Zoogle News’ top Christmas gifts for animal lovers
Everyone knows that buying pets as Christmas presents is a bad idea but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy someone an animal-themed gift. From adoption schemes covering animals from sea turtles to orangutans to spending a day as a zookeeper, Zoogle News rounds up its favourite stocking fillers.
Foster an orphaned elephant or rhino
For decades the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has been caring for orphaned elephants and rhinos in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, providing a vital haven for two species increasingly threatened by poaching and pioneering the successful rehabilitation of orphaned calves of both species into wild herds. For a minimum donation of $50, the trust is offering a digital Christmas fostering package, including a certificate with a photo and profile of the adopted elephant or rhino of your choice, an interactive map detailing where it was found and monthly updates on the progress of your orphan.
Name a turtle and track it via satellite
Not surprisingly, the World Wildlife Fund’s gift shop offers plenty of animal-themed opportunities but none come more exclusive than one offering you the chance to sponsor a sea turtle with WWF’s Turtle Tracking Centre. You’ll be able to name your turtle and then follow its movements on its own web page via a satellite tracking device fitted to its shell. The data will also go towards research helping to save these endangered giants of the sea. And if $10,000 breaks your budget you can always pay a more reasonable $15 to send an injured turtle to rehab at the Bali turtle centre for recuperation.
Buy an orangutan a wheelbarrow
Fans of the BBC’s Orangutan Diary series, set at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Center in Borneo, can now adopt (https://secure.savetheorangutan.org.uk/directdebit/adoption.php) one of the young stars of the show for just £10 a month. For that you get an official personalised certificate, a background story, a colour photo of your orangutan suitable for framing and updates at least every six months. Or why not buy the orphans a gift. A £10 wheelbarrow is ideal for transporting the orphans to and from forest school while a £50 donation will feed an orangutan for two months.
Help save an Australian species from extinction
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy has 21 sanctuaries for endangered species and e-gifts ranging from AU$25 to AU$100 offer you the chance to contribute to the group’s work protecting the continent’s unique biodiversity. A AU$25 donation will pay for the protection of two hectares of tropical savanna, home to one of the largest remaining populations of the endangered Gouldian Finch, while AU$100 funds the protection of one extinction-threatened woylie – a small marsupial – for 12 months.
Buy an animal for someone who needs it
In the developing world, an animal that provides milk, eggs or wool can support an entire family or even be the basis for a business. Recognising this basic need, Oxfam is offering Christmas shoppers the chance to send farmyard staples including goats, chickens and sheep to families that need them in countries from Rwanda to Haiti to Pakistan. £25 buys the bestselling goat, which can produce milk to drink or sell, fertiliser for crops, and kids to take to market – or buy a pair in a buy two, pay twice the price £50 special offer. Or splash out £285 for a camel and you could make a Nomadic herdsman in Somaliland very happy indeed.
Be a zookeeper for a day
Ever wondered what feels like to be a zookeeper? Now the Zoological Society of London, which runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo, is offering you the chance to find out with its “Keeper for a Day” package. Billed as a chance to get up close and personal with some of the zoos’ most popular animals the day’s activities include going behind the scenes with the big cats, feeding the giraffes and, erm, mucking out the rhinos. But at £270 for the full day experience, this present doesn’t come cheap!
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