The Wonder Bunch family has always been a proud and grateful supporter of our local zoo. Theconservation efforts, protections for endangered plants and wildlife, and education opportunities they provide to our community are boundless, and our children look forward to each and every visit! This last year has been especially tough for zoos and wildlife sanctuaries as they had to limit capacity and navigate social distancing and crowd control measures.
Zoos have always partially relied on the revenue from visitors and Imax audience income to continue providing the care their resident animals require, and their limited capacity in 2020 meant taking a big financial hit to protect the population. While we were renewing our membership this spring, we decided to take a peek at other opportunities available to us to support the efforts of these amazing organizations, and we were thrilled with what we found!
Zoos across the country are offering symbolic adoptions to connect patrons with the zoo animals while raising funds in a fun and engaging way. Take a peek at a few of the zoos we looked into and the adoption programs they offer.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Spring Flamingo!
https://donate.omahazoofoundation.org/pages/adopt_specials-/flamingo-adopt-special-
3701 S 10th St
Omaha, NE
Nothing says spring like a freshly hatched fuzzy flamingo! Symbolically adopt one today and look for them in the newly-renovated Simmons Aviary habitat later this year.
If you’re interested in having an even greater impact, consider alternate adoption packages starting at $25, many of which include ride passes, admission to the Wildlife Safari Park, invitations to private exhibit tours, and even behind-the-scenes experiences!
A $50 flamingo adoption includes a plush flamingo, a photo of the cute critter you have symbolically adopted, and a gift tag letting you know how much your support means to Henry Doorly Zoo.
While flamingo adoption is the newest opportunity to support, other animals are available year round here.
Saint Louis Zoo
https://www.stlzoo.org/give/zooparentsprogram/animaladoptionlist
1 Government Dr
St. Louis, MO
Become a Zoo Parent with Saint Louis Zoo’s symbolic adoption program. Did you know that an elephant eats about 100 pounds of food a day? And a single sea lion eats 25 pounds of fish per day? Saint Louis Zoo’s adoption program allows patrons to purchase meals for any animal at the zoo, and for your help doing so, the zoo exchanges additional benefits. Adoption packages range from $25 to $500, and benefits increase with the investment.
You can choose to support any animal, from lions to apes, stingrays to stinkbugs, for any amount of time up to a year.
Denver Zoo
https://denverzoo.org/adopt-an-animal/
2300 N Steele St
Denver, CO
With more than 3,500 animals to care for, the Denver Zoo would love a little help! When you support the zoo through symbolic adoption, you are also supporting their conservation efforts worldwide. And not only are you easing the burden just a little, you’ll have a sweet snuggly plush of the animal you’re choosing to support. Take a minute to browse their animals for adoption and do your best to choose just one! (Or two…or three! They’re even cuter than you’re already guessing!)
The price changes with each creature. For instance, you can choose between wild dog adoption packages ranging in price from $35 to $105.
Fort Worth Zoo
https://www.fortworthzoo.org/adoptions
1989 Colonial Pkwy
Fort Worth, TX
Adoption packages range from $25 to $500, and include options for classroom adoptions. For $75, your child’s class can adopt an animal and each child will receive an adoption certificate and fact sheet. The class will also receive a coloring kit and a sweet little plush of their adopted animal. Adopt as a group, a family, a classroom, or as an inter-office team building exercise!
Columbus Zoo
https://give.columbuszoo.org/adopt
4850 Powell Rd
Powell, OH
Every dollar you send to the Columbus Zoo is applied directly to the care and feeding of the animalyou’ve chosen to adopt. All adoptions come complete with an adoption certificate filled out to yourspecifications, and select adoptions come with the gift of a plush commemorative. Donations over $100 include recognition on the zoo’s website support wall.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
https://www.cmzoo.org/support/adopt-an-animal/
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd
Colorado Springs, CO
From African elephants to white-cheeked gibbons, you can adopt the entire alphabet at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Prices range from $35 to $65 for adoption packages for hundreds of animals, and your giftable donation is tax deductible.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
ttp://cincinnatizoo.org/support/adopt/
3400 Vine St
Cincinnati, OH
Provide food, housing, enrichment, and care for the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden through adoption packages starting at $30. All adoptions include information packets about your animal, a personalized adoption certificate, and photo of the animal you’re supporting. Larger packages also include a behind-the-scenes encounter and access to VIP events.
Nashville Zoo
https://www.nashvillezoo.org/adopt
3777 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN
Adoption packages range from $35 to $250, with the high-end adoption including a face-to-faceencounter with one of the zoo’s resident animals for up to four people. All packages include aninformation packet, color photo of your symbolically adopted animal, and certificate of adoption.
We love our local zoo, and would do anything to help preserve their conservation and education efforts for future generations! We are thankful for their engaging opportunities to include dedicated patrons in their fundraising efforts, and can’t wait for our adoption certificate to arrive.
Thank you to Henry Doorly Zoo for all they do, and for letting us do every little bit we can!
