With Christmas just around the corner (how did that happen?), we’re all probably thinking about what presents we still need to buy for our loved ones. Or, what food needs to be bought and what we could buy for our pets at home? Unless you’re one of those people who are already prepared by September with everything wrapped and tucked safely away (I don’t hate you, I envy you).
But what would our animals here at Wingham like this Christmas? And can we use any of your unwanted or unused Christmas items?
Our Amazon Wishlist, gives a list of general items that can be used across most sections. It can be found here; Amazon.co.uk.
We also have a Wish of the Month which pinpoints one thing we specifically need each month here. We announced in our monthly newsletter that wrapping paper is a sort after commodity by the keepers at this time of year for wrapping gifts for the animals. But this doesn’t have to come from the wish list! If you have left over paper from last year that you no longer want, we can definitely put it to good use (as long as it isn’t the foil wrap).
Pickle
Pickle the gibbon is a huge fan of a very specific KONG toy, The Wild Knots Bear. This dog toy has minimal stuffing and has internal ropes that are knotted. She loves to cuddle this and groom it. With it having very little stuffing, it’s the perfect gift for her as she does like to also tear them apart after a while.
The cats
All our big cats adore perfumes. The smellier the better! It doesn’t have to be a designer one either. Oh no. Our cats aren’t fussy and in fact most prefer the cheapest stuff you can buy as it tends to smell more. Much to the keeper’s dismay.
Binx in particular is a great fan of cologne and is definitely not averse to a cheap knockoff version of old spice or Channel number 5. So, if you get a fragrance and think ewww, that’s not for me, don’t sneakily throw it away on Boxing Day. Please bring it to us and drop it off in our donation bin! This can be found in reception. We can only use bottled perfumes and aftershaves though, not cans of antiperspirant or deodorant.
Christmas gifts everyone loves
Nuts. Yes, you heard me. We all love nuts here at Wingham, especially Becky. Her birds go absolutely gaga for the stuff.
In fact, keepers will fight over them as everyone wants them from the bears to the great apes. It doesn’t matter if they are whole, with shells or unshelled. As long as they aren’t salted, sugar coated or whatever else the manufacturer coats them in, we can use them. ‘Au naturel’ is how we like them here and any type as well, from peanuts to those tricky to open Brazil nuts.
Fruits and vegetables are things that we always use. On an average day we will prepare almost 100kg of fruits and vegetables for our animals. So, any spare/ left-over whole produce that you have would be greatly appreciated. The picture below shows only half of what we use in one week.
Every year we are asked if we can take Christmas trees and I’m afraid our answer is no thank you. We already get a regular donation of trees every year which is more than enough for what we use. But we appreciate the offers, nonetheless.
Lastly, if you’re feeling generous and want to treat the staff to some treats, any biscuits, chocolates, teas, coffees, cakes, crisps and mince pies, these are always greatly appreciated! The animal industry is one that doesn’t stop over the festive period with staff having to be on site to care for their animals under their charge even on Christmas Day.
As this is my last blog for 2022, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a very happy new year.
