -- >> larry: when he does that with the thing, what is he doing? is he just like refreshing himself or he wants to take off? >> exactly. no, she's just getting comfortable on my arm and stretchinging out her wings just like we'll stretch out our arms, our legs. >> larry: i've got to get one more in this segment. >> thank you. a lot of them hit power lines. >> larry: and now we have a red-crested turacao. >> look at the colors on the screen.

you've got the best cameras in the world. golly. >> larry: and in hd. >> exactly. look at this head. i think it dates back to what's that bird from australia? that pre-historic bird. it's like one of those prehistoric birds. what's that called? casuary. that's what it looks like. >> larry: our next guest can outjump kobe bryant. now, if only it could shoot a basketball -- who knows? maybe it can. that's in 60 seconds. stay with us.

>> larry: tie me kangaroo down, boys. we're trying to do that. we've got one on the set with jack hanna. >> have you ever had a kangaroo on your set? >> larry: i don't think so. this is a gray one. i don't think i've seen a gray one. >> it's a marsupial, like a baby is born like a worm, as big as your fingernail. comes out of the birth canal. climbs on the outside of the fur up into the pouch, where it lives up to six months. attaches to the breast there. and swells around the kangaroo's

mouth. that's a marsupial like the koala, wombat, animals like that. they have speeds up to 40 miles an hour. they live in groups called a mob. see how he stands up? when they're full-grown, larry, this thing can stand up higher than you can. one guy, two years ago was killed in australia. how was that? because kangaroos are afraid of people, basically. you see this claw. i don't think you see the foot on the camera there. see that right there? that thing becomes about eight inches long and that's lethal. if anybody corners a kangaroo, what he does, he reaches out like this and goes bam, like that, with his foot. and that's their main means of defense if they're cornered. >> larry: they go pretty fast? >> up to 40 miles an hour. plus, larry, these animals are quite prevalent in australia. they're still raised for meat in certain parts like cattle are. their speeds -- they can go 30 feet in one hop, by the way. >> larry: 30 feet in a hop. >> thank you, david jackson. beautiful animal. >> larry: the next is a spider monkey. >> this is anita jackson. this lady here is tremendous.

what they rescue. this was found in los angeles in a dumpster. someone had this in a dumpster, larry. >> larry: in a dumpster. >> yeah. tried to have it as a pet. what happens, you can see how the legs are all crumpled up. and anita now, they took this little animal and raised it. no one wanted it, obviously. it was almost dying. because no one took care of it. people say oh, the monkey's a pet. that's the worst thing you could possibly do. they carry disease-a nita will tell you they bite, and it's against the law in some places. >> larry: why the term spider? >> because look at these hands and legs here. this is deformed okay? but a real spider monkey his arms are like a big spider. and he goes around like this. they can swing. they're beautiful big families, too. they can swing 30, 40 feet tree to tree. like a big black spider in the air. >> larry: and they're intelligent? >> oh, yeah. they're neat creatures. but don't have one as a pet. they're just not that good. >> larry: we're with jack hanna. animals from the desert are in the city. we'll be back with the porcupine

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at the winter event going on now. but hurry - the offer ends january 4th. >> larry: we're back. and this is an african porcupine. >> larry -- >> larry: these hurt? >> yeah, they hurt big time. where did david go? >> larry: he ran. >> don't let him -- just don't touch him. now, larry, one thing about this thing, they do not throw their quills. no porcupine throws his quills. the american porcupine has a barb on the end of their quills. if he were to touch you, larry --

>> larry: he ain't going to touch me. >> if he were, though and the quill would come out in your hand or mouth or whatever, you could die from infection like a dog, like a hiyena in africa tr to eat the porcupine. they like to eat the porcupine because it's good meat. you try to turn the porcupine over there, underneath the tummy there, it's very, very soft, that's how they attack. what they do, run around the porcupine and get him dizzy and he falls over. and that's how they attack the animals. these quills right here, larry, they're used for weapons, knit'll needles, all sorts of things. i've only seen one in all my life. they're nocturnal. i saw them at sundown when the sun was going down. they rattle the quills like a rattlesnake to keep the predator away. if they don't, if a lion comes up, you get one of those things in him, you can imagine how hard it is to get out. that's a beautiful animal, though, isn't it? >> larry: go, go. getting a little too close. >> thank you, david. i don't know how he picks that thing up. do you? >> larry: i give david a lot of credit. oh, this is a tiny -- this is a scorpion. >> what's that? whoa.

>> larry: look at that. >> you are crazy. >> can larry hold it? >> larry: no! i don't want to hold it. >> how do you know it's not going to sting you? look at this, everybody. this is an amazing creature. can you put them both together there? that is the biggest one i've ever seen, larry. there's a stinger back there, right? see how he gets excited? they also glow in the dark, larry. these animals are eaten by the fake fox in africa. they circle around and bite the stinger off real quick and that way they can eat the scorpion. this animal here, larry-f you're allergic to bee stings could be lethal. most people get real sick and it's a bite -- it's a stinger that can really hurt you. put him on your jacket. i want to see him on your jacket. don't let him get near his ear. >> larry: hey. >> don't let him get near his throat. look at that. that is cool. >> larry: cool for you. >> wow. >> larry: whoa. next, the gila monster.

>> this is the gila monster, and you find these out in the deserts of california -- >> arizona. it's also called a beady lizard some people refer to, right? >> it's a different subspecies but they're very similar. >> larry: it's a lizard? >> it is. >> turn him. i don't want larry to touch his head, obviously. because he's very poisonous. it's a neurotoxic poison, right, anita? >> it's extremely painful for humans. >> larry: feels like beads. >> exactly. they can go weeks without water. the water comes from what they eat. >> larry: do they live a long time? >> we don't know a whole lot about them in the wild. that's the crazy thing about them. >> larry, one thing they do, though, if a predator's coming at them, they'll turn the tail at the predator, he'll grab the tail, jerk it off and eat it while he runs away. i'm not making that up. >> these are the venom glands. >> i've never seen the mouth on one of these. i swear. you get that on camera? >> you can see the little venom sacks in there. >> back on the side? >> he doesn't have fangs. he chews.

>> larry: he can kill you, right? >> not a human. small prey. >> see the sacs on the side there? >> larry: yeah. >> that's amazing. >> larry: looks like he could use a dentist. >> i've never seen one open his mouth. that's the first time-a nita. >> reporter: one more in this segment. this is one of our favorites. the return of the finnick fox. >> this animal lives in the sahara desert. there's no water out there. water comes from worms, snakes, lizards, anything this animal will eat. the smallest fox in the world. the ears are big obviously for hearing, they're mainly for keeping cool. an elephant, if you see an elephant like we do out in the serengeti plains, it's 110 degrees out there, or the s zoological park. and the ears are always flapping. like a radiator. we are 98.6, we can monitor our body. the animal has little blood vessels in ears, and that's how this animal stays cool in the desert. >> larry: hey, folks, can't get to a rainforest for the moment? we'll bring it to you with an

ocelot, a baby sloth and a kinkajou. right here. don't go away.

i'm randi kaye. now in the news, an apparently deranged woman knocked down pope benedict during christmas eve mass at the vatican. he was unhurt. a winter horror show across the central u.s. thousands of flights affected by snow and ice. drivers being told to pack emergency kits. and he's going to disney world. sean goldman and his dad arriving in orlando from brazil, ending a five-year international custody fight. more headlines shortly. now back to larry king.

>> larry: we're in the rainforest with jack hanna on "larry king live." and a hungry ocelot. >> larry, you may have heard about the ocelot. >> larry: it smells a little weird. >> it's a urine smell that they have to mark their territory. that type of thing. the ocelot, though, i'm sorry to say back in the '60s and '70s was sold as a lot of pets. it's a wild cat. all spotted cats are endangered. the ocelot is endangered. where it was in the '60s and '70s -- larry, look at that coat. absolutely gorgeous. you can see why people hunted the animal. now, they can now make the fake furs which is much, much better on everybody. but the ocelot's an animal, larry, you smell that odor. that's how they mark their territory. the ocelot is nocturnal, and notorious for finding birds and stuff at night. this cat, larry, could walk by you six inches from where you're sleeping in the jungle, you'd never, ever hear this animal. and even to see one in the wild, larry, i've only seen them maybe twice in all my years in south america, central and south america. because they're very difficult

to find right now. they're a solitary cat. they're not a social cat like a lion. they're a solitary cat. and one that really represents the jungle -- >> larry: they're also beautiful. >> the jaguar, for example, in south america, central me, the ocelot's the next one down. this is a tamber. which kind this here? >> a geoffroy. >> larry: what's that? >> a tal vind a little primate. see the meal worms? the tamarind is a very endangered little creature in some parts of the world. their babies don't even weigh as big as the end of your finger. they're very social creatures. a golden lion tamer, it has a beautiful head on it. beautiful big head. they're also great -- these are great pollinators. these animals are like birds. they pollinate from tree to tree. they're a little creature that also has lost a lot of its habitat in the rainforest as well. many, many types of tamarins. >> larry: this is full grown?

>> this is full grown. there's some that are smaller -- there's quite a few. crested tamarins. look at it. look at its head. look at the haircut. almost like the haircut some people have. a little mohawk. >> larry: i like that look. now, we have frogs from three rainforests. >> oh, yeah. look at this. put your hands up here where the cameras can see them. open your hands. that's great. >> larry: the one in the middle looks like a toy. give it to madeleine albright. >> which one is this one? >> a red-eyed tree frog. >> from where? >> south america. >> look at the little hands. look at the color of that frog. exactly. hold it up to the camera. turn around a little bit, see his head. that's a tree frog. look at that, larry. now, look at this frog here. put this up here. that's next. what is that? >> a leaf frog. >> from malaysia. this is where i'm getting ready to go, larry. that's where i'm going. look at that, larry. look at the head on that one. look at that.

what's he eat, little flies and things? does that look like a leaf to you, or what? >> larry: looks like a leaf. >> look at this here. >> larry: what is this? >> a buffeau marine toad. a cane toad. let him hop. he's fine. this is the one that you know who jumped on your son, this is a much bigger one. the only reason your son got nervous, these are poison glands behind his eyes there. that's a neurotoxic poison. >> larry: oh! >> only if you eat the frog. just don't touch it. because you get it in your eyes they can hurt your eyeballs. >> larry: we're going to show chance jumping from this. >> that frog -- >> larry: do it to the son, do it to the father. >> it's not going to hurt, larry. just don't touch it. this frog was brought over from south america to control the rats and mice in the sugar cane fields. what happened was -- >> larry: it's going to jump on me, jack. he's going to jump on me. >> the frog bred so much it's taken control, it's gotten out of hand is what's happened. and you can die if you eat it. >> larry: go, go, go, go elsewhere.

>> larry, he's not going to hurt you. look at this one. >> larry: okay. look at that one. this one wraps himself in a bunch of slime, like snot or something, and they bury themselves in the earth to stay -- to keep his body real moist and things like that. you want to touch him? >> larry: yeah. >> you can wash your hands later. isn't that weird? ♪ jeremiah was a bullfrog ♪ he was a good friend of mine >> larry: i'm in that kind of mood today. >> this is the kinkajou, larry. it's called the honey bear from south america. this was also i'm sorry to say sold in the pet trade in the '60s and '70s. this is no longer allowed. that fur is so thick, larry, a bee ting could hardly even penetrate it. he likes to get into honey. it has a prehensile tail. it hangs from trees. it's from central and south america. beautiful animal. >> larry: we got a real screamer for you. no kidding.

next.

>> larry: we're back. now the wetlands, the swamps and the marshes. and we start with the spoonbill. appropriately named. >> yeah, look at that bill, everybody.

isn't that amazing how nature is? look at it. just like a spoon. the rosy spoonbill, from where, anita? >> the caribbean. >> the caribbean. these are the birds you see at nighttime -- you see the birds flying and nesting and -- this is where all the birds fly in a nest. they're beautiful pink animals. they come and nest at night. a spoonbill, you can see in the water, larry, they can just take that bill and scoop up fish, even on the bottom if they want to feed. it's a very valuable tool for the spoonbill. you can see here -- well, you can almost feel how soft his beak is. and you see the legs there. he's not a bird of prey where the animal has really strong talons. it's more for balancing. they turn real pink, too. >> larry: and now next, builder of dams, the beaver. >> people ask what was the worst bite i ever had. on the david letterman show in 1986, a beaver almost took my thumb off. i picked him up the wrong -- no, no, why don't you get the beaver? >> larry: i told you, he's building another dam. >> look how the beaver's built, larry. i don't want you to look at the

teeth, but they're big teeth, buddy. he can take a tree apart. a lot of people in montana and some states -- i live in montana. you've been to montana i'm sure. don't like the beaver because he dams up creeks and rivers for fishing. but they're a very important animal for making ponds and certain types of lakes if they're in the right place. the beaver is still trapped for its soft -- obviously its pelt there. and look at the tail there. i don't know fudge see the tail or not. that tail is used az warning signal for all other animals as well. if a beaver's out there and hears a person or something that larmz it it will slap its tail and all 9 deer and other animals take off. >> larry: it helps other animals. >> exactly. if you've seen a cute little beaver they're cute as they can be. incredible animals. in a beaver home they don't have any odor or anything else. they're just a neat, neat creature. >> larry: i want to move it along-sleeve. >> if you've seen baby beavers with a mom, it's incredible. worst bite i ever had was by a beaver. look at the back foot. it's like a duck foot. i meant to show you this, larry. look at that back foot. is that amazing or what? >> larry: here comes the screamer.

what is this, a turkey? >> what is this thing? >> that was a good question. >> where are they from? >> they're from argentina. >> i've never seen one of these. >> larry: neither have i. >> they're from argentina. they're a swamp bird. that's the big question about them. what exactly is this bird? this bird looks kind of like a vulture and has the long legs like a stork, but they're most closely related to a duck. >> larry: but who named them a screamer? >> they're named after the sound they make. they make a loud screaming call that can be deafening when there's a flock of them. actually down in the wild in the swamps they'll scream to attract a harem of females. >> larry: i do the same thing. >> and once they do that they protect them with these. they actually have weapons, they have these spurs on their wings. see these spurs -- >> look at this, larry, i've never seen this. i don't know if you can see this at home. look at this. look at this spur. look at that. >> yeah, there's fur on it. >> oh, shoot. >> larry: you got it again. >> that is sharp. go ahead and touch me if you

don't believe me. >> larry: i believe you. good-bye, screamer. eat some corn and get out of here. you're making me nervous. >> i think he likes corn. >> larry: i do, too. >> that is the neatest bird. thank you. i've never seen that before. >> larry: never seen one of those. okay. and now we have a water monitor. this is like at school. go out and monitor the water. >> oh, my gosh. look at that thing. >> larry: what is that thing coming out of his mouth? >> wildlife world zoo. in phoenix, arizona. greatest zoo. white tiger. brand new aquarium, the only aquarium in that part of the world. look at this. this is a savannah? >> water monitor. >> look at his tongue. what he's doing, he's feeling your attention right now. don't do that. act like you're not nervous. that's better. do this, larry. it feels good. let him touch your hand. do that. has a lizard ever licked you? just try. >> larry: it's not poison? >> no -- well -- >> larry: well, don't say well. you try it.

>> just go like, that larry. he's feeling -- don't let him get real close. do you see that? >> larry: yeah. do i see it. >> did you feel it? >> larry: yeah. >> what he's doing is he's picking up particles. that's how he hunts. the komodo dragon when he bites you the bite's not going to kill you. he will track you for days. this is the biggest one i've ever seen. >> larry: let's get in the alligator. not a big alligator. a little alligator. two little alligators. different from the croc. wait a minute, i said little. hold it. >> holy mackerel, larry. wow-wee. larry, we can't hurry this one. larry, have you ever seen an alligator that close? >> larry: no. i've never seen that many teeth. >> this is the alligator. if they can show us on the camera at home he's got two eyelids. watch this. he's got two eyelids. see, when you're down there and

you think he can't see you, he can. steve irwin talks a lot about the the crocodile. he has sensors. they pick up vibrations. if something's in the water swimming up to two miles away, larry, they can feel it like sonar in the water. this animal lives to 100 years old, can go one year without eating. >> larry: are these babies? >> this a baby alligator right here? >> uh-huh. >> i can't tell. and that's also another baby, right? >> uh-huh. >> this is probably a year old, this one's up to a year and a half old. this one is how much? >> 25. >> they can outrun a man. in the first 20 yards. can you open his mouth? >> sure. >> you can? >> yeah. >> larry, i want you to look at his mouth. watch this at home. >> he'll open it himself. >> he'll open his mouth here. be careful. i want you to look down his throat, larry. don't put your head in there. you see there's a flap there. you see it? >> yeah, i see that. can we get that on camera in it's very interesting.

>> so he doesn't drown in the water. if something comes in there he can bite the animal without getting water down his throat. of course he can't chew. he can only tear -- >> aren't we annoying him? >> no, he's used to it. >> he's raised him since he was a baby. >> larry: it's the holiday season. a reindeer is with us. is it donner? is it cupid? is it blitzen? i'm a grown man. what am i talking about? back in 60 seconds. ♪ (announcer) they've been tested, built and driven like no other. and now they're being offered like no other.

come to the winter event and get an exceptional offer on the mercedes-benz of your dreams. it's our way of showing a little holiday spirit. hurry before the offer ends january 4th. >> larry: as ed sullivan used to say, get all the kids up close now. here he is, or she is, olive. representing in rudolph's honor all of the other reindeer. >> these are the jacksons. they raise the reindeer, also called the caribou. it's very important to know that. they are by the tens of thousands whurks see the big caribou migration up north. anita does a great job with this animal. the female and male, one of the few deer species that both have antlers. the male and the female. and she lose these antlers after the male.

that's to protect -- >> larry: is that a she? >> that's a she, yes. you've heard of rudolph the red-nosed reindeer? >> larry: heard of him, yeah. >> the reason they go click, up at the top, click, click, click, is those feet there have little cartilage in the feet and they click as it walks. and that's how you've got the song. it's not you hit the roof it clicks. all the kids watching. this is what brings santa claus to your house and down the chimn chimney. rudolph could have been a female. because rudolph lost his antlers. but that's just a tale. this is one of his reindeer. so he's going to have to go back or she will, to get ready fire long, long trip around the world for christmas. >> larry: get ready, rudy. >> by the way, they have a nose that's soft as cotton. that helps them to eat liken. lichen's a little substance on top of rocks. >> larry: where are they found? all over? >> no, not all over. at the northwest territory way up at the north pole. this is a very important animal.

>> larry: this is the official bird of south africa, the stanley crane. >> look at that crane. that's a beautiful crane, isn't it? the african crown crane is the official bird of uganda. this is the stanley crane, i guess the official bird of south africa. these birds have long legs, obviously, to get into water. it looks like they're -- you'd say their knee there. that's their ankle way up there in the middle of their leg there. these birds love to eat fish and things like nap they get in the water it's not very deep whatsoever. they're beautiful when they're flying as well. >> larry: our next guests are low on nature's lovable scale. maybe we can change your mind, say, about skunks and turkey vultures. stick around.

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i'm randi kaye. now in the news, an apparently deranged woman knocked down pope benedict during christmas eve mass at the vatican. he was unhurt. a winter horror show across the central u.s. thousands of flights affected by snow and ice. drivers being told to pack emergency kits. and he's going to disney world. sean goldman and his dad arriving in orlando from brazil, ending a five-year international custody fight. more headlines shortly. now back to larry king. >> larry: a different kind of porcupine here, who also attacked melanie. three spears in her. >> see what i'm talking about. look at the shirt first.

you'll see what i'm talking about. the african porcupine that you saw earlier does not have a barb on the end of the quill. i'm pulling this very hard. i'm pulling harder. that was in her skin there. there. and this here. these are quills. take them home to your sons and let them fight each other. just kidding, larry. don't do that. >> larry: they will. how is this porcupine different from the other, which was bigger? >> the african porcupine's much, much bigger. this is a north american porcupine here. that looks like soft fur, doesn't it? don't let that fake you -- i don't want you to get hurt again, but look here. she's not hurt. there's the quills under there. you follow me? >> larry: hidden quills. >> you cannot see that with the naked eye. there's a barb there. the minute you touch this animal, whether it be a cougar or bobcat, it comes off. they can die from infection. >> larry: its also has a funny smell. >> you're right. >> larry: let's meet the striped skunk. >> just take your time. no hurry here.

>> larry: here comes the striechd skunk. >> skunks are an animal -- see the tail goes up, right? >> larry: does that mean he's going to smell? >> it could be. i want to encourage people not to ever try to pick up a baby skunk. number one, they'll get sprayed. and number two is they carry the rabies virus. like skunks, foxes, raccoons, even. animals can have -- don't show symptoms but carry the rabies virus. and by the way, rabies is still prevalent in our country. leave the little animals alone. >> larry: what does the spray do? a defense mechanism? >> a defense mechanism. you've smelled them, right? some dogs could be blinded by that. but that's a very rare instance. you take tomato ketchup and put it all over and you that will help get rid of the smell. tomatoes. skunk is black and white. what's amazing is some dogs who've never seen a skunk they'll run from the skunk without knowing what it is. i don't know how it is animals know what they can do to each other. >> larry: here we have, last one in this segment, the turkey vulture. >> look at this. look at this.

that's beautiful. this is from moorpark college. all these young people from moorpark college, two-year teaching zoo outside of l.a. look at this. look at the head of the vulture. isn't that amazing? it's bald for one reason only. when it gets to carrion, bacteria cannot grow on that, so that's yes has a bald head. the turkey vulture, i don't know if you can do that with the wings. the wings go out from four to six feet. a turkey vulture can soar for days without ever flapping their wings. they can get up in the air and just soar forever looking for animals that are dead on the road. they're a very important animal. the talons there aren't like the bird of prey. they're mainly used for balance, those talons, not to grab the prey. because what they're eating is dead. it's a very important animal to nature. >> larry: we've saved the best for last, though some of you may go running for the hills, when we get up close and personal with cockroaches. they're next. boss: y'know, geico opened its doors back in 1936

and now we're insuring over 18 million drivers. gecko: quite impressive, yeah. boss: come a long way, that's for sure. and so have you since you started working here way back when. gecko: ah, i still have nightmares. anncr: geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.

>> larry: earlier we showed you a cane toad. if you missed the episode a couple of years ago, chance king, who is now 10, was on with his brother, cannon. they were then 8 and 7. here's what happened with the cane toad. >> don't touch this one. this is an african -- this is a cane toad, everybody. all right? if you notice, there's poison glands. will he hop right here? this is a cane toad. those right here are poison glands. this toad, larry, is the one that came over from south america. they brought it into this country, southern florida. it's causing a lot of deaths with dogs. dogs trying to eat these. there are poison glands right here. no, he's not going to hurt you.

>> get away from me. get it away from me! >> larry: it's okay. >> it's a toad. i don't blame you. i don't like toads -- >> larry: he didn't bite you, chance. chance, you're okay. >> chance is good. >> larry: that's historic, folks. all right. bring on the cockroaches. >> put that on larry's jacket. that's what i always do. >> larry: cockroach time. >> not on my shirt. that's a nice one there. don't let him get in your hair because he'll lay eggs. but he's okay right now. he won't lay eggs unless he gets around hair. >> larry: he will lay eggs? >> that's a she. you've got the male. that's all right. i'm sorry. just let him go. let him go down your shirt. he's gone now. >> larry: where is he? >> he's down your shirt. >> larry: get him out of my shirt. >> just reach down his jacket there. don't be bashful. reach down and get the thing. before it gets -- oh, you got him? oh, good.

>> larry: i didn't want to go home with that. >> your wife wouldn't like it. >> larry: cockroaches, they are unusual, right? >> a cockroach they say can survive nuclear attacks, they're all over. but this is one from all over, the madagascar hissing cockroach. hear it? hear that? >> larry: yeah. >> it's a hissing cockroach. these are not regular old cockroaches. these are from africa. i take these, larry, put them in socks and go to new york, do shows. i go to a restaurant by myself, they serve me my salad, my bread, put it in the bread basket. they come back how's your dinner, mr. hanna? perfect but you've got cockroaches. manager comes out, take them out, jack comes out with a steak dinner, everything's on the house. and put it back in my sock, go to the next place. >> larry: jack. one more. and this is? as stan used to say, the deadly tarantula. >> oh, my gosh, that's a big one there. >> larry: that can kill, right? >> no. put it on his shirt again. >> larry: no! >> he can't kill you.

>> larry: he's got a bad image, though, right? a doberman pincher image. dobermans are great but they have a bad image. >> people shouldn't just kill these when you see them in the desert. as long as he doesn't move quickly, he's fine. is that neat or, what larry? you are a brave man. >> larry: what am i going to do? i'm afraid to move. >> what happens is if you touch them, they shed their hairs there and it makes you itch a lot. so just wash the jacket. i'm not joking about that. just wash the jacket. you won't get -- just put it in your washer when you get home or here at the station. and they have little pinchers, i think they're at front right there. plus this thing, larry, he sheds his shell about twice a year. he crawls out of his entire shell. it looks like a tarantula sitting there and yet he's over here. i don't know how they do it, how they leave a perfect shell of a tarantula and he lives over here. that really matches. >> larry: we are out of time. >> you can leave him up there. >> larry: i'll close with him.