Meet Corinna Sara Bechko, an artist who helps save tapirs

For quite a few years now, Corinna Sara Bechko has been making jewelry for our online gift shop. She creates tapirs and other animals and has the most amazingly artistic assortment of beads that she pairs with the animals. Earrings and pendants come with beads - pins do not. If you ask for a blue bead, you'll get a blue piece of art, whether it's the simply elegant blue bead above, or something with an elaborate design. In any case, they always set off the jewelry to a T. No two pieces are ever alike!

I was excited to find that Corinna was interviewed on the Shrimp Salad Circus blog the other day. Please go on over and take a look! Corinna and her Etsy store (The Frog Bag) are the subject of the post. She has been donating a portion of her sales to the tapirs. She's also conducting a give-away on her blog. Check it out and win one of her most amazing hand-made zoology-inspired cat toys.

A barrel of plastic monkeys

When someone wants to order a stuffed or plastic animal in bulk, we do our best to get it for them. In this case, it was 500 monkeys of a particular species. Sometimes we have surprising animals in bulk, but this time we had to "order in." We make phone calls, we crunch numbers, and we try to make it work for everyone.

So, the day after our customer called us with "an unusual question," several large boxes were brought through our front door by UPS.

Barbara and Sue set to work tearing open boxes and slicing plastic bags. And, piles of toy monkeys were the result! At this point, I was glad they were only toys, or we'd have had a problem!

Ah, lots of material to be recycled. Unfortunately, these inner boxes are too flimsy to ship through the mail on their own, or we would have had a nice supply of them for your orders!

Here they are . . . monkeys galore. Now all we needed was sorting. But we're multi-talented here, and Sue and Barbara made quick work of the task.

The capuchins were separated out (top photo, and why does it remind me of The Wizard of Oz?), and we now have a barrel of monkey species for your pleasure! You should be seeing them online in the next few days. I have to identify them first, and there are some interesting ones here. All stand on their plastic platforms, and all are on plastic branches. Do you have a project that requires primates? We have them! In stock! Now! Some are probably in the "hard to find" category. I know there's a uakari monkey and a sifaka lemur. I think I saw a tarsier, and there are others I'll have fun researching. If you find this post before we get them online, just give a call or send e-mail.

Phone: (503) 325-3179

E-mail: tapir@tapirback.com

Let us know what your unusual toy animal request is. We'll try to help!

Hand-carved bloodwood (palo de sangre) wooden fish folk art from South America

Call or email if you have any questions!
(888) 325-3179 (We are in Oregon, USA)

Palo de sangre is the Spanish name for this rich red wood. The English translation is "bloodwood." It is the heartwood of the trees Brosimum paraense and Brosimum rubescens. The sapwood is yellowish-white. According to Wikipedia, "Palo de sangre has a fine texture and takes a high polish. The wood is very hard and has a tendency to blunt tools. The wood is used in decorative woodworking and woodturning . . . . The Nature Conservancy considers this tree secure within its native range." Other sources give additional names: muirapiranga, satiné rubane, cacique, and cardinalwood (due to its red color). It keeps its color, and does not turn brown with age like some highly colored woods.

Palo de sangre is carved into wonderfully attractive and charming animal figures in Colombia and other regions of tropical America. The bright red color is a natural property of the wood, as is the highly finished shine on the surface (evidenced by the reflected light in the photo). These animals are not varnished, stained, or painted, but come to you in their spectacular natural finish. Fortunately, the artisans who carve them are not restricted by any means or conventions to a particular template, so you get the benefit of each individual's vision and creativity. The wood also varies somewhat from one carving to the next as far as natural color, grain, and markings. The motifs themselves are repeated (crocodiles and manatees are common; tapirs are less common), although availability depends on circumstances. We may be able to get several tapirs this month and none next month, for example. Or we may be able to get small otters one month and only large otters the next. In many cases, only one of each style is available. Please phone (888-325-3179) or e-mail if you are interested in more than one of the styles shown in our drop-down menu. These wooden animal replicas were imported to the US by the Tapir Preservation Fund. Your purchase helps support conservation of tapirs and their habitat.

The pirarucu, also known as the arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is a member of the catfish family and is one of the largest fresh water fish in the world. It is found primarily in the Amazon River and its tributaries and can grow up to 9 feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds. It is a valuable food fish for South American people and is both netted and speared and then sold in the markets. It has the amazing ability to breathe fresh air and also to burrow in the mud. This helps it survive in periods of great water level fluctuation and drought. Its scales are large and hard and are used as scraping tools and as ornaments. Although not presently endangered, there is concern that overfishing may soon impact the future of this unusual beautiful species.

Do you love carved wood?

Highly unusual baskets (water jars) from South America

About our hand-made werregue baskets from Colombia

These hand-woven baskets are special! Due to the unique construction methods used for werregue baskets, it takes several days to several months for an artisan to make each basket. Each is a work of art in itself, and no two are alike. Made from the spines of werregue palm trees, the baskets are lined internally so they hold water. The baskets are used by the local people to carry water from the rivers and lakes into the village. Inside and out, the baskets look like they're completely made of woven palm; the secret water shield is buried among the layers of the basket. Because of this, it is heavier than you would expect a basket to be. The palm fibers are also dense and slick, adding to the solid feel of these specially crafted pieces.Werregue baskets are considered to be the finest baskets made in Colombia. Their craftsmanship, detail, and the tight weaving of the fibers are easy to appreciate. They are extremely beautiful and also durable. Beneath the top layers of fiber you can see the tight coils used to shape the baskets. They are coiled tigher and of smaller diameter at the bottom of the basket. They grow as the basket widens out and they narrow again at the narrowest part of the neck below the rim.

Do you love baskets? Leave us a comment!

Plastic crayfish, crawfish, crawdad, escrevisse!

Our Plastic Crayfish

Call it a crayfish, crawfish, or crawdad, this engaging, somewhat realistic-looking plastic crayfish is soft and flexible. It's made of bright, almost-day-glo orange rubbery plastic and is about the size of a real crayfish. It floats and it also can be filled with water to use as a squirting crayfish lawn or bath toy. It would make great table decorations at a crayfish festival or outdoor barbeque. It can also be used as a demo for a class project about crayfish or crustaceans. The underside is moulded with realistic shapes as is the top. Check out our other crayfish toys and gifts.

About Crayfish

The crayfish (also called crawfish, crawdad, and sometimes mudbug) is a smaller crustacean somewhat resembling the lobster, to which it is related. Crayfish live in fresh running water and are not very tolerant of pollution. There is an invasive species of crawfish (red swamp crawfish, red swamp crayfish, Louisiana crawfish or Louisiana crayfish) which lives in the Southeastern United States and is more tolerant of polluted water. The red swamp crawfish can become a pest when it appears in great numbers. It stands taller on its feet than the typical crayfish, and uses the ends of its claws to stand on. Crawfish prefer running fresh water in a location sheltered as much as possible from preditors. Crayfish in general survive best in climates where the water doesn't freeze clear to the bottom. They are prized by many for food. I once had some as pets, as we found them in the irrigation systems in Southern California. I was probably allowed to keep them in a big tub of water for a few days before we ate them. When you pick them up, you have to hold them behind the claws. I can tell you from experience that the claws can deliver quite a pinch if you let them reach your fingers! The word "crayfish" comes from the Old French word escrevisse. Although several species of crawfish live in many countries in the Norhtern and Southern Hemispheres, the reason we might associate this animal with our state of Louisiana is because 90 percent of the crawfish in the world come from that state, and 70 percent are consumed there. 70-80 percent of crawfish produced in Louisiana are red swamp crawfish with the remaining 20-30 percent being white river crawfish. As you can imagine, there are many tasty recipes for this freshwater relative of the lobster!

Saber-toothed cat 3D puzzle

There are a lot of ways to spell sabertooth cat, and there are a lot of ways to put one together! We have a realistic-looking 3-D sabretooth puzzle that will be loads of fun to put together. When you're done, you get either a nice replica of the sabre-tooth to keep, or you can take it apart and put it back together again. We have about 40 different animals, so they make great gifts or party favors.

Here are the pieces. Where you do want to start?

These 3-D (three dimensional) puzzle animals are some of the more detailed we have seen, making them an interesting replica as well as a fun toy for grown-ups and children above the age of 3. The 20 pieces are cleverly fitted, flexible, and not too difficult to assemble. The sabertooth cat puzzle is about 4 inches long. See our other 3-D Puzzle animals here.

The smilodon, or sabertooth cat (sometimes also called saber-tooth tiger), roamed parts of North and South America around the time of the last Ice Age. The most familiar is the (Smilodon fatalis), of which many remains have been found in the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. It became extinct about 11,000 years ago.

Plastic Galapagos Islands marine iguana

Our Plastic Galapagos Islands Marine Iguana

This exotic marine iguana is one in our series of lively and lifelike plastic animals found in the Galapagos Islands. Its realistic shape and details will be enjoyed as part of a school project, diorama, plastic animal collection, as a party favor, or gift. Our plastic Galapagos marine iguana measures 4 inches from nose to tail. Be sure to see our other iguana toys and gifts.

About Iguanas

The Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) has the unusual ability to live in the sea. It dives into the water at tidepools and the water's edge to forage for algae. It is found only in the Galapagos Island chain. It is generally black to deep dark green in color to help absorb heat after returning from a dive in the cold ocean waters. An adult Galapagos marine iguana is about 2-3 feet long and is not a particularly fast runner. It is therefore vulnerable to dogs and cats which often prey on it. The marine iguana is plentiful and not considered endangered like many species in the area.

Platypus drinking cup for children

Delight any child, and especially children who love platypuses or Australian animals with this plastic cup featuring a dick-billed platypus with a tail for the cup's handle. It's quite cute and also quite safe. THESE ARE NOT "SIPPY CUPS"! Our animal cups are an excellent alternative to sippy cups. Doctors, dentists, pediatricians, parents, grandparents, and other care-givers are moving away from sippy cups due to the discovery that cavities in young children may be exacerbated by the shape of the sippy cup. Our animal cups have the regular rim of a plastic mug, but are made in small sizes for children. Each cup is 3 inches tall, 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and holds 7 1/2 oz. of liquid when filled. They are dishwasher safe and very durable. The manufacturer's test results showed that the plastic is NOT TOXIC for small children. Also, in regards to another question, the Safety Department at K&M International (the importer) tells us, "They have been tested and do not contain Bisphenol A." (Bisphenol A is a chemical sometimes found in clear, flexible plastics.)

Now that we've told you what they don't have, they do have eye-catching appeal for kids. Your child or grandchild can grasp the tail of the platypus, which is moulded in bas relief on the cup and presented in simple but charming style. The cups are very sturdy and durable, the colors are eye-catching for kids, and the platypus has a number of friends on our plastic animal drinking cup page.

Delight your friends with this nice green plastic eel . . .

Please note: The eel has more green on it than it appears here. I think I had some trouble with the photo.

Our Plastic Moray Eel

This moray eel is beautifully detailed nearly matching the real thing, its made out of floppy, flexible (not posable) rubber-like plastic that always pops back into its original position (shown here). It also it squeaks when you squeeze it. Our plastic moray eel is a slightly brighter yellow-green than shown in the photo. Check out our other eel toys and gifts. Our moray eel is 11 1/2-inches long.

About Moray Eels

Like our rubbery plastic moray eel, real "green moray eels" (Genus Gymnothorax) appear to be yellow-green in color. They are actually brown, but the mucus covering gives them a green or yellow-green tone to the human eye. These eels grow to about 5 or 6 feet long, and occur in the western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico, south to Brazil, including Ascensión Island. They are commonly found in the ocean, and are popular for salt-water aquariums, although there are problems keeping them with other fish and keeping them from escaping from the tank. The green moray eel is found throughout the warm waters of the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, and Florida Keys. Apparently a similar-looking eel is also found in the waters along the southern coast of Australia and Tasmania. This family of moray eels contains many species.

Mellow Yellow Monday: No jellyfish loitering, please!

It's an unusual sight, but this plastic jellyfish seemed to like our deck and just wanted to hang out for awhile. It seemed friendly enough, although it didn't have much to say. "Stay for awhile," we suggested. "Would you like a drink?" we asked. "With salt please," it said, and after a rest and a bit of refreshment, it slipped back into its element and floated away.

You can visit this plastic jellyfish and its jellyfish friends here if you'd like :)

Or pop on over to Mellow Yellow Monday and chill with more things YELLOW!

We love to see your projects and we LOVE it when you get good grades!

A very happy mother wrote to us:

Hi! About a month ago I ordered a Horned Toad and a Thorny Devil from you for my son's project for his school's Academic Fair. We just finished the fair and Marshal made a 100 on his project with very high marks for the animal examples he used (your toys!). This was a big boost to him and he worked very hard to make sure his report was as good as his visual project was. I am attaching some pictures of the project! Thanks again for the speedy service!!!!! His name is Marshal Rainwater and he's in the 3rd grade at Hancock Creek Elementary here in sunny Cape Coral Florida. (P.S. - This was made in a child's shoe box. The background is an aquarium background, the 'sand' is crushed almonds colored, and then of course your lovely figures including the 'box' the devil came in.) -- Mandie

Thanks for telling us! We're all smiles around here. Great work, Marshal. We're glad we could help! By the way, the "box the devil came in" consists of two halves, light tan in color. The horned toad is standing on one, and the other is just behind the thorny devil. The thorny devil is a puzzle, and the pieces come in a re-closable plastic case. Marshal used his ingenuity and put the case to use as stones for his diorama. Very clever :)

Green animals

Green, green, and green! For Think Green Thursday, I've collected a number of our animals that come in green and asked them to pose nicely for us! They were happy to do it! Can you find the alligator eyeglass holder? He's one of my favorites, but he seems a bit shy. Just a hint: he's near the middle of the photo. We are also thinking green with this nice "Mountain Tapir Peace" tote bag that you can see along with other items made from the same design on CafePress. So, green is for the green animals and for using fewer plastic and paper bags. It's also for what we do at the Tapir Preservation Fund. We raise money for tapir conservation, which helps save habitat in rainforests of Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia, aiding in keeping the tapir species in existence, keeping the habitat green and growing, and helping in that way to keep our planet green!

A pink body and ruby-red legs

And look at those eyes! Have you ever seen a bedbug like this one? Since today is Ruby Tuesday, I wanted to feature this cute critter - a favorite with our customers!

Piranhas, anyone?

Everyone likes piranhas for one reason or another, don't we? We have two somewhat lifelike plastic piranha toys. They're made of solid plastic and they feel like a real fish! They're so rubbery, they strech like crazy. Kids will love them! This solid plastic toy fish has a rubbery feel, much like gelatin - a wonderful creepy feeling kids will enjoy - AND IT STRETCHES. It is 5 1/2 inches long before it is stretched (it doesn't stay stretched) and is wonderfully detailed and realistic looking. Our rubber-like plastic piranha comes in two colors: silver with turquoise markings (the one on this page) and yellow with green markings.

Piranhas (Serrasalmus) are a freshwater fish native to South American. Although they have been labeled as meat-eaters, they also eat plant matter, seeds and fruit. They are about 8-12 inches long and have a narrow body with a blunt head. Their strong jaws contain razor sharp, triangular-shaped teeth.

Plastic baby elephant in our store

Our Plastic Baby Elephant

This plastic elephant from Safari Ltd. is wonderfully detailed. Safari is known for its museum-quality plastic animals (solid plastic, not hollow) that are sturdy, life-like, and affordable. These plastic toys are great for school projects, dioramas, your personal collection, or the toy-room floor. Be sure to see our other African elephant toys and gifts.

About Elephants

Until recently, it was believed that there were only two species of elephant - African and Asian (Elephas maximus). However, in 2004, DNA evidence proved that there are actually two true species of African elephant - African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis). African savannah elephants are the largest elephant, African forest elephants are slightly smaller and Asian elephants are the smallest elephant. African elephants have larger ears than the Asian elephant. In the African species, both the male and female elephants have large visible tusks. In the Asian species only the males have large visible tusks. The females have small tusks called tushes that are not usually visible. African elephants only have one dome on the top of their head, and the flat forehead is slightly sloped. The Asian elephant has two distinct domes at the top of its head. There is a projection on the end of the elephant's trunk that is referred to as a "finger." African elephants have two "fingers" on the end of their trunk, and will use a grasping motion when picking things up. (This is much like the way we use our thumb and forefinger.) The Asian elephant has only one "finger," so it has to curl the end of its trunk around anything it wants to pick up. All three elephant species are endangered because of poachers who hunt them for their tusks.

Realistic armadillo jewelry!

We have several of these cute brown hand-painted armadillo pins in stock at the moment. They can be shipped anywhere in the world as soon as you order. Don't worry about the rainbow stripe on the armadillo - it's reflecting light from the scanner, because it's so shiny!

Made in Washington and Idaho by a team of three U.S. artists, these high-quality pins or tie tacks are unique. Each exquisitely detailed piece is cast in pewter and painted by hand. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. Each pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it doesn't skew sideways or turn upside down, and the finished product is not only gorgeous, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. They can be used as lapel pins, hat pins, tie tacks, and more. These collectible animal pins are heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group. In fact, if you're interested in having the name of your organization put on an item, write to us for details. You can find more fish and animals by the same artists listed on our Hand-Painted Jewelry page. Also check out our other armadillo toys and gifts.

The armadillo pin measures 1-1/2 inches long by 1 inch high.

Plastic sloth

Have you been looking just everywhere for a plastic three-toed sloth? Put that car back in the garage, turn in that subway ticket. Search no more - we have plastic toy sloths! In fact, we have three different toy sloths! Check them out here. The text below goes witih the sloth you see here:

This plastic three-toed sloth is beautifully detailed, with nicely moulded fur and facial features. Each foot has three long claws on it. Our plastic sloth measures 3 inches high to the top of its head, and 3 1/4 inches to the top of its arm. The bottom of the sloth is flat so it can sit easily on a table or shelf. The words "brady podidae" are moulded into the bottom. That should be "bradypodidae" (all one word), which is the family name of this sloth. The plastic sloth's yellow-gold coloring and dusky face are like those of a real sloth. These rainforest animals are distributed throughout Central and South America. You can see photos and learn more about this animal on the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web page for three-toed sloths. Come check out our other sloth toys and gifts.

Thank you for visiting!

Stuffed bushbaby mother and baby

Our Stuffed Bushbaby Mom and Baby

Our exceptionally soft, cuddly stuffed bushbabies by Fiesta are stitched together, giving you one mother and baby combination stuffed toy. Mom measures 9 1/2 inches to the top of her head in a seated position. Her wonderfully soft tail is 17 inches long, and that of the baby is 10 inches. What a cuddly pair! The eyes are hard plastic, and the cute pink noses are also made of plastic. The eyes, ears, legs and tail are securely attached making this charming stuffed animal duo a suitable toy for all ages. To find our other animals in the Fiesta line, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, beanies and puppets, check out our Stuffed Animal Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page.

About Bushbabies

Like lemurs, bushbabies are prosimians, primates that are not as highly evolved as monkeys or great apes. Also called galagos and nagapies (Afrikaans for "night monkeys"), these small, nocturnal creatures are native to continental Africa. Their name comes from the animals' cries which sound much like a crying baby. Their strong hind legs, which are longer than their front legs, make them agile leapers. Their large eyes give them good night vision and their long tails help them balance. Their paws are remarkably like a human's hand with 4 fingers and a thumb.

Stuffed wolf cub

Is this stuffed wolf cub just the thing for you or someone you love?

Our Stuffed Wolf Cub

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed wolf is soft and affectionate-looking. Its legs are made of plush hair and are sewn together to replicate a lying position. The body and head is light gray and light tan with black around the muzzle and ears of the wolf's head. Our wolf is probably a cub. He has a kindly expression and promises not to bite. He makes a nice pet, a gift, or fits perfectly into a stuffed animal collection. Check out our other wolf toys and gifts.

About Wolves

Our beautiful stuffed wolf appears to depict a young gray wolf (Canis lupus), which is also known as a timber wolf. The adult is the largest wolf, about 3 feet in length and weighing about 100 pounds. It once roamed freely throughout North America and Euroasia, but hunting and habitat destruction has taken a significant toll on the wolf population. Great efforts have been undertaken to reintroduce the wolf to areas of the Northwest and Idaho with cooperation of ranchers, who see the wolf as a threat to livestock, especially sheep. The wolf is incredibly adaptable to climate and terrain and can travel long distances. It can withstand frigid temperatures and can be found in snowy mountains, high deserts and plains. Its claws and padded feet are designed with special webbing for hanging on to slippery surfaces. Wolves have bulky coats consisting of two layers. The first layer is made up of tough guard hairs designed to repel water and dirt. The second is a dense, water-resistant undercoat that insulates. The wolf is a special animal to be appreciated by all. It has been valued by native people in their art and religion.

Pre-loved Beanie Babies in store for you!

We got into the Beanie Baby craze a little late, but once we discovered them, we were hooked! Ty Beanie Babies are so cute, and unlike some stuffed animals, you can pose them, because they are floppy and the beans hold them in place. Beanie Babies have so much personality that they keep being discovered by one generation of kids and adults after another. All of our Beanie Babies are used and recycled, so the price stays low. We've made it simple by charging just $4.00 per beanie. You can get one or more, and the price is the same. We don't sort them by their market value to collectors, so sometimes you'll find a special one - also for $4.00!

As of our count on May 1, 2009, here are the beanies we have in stock. Our inventory changes, so you'll need to refer to our web page to see what we have at the time you order:

2001 Holiday Teddy Bear, wearing beaded flag pin, Date of Birth: December 24, 2000, bent tag - 1 available

Almond the Bear, Date of Birth: April 14, 1999 - 1 available

Amber the Cat, Date of Birth: February 21, 1999 - 1 available

Ariel the Bear, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation - 1 available

Banana the Orangutan, Date of Birth: June 30, 2000 - 1 available

Beak the Kiwi Bird, Date of Birth: February 3, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Bessie the Cow, Date of Birth: June 27, 1995 - 1 available

Buzzie the Bee, Date of Birth: October 10, 2000, 1 available

Butch the Bull Terrier, Date of Birth: October 2, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Canyon the Cougar, Date of Birth: May 29, 1998, 1 no tag - 1 available

Cashew the Bear, Date of Birth: April 22, 2000 - 1 available

Cheezer the Mouse, Date of Birth: May 9, 2000 - 1 available

Chocolate the Moose, Date of Birth: April 27, 1993, 1 no tag - 2 available

Clubby II, Date of Birth: March 9, 1999 - 2 available

Curly the Bear, Date of Birth: April 12, 1996 - 1 available

Derby the Horse, Date of Birth: September 16, 1995, 1 no tag star head

Dobie the Doberman, Date of Birth: October 9, 1996 - 1 available

Flitter the Butterfly, Date of Birth: June 2, 1999 - 2 available

Frigid the Penguin, Date of Birth: January 21, 2000 no tag - 1 available

Glow the Firefly, Date of Birth: January 4, 2000 - 1 available

Goatee the Mountain Goat, Date of Birth: November 4,1998 - 2 available

Goochy the Jellyfish, Date of Birth: November 18, 1998 - 1 available

Gracie the Goose, Date of Birth: June 17, 1996 - 2 available

Hope the Praying Bear, Date of Birth: March 23, 1998, 1 no tag - 2 available

Honks the Goose, Date of Birth: March 11, 1999 - 1 available

Hoofer the Horse, Date of Birth: November 17, 2001 - 1 available

Jabber the Parrot, Date of Birth: October 10, 1997 - 2 available

Jake the Drake, Date of Birth: April 16, 1997, 1 bent tag - 2 available

KuKu the Cockatoo, Date of Birth: January 5, 1997 - 2 available

Lips the Fish, Date of Birth: May 15, 1999, no tag - 1 available

Little Star the Bear, Date of Birth: June 4, 2005 - 1 available

Loosy the Goose, Date of Birth: March 29, 1998 - 2 available

Mac the Cardinal, Date of Birth: June 10, 1998, 1 available

Mel the Koala Bear, Date of Birth: January 25, 1996 1 available

Millennium the Bear, Date of Birth: January 1, 1999, 1 available

Nibbly the Rabbit, Date of Birth: May 7, 1998, 2 available

Nuts the Squirrel, Date of Birth: January 21, 1996, 1 available

Peace the Bear, Date of Birth: February 1, 1996, 2 available

Peanut the Elephant, Date of Birth: January 25, 1995, 1 available

Pecan the Bear, Date of Birth: April 15 1999, 1 available

Pouch the Kangaroo, Date of Birth: November 6, 1996, 1 available

Quackers the Duck, Date of Birth: April 18, 1994, bent tag - 1 available

Rainbow the Chameleon, Date of Birth: October 14, 1997, 1 no tag - 2 available

Roam the Bison, Date of Birth: January 27, 1998, 2 no tag - 3 available

Rocket the Blue Jay, Date of Birth: March 12, 1997 - 2 available

Sammy the Bear, Date of Birth: June 23, 1998 - 1 available

Santa the Santa, Date of Birth: December 6, 1998 - 1 available

Scurry the Beetle, Date of Birth: January 18, 2000 - 2 available

Seaweed the Otter, Date of Birth: March 19, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Sherwood the Bear, Date of Birth: September 8, 2002 - 1 available

Smart the Owl, Class of 2001, Date of Birth: June 7, 2000 - 1 available

Snort the Bull, Date of Birth: May 15, 1995 - 1 available

Stilts the Stork, Date of Birth: June 16, 1998 - 1 available

Stinger the Scorpion, Date of Birth: September 29, 1997 - 2 available

Teddy 100 Years Bear, coin missing, no tag, January 20, 2002 - 1 available

Tiptoe the Mouse, Date of Birth: January 8, 1999, no tag - 1 available

Tuffy the Terrier, Date of Birth: October 12, 1996 - 1 available

Waves the Orca Whale Date of Birth: December 8, 1996 - 1 available

Wise the Owl, Class of 1998, Date of Birth: May 31, 1997 - 1 available

Wooly the Sheep, Classic 1995, retired, bent tag - 1 available

Zodiac Goat, retired - 1 available

Zodiac Monkey, no tag, retired - 1 available

Zodiac Rat, retired - 1 available

Come see our Ty Beanie Babies!

Plastic orangutan

Do you need plastic orangutans for your school diorama? We have this little guy, who appears to be hangling from a branch or reaching for something. Come see this plastic orangutan along with our others at Tapir and Friends Wildlife World online!

Capybara jewelry - earrings, pins, pendants!

Our Capybara Jewelry - You choose the color!

This animal jewelry is unique! Any item can be ordered in a variety of colors. This sturdy, light-weight aluminum jewelry is made by Corinna Bechko, who is not only an artist, but has worked at the Los Angeles Zoo in the research division, with animal that need rehabilitating, and currently is a zookeeper at the Playboy Mansion. She attended the Jewelry Arts Academy in Manhattan. What a lucky day it was for us when she discovered our web site and suggested we might want to see the jewelry she makes!

Customers have a wide variety of choices. Pendants and earrings come with a bead. Corinna will try to find any color you want, so bead choices are almost endless. The animal itself comes in a variety of colors as listed in the drop-down menu above. You will find examples of the earrings, pins and pendants and some color combinations, as well as the other animal types we sell, on our page of Aluminum Jewelry.

Each capybara measures over 1 1/4 inches from nose to tail. The pendants hang on a 17-inch black silk cord (included). You color choice can be made up quickly - probably in only a few days. Be sure to look over our other capybara toys and gifts.

About Capybaras

The semi-aquatic cabybara or chiwiri (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest of all the 1,729 species of living rodents and is native to South America. It weighs about a hundred pounds, and is about 2 feet tall at the shoulder. Looking rather like a cross between a guinea pig and a hippopotamus, it lives in large groups along river banks, where it grazes on grasses and aquatic vegetation. It comes out on to dry land to rest and bask in the sun, but at the first hint of danger the whole troop dashes into the water. Its worst enemies are the puma and the jaguar. (Capybara research by Joslyn Biggins.)

Stuffed plush fawn from Hansa

We think this stuffed fawn toy is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe it's a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although it is made of synthetic materials, it looks real. This wonderfully detailed baby deer measures 23 3/4 inches long, 9 1/2 inches wide and 13 inches high to the tips of the ears. The designer of this unique line of stuffed animals takes pride in the European heritage of his realistic animal design. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched.

This is not your ordinary stuffed animal. Our plush deer baby has the charm and quality you'll want to keep for a lifetime. It is the kind of toy your child will remember for years to come. It is the kind of "pet" a young child will want to name and create his or her own stories about.
The literature says, "The magical kingdom of Hansa plush was originally created for the most exclusive European clientele. Europeans have treasured these lifelike heirloom creatures for over twenty years. . . . Each Hansa piece is a handcrafted masterpiece, lovingly designed from portraits of real animals. The 'skin' for each of these marvelous beasts is hand-cut and trimmed, never stamped out by machine. The fabric for spotted and striped animals is custom designed and specially manufactured in small lots to Hansa's exacting specifications."

As time permits, we will be adding more of this unique line to our gift shop. If you're looking for an animal and don't find it on our site, please write to us. To find our other Hansa stuffed toy animals, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, stuffed beanies and plush hand puppets, check out our Stuffed Animals Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page. Check out our terrific selection of deer, elk and moose toys and gifts.

Spider jewelry (tarantula pin)

This tarantula spider jewelry could be a most unusual gift for any of your spider-loving friends! Come see this spider and the rest of our hand-pained animal jewelry at Tapir and Friends gift shop online!

Hippo Peeper Keeper Eyeglass Holder

Here's our hippo Peeper Keeper eyeglass holder, yawning or roaring (take your pick) just for you. Made of carved and painted wood, the hippo is 6 inches tall.

What a classy way to keep your reading or sunglasses from getting lost on your coffee table, bedside table, hall shelf, etc. You can also use this functional sculpture to display business cards with pizazz and pride!

"Peeper Keepers" are fun and practical, and come in over 40 different animal types. See our other Peeper Keeper animals here. If we don't have an animal you're looking for on our web site, please ask! Check out our terrific selection of hippo toys and gifts.

Butterfly jewelry

We have stunning hand-painted pewter butterfly jewelry you won't want to miss! Are you a butterfy fan? But then, who doesn't love these beautiful, harmless, spirit-lifting insects? Come check them out on our page of hand-painted butterfly and insect jewelry!