Lifelike Stuffed Chinchilla Back in Stock

Our adorable, realistic stuffed chinchilla by Hansa is back in stock and ready to scamper out the door! These items are made by hand in small quantities and are often hard to get. We only have six in stock as of today. If you want a lovable, soft, furry, lifelike chinchilla, now is the time to place your order! While they last, we are shipping the same day we get your order if possible. Sometimes shipping will be the next 2 or 3 days, but we try to get it out on the day you place your order. Check them out on our chinchilla page!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed anteater

Is this adorable stuffed anteater just what you've been looking for? Come on over to Tapir and Friends Animal Store on the Internet and check it out! We ship anywhere in the world!

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed giant anteater is soft and graceful. This plush anteater made by Fiesta is 22 inches long and is sewn with soft plush fabric and white and brown synthetic hair. It is sturdy enough to stand on its white feet with lovely brown claws. It has gentle hard plastic eyes and pink ears covered in synthetic fur. Our giant anteater replica has a kindly expression and promises to snuggle next to you. This stuffed anteater makes a wonderful gift for stuffed animal lovers and complements nicely any stuffed animal collection. Check out our other anteater toys and gifts.

The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is found in Central and South America. It is an edentate, a mammal with no teeth. The giant anteater crushes insects, mainly termites, using hard growths inside its mouth. The anteater also swallows small pebbles and sand which stay in its stomach to help in digestion. The giant anteater grows to a size of 6 feet to 8 feet, including a 3 foot to 4 foot torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 to 140 pounds. This large edentate is covered with stiff, straw-like hair which grows up to 10 inches long on the tail. Anteaters may be grey or brown, but all have a diagonal black and white shoulder stripe. Anteaters have an amazing tongue. It can reach two feet in length, with a width of only 1/2 inch. The anteater can cover its tongue in a sticky saliva, allowing it to trap ants, and can extend and withdraw it up to 150 times per minute.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Tree frog Peeper Keeper Eyeglass Holders still available from Tapir and Friends

This delightful series of eyeglass holders is going fast. We still have our charming green and orange tree frog in stock as of this post. We also have alligators, flamingoes, giraffes, and more. But once they're gone, there's no telling what we'll be able to get back in stock because the animal series (much to our dismay) has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

You can use this carved and painted wood frog eyeglass holder for the obvious purpose (to hold your glasses so you don't lose or break them) or to hold business cards or even recipe cards. Does anyone still use recipe cards? If you know someone who does, this could be the perfect gift to brighten their kitchen!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic monkeys in bulk?

Do you need plastic primates in bulk? We can help! Some of our plastic animals are available in larger quanties. Among those available in bulk are a number of primate species including certain monkeys such as this capuchin monkey on a branch. Just visit our web site and give us a call at (503) 338-8646 and let us know what you need!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

What's inside a shark's mouth?

Say "Aaaaaaah!" Sometimes the customers want to know things such as, "What's inside the shark's mouth? Can we drill it and pour in greadine? Is it hard plastic, or soft?"

A toy animal's portrait usually looks more like this. It lets you know what you're getting, but maybe it's a little boring. Hmm. I think I just got an idea :)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wavy the Crocodile - Stage Puppet / Hand Puppet

Yay!!! Wavy is back in stock! This popular crocodile hand puppet (also called a "stage puppet") wriggled right out of our grasp and had to be re-ordered. We think we have enough now to make quite a few Wavy the Croc fans very happy!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Unique and beautiful crab jewelry!

Check out the lovely details in this unique and beautiful piece of crab jewelry. Our crab pin will bowl you over with it's realistic detailed design. Come see this crab and its many aquatic acquaintances in Tapir and Friends Animal Store (online). If you're interested in products made in the U.S.A., this could be just the thing for you. These beautiful animal pins are hand-made and hand painted in the state of Washington.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Mr. Hermit Crab

Our big plastic hermit crab with the inquisitive eyes is turning out to be quite a popular guy. And why not? He looks so cool and those eyes make him appear somewhere between realistic and very personable. This crab is big enough that you can learn the parts when studying sea life in school. Or - what a nice gift for any crab fancier!

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic hermit crab replica is 4 3/4 inches wide and 2 1/4 inches high. It is made of solid flexible plastic. Its legs are flexible, but not posable. The shell is made of the same hard plastic and is flexible at the front. Our hermit crab has a kindly expression and promises not to pinch. This hermit crab makes a nice pet, a gift or works well in a diorama. Check out our other crab toys and gifts.

There are approximately 500 different species of hermit crabs living in saltwater intertidal zones. It isn't a true crab, but has a soft belly which it protects by crawling into an abandoned mollusk shell. This behavior of living in an abandoned cave evokes the image of a hermit, thereby getting its name. As the hermit crab grows, it must find an ever larger shell to inhabit. The hermit crab is fussy about which shell it takes. It likes those that have anemones or sea plants growing on it and even decorates his shell with these living things. This provides a symbiotic relationship, food for them and they provide better security from predators through camouflage.There are land varieties of hermit crabs and, surprisingly enough, there is an organization of hermit crab pet lovers, who keep them at home in aquariums.

Come see our great selection of plastic sea animals!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed parakeet

Our stuffed green and yellow parakeet is so popular, we ran out over the Christmas holiday. It's now back and ready to fly to your house or to a person you want to send it to as a gift. These adorable, lifelike toy parakeets almost look like the real thing. They will brighten your day or that of the parakeet lover in your life.

We think this stuffed parakeet 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's made of synthetic materials, it looks real. The designer of the Hansa 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 stuffed bird has the charm and quality you'll want to keep for a lifetime. It's the kind of toy your child will remember for years to come. It's 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 animals 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. See other Hansa stuffed animal toys on our Stuffed Animals page. Be sure to look over our other parrots and related birds.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Your favorite stuffed kiwi bird is back in action!

This stuffed kiwi bird is fun for everyone. We love this kiwi and so do our customers. It's also been a continual favorite of kiwi lovers who receive it as a gift for birthdays, holidays, or "just because." This kiwi could be a Valentine's day surprise for someone very special. Our kiwi has been out of stock for a few weeks, and now it's back and ready to travel. Come on over and take a look!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed tapir back in stock

Wow! Our stuffed tapir, "Yanisa," is back in stock. We really missed her!

Our stuffed tapir from Hansa is hand-made in the Philippines and is based on the look of a real animal. This tapir is special! Not only are toy tapirs as rare and endangered as their real-life counterparts, but this one embodies Hansa's dependable quality construction and lifelike appearance. Hansa creates each animal with great care from the drawing board to the last stitch. The animals are hand made, the fabrics designed and purchased in small quantities to suit each design. The dark fur is a chocolate brown; the light fur is white. Yanisa's eyes have a plastic lid over them, giving them character and appeal. We have to tell you that the tail is white, not dark as in a real tapir but we hope her shining personality makes up for this.

We've named our tapir "Yanisa," after the half-Thai daughter of a Russian tapir fan and corespondent. The name sounds beautiful, but it also means "Wisdom" in the Thai language. One of our favorite tapir quotes comes from Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, who, after describing in the book Travelers' Tales Thailand, said: "Many years earlier, a traveler in Burma had described the tapir as 'an enigma,' a survivor of a 'more gentle and legendary time . . . wandering in unique isolation in a world not yet mature enough for its wisdom.'" So, what better name could we choose for this beautiful tapir?

This tapir's feet are quite realistic with a lifelike soft hoof on each of the three toes per foot. (We always like to point out that real tapirs have four toes on each front foot and four on each rear foot, but toy tapirs usually end up with three and three.) Look at the pleasing face and "signature" long tapirlike nose. Our stuffed tapir stands 7 1/2 inches tall and measures 13 1/2 inches long. Check out our other tapir toys and gifts. Read more about real tapirs on our Tapir Gallery web site. You can also contribute to their conservation through the Tapir Preservation Fund's web site. Your Club Tapir donation does not have to be processed separately, but can be added to your shopping cart! Your purchase helps save endangered animals!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed baby cheetah back in stock

After a brief absence, our adorable Hansa stuffed baby cheetah is back in stock and ready to ship! This baby cheetah toy is all you expect from a lovable Hansa stuffed animal.

We think this plush stuffed cheetah is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe its a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although its made of synthetic materials, it looks real. Note the tufts of fur on the back of the neck and on the head, as well as the delicate curly whiskers made of fine, clear filament. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched. The height (12 1/2 inches) is measured to the top of the head.

Come on over and take a look at our cute stuffed cheetah by one of the world's outstanding makers of realistic stuffed animals - that's Hansa, of course!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rrrrrrrrrr!!! Drink your juice!

These dinosaur plastic children's drinking cups are actually very kid-friendly despite the roaring in the title of the post. What kid doesn't love dinosaurs? And what kid doesn't like to have a fun cup to drink their milk or juice out of?

We have two styles of dinosaur cups - the Triceratops seen above, and the T-rex seen in the top photo. The cups are almost indestructible, and they love to play with children. My grandtapir, Teagan, loves to bang them together, although he's still using sippy cups and isn't quite old enough to drink out of something that can't be turned upside down with liquid in it. When he graduates to "I'm a big boy now" cups, he will love his animal cups even more.

We read in an article that a number of doctors and dentists had concluded that it's good to graduate the kids away from sippy cups as early as feasible, because the shape of the sippy tends to promote tooth decay. You don't want orange juice all over the floor any more times than necessary, but when graduation day arrives, you and your little ones will love our whole line of animal cups, not just the dinosaurs! The materials are thoroughly tested and pass the most stringent and up-to-date laws on child safety. The cups are also extremely sturdy. Just ask Teagan's mom! If the kid does break it with any kind of normal use or "reasonably" paranormal use, we'll replace it for you. We're confident! I tried to break one myself. It was HARD to do, even by an adult! Come check them out!

Parrot Peeper Keepers - get them while they're hoppin'

Among the animal eyeglass holders we still have in stock are these cute and colorful realistic parrots! If red is your color or birds are your game, do check them out before our final stock disappears!

The Peeper Keeper has been discontinued by the manufacturer, but as of this post date, we still have a number of parrots left, as well as quite a few other animals. Once they are gone, they're gone forever unless some other company picks up the line, and we have not seen that happening.

You supply the glasses - the cool striped ones here are just for show. We think the parrot will like whatever you put on it, and and we know that he can see with your prescription! These wonderful eyeglass holders make a great decoration for the hall, bedside, or next to the computer - wherever you typically leave your glasses. They can also be used for business cards and recipes. What fun!

Mom and son love these bald eagles!

Among our plastic birds, we have a number of American bald eagles. Just before Christmas, we asked Santa to send these three to the mother of a little eagle lover. Scroll on down to see what Mom had to say about a boy's Christmas wishes. . . .

January 10, 2010

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I was (and am). . . . My son was VERY particular in explaining to Santa exactly what he wanted, and you made his holiday wish come true. He was SO excited (the talons were just right). So thanks for making Mom and son happy and if we have helped some endangered species along the way, well, that's just gravy! or maybe the other way around. . . .

Of course, we were happy to forward the information to Santa, and he seems have come through! And that makes US happy!

Moose Peeper Keepers - the last of a dying breed

We stocked up for Christmas, and we still have a few moose left for you. The moose comes, as below, without the peepers. You supply them (we think he can see equally well with any prescription). For his part, our moose helps you keep the glasses where you can find them, or out of the way so nobody sits on them. If you've lost your glasses as many times as "someone I know," this may be just the ticket.

Once we've sold out of any of the selection of animal Peeper Keepers we still have left, that may be the end. There are a few animals we can still get, but we never know until we check on it. These eyeglass holders, very sadly, have been discontinued by the manufacturer. We have a number of animals still in stock, so you'll need to get them while you still can. They are a favorite for holidays and birthdays, but they probably won't be around by next Christmas.

Manatees get cold, too

Who's in the news? Chilly manatees! Check out this article in the Los Angeles Times to see how some of Florida's manatees manage to warm up in an unlikely spa! They have some great photos - very unusual!

And we have stuffed manatees and plastic manatees for manatee lovers who also want to help support wildlife conservation. You can see three of them on this page. Currently we have the plastic manatee and the large and small stuffed manatee in stock.

When you buy any stuffed animal, plastic animal, or other item from Tapir and Friends online animal store, your purchas helps us fund projects that help save tapirs and their rainforest habitat. We are all connected on this planet. Tapirs are "our thing," but it all works together in the giant ecological web that is our world. You can purchase replicas of your favorite animal and know you're helping save wildlife and inform the public about unusual and endangered species! What could be better?

When it's winter all around, don't colored butterflies make us smile?

Yes! I love looking at their bright colors any time of year, but it's especially nice when the skies have been overcast and gray. These beautiful butterfly pins are painted in the state of Washington, USA, by talented artists with a flair for realism and a love of animals. (Not to mention, they can hold brush much more steadily than I can!) The result is fantstically beautiful animal jewelry - really collector's items of heirloom quality - for only $29.00 each.

We have lots of painted animal jewelry that isn't even online yet. If you have a favorite animal or are looking for a gift, give us a call toll free at (888) 325-3179.

. . . beautiful!

When does a moose need a makeover?

I don't know. That could be one of the great mysteries of life. But sometimes our animals are delivered to us looking different than the last time we saw them. This happened with our plastic moose. Usually, the trend is toward more realism, and that was true in the case of our moose replica today. He looks a bit different, has slightly different colors, and is even somewhat smaller. He also costs a little less than our former moose.

So, what's the first thing some moose do after a makeover? Of course. They get their pictures taken. That's exactly what our made-over moose replica did.

Did you know that moose are one of the hardest plastic animals to photograph? Do you know why? Their antlers cast big shadows over their eyes! How did we get our moose to pose in the light for us? It's simple! Leave a comment and I'll tell you!

You can see our newly-remodeled plastic moose replica online right here.

Disappearing plastic frogs

Our wonderful, colorful, and lifelike plastic frogs have been discontinued by the manufacturer! They are disappearing species by species, sadly just like in real life. We still have a number of species left, and although we are always looking, it's hard to find plastic frogs as realistic as this bunch. Not every frog on this page is going out of production, but the one you see here and several others are soon to be history. If you love frogs or need them for your school project, get them while you can at Tapir and Friends Animal Store online!