On Friday You Will Be Able To Buy Polar Bears And Penguins At The Indianapolis Zoo

By Maura Giles

Indianapolis, IN - With all the crowds, packed parking lots and other inconveniences that denote holiday shopping, Hoosiers are looking for a stress-free, personalized shopping experience where they can find unique gifts at all price levels. Where is this haven? It’s the Indianapolis Zoo.

* Located just west of downtown Indianapolis, shoppers can bypass the traffic and shop at either the Indianapolis Zoo Store or the White River Gardens Christmas Shoppe. Each store offers visitors an exciting and constantly changing mixture of merchandise from around the world. From unique stuffed animals, books and ornaments to educational toys, customized jewelry and home décor items, the Zoo is the ideal place to find a special gift that will have friends and family talking. There are lots of “green” options, too, with environmentally friendly products, plus beautiful items from fair trade businesses in Africa.

* For that very special someone on the holiday gift list, a Dolphin In-Water Adventure Gift Certificate will make a truly lasting impression. The Dolphin In-Water Adventure includes not only a special class on the Zoo’s most popular animals, but the opportunity to get into the water with dolphins and experience was it’s like to be up close and very personal! For details on purchasing a gift certificate, shoppers should call
(317) 630-2076, Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm.

Zoo memberships are also available as gifts! A membership gives an entire family one full year of free entry to the Zoo and Gardens and lots of other great benefits such as a magazine subscription, Zoo Store discounts and special event invitations, plus the opportunity to help support of the premier wildlife conservation institutions in the country. This perfect family gift continues to give – and save – all year long.

* Shoppers can also sign up a special family member or friend for the Animal Amigo Program. Support from Animal Amigos helps provide food and care for the animal of the shopper’s choice for one year. The lucky recipient will receive a certificate, fact sheet about the animal, their name listed on the Animal Amigo Donor Board and a photo their Animal Amigo animal.

Gifts from the Indianapolis Zoo not only put a smile on people’s faces, but they help to celebrate the true spirit of the season by enabling visitors to take home a memorable and unique keepsake. Most importantly, every purchase made at the Indianapolis Zoo provides critical financial support for the ongoing operations, as well as the educational and conservation initiatives, of the Indianapolis Zoo.

The Indianapolis Zoo gift shops are open during regular Zoo and Gardens hours, and Zoo members always receive a special discount on Indianapolis Zoo store purchases. Admission is not required to shop in the Zoo stores.

Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. The Indianapolis Zoo inspires local and global communities to celebrate, protect, and preserve our natural world through conservation, education, and research, and by providing an enriching and wondrous environment for our visitors and the animals in our care.  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.