My Parents got me a Crocodile for Christmas

[ConcertPhotog]

Well they sortof got me a crocodile... They actually sponsored one in my name through Oxfam which would be raised in an area where the local caiman population was depleted. I just thought it was a really cool idea for a reptile lover and wanted to share.

here's a link:
http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/home.php?xid=88c553e388e9c566d2cb7773d1219d7f

 

[beeze]

What a nice thing for your parents to do.

 

[ConcertPhotog]

Yeah, I have to say it was my favorite gift, and very unexpected. Now if there was only a charity where we could sponsor an acre of Madagascar for Chameleon preservation.

 

[hallenhe]

I sponsored a hellbender for my husband for Christmas, through the World Wildlife Fund. He's a big salamander enthusiast, and is really taken with the idea.

 

[ConcertPhotog]

Nice! I didn't know about that, but they have a big list of animals you can adopt:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_category.cfm

 

[jannb]

What a great gift!

 

[Chamaeleoeo]

I sponsored a hellbender for my husband for Christmas, through the World Wildlife Fund. He's a big salamander enthusiast, and is really taken with the idea.

hellbenders are so awesome

 

[blackbetty]

Not sure what that means..to sponsor.. I guess you give them money and they send you pics? Its like the name a star thing..I wonder how many people have the same "star" named.. and how many people have your same alligator? NOT trying to be a downer as its an AWESOME idea.. just curious as to what sponsoring entails.. Im sure they dont name it after you..but is it like, you donate and get your name on some kind of website?

 

[hallenhe]

With Oxfam, I think they actually purchase and/or maintain a particular animal with your donation. World Wildlife Fund makes it clear that most of theirs are "symbolic adoptions" - some of their money goes to hellbender conservation (and chimp, lemur, clownfish, etc.), and your contribution is going into their general conservation fund, where it may be used for hellbender conservation, but may end up being used in different conservation efforts. They send you a picture, a fact sheet, and, if you wish, a stuffed animal.

All this being said, its a good cause, and we've decided that, should we ever come across a hellbender in the wild, we will assume it's the one we've adopted. Gerry named it Diablo.