by Paul Swen
You know when you give that really perfect gift, and you see the reaction of pure, unadulterated joy, and you know it’s real. The recipient’s face expands with emotion. Maybe they squeal with excitement. Maybe they immediately get up and start playing with the wonderful, perfect gift you gave. Yeah, that is a wonderful feeling. The holidays are also bejeweled in all sorts of wonderful traditions. Delicious meals are shared with friends and family, crafted with care from recipes passed down for generations. Decorations adorn homes, offices, parks, and even city streets. Everywhere seems to be enwrapped in garland, ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Cherished tchotchkes find their way out of storage, and suddenly deer, nutcrackers, and Santa Claus figures populate every available open space. Of course, the holiday season is packed with meaning, and the commercialization can get a little daunting. But let’s focus on the positive; ’tis the season to show love and appreciation. And spread some genuine joy.
Do you know who also deserves a big, old bag of merriness? The magnificent animals of our beloved zoo. All year round, the animals inspire wonder and spontaneous smiles. Animal lovers of all ages, and even the Grinches and Scrooges, can’t help but feel lucky to witness such splendors of Nature. They have graced us with so many precious memories. We can open our hearts and include all creatures, great and small, in the joys and traditions of this magical time of year. The holidays grace us with some seriously delightful traditions, and a very special one for Tyler, Texas, is the Enrichment Tree of Caldwell Zoo. Christmas trees are very special in their own right, and the Enrichment Tree may be the grandest of them all.
Santa may have a secret workshop far away in the frozen North with elves tinkering away to fill the stockings of good boys and girls. And right here at our zoo, our dedicated staff are diligently looking out for all the members of our animal family. The animals certainly deserve treats, toys, and joyful surprises, too! The noble keepers take care of the animals every day and really know their individual personalities. So, they definitely know who’s been naughty or nice. Maybe Emanti, the elephant, tries to get more carrots and sweet potatoes than his brother at mealtimes. Maybe Mac, the macaw, tries to take her partner Sinbad’s share of nuts. And maybe Rayne, the African penguin, occasionally tries to pilfer his keepers’ scrub brushes, but let’s face it, all the animals have been good boys and girls! Throughout the year, the keepers make a list and check it twice to bring joy to all the girls and boys, whether furry, finned, or feathered, blue, green, striped, or spotted. This carefully curated list is gathered on the hearty branches of the Enrichment Tree. There, enwrapped in lights and adornments, the perfect gift ideas are available for all animal lovers near and far.
Of course, you want to reward your animal friends with the perfect gift, and with this list you’ll hit the mark every time. What makes the Enrichment Tree so special is that everyone can find the gift that is just right. There are big ones and small ones, tasty treats and serious brain-teasing puzzles, soothing delights and sturdy toys that will last throughout the year. Plus, you’ll get to know a little more about your favorite animal friends. How could you know that Kiano the rhino finds French salad dressing absolutely scrumptious? Did you know that Tonya the elephant is a serious painter? You should see her brilliant abstract aesthetic masterpieces! (Available in the gift shop, just in case you’re looking for the ideal gift for one of your human friends.) And I bet you didn’t know that Xena June the giraffe gets giddy over fresh popcorn—hold the butter, please. The gift ideas span the spectrum of positivity. If you want to give Calvin and Hobbes, the outrageously adorable and energetic ocelot kittens, a cat toy that helps them grow up to be big and strong, we have the purrfect item. Or maybe you want to help redecorate the habitat of Herbert, the clever chameleon. There are gift ideas for everyone, and best of all, you can visit your friends throughout the year and see them enjoying the thoughtful gift you gave.
This tradition has been going on for a long time at Caldwell Zoo—decades, in fact. Every year, a lovely tree is placed within the grounds and adorned with all the ideas collected by the animal keepers. So, anyone can visit the zoo, pick out a present that suits their spirit, and share in the joyful celebration of the season. For those who can’t visit the zoo in person, you can easily go online and peruse the list from the comfort of your own home. (Here’s a link so you can shop in your PJs: https://giftwhale.com/lists/UlO38X.) This generosity of our community is fun for sure, but it’s also a big help to the zoo. Considering the thousands of meals that are made for the animals every day, the literal tons of hay that must fill the barns, and the medical equipment needed by the veterinary staff to keep all the animals fit and healthy, contributions from the community are greatly appreciated. Community support directly helps with all the important work being done all year long. This year alone, the zoo hatched 72 chicks of the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken; 63 Texas horned lizards are being reintroduced back into the wild; a pair of red-ruffed lemurs were born here; and, of course, the two ocelot kittens are proof that the conservation efforts are working. So, any and all contributions are welcome.
This year, consider adding a few more names to your holiday gift list and spread the love. Experience the joy found among the bows of the Enrichment Tree. Your generosity can make a kitten purr, a bird sing, a lion roar, or even make an elephant trumpet with cheer. Let your holiday spirit be a little wild and let your heart be light!