DZG’s youngest reindeer have begun their harness and halter training in preparation for Christmas duties.
Keepers have been introducing seven month-old Fern and young male Bramble to their head collar and harness leads for the first time.
The older reindeer in the herd have also been sporting halters around the paddock so they can get used to wearing them again.
Keeper Neil Flockhart said: “We leave head collars on the reindeer for a couple of hours during the day, so they get used to the feel of them again, and we’ve been starting to train Fern and Bramble to be led using harnesses.”
Halters and harnesses help keepers to carry out necessary health checks on the herd, and of course, allow the reindeer to take part in the all-important duty of pulling Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.
