Audubon Nature Institute’s Wild Holiday Gift Guide

Giving gifts is for the birds ... and the lions and the penguins! Purchasing a gift from Audubon Nature Institute’s Holiday Gift Guide helps Audubon care for more than 15,000 animals.  

Check out some of the wild gift ideas Audubon has curated for this holiday season. 

• Adopt an Animal - For the holidays, adopt a favorite Audubon animal through Audubon’s Adopt An Animal program. Options include a lion, elephant, penguin, ladybug, and more! Adopt by Monday, December 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. (CST) to receive the order before Christmas. Families can also symbolically adopt an Audubon Zoo giraffe by visiting their neighborhood Rouses Market this holiday season. Adoption boxes will be available for a $35 purchase and will include a certificate of adoption, plush giraffe, recipe card, and animal fun facts. 

           Participating Rouses Market Locations:

• 2900 Veterans Blvd. Metairie, LA
• 4500 Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans, LA
• 2701 Airline Drive Metairie, LA
• 717 Clearview Pkwy. Metairie, LA
• 400 N. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA
• 4350 Highway 22 Mandeville, LA
• 3711 Power Blvd. Metairie, LA
• 6600 Franklin Ave. New Orleans, LA
• 4001 General DeGaulle Dr. New Orleans, LA
• 2851 Belle Chasse Hwy. Gretna, LA
• 701 Baronne Street New Orleans, LA
• 91 Westbank Expressway Gretna, LA
• 4041 Williams Blvd. Kenner, LA
• 6205 Lapalco Blvd. Marrero, LA
   
• Audubon’s Children’s Book - “Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh" is a children's book that benefits Audubon's wetland education programs and connects children with the beauty of Louisiana’s native habitats.  
   
• Audubon Marketplace - Shop the online Marketplace or visit a gift shop at the Zoo or Aquarium. They are filled with fun, educational toys and gifts that give back. Also, gift wrap is free at all Zoo gift shops and online. Audubon Members receive discounts on in-store purchases! 
   
• The Golf Club at Audubon Park - Get a golf lover an Audubon Golf Course Gift Certificate. Available at the Golf Pro Shop this Holiday Season. Golfers will enjoy one of New Orleans' best courses for an entire year with an Audubon Golf Course Pass. 
   
• Tennis Courts at Audubon Park - The Audubon Park Tennis Savings Book is a great gift for any tennis player. The book provides 10 hours of discounted play, and Audubon Members receive 20% off for court time. Plus, book-holders are entitled to reserve courts in advance by phone! 
   
• Remember Someone Special - Make a tribute gift to Audubon Nature Institute and do a world of good in honor of a special friend or family member.  

“This year get the animal lover in your life a gift that gives back,” said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. “Whether adopting an animal or shopping at our giftshops, these purchases directly support keeping your animals happy and healthy.” 

Audubon is also asking to help feed the animals in their care by donating through the “Your Animals Need You" fundraising campaign. Audubon provides some of the highest quality nutritious diets for the animals in its care including a wide variety of fresh produce, high-grade meats, and sustainably harvested seafood. Audubon pays nearly $70,000 a month to feed animals such as giraffe, sea otters, sharks, lions, and gorillas. 

While Audubon’s doors were closed for over two months to help stop the spread of COVID-19, Audubon never stopped providing outstanding care for its animals. Even though the Zoo and Aquarium have reopened, its ability to generate revenue is still severely limited. Audubon’s estimated loss of revenue directly related to facility closures from March to June was approximately $21 million.