A frisbee-like cylinder for a Western lowland gorilla? Corn for a Pygmy hippo? 'Wobbly Weebles' for a bengal tiger?
All have made the Lincoln Park Zoo's spring wish list. And although many of the items have been purchased, some are still needed.
Peruse the zoo's list of needed items and share the spring fever by giving your local animals anything from fun-fueling toys to tasty snacks.
The following treats remained listed Wednesday:
Bird Book
Zoo staff involved in avian care have a lot to keep track of with more than 10,000 bird species worldwide! Help them out by giving them volume seven of “Handbook of the Birds of the World”, the first handbook to cover every known bird species. The cost is $12 Click here to purchase.
Watch Your Step
The feathered residents of the McCormick Bird House appreciate the soft, variable texture of Nomad mats. The mats help cushion various pressure points on the birds’s feet—similar to carpet versus hardwood floors for people. Contribute to a good cause for their claws! The cost is $20. Click here to purchase
Return of the King
Guam Micronesian kingfishers are extinct in the wild. The zoo’s breeding pairs over the years have done their part to bolster the species’ numbers, producing dozens of chicks. Help fuel their comeback with a basket of anoles—small, common lizards these rare birds love to eat. The baskets are $12 each. Click here to purchase.
The Purrfect Gift
The sun is shining and Mitya, our Amur leopard, is feeling playful. Support care for these critically endangered big cats by buying him an enrichment ball. They're $10 each. Click here to purchase.
Delicious Digs
While you’re playing Frisbee, the zoo’s Western lowland gorillas will be enjoying their own fun in the sun. Watch them as they gather around their new cylinder, digging out the delicious treats hidden inside. The cylinders are $85 each. Click here to purchase.
Crunchy Munching
As you grill up the corn for your cookout, don’t forget hippos get hungry too! Pygmy hippos, critically endangered in the wild, love munching on crunchy corn. Buy them a basket today for $10. Click here to purchase.
Make Like Peter Piper ...
… and pick some peppers for primates. And don’t forget the big cats, pygmy hippo, rhinos and small mammals! Big and small animals alike go wild for this tasty treat, which runs $15 per basket. Click here to purchase.
Wobbly Weebles
Bounce with the big cats as they pounce and play! Small weebles are durable and wobbly, allowing for hours of fun. They're $30 each. Click here to purchase.
Nourishment for Nayembi
As western lowland gorilla baby Nayembi recovers from the facial injury she suffered in late February, she’ll have a healthy appetite. Help contribute to formula and other nourishing food as she grows over the coming months. Cost to Feed Nayembi for One Week—$125. Cost to Feed Nayembi for One Month—$544. You can donate in $24 increments. Click here to purchase one.
Around-the-Clock Care
Animal care and veterinary staff will be tending to baby Nayembi 24/7 for the next several months. You can help support their ’round-the-clock efforts by chipping in for gorilla support team shifts. Support Nayembi with one day of around-the-clock care—$576. Or, simply chip in $50. Click here to purchase.
Editor's note: The list was contributed by those at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.