Jamie Feinstein, Author at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Stories

Just in time for Global Tiger Day on June 29, here’s how to make a tiger that can live in your home! The San Diego Zoo is home to endangered Malayan tigers, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to endangered Sumatran tigers. All six of the world’s tiger subspecies are endangered, with the South China tiger already extinct in the wild. Gather the kids and create your own handprint tiger, as a reminder that everyone must lend a hand to help save these amazing big cats. What You Need: Piece of card stock/paper or a small canvas. Orange, black, and green paint (washable finger paint or tempera) Paintbrush. Paint container or paper plate. What You Do: 1. Use a paintbrush (or a cotton ball, in a pinch) to spread a thin layer of orange paint on your child’s hand. 2. Press the hand onto the center of the mini canvas or paper. 3. Apply more orange paint to your child’s palm. 4. Press the palm onto the handprint—below the pinky finger—to make the head. 5. Rotate the picture, so that the fingers are now the legs of the tiger. 6. Apply orange paint to the tip your child’s index finger. 7. Press two fingertips onto the top of the palm print head to make ears. Wipe or rinse the orange paint off their hand. 8. Use the paintbrush or cotton ball to spread a thin layer of black paint onto your child’s index finger. 9. Use the fingertip to create stripes, two eyes, whiskers, and a nose. Reapply black paint, as needed. 10. Use the paintbrush or cotton ball to spread a thin layer of green paint onto your child’s index finger, and paint a jungle habitat around your tiger. Voilá! Your tiger is complete! Jamie Feinstein is an education specialist at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

JamieF

Wild Crafts: Make a Handprint Tiger

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