At a special assembly held in the upper school gym on Nov. 27, students got a firsthand look at many exotic (and to some, scary) creatures. Michelle Durant of WildLIFE Associates, an organization that adopts and cares for animals unfit for release into the wild, brought out a variety of reptiles for the audience, including an American alligator, a desert tortoise and a large monitor lizard. The only non-reptilian specimen displayed was a rose hair tarantula, the sight of which proved too creepy for some. Although these creatures are frightening to many, Durant emphasized that they are crucial to maintaining the delicate natural balance of the animal population.