If you want them 3 dimensional, modeling chocolate might be good. I won't recommend MMF, because you hate it. 
If you don't mind them flat on the cake, FBCT or chocolate transfer would be good. Color flow would be good, too. If you have used it before FBCT would probably be easiest.
RP
FBCT stands for Frozen Butter Cream Transfer. It's a method of essentially squeezing frosting onto a sheet of waxed paper in a picture, then transferring it to the cake after freezing it. That is a real lame description, and not very detailed or accurate, but it gives you the general idea. There are lots of great threads on this site for it if you search, there is also (I think) a tutorial of sorts. Check it out because it is wicked cool!
Fbct would work or perhaps a chocolate transfer if you want them to stand up on the cake or if you want them around the sides. I have some pic in my photos where i used chocolate transfers of characters, they turned out pretty cute. (pooh cake, spongebob cake)
uummm...not sure if you are talking to me or not. But if "yes" then you do basically the same thing as a fbct using melted chocolate (well I used candy melts) and I do mine on clear plastic (like a report cover) that way they turn out shiny rather than a matte finish. But you can do them on wax paper or parchment. I thin, maybe even plastic wrap (but I hate that stuff!)
How about piping gel? That might work well with the colors of the animal.
oh I have seen fbct on the side of cake before. I havent done it though!
here is a (long) thread about CT's that I started awhile back. There is a lot of good info on CT's that I learned doing them with help from many cc members as well as other people's tips. I think somewhere in there someone said they used almond bark. I havent so I dont really know. Hope that helps!
edited because I forgot to add the link...duh
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-35817-i.html+thinking+love+chocolate+transfers
oh and to answer your other question, you can just use buttercream on the backs of the CT to adhear to cake, or royal. If you want to have them standing up off of the cake you can put them on sucker sticks
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