Enjoy an ethical Christmas in a material world

If you’re fed up with traipsing round the shops year after year buying Christmas gifts that only make big businesses happy, then visiting the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) website is the perfect alternative. ZSL has unique gift ideas for everyone – from animal-lovers to those awkward people who have everything.

The charity, which runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, can help you celebrate the festive season ethically; knowing your fun and funky gifts will help us to protect endangered species across the world.

All of our gifts are available at www.zsl.org and every penny goes back into the charity to fund our global conservation work

We have a variety of gift ideas from ZSL’s Wild Adoptions to cute and cuddly stocking fillers, a brand new Fairtrade line and even the chance to become a Keeper for a Day!

Wild Adoptions

ZSL has chosen species from six distinct conservation programmes around the globe, from the Partula snail of the South Pacific Ocean to the lowland gorilla of West Africa and the British field cricket of our very own United Kingdom. From as little as £30, you can take part in the conservation of these fascinating species and in return your loved one will receive a colour photograph of their adopted species in its natural habitat, a certificate of adoption, a conservation programme fact sheet and an annual subscription to Lifewatch.

Zoo Adoptions

Alternatively, you can adopt any of the animals at London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park from as little as £20, and contribute towards ZSL’s important work providing for the animal’s welfare in terms of food, on-going veterinary care and their zoo habitat.

You will get a colour photograph of your chosen animal, a certificate, one entrance ticket to the zoo and Lifewatch magazine.

Fairtrade

ZSL now stocks a full range of Fairtrade gifts giving you an even wider choice of ethical alternatives this Christmas. For example, our antique poncho handbags from the highlands of Bolivia are handmade using recycled, unique, antique, handwoven ponchos. Buying one helps conserve this precious culture, as well as giving a fair wage to struggling craftspeople.

Keeper for a Day

If you are looking for that once-in-a-lifetime gift for someone special, why not give them the chance to become a Keeper for a Day at London Zoo or Whipsnade Wild Animal Park? This amazing experience will allow your nearest and dearest to get up close and personal with some of ZSL’s most popular animals, and also get a unique insight into the day-to-day life of our keepers and their charges.

The sessions (available for those 16 and over) include tasks such as feeding the giraffes, mucking out rhino, cleaning the penguin pool and going behind the scenes at the big cats, all of which makes a day to remember for any animal lover!

With two different days to choose from, the full Keeper for a Day at £225 or the more compact Introduction to Zoo Keeping at £150, you’ll be spoilt for choice this Christmas.

These gifts can all be purchased at www.zsl.org, where you will also find stocking fillers at our online shop and gift tickets for that special day out in the New Year.

Notes to editors

ZSL

Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide. For further information please visit www.zsl.org

Press Contact

Emma Kenly
0207 449 6280
Emma Kenly