For Release: Oct. 17, 2011
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Shop for the Holidays and Support the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
This holiday season, shop at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for gifts your loved ones will give a hoot, whoop and roar about. Spot a great find for the animal person in your life during your next visit to the Zoo or online. By giving a Zoo gift, you are directly playing a part in conservation; all proceeds support animal care, science, research and sustainability at the Zoo.
Adopt a Species
Earlier this year, one of the National Zoo’s red panda cubs was named Pili, which means “clap of thunder” in Chinese—a perfect complement to her sister’s name, Damini, Nepalese for “lightning.” Celebrate the births this holiday season with an Adopt a Species package that helps support these beloved cubs and their parents, Shama and Tate. With your donation of $75 or more, your special someone will receive a gift set that includes three cuddly plush animals, a colorful photo of Tate, an adoption certificate and more delivered inside an “animal carrier” box. Your contribution supports red panda care, habitat improvement and enrichment. Come see your “adopted” animals at Asia Trail and learn how taking care of these animals takes time, dedication, and knowledge.
There are plenty of other Adopt a Species packages, including Kids’ Farm, Giant Panda Family, Lion Pride and more! Visit the Zoo’s website to learn more about additional Adopt a Species packages.
For Your Favorite Zoo Animal
Gift giving is for the birds…and the apes…and the anteater! What better way to honor your friends and family than to give a gift in their name while enriching the life of a special animal at the Zoo? Enrichment items encourage animals to use problem-solving skills and help give visitors a glimpse into the natural behaviors of their favorite fauna.
Love to shop? Check out the Enrichment Giving Tree wish list and drop off your gifts at the Zoo’s Visitor Center for the animal care staff to distribute. Prefer shopping from home? Choosing your favorite item is as easy as the click of a mouse in the Zoo’s online store—we’ll deliver your gifts straight to our animals. Can’t decide? Make a donation to the Zoo’s animal enrichment program.
Kong: $12
Curious animals like Maripi the giant anteater enjoy kongs—items that have compartments for food storage. Small kongs for the Zoo’s giant Pacific octopus and large kongs for its gorilla troop are also available.
Looky Lou: $175
The “Looky Lou”—an acrylic mirror for visual enrichment—is a favorite item of the Zoo’s six orangutans. It can also be used as a feeder device.
Elephant Utilitree: $250,000
If you want to make an enormous gift for the Zoo’s enormous animals, purchase a Utilititree. This mammoth structure provides shade, heat, food pulleys, a rubbing post and places to hang enrichment items.
Elephant Trails Commemorative Brick
The National Zoo is busy building Elephant Trails, an exciting new exhibit where a multi-generational herd of Asian elephants will receive the exercise, shelter and stimulation they need to breed and grow. Trumpet your support for the Zoo’s Asian elephant breeding and research program by purchasing a 4” X 8” Commemorative Brick. With a gift of $250, a brick will be engraved with your name and/or personalized message, installed in the finished exhibit area and displayed for decades to come. Life-size elephant footprints are available for larger donations.
Zoo Carousel
Help the National Zoo build a fun new carousel for 2012! Featuring beloved endangered species such as giant pandas, clouded leopards and Panamanian golden frogs, the attraction will welcome visitors of all ages to Lion/Tiger Hill with delightful animal figures and colorful scenery. Honor your loved ones and support the Zoo by sponsoring an animal with your donation of $2,500 or more, or sponsor a scenery panel with a $1,000 donation. Donors or their honorees will receive recognition on a plaque beneath their figure for 10 years. To learn more, visit the Zoo’s website.
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