What is the best way to make a monkey, penguin, elephant, rhino, etc.....

I have seen some use rice crispy treats as a base, then mold the chocolate or fondant around it.

anyone have any pics, or ideas for me...

thanks

Check out my Jungle (lion, zebra, monkey and elephant) cake. My sister made the animals on that cake out of modeling fondant. She used the instructions from her Polamer Clay books.