Going Wild for Mementoes

Wildlife Souvenirs at Zoos

By Sara Karnish

Visitors to zoos and wildlife parks enjoy checking out the exhibits and learning about the animals.

Before leaving, they almost always look for a souvenir to remember their visit and, maybe, to show a little of their “wild” side.

Wildlife-themed souvenirs offering a little of both—fun and learning—are the biggest sellers at Potter Park Zoo’s AniMall in Lansing, Mich., according to Jon Lawrence , customer service manager. “Plush, books, toys, and our conservation bookmarks lead the way in number of sales. Plush and toys sell well because of the demographic that visits the zoo. Parents and caregivers want to commemorate their time at the zoo with a keepsake both they and the child can enjoy. It’s part of the memory they’re making together,” he explained, adding the bookmarks are a practical souvenir, featuring different animals found in the zoo and organizations the zoo partners with to protect various species.

Karen Kierstead , gift shop manager at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park in Halifax, Pa., said plush is by far their top seller. “We sold plush animals from Wild Republic wearing name-dropped sweatshirts on them, and they just flew off the display,” she said. “Parents like it when a child chooses something with our name on it to remember the day. We also sell a lot of Safari LTD products. The animal figures, as well as fill your own TOOBS [themed figurines which come with a clear tube/storage/carrying case], are popular. Parents and kids love that they can choose what animals come in their TOOBS and they are not stuck with a prepacked container that has some animals they are not interested in.”

Plush is also a top seller at Henson Robinson Zoo in Springfield, Ill., according to Guest Services and Marketing Manager Hilary Tierney . “Our best-selling item for the last two years running has been our 4-to5-foot snakes,” she said. “They come in many different colors and patterns—realistic and unrealistic—and some have rattle sounds. There is a style for everyone—even for guests who do not necessarily like snakes, they may like plush ones. And, they make great neck pillows for those long car trips or vacations. We try to tell everyone this, and people think, ‘Wow, you’re right.’ ” Although their gift shop is small (450 square feet), Tierney said they encourage guests to browse and carefully look at all the merchandise they have to offer—everything from plush and playsets for kids to housewares

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