I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

20 Dec 2006 11:00 AM

Have you ever heard the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" sung by Gayla Peevey? If not (or if you'd just like to hear it again), click here.

John Rox wrote the song in 1950. It became a hit in 1953 when some savvy PR people had ten-year-old Gayla sing it as part of a money-raising campaign to get a hippo for the Oklahoma City Zoo. Kids were encouraged to send in their change and voila! Gayla got her hippo. (Matilda. Which of course Gayla immediately "donated" to the zoo.)

Well, if you've ever wanted a hippopotamus of your own for Christmas, you can have one! Thanks to the World Wildlife Fund and their Adoption Program.

In addition to hippos, you have a choice of adopting up to 39 other animals too. Endangered species of all varieties, from the cute and cuddly (like pandas, penguins, and seals) to ones you'd never want to cuddle up with (like Great White sharks, anacondas, and crocodiles).

Your adoptee isn't delivered to your home, of course. Your monetary donation goes to protecting their future. You do get a formal adoption certificate and a full-color photo and Species Spotlight Card, though. Donations made online get a personalized electronic adoption certificate, screensavers, wallpaper, and AIM icons (called an Online Digipak).

Adoption prices start at $25. If you make a $50 donation, you also get a plush toy version of your pick. $100 and up gets you all of the aforementioned plus a gift box and a hinged double-frame photo displaying the animal's picture and adoption certificate.

Or, if you want to collect a zoo of your own, they offer the Adoption of the Month Club. You can't pick which animals you want to adopt each month, however; they come pre-selected. (For this year: December is a Panda; January a Polar Bear; February a Snow Leopard; March a Bison; April a Tree Frog; May a Tiger; June a Blue-Footed Booby; July a Gorilla; August a Lemur; September a Pygmy Elephant; October a Sea Turtle; and November an Orangutan.)

Prices for the club are either $500 or $1,000. Both will give you a plush version of the month's highlighted species, along with the photo and fact sheet. The $1,000 level delivers it all in a WWF festive gift box.

So, if you want a hippo, be it for Christmas, your birthday, or just because, now you know where to get it! (Or give it, as these make perfect gifts too.)

Fun Facts: Did You Know? There's also a book out based on the song: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox and Bruce Whatley

Related Articles: You Won't Regret Letting the Kids Sleepover With A Hippopotamus

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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