Wish List

Support the critical care, community, and conservation work that takes place at your free zoo every day.

Disco balls aren’t just for the dance floor! Keepers place floating disco balls in aquatic habitats like the one at Regenstein African Journey. Light reflects off of the balls’ mirrored surfaces and catch the attention of the cichlids living in the tank, encouraging them to explore their habitat. Help the fish celebrate the new year with a new disco ball.

Red river hogs are known to be excellent at rooting around for food using their distinctively shaped snouts. At Regenstein African Journey, keepers use a multitude of materials as substrate in the hogs’ habitat in order to encourage natural foraging behavior. Buy some fresh substrate to make the hogs happy today!

At Lincoln Park Zoo, keepers give the meerkats a variety of special feeders that encourage them to forage for food throughout their habitat while also promoting a natural feeding posture. Ball pit balls are modified to create an extra challenge for the mob as they work to reach delicious treats inside. Make mealtime puzzling for the meerkat mob with new feeders.

As temperatures drop, many people and animals prefer to spend time inside. However, Canada lynx like Buttercup and Thistle are right at home in the cold. These predators are native to coniferous forests of Alaska and Canada—and even have large snowshoe-like paws that allow them to hunt atop wintry landscapes without sinking into snow. Give the lynx the perfect winter picnic with a helping of bones and other meaty delights.

This month, juvenile African lions Pesho and Sidai celebrate their second birthday. To celebrate, keepers will set out lots of the cubs’ favorite enrichment food, like meaty bones and other savory snacks. Wish the dynamic duo a happy birthday and chip in for a festive feast!

The nocturnal Madagascar hissing cockroach is one of the largest species of cockroaches in the world, reaching 2–3 inches at maturity. At Lincoln Park Zoo, we supply these brawny beasts with a specially formulated diet that provides essential protein, nutrients, and fiber. Supply the cockroaches with tasty tidbits!

As part of their nightly routine, the western lowland gorillas at Regenstein Center for African Apes will gather different materials like wood wool and blankets to create the perfect nests for sleeping. Sturdy hammocks provide elevated resting and sleeping spots, simulating treetop nests used by the species in the wild. Buy the gorilla family some swinging beds for much-deserved downtime!

For the black bears at the zoo, it’s not much of a question—they can’t resist sticky, sweet honey! Keepers use this sticky treat to encourage natural exploratory behaviors. Charm the bears with a spread of sweet honey!

Charles, one of the resident gray seals at Lincoln Park Zoo, turns 11 this month! Keepers spoil seals with special treats on their birthdays, like sugar-free gelatin cake molds filled with squid and other fish. Supply the gelatin needed to create these fishy treats for the seals!

Mirrors are a popular enrichment item for many species at the zoo. For pygmy slow lorises living at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, the reflective objects can encourage exploration and play. Give these curious mammals something to reflect on this new year with a new mirror.

Although the American beavers at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo can nibble through branches with their teeth, keepers lend a helping hand by providing pruned twigs from trees and brush around the zoo. Mix a salad for these semiaquatic mammals with some fresh browse today!

To create an exciting challenge for Asian small-clawed otters, keepers at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House put fish—like herring, smelt, and trout—inside grapevine balls, requiring them to fish pieces of their meal out with their dexterous paws. Provide Namiko and Kevin with a fishy feast that makes mealtime a delight!

Prehensile-tailed skinks are arboreal reptiles that feed mainly on leaves and insects among the trees. At Lincoln Park Zoo, zookeepers dust insects with a fine calcium powder for supplemental nutrition. Contribute a collection of creepy crawlers for the skinks to snack on!