Nativity realism keeps animals busy

The actor8217;s mission was the same as at last week8217;s gig: Strike a pose, be friendly and stay in character, which is not too hard for a camel playing the part of a camel. On this chilly December eve, Chewey the dromedary needed only to hang out next to the three kings at Centreville, Virginia, where he and his sidekicks from Leesburg Animal Park8212;donkeys, sheep, goats and a calf8212;are such a staple that they are booked several months in advance.

8216;8216;The camel, he is like our pride and joy,8217;8217; said Grace Hatcher, whose husband, Bill, is the Centreville Baptist Church8217;s outreach pastor. A few minutes later, she emerged from the church with Chewey8217;s custom-made costume: A red-and-black satin, red-fringed blanket. It was almost showtime for the camel8212;one of many this month.

As nativities and other Christmas shows become ever more creative, professional zoo and ranch animals, whose owners charge hundreds of dollars an hour for their services, grow busier. For most of the year, expert animals get occasional gigs at petting zoos, birthday parties and schools. Come December, they can boast holiday schedules worthy of socialites. Some traverse the region and beyond to star in creches and holiday displays each weekend of the month and some weekdays.

Animals from Natural Bridge Zoo will be carted to about 20 churches in Virginia and neighboring states this season. Dave Hale, whose Missouri ranch supplies animals for the Broadway-style Christmas show at Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, said his animals are performing in so many nativities that he has lost count. On a recent night, his staff was escorting flocks to Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and Upper Marlboro.

At Leesburg Animal Park, central casting for about 40 nativities in the Washington region, a spreadsheet maps the creatures8217; deployment. On Christmas Eve, when the park8217;s animals are to staff eight nativities, loading will begin at 2 p.m. and involve a dozen employees, three rigs and several trips on routes chosen for optimum efficiency.

8216;8216;I think the word 8216;hectic8217; would be applicable,8217;8217; said Karl Mogensen, owner of Natural Bridge Zoo, whose snow-white camel, Jezebel, is often requested for nativities. At Applewood Farm in Maryland, it8217;s also crunchtime for Brian Adelhardt8217;s four reindeer. On weekends, they model for four lessons a day on reindeer8217; adaptations to cold and heat, then pose for photos with admiring visitors. 8216;8216;The demand for reindeer is really hot in December, but the rest of the year, you can8217;t find work for them,8217;8217; Adelhardt said.

Nativity organisers say that although the manger standards8212;sheep, donkeys, goats and calves8212;are the crucial supporting actors to the Holy Family, it8217;s the camels, with their desert mystique, who are the stars.

Naturally, the more exotic animals demand stiffer fees. A typical nativity crew goes for 450 an hour at Leesburg Animal Park, though pricing is done case by case. Chewey costs about 500 an hour.

At Centreville Baptist, Chewey gets VIP treatment. He stood behind a rail, and fans8212;most of them hoisted by their parents8212;reached tiny hands over to touch his toffee-colored curls, little ears and fuzzy lips. Exclamations sailed through the night air. 8216;8216;That camel is so soft!8217;8217; said April Fultz, 43, who came with her husband and children. 8216;8216;Big!8217;8217; pronounced Laurie Fultz, 9. Chewey, in his satin and jewels, dazzled. A moment later, the star sat down to chew hay.