Had enough of loud ties, novelty gifts and crowded malls? The Houston Zoo's Gift Shop has something that is sure to be a hit with everyone on your shopping list including a wide variety of plush animals, clothing, books, toys and community arts and crafts created by villagers - farmers, herders, and ranchers - in Africa, Asia and Central America.

The Zoo's special holiday offers include behind the scenes tours, animal art and painting experiences, solar powered BOGO flashlights, Zoo memberships, and Adopt an Animal packages. Special holiday offers are valid until December 31, 2008 and may not be combined with any other offer. Get complete information online at www.houstonzoo.org/gifts.

Solar Powered BOGO Flashlights

Light the lives of people in developing countries when you purchase a new solar powered BOGO (Buy One Give One) flashlight through the Houston Zoo. When you buy a BOGO light, the Houston Zoo will match your purchase with a BOGO light for a person in need in the developing world. One third of the world's population - two billion people - make a difficult choice every night: use a dangerous and expensive kerosene lantern for light, or live through the night in utter darkness. SunNight Solar's BOGO Light transforms the night by offering so many people in need a new choice. With every purchase of a BOGO Light this holiday season, the Houston Zoo will donate one light to the village of Ambodiriana in eastern Madagascar through the Zoo's partnership with the Madagascar Fauna Group. Even though Ambodiriana is close to the major city and eastern port of Tamatave, the village has no main electricity and residents are forced to cook on charcoal or wood fires and use candles or oil lamps for illumination. SunNight Solar's BOGO Light is available through the Houston Zoo's gift shop for $25 or you may contact Peter Riger in the Zoo's Conservation Office at priger@houstonzoo.org.

Animal Painting Experience

This is truly the gift for the person who has everything. Here's an opportunity to own a truly unique masterpiece. Give the animal lover in your life their very own animal painting by one of our resident artists. Or give them the opportunity to watch as the masterpiece is created. Animal Painting Experiences are only $500 and Animal Paintings are $250. For details about the unique holiday gift opportunity, log on to www.houstonzoo.org/animalart. To purchase, call the Houston Zoo at 713-533-6713.

Gift Memberships

Give a full year of naturally wild opportunities to enjoy the Houston Zoo when you give the gift of a Zoo membership. This holiday season get a 15% discount on Individual, Family, Family Plus, Grandparent, and Supporting Level Memberships purchased as a gift for someone in another household. Individual memberships begin at $55 and family memberships begin at $80. Purchase online at www.houstonzoo.org/membership and be sure to enter promotional code MHG2186. Members receive 20% OFF on purchases in the gift shop during special member shopping days. Find out more at http://www.houstonzoo.org/gifts/.

Adopt an Animal

Why not adopt a bear for your brother or a sea lion for your sweetheart this holiday season? Adopt an Animal gifts are fun and educational and help care for your adopted animal, as well as support important education and conservation programs at the Houston Zoo. Adopt packages start at $25. For $190 become a Guardian of the Animals and have the name of a loved one engraved on a brick at the Zoo's Front Entrance plaza. Adopt an Animal packages require 5 business days for processing. Get complete information online at www.houstonzoo.org/adopt.

Behind the Scenes Tours

For a truly unforgettable experience, see the Houston Zoo from the inside out when you join us for a behind the scenes tour! Picture yourself face to face with a giraffe, feeding the meerkat mob, or getting a kiss from a sea lion. These are just a few of the exciting things that can happen on your Behind the Scenes Tour at the Houston Zoo. Tours typically take 30 minutes per area and can accommodate groups of 2 to 10 in any given animal area. Behind the scenes tours are $35 per person/per area for Zoo Members and $50 per person/per area for non-members. Tour prices include regular Zoo admission. Find more information online at www.houstonzoo.org/events/tours/behind. To book your tour, contact Ricci Shannon at 713-533-6713 or email rshannon@houstonzoo.org.

Community Arts and Crafts

Far from large cities, villagers and nomadic peoples around the world create crafts and works of art while balancing their traditional way of living. Community arts and crafts sold at the Houston Zoo gift shop provide opportunities to raise funds for our conservation partners in Asian, Africa and Central America, as well as increase awareness and offer tools to help with conservation actions and programs in countries where the Houston Zoo is involved in conservation efforts. By supporting production of community arts and crafts, we work with farmers, herders, and ranchers to find ways for them to protect their traditional way of life and their families.

Bricks

Leave your legacy at the Houston Zoo for generations to come when you participate in the Zoo's brick paver program. The Zoo's personalized brick pavers are a lasting way to recognize your family, friends, and love for the Houston Zoo. Your brick purchase is a contribution to the Zoo's Annual Drive to Support the Zoo, which directly impacts the Zoo's first rate animal care and guest experience programs. Pavers range in size from 8 by 4 inches with 2 lines of text for $100 to 16 by 16 inches with 6 lines of text for $2,500. For more information, visit www.houstonzoo.org/brickpaver. To order your brick, call Alex Goldstone, Annual Fund Associate, at 713-533-6705 or e-mail agoldstone@houstonzoo.org.

For more information on the Houston Zoo, visit www.houstonzoo.org.