Big attraction: Sunbury Primary pupil Charlotte, 6, shows the school's newly decorated elephant. Picture: Matthew Furneaux
GRADE 1 pupils at Sunbury Primary School dressed up as zoo animals last Friday to celebrate the decoration of an elephant sculpture.
It is one of 50 that will be on display at Melbourne Zoo to mark its 150th birthday this year.
Art teacher Leah Baensch said the children named their elephant 'Marine Mali'.
She said they enjoyed decorating it and asking questions of the zoo education officer who visited the school on Friday.
"We chose an ocean theme, as our main school colours are blue.
"Each student in grade1 has painted a fish, and we used a special paper called lazertran to copy these pictures onto the sculpture.
"The paper works like a temporary tattoo in water as it separates."
Ms Baensch said the school was holding talks to have the elephant displayed in Sunbury before it goes to the zoo.