Winter Wonderland - Time to Chill Out!!

Wrap up warm, it's a bit nippy out there, especially if you live in the world's Winter Wonderland.

From the vast forests of Siberia to the desert wastelands of Antarctica, all animals in these regions strive to survive. The Arctic tundra is found at the most northern parts of the world. In summertime, it gets warm enough to melt the first few feet of ice. Beneath the ground remains frozen all year round and is called permafrost.

Great Grey Owl

Found - Throughout the cold forests of Europe, Asia and North America

Threats - Deforestation

At the Zoo - They feed on small rodents and there are less than 20 kept in Britain

Did you know? - They are one of the world's biggest owls. Males use a deep hooting call to attract mates.

Reindeer

Found - Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia

Threats - Wild reindeer are under serious threat from hunting, deforestation and climate change

At the Zoo - They are fed on a special Inuit diet that contains all the nutrients they need

Did you know? - The reindeer is the only species of deer where both males and females have antlers. The males use them against each other and the females use them to protect their young. Both male and female use their antlers to dig up their main diet of lichen, mosses and grass which is found under snow.

How Can You Help?

* Help reduce global warming by recycling waste and other energy-saving activities such as using public transport and insulation.

Quick Facts !

* Annual rainfall - Very little, often none at all

* Temperature - -40 degrees C in winter to 10 degrees C in summer

* Total area of planet covered - 23.8%

* Area lost in last 5000 years - 56%

* World importance - Helps to maintain the temperature and sea levels all over the planet

* Threats - Global warming, caused by greenhouse gases.