Reindeer dung ornaments, jewelry net Miller Park Zoo $20K

[December 24, 2009]  BLOOMINGTON (AP) -- Necklaces and Christmas ornaments made from dime-sized pieces of reindeer droppings have earned a Bloomington zoo nearly $21,000 this holiday season.

The Miller Park Zoological Society made about $5,000 selling reindeer-dropping ornaments last year. It added necklaces this year when customers asked if jewelry was available.

The reindeer droppings are dehydrated, sterilized and spray-painted with glitter. They're called "Magical Reindeer Gems."

The ornaments cost $7.50 at the zoo's gift shop or $10 by mail. The necklaces sold for $15 at the gift shop, or $20 by mail.

The zoological society says the ornaments and necklaces sold nationwide. Requests also came in from other countries, but federal regulations don't allow reindeer droppings to be exported.

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Information from: The Pantagraph.

[Associated Press]

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