Take Part in the Zoo’s “12 Days of Holiday Giving”
(Dec. 12-24)
It’s that time of the year when our thoughts turn to …
gift giving! And while family probably tops your list, have you considered giving to your Zoo family? Like all of us, many animals love a surprise now and then: toys that entertain, a special treat, or a welcome enhancement to familiar surroundings. Sure, our animals are well cared for, but like all of us, they truly do enjoy life’s little extras.
Enrich a Child or Animal’s Life –
Get a Free Child’s Ticket from the Zoo!
No good deed should go unrewarded – especially at this time of the year. Give a gift….Get a gift. December 12-24 bring a new,
unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army or an
enrichment gift for one of our Zoo animals. In return, get a free child’s ticket when an adult ticket is purchased. Members receive a
complimentary cup of coffee from Macaw Cafe. Simply
print this coupon and present with your enrichment item at the Zoo’s front gate.
With a toy donation or enrichment item visitors will also get a
pair of tickets from Cinemark.
First come, first serve basis. Quantities limited.
View the lyrics to our 12 Days of Giving song!
A special Thank You to these 12 Days of Giving partners:
Rules of Giving
Please–all enrichment gifts must be new and still in their “original wrapper” if possible. And except for scents and extracts, the Zoo discourages any food items for gifts.
12 Big Days, 12 Great Enrichment Gift Ideas
What to give your favorite Zoo animals this year? Here are twelve suggestions:
- Parrot toys for parrots and macaws. Found at your local pet store.
- Paint/canvas (non toxic water-based paint made for kids) for resident animal artists including orangutans, elephants, and raccoons. Found at art supply stores.
- Spices and extracts (salt-free) that provide scent enrichment for all animals.
- Shower CD players and nature sounds CDs for animal audio enrichment – or to drown out other noises.
- Boomer balls for virtually all our mammals: primates, hoof stock, elephants, cats, otters, etc. Find these fantastic balls at www.boomerball.com.
- Rodent exercise wheels for tenrecs and possums. Found at your local pet store.
- Kong toys in all shapes and sizes for smaller mammals like coati, primates and small cats. Found at your local pet store.
- Horse toys (Jolly ball, Amazing Graze) for all hoof stock, including: goats, llamas, zebra, bongo, warthogs, etc. Find these toys at pet and feed stores.
- Ferret hammocks for ferrets, binturong, tamandua and small primates. Found in pet stores.
- Rope (sizes 1/4” or 1/2” sisal or nylon, minimum 25 feet in length) for birds, primates and small mammals to perch on and climb. Can be purchased at home improvement stores.
- Sheets/towels/pillows (no feather pillows) as bedding for our primates and small mammals.
- Gift cards! Their favorites are from home improvement or pet stores.
More enrichment gift items can be found here.
Feeling Extra Generous this Year?
If you wish to really go above and beyond by financing the purchase of a major enrichment gift, please contact Maya Houston in the Development Office.
Happy Holidays from all your animal (and two-legged)
friends at the Houston Zoo!
