Posts Tagged ‘gift shop’

Sep
07

Contibute to Galapagos Tortoise Conservation by Buying a Stylish Tortoise T-shirt

Posted by in Clothing,Conservation,Endangered Species,Galapagos

 

Women's Galapagos Tortoise shirt

A company called Lonesome George & Co created a clothing line to raise awareness about Galapagos Island tortoises.  This company was named after the famous, Lonesome George, he is the last known surviving Galapagos Pinta Island Tortoise. He sits in a large captive facility on Santa Crus island; scientists hope they will find a female survivor for him in the near future. Lonesome George & Co. was created to guarantee that his legacy would live on.

Men's Galapagos tortoise shirt

These  t-shirts spotlight other Galapagos tortoises with the name of the individual on the front and a comical personal description on the back.     The shirts are bright blue and slate gray.  They are available in all sizes in both men’s and women’s styles.  A percentage of all the proceeds go to Galapagos tortoise conservation.  Come and visit the conservation area of  the Houston zoo gift shop and purchase your t-shirt soon!

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Aug
04

Thirsty Dogs Help Wildlife Conservation

Posted by in Africa,Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Carnivores,community-based conservation,Endangered Species,Painted Dog,What You Can Do

New** Now available in the zoo gift shop!  Keep your dog cool, and let him support conservation of his or her distant wild cousins in Africa, by purchasing our new dog water bottles. These unique water bottles are specialized for a domestic dog’s tongue, with an easy to drink roller ball, and are available in green or red.  All proceeds from the purchase of this product go to saving the second most endangered carnivore in Africa, the Painted Dog (aka African wild dog).  The bottle has the Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) logo on it.  PDC is located in Hwange National park, Zimbabwe, Africa and is committed to protecting the Painted Dog in partnership with the local people.

Painted Dogs, also known as African Wild Dogs, are unique to Africa and they are among this continent’s most endangered species. It is estimated that a mere 3,000  – 5,000 remain. The Painted Dog Conservation program in Zimbabwe focuses on community outreach, education and development,  Painted Dog rehabiliation and re-introduction.

Contact conservation@houstonzoo.org for more information on where to purchase.

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Aug
06

Visited our gift shop lately?

Posted by in Africa,Endangered Species,Gorilla,What You Can Do

Gorilla carvings from sustainably harvested trees- Rwanda

Gorilla carvings from sustainably harvested trees- Rwanda

While we are chatting about gorilla’s – here is one way you can support conservation in Rwanda and bring home a unique gift at the same time. The Houston Zoo works with non-profits who support trade in local crafts as an economic incentive.

Far from large cities, villagers create works of art while balancing their traditional way of living. These communities are the closest neighbors to some of the world’s most precious wildlife. Their villages have little running water or electricity and the people  have traditionally made their living through subsistence agriculture and ranching but when offered the opportunity, these families develop and design local crafts in order to improve their lives with added earnings that have started to make a difference. The Houston Zoo Conservation Department supports efforts through the sales of these products in the zoo’s gift shop. Products are available from Partners in Conservation and Virunga Artisans-Rwanda, Proyecto Titi-Colombia, Snow Leopard Conservation-Mongolia and African Wild Dog-Zimbabwe.

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Jun
16

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Posted by in Endangered Species,Going Green,What You Can Do

My Mom visited the Zoo with her family in 1958. Make sure your grandchildren still have the same animals to visit on their summer vacations.

My Mom visited the Zoo with her family in 1958. Make sure your grandchildren still have the same animals to visit on their summer vacations.

Imagine this.  You head out with your family to the Houston Zoo. You are walking around enjoying the warm sunny weather, but you start to notice many of the animals at the Zoo are in the Endangered category.  How can the Rhinos be endangered when they have no natural predators?  Poachers.  That just makes you put the ANGER in Endangered.  You love going to the Zoo, and you want to make sure these animals are around when your children take their children to the Houston Zoo.  

 

Now that you realize many of your favorite animals are going extinct, you and your children can be thinking the same thing- GIFT SHOP!  Look around at some of the tags on products in the gift shop, you will find many surprises from what you might expect.  Many of the gift shop products are bought from rural villages in Africa, Panama, and other impoverished communities.  All 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Houston Zoo Conservation Projects.  These projects give men and women the opportunity to have a higher standard of living, as well as benefiting Gorillas, Snow Leopards, and Rhino Conservation.  When you affect one part of an ecosystem by saving a Gorilla, you also improve the lives of many other animals.

 

As said on the Lion King, animals live in a “Circle of Life.”  An animal’s survival depends on everything in the ecosystem, including the environment.  Many products sold in the gift shop are made with the environment in mind.  The gift shop has worked with manufacturers to reduce amounts of cardboard packaging and to use recycled products to make puzzles and postcards.  Also, there are Bamboo shirts and BPA free recyclable water jugs.  Even some of the stuffed animals are made out of Soy products. Then, you can carry your goodies in biodegradable gift bags, an affordable recycled animal print bag, or if you are really insane use NO BAG AT ALL!!!   

 

Feel free to ask any employees about the different ways the gift shop works to benefit the environment and animal conservation.  Just by buying that simple souvenir to remember your trip, you are helping your grandchildren to see the same animals that you know and love!

 

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