How much would it cost to adopt an animal (zoo or nature reserve)?

Question

Not the kind where you contribute $100 to "adopt" the animal and get a certificate to commemorate it. I mean the kind where you adopt an animal so that whenever you want to see it up close and have personal visits.

Answer 1

Some have up close and personal visits with your animal. Some you get to talk to the animals keeper. Some offer just free passes to the zoo, tours, certificates, info on your animal, etc.

And most of the time visits will not be whenever you want to. It will be by apportionment, specials visit days, or limited visits a year.

Here are a few of the ones I found....

http://www.greatcatsofindiana.org/Adopti...

All of our residents need adopted friends to help make their lives a little better. As an adoptive friend, you can help make a difference in the lives of the animals you choose. Of course, adopting one of our animals does not mean you can take it home with you, but you will receive an adoption certificate, a photo and brief history of your animal and a pass that will allow you several free visits per year to see your adopted critter at our sanctuary. Adoptions are only $50 per year. All adoption fees are applied directly to the needs of your adopted animal.

http://wolfparkstore.com/?mainURL=%2Fsto...

Our Adopt-A-Wolf program allows you to "keep tabs" on your favorite Wolf Park wolf or give a friend or loved one the gift of wolves.  Sponsors over 18 years of age are welcome to make appointments to meet "their" animal, up close and in person, anytime during the year of their sponsorship. (In some cases, sponsors may have to meet a proxy.) Visits can be scheduled year-round, and last 30-60 minutes depending on the interest level of the wolf.  In addition, sponsors receive a certificate with a photograph of their wolf, a biography of their wolf, and quarterly updates on their wolf, along with recent photos, and a bit of fur shed by their adopted animal in the spring -- plus all the benefits of a family membership.  (Sponsorship includes a family membership.  You do not need to purchase a membership separately!)

*******

The fee for sponsorship is $175 per year, or you may pay in 4 quarterly installments of $43.75

http://www.waldenspuddle.org/education.h...

When you adopt one of our “wildlife ambassadors,” you’ll receive:

    * an adoption kit with an adoption certificate

    * “your” animal’s biography and natural history

    * a professional color photo of “your” animal

    * a subscription to our newsletter and recognition of your adoption in the newsletter

    * an opportunity to meet “your” adopted critter!

All adoptions are $35 for each animal or animal group.

Please choose up to 10 animal(s) you would like to adopt:

Phoenix the American Kestrel

Forrest the Barred Owl

Pacino the Cooper's Hawk

Natchez the Broad-winged Hawk

Chester the Eastern Box Turtle

Martha the Eastern Box Turtle

Chip the Eastern Chipmunk

Chip-Chip and Tripod the Eastern Gray Squirrels

Maury and Ali the Eastern Gray Squirrels

Butterbean the Eastern Fox Squirrel

Reno the Eastern Screech Owl

Hudson the Eastern Screech Owl

Miss Upsy Daisy the Great Horned Owl

Maverick the Red-tailed Hawk

the Songbirds

Jack and Jill the Common Nighthawks

Thelma, Louise and Brad the European Starlings

Olivia the Virginia Opossum

http://www.scaquarium.org/members/adopt....

Additonal benefits according to adoption level:

Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Admission to our annual Behind-the-Scenes Tour where you and a guest can meet the staff that care for your adopted animal, see the animals up close and learn more about their care.

http://www.moorpark.cc.ca.us/~eatm/adopt...

2.  You can pay the cost of feeding the animal of your choice for one year (refer to the price list below).

You will receive:

    * An adoption certificate.

    * A fact sheet about your animal.

    * A color photograph of your animal

    * The privilege to visit your animal one Sunday each month at the Teaching Zoo.

http://www.woburnsafari.co.uk/woburn_exp...

Adoption plus... meet the animal

For a supplement you can spend half an hour with your adopted animal, meeting and learning more about it - unfortunately this does not apply to all animals, but where this is the case you are able to meet another animal of your choice.

http://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/adopt...

$1,000: all the above, plus meet the keeper of your adopted animal

http://www.stlzoo.org/supportthezoo/zoop...

Become a Zoo Parent of a Sea Lion Superstar and you can "meet" your adopted animal!

Adopt a Sea Lion Superstar!

This special $40 adoption package includes:

    * Plush sea lion

    * Personalized adoption certificate

    * Color photo and fact sheet

    * Car decal and t-shirt transfer

    * Name on the Zoo Parents Kiosk and Zoo Parents Recognition page for one year

    * Invitation to the Zoo Parents Picnic

    * Subscription to the Zoo Parents Newsletter

**********

Become a Zoo Parent of a Sea Lion Superstar and you can "meet" your adopted animal!

When you adopt a sea lion superstar, you'll receive a coupon to meet the sea lions after the show! That's right, you can meet your adopted sea lion after the 1 or 3 p.m. Sea Lion Show (with paid admission). .......

http://www.torontozoo.com/Adoptananimal....

V.I.P Club - $1,500  

    * All the above benefits AND

    * A visit from a zookeeper with a special animal! (In consultation with you, we will choose a wonderful animal visitor)

      Note: Animal visits are limited to the Greater Toronto Area.

http://www.knoxville-zoo.org/zooparent.h...

Platinum Adoption - $500

    * The opportunity to schedule a private tour of your animal's area at Knoxville Zoo

    * Recognition of your adoption on the Adopt-an-Animal web page for one year

    * Personalized certificate of adoption

    * Photo of your adopted species

    * Fact sheet about your adopted species

    * A copy of the most recent issue of Knoxville Zoo's Wild Wonders magazine

    * A subscription to Wild Wonders magazine

    * Recognition of your adoption in Wild Wonders magazine

    * A plush of your adopted species (substitutions may be necessary if we do not have a plush of the animal you would like to adopt)

    * A gift tag

    * All shipped in a 1 gallon paint can