Grrrr-eat gifts for animal fans Look no further than the Zoological Society of London for a wild present this Christmas

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1 Press Release: Thursday 23 July, 2015 Contact: Rhiannon Bates on or Grrrr-eat gifts for animal fans Look no further than the Zoological Society of London for a wild present this Christmas With the Christmas countdown just around the corner, international conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has a selection of tempting treats sure to satisfy any festive wish list. Know an animal fan who would fancy getting up close with one of ZSL London Zoo s mischievous meerkats, have a sleepover in the heart of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, or enjoy unlimited entry to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos for a year? Then look no further than ZSL this Christmas season. ZSL s VIP Meet the Animals encounters make magical memories which will last long after the decorations have been packed away. From elephants to penguins there s a range of animal encounters to choose from at both Zoos. Or go one further and arrange a ZSL Keeper for a Day experience for a once-in-a lifetime behind the scenes adventure at either Zoo. There s a junior version available too for any budding Zookeepers. Everyone wants to be on Santa s nice list, and if a loved one has been really good this year how about booking an overnight stay in ZSL Whipsnade Zoo s beautiful Lookout Lodge. This incredible one-off chance to sleep next to a herd of white rhino and enjoy a twilight tour of the Zoo when the other visitors have gone home is not to be missed. If far flung adventures are top of the wish list there s even the chance to go wild with ZSL Holidays. New for 2015, ZSL has teamed up with adventure travel company Exodus to allow wildlife enthusiasts to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see incredible species in their native habitats, while helping to fund ZSL s global work for wildlife. For the person who has everything, ZSL has a number of gifts which keep on giving including ZSL membership allowing unlimited Zoo visits 364 days per year, and new regular giving scheme Wildlife Champions. Wildlife Champions is a new way to support ZSL s vital conservation work by choosing which area of conservation to champion from just 3 per month. The special Christmas pack focuses on ZSL s Conservation Technology work. Funds raised are helping ZSL develop state-of-the-art tools to tackle illegal wildlife crime, and to monitor species in some of the harshest environments in the world, such as penguins in Antarctica.

2 Good boys and girls can even take home one of ZSL s residents. From Jae Jae the Sumatran tiger and Harri the otter at ZSL London Zoo, to Karishma the Asian elephant and Ringo the meerkat at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, there s a whole host of animals waiting to be adopted this Christmas. With quirky gifts galore ZSL is fully stocked and ready to be the one-stop shop for making memories this Christmas. Money raised from the sale of gifts supports ZSL s conservation work around the world and with prices starting at 35 there s something to suit every budget. ZSL has the whole family covered this Christmas. Gifts are available from ENDS Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Christmas Gift Guide Animal Adoptions Adopt an animal at ZSL London Zoo or ZSL Whipsnade Zoo from 35 ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are home to a huge variety of animals, and here s the chance to take one home. From Jae Jae the Sumatran tiger at ZSL London Zoo, to Karishma the Asian elephant at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, ZSL has a whole host of animals available for adoption. The adoption packs are beautifully presented and include a certificate, photograph, information on the chosen animal, subscription to ZSL s Wild About magazine plus some fun stickers and bookmarks. There is also a free zoo entry ticket to visit. Experiences Meet the Animals Gift Packs from 125 for two people, includes Zoo entry The perfect gift for the person who has it all! Get up close with one of ZSL s incredible residents with a ZSL Meet the Animals experience, there s a whole host of residents just waiting for their close-ups! From getting up close with the monkeys at ZSL London Zoo to feeding the Amur tigers at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, there s something for every animal lover. Whichever experience is chosen, it is certain to be a fantastic one and will be contributing to ZSL s vital conservation work around the world. Keeper for a Day 280pp (ZSL London Zoo) or 295pp (ZSL Whipsnade Zoo) Keeper for a Day is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with some of ZSL s most popular animals, and offers a unique insight into the day-to-day life of ZSL keepers and their charges. Budding keepers can try their hand at tasks such as feeding the giraffes, mucking out the rhinos, meeting the elephants, cleaning the penguin pool and going behind the scenes at the BUGS exhibit, all of which makes a day to remember for any animal lover!

3 Keeper for a Day is held all year-round at ZSL London Zoo priced at 280, or between April October at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo priced at 295. Participants must be over 16 years old. Itineraries vary between the Zoos (see website for details). There s a version for youngsters too! Junior Keeper for a Day is available for year-olds at ZSL London Zoo. Costing 170, Junior Keeper for a Day includes entry for one accompanying adult. The experience runs on weekday mornings in the February, Easter, spring, summer and October school holidays Lookout Lodge at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo open April October, from 149pp The ultimate overnight experience, a once in a lifetime chance to sleep next door to ZSL s rhinos! ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is a special place during the day but it's even more magical at night. It comes alive in a way that visitors don't usually get to experience. Stay in a private lodge nestled at the heart of the Zoo, take a twilight tour and wake up to breakfast with the residents including our cheeky chimps. Each lodge is fitted out to ensure ultimate comfort. Lookout Lodge is a fantastic experience for animal lovers of all ages or those simply wanting to escape everyday life for a night. ZSL Holidays educational, responsible and inspirational wildlife encounters from 1,029 per person The perfect gift for explorers ZSL Holidays have been created with leading adventure travel company, Exodus, and offer life-changing wildlife experiences across seven continents such as coming face to face with orang-utans in Borneo or following in the paw prints of lions in Kenya. Ranging from four to 23 days, each holiday has been carefully crafted to give travellers an in-depth understanding of the natural environment, fauna and local cultures, bringing together the very best viewing opportunities and inspirational, knowledgeable guides. With a wide selection available to choose from, ZSL Holidays offers something for every animal lover. Budding explorers will be inspired by the knowledge that through booking a ZSL Holiday they are working for wildlife and directly contributing to the conservation of animals around the world. In addition to funding ZSL s global work to save wildlife, ZSL Holidays is committed to responsible travel, trips also help local communities by creating job opportunities and alternative sources of income. Photography Workshops May October, 125pp The ultimate gift for any budding wildlife photographer.

4 Whether to learn how to take better wildlife photographs or simply to understand a camera better, these workshops are a fantastic gift with two levels available. The general level caters for those with basic photography skills, and an advanced one for those more experienced photographers who d like to develop under the watchful eye of an expert. Run by professional photographer, Dave Stevenson, these workshops run at both ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and combine a tutorial session with an amazing location. Open-ended vouchers valid for one year are sent out within 1-2 working days in a beautifully presented gift box with a card. Support ZSL ZSL Wildlife Champions from 35 Global wildlife populations have declined by 50% in the last 40 years. ZSL is working in more than 50 countries around the world to protect animals and their habitats and the Wildlife Champion gift pack is the perfect way to help. The limited edition Wildlife Champion Christmas pack is available in an adult and child version, and is the perfect gift for any animal lover as the gift that keeps on giving. The penguin themed Christmas packs come with fun facts, tales from the field, tips for championing wildlife every day, a fold-out penguin friend and more. Champions will receive regular updates on ZSL s work for wildlife, as well as ZSL s award-winning Wild About magazine three times a year, from just 35. Wildlife Champions are helping us make a real difference. By choosing which area to support, Conservation Technology or Animals under Threat, ZSL will be able to tackle illegal wildlife crime through developing stateof-the-art equipment, and bring animals back from the brink of extinction. ZSL gift membership from 58 The perfect gift for any animal lover ZSL gift membership offers great value and allows unlimited visits to both ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, 364 days a year. Membership helps fund ZSL s conservation projects both at home and around the world. The gift box includes fun animal themed goodies to keep all the family busy at home or on a Zoo visit, as well as guides to both Zoos. Purchase a gift membership before December 18, 2015 and enjoy 20% off the full price. Editors Notes High resolution images available here: Media Information For more information please contact Rhiannon Bates on or Rhiannon.bates@zsl.org

5 Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Our mission is realised through our ground-breaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information visit