A Learning Link to the Los Angeles Zoo

This time of year, four reindeer--Belle, Jingle, Noel and Velvet--visit the zoo for about six weeks. The reindeer have a temporary home at the zoo's "Treetops Terrace," where animal keepers take care of them.

Activity

You can celebrate the arrival of the reindeer by making an ornament for the holiday season. Most of the items you'll need can be obtained at a craft store.

Get these things: candy cane, brown pipe cleaner, two small "googley eyes," glue, small red pompom, thin red or green ribbon.

Step 1: Cut the pipe cleaner in half and twist one half around the hooked part of the candy cane.

Step 2: Pull the two ends of the pipe cleaner to either side to make a "V." (These are the antlers.)

Step 3: Cut the rest of the pipe cleaner in half again. Take one half and twist it around the right antler. Take the other piece and twist it around the left antler. Bend to desired shape so the antlers have "branches."

Step 4: Glue the two googley eyes to the front of the candy cane hook, near the top.

Step 5: Glue the red pompom to the end of the candy cane's hook to make a nose.

Step 6: Tie a bow around the "neck" of the reindeer and hang.

You can visit Belle, Jingle, Noel and Velvet during the zoo's annual "Reindeer Romp" this Thursday through Jan. 1 (except Christmas Day, when the zoo is closed). The zoo will give you free paper antlers so you can pretend to be a reindeer, too! For more information, call (323) 644-6400 or visit http://www.lazoo.org.

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This information was provided by the Los Angeles Zoo, located in Griffith Park at the juncture of the 134 and 5 freeways.