Tigers, Elephants and Goats Make Unique Gifts for Christmas

Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

Give that special someone a tiger, elephant, goat or even a water buffalo for Christmas this year – there’s not a gift more unique. Okay, so you don’t actually give them the animal. But, you can adopt, sponsor or purchase an animal in their name from non-profit organizations such as Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary near Greenbrier or through Heifer International of Little Rock.

The gift of an animal in honor of a friend or family member assures that these unwanted wildlife are provided a safe refuge. In the case of Heifer International, the gift of livestock to less fortunate families around the world not only provides nutrition and income to a family but is a gift that keeps on giving when that family gives offspring from the animal to yet another hungry family in their community.

Turpentine Creek

Its mission is to provide lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused and neglected big cats with emphasis on tigers, lions, leopards and cougars. Because these animals have been held or bred in captivity, they cannot be released into the wild. Turpentine Creek works to educate the public about the perils to these animals and the importance of saving them from extinction.

Financial support of an animal allows the refuge to focus the money it raises on building additional natural habitat enclosures and rescuing more animals instead of just on food and veterinary care.

"It’s a fun way for people to get involved in the mission of the refuge," Tanya Smith, Turpentine Creek president, said. "I think people love to do it because it makes a great gift. A lot of people want to make a donation, but they want something tangible in return."

You can pick your cat, or the refuge will pick it for you. Turpentine Creek offers sponsorships or adoption, both of which come with a laminated and numbered adoption certificate, biography of the animal and color photo. A yearly or lifetime membership, depending on your donation, is another benefit. Sponsorships also include a plaque on the sponsorship wall. Adoptions include a name on the family tree of the cage.

Annual sponsorship costs $500 for a bird or small mammal; $750 for a small cat or monkey; $1,000 for a llama; $1,800 for a cougar or leopard; and $2,000 for a bear, lion or tiger. Payments may be made monthly, or given in a lump sum.

If that’s steep for your budget the refuge coordinates 20 people or families to jointly adopt an animal. The yearly cost for these adoptions to each of the 20 people is $75 for small animals, cats and monkeys; $90 for cougars or leopards; and $100 for bears, lions or tigers.

Smith said sponsors often bring friends to the refuge to show them their animal. Some bring their big cat presents, such as a brisket to eat.

The walk-through facility is open at 9 a.m. every day, except Christmas Day. Turpentine Creek has more than 100 big cats, most as close as five feet from the viewing public. It now has 17 natural habitat areas, where the cats run and play on grass and under trees. You take self-guided or guided tours. Admission is good for the whole day. Many people visit early in the day and return later during feeding time.

Riddle’s

A grown elephant eats about two hundred pounds of feed and drinks about 50 gallons of water every day. Most of it is high-quality fresh vegetation and hay, but they also receive more expensive specially prepared grains, vitamins, minerals and produce for balanced nutrition. Veterinary care is a large expense for the facility for these animals weighing several thousand pounds. Other costs to the sanctuary include providing shelter and staff to look after the animals.

The adoption money assures the elephant’s care and feeding. You can choose the individual elephant for your contribution to support. Sponsorship costs $35 for three months; $50 for six months; and $100 for a full year.

In return, you receive a personalized sponsorship certificate, photo of your elephant, bumper sticker which reads “Ask Me About My Elephant,” subscription to the sanctuary newsletter, and an invitation for you, your family and friends to visit the sanctuary on visitation days.

"The funds help us maintain care for the elephants," said Sue Harralson, a full-time volunteer at Riddle’s. "They eat great quantities of food. We take care of them for life and meet all their medical needs."

She added that "any adoption is very much welcome because this is a non-profit organization and totally dependent on donations."

The gift of a donation is another way to help the elephants. Categories representing an annual contribution are: $25 Individual; $35 Family; $100 Trunk Trustee; $500 Pachyderm Patron; and $1,000 (one-time donation) Lifetime.

Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to the preservation of both African and Asian elephants. It is the only facility in the world that promises a permanent home to any elephant in need of sanctuary for any reason. The sanctuary currently houses 12 elephants - Asian and African, male and female - which have been given a home at the request of various zoological institutions, circuses, and private owners.

Heifer International

Since 1944, this non-profit organization’s purpose has been to alleviate hunger and poverty by teaching people to be self-sustaining. Through Heifer, you can give the gift of livestock and training to less fortunate families around the globe. There are numerous animals from which to choose from, whether you’re giving the gift in the name of a friend or family member concerned about the underprivileged in the world or a colleague who is especially fond of certain animal’s like cows, pigs or ducks.

"I can’t imagine a better way to honor someone you love than to give back, to give to others in need," said Jennifer Pierce, spokesperson for Heifer International.

Many of the animals for purchase add nutrition to the diets of Heifer partner families. But, these families also generate income through the sale of animal byproducts such as milk, cheese or wool. Those profits are used for everything from education to medicine for the family. A chain reaction of giving takes place when the family provides offspring from their animal to another needy family in their community.

"They are giving a gift that grows," Pierce said. "What we have estimated in our 62 years of sustainable development is that one goat, one cow, or one llama can automatically influence and improve the lives of six more people. You are really paying forward a lot of hope and promise for these people."

You can purchase an animal or a share of the animal. A share is a designated portion of funds put toward the purchase of an animal.

"What you are investing in is not just the purchase of the animal itself, but also the training to raise it," Pierce said. "A big part of it is education on how to utilize and incorporate livestock into their farm." Families also learn about selling the byproducts.

"This is why Heifer’s work is sustaining," Pierce explained.

The gift of a heifer is $500 with a share for $50. Heifers are pregnant cows who are able to provide a family with milk and a calf almost immediately. A single heifer can produce up to four gallons of milk every day.

Goats, pigs and sheep cost $120 with shares at $10. Goats can give a family up to a gallon of milk every day and produce two kids a year. Sows can birth about 16 piglets each year, and are a source of organic fertilizer. Sheep produce wool for the family’s clothing and to sell to others. Sheep often give birth to twins or triplets.

Llamas and their close cousins, alpacas, are $150 with $20 shares. They can carry heavy loads at high altitudes, have fine wool, and provide many offspring during their 20-year life span. A Knitting Basket gift costs $500 (share $50) and represents two llamas and two sheep – one male and one female of each - four animals famous for their warm, income-producing wool.

Chicks, ducks and geese are only $20. A Flock of Hope is $60 and may include chicks, ducks and goslings, depending on cultural, climate and dietary differences among the receiving families.

Other gift opportunities include: a trio of rabbits for $60; tree seedlings for $60; honeybees for $30; water buffalo for $250; milk menagerie (heifer, two goats and a water buffalo) for $1,000 or a Gift Ark (two each of a collection of animals) for $5,000.

You receive a standard gift card to tell your recipient about the special gift you’re giving in his or her honor. Cards can also be customized, and emailed or printed from the Web site. "You get one honor card per every $10 you spend," Pierce explained.

Heifer does not track the actual location of each gifted animal because it is too cost prohibitive. "The overhead to maintain records would decrease the money we could put into the field," Pierce explained. For example, in 2004 alone Heifer distributed more than 384,000 animals.

In its first 60 years, Heifer assisted 7 million families or the equivalent of 38 million women, men, girls and boys. In areas of the world where hunger and despair once prevailed, Heifer programs have reinvigorated communities through livestock training, and its passing on the gift program.