Pelican Flies to Switzerland, Finds Happy Home

First, apologies for cutting off the top of G's head. It seems to have happened when the photo was received by e-mail. Our stuffed pelican travelled all the way from Oregon to Switzerland, and here is how we found out about its welcome. E wrote:

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Yes, we received the pelican. We received it some weeks ago... but I write to you now, because finally I am allowed to see him! I waited for the holidays to offer the pelican as a gift to my boyfriend (except for hippos - it's his favourite animal!) and we LOVE it. It's like a real one, it has the same wise eyes! We are soooooooo happy! I add a photo."

E and G

P.S. At the same time, in this period.. not only pelicans - other animals and birds - needs us in the gulf of Mexico: so sad :(

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It's always wonderful to hear from our customers and new friends who have received and enjoyed our animal replicas. Along with E and G, we are hoping for the rapid containment of the oil leak, and hoping there will be a focus on clean energy so this kind of thing will never happen again. Conservation efforts around the world that help save forests, oceans, and wild areas do their part to support the total environment. We can all be a part of that.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Shark + Grenadine = Summer Drink Fun!

Check out our very popular plastic great white shark! Restaurants and bars love to use "old yellow-eyes" in their shark drinks. We have excellent wholesale pricing for larger orders. Give us a call if you need wholesale prices and/or if you see the "Out of Stock" notice on our site.

(888) 325-3179

Have safe fun this summer with plastic sharks instead of real ones, and if you "tie one on," please designate a driver, walk, or take a cab! Enjoy!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Bushel of Honey Bees, Wholesale Pricing Available

Our plastic toy honey bee is one of the items we have in quantity today. If you're looking for plastic bees or something for bee decor or an ourdoor party at wholesale prices, today may "bee" your lucky day. We have a limited quantity, but enough for a few bulk sales at discount pricing. Let us know how many of these moderately-realistic buzzy friends might make your day (Item Number F1741 at 2 3/4 inches long) and we'll try to make your day. Phone (888) 325-3179 in the U.S., (503) 338-8646 from anywhere else, or e-mail tapirandfriends@yahoo.com. Summer fun while they last!

If you only need a few, here's their regular order page.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Tropical Fish Carved Wood Eyeglass Holder!

Our tropical fish eyeglass holder is just one of the many bright and beautiful animals that will help you keep your glasses where you can find them! Check out our great selection of animal-themed Peeper Keepers on the animal Peeper Keeper page of our online store.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Zebra and Tree Frog Peeper Keepers Back in Stock

Several of our most popular animal eyeglass holders (Peeper Keepers) are back in stock and ready to ship. These include the tree frog and zebra shown here. Also back in stock is the dog (beagle or basset, it could be either) and a few more. Check out our page of carved wood animal eyeglass holders. Some of the species are diappearing, as the manufacturer has moved on to other projects. We're sad about this and so are our customers, so we'll try to keep you supplied as long as we can!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Blue Crab Plastic Toy or Decoration is Back in Stock

Our very popular plastic Maryland Blue Crab squeaky toy is back in stock. They do make nice squishy squeaky toys for playroom or bath, but we probably sell more for summer cookout decorations than for any other reason.

After a short hiatus, they are back in stock and ready to ship! Check out our plastic blue crab replicas here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hansa Stuffed Marmot or Groundhog Back in Stock!

We missed this delightful stuffed plush marmot while he was away, but now he is back, and we're thrilled about it! He seems happy, too, but he whispered in my ear that he'd rather go home with YOU!

You can order our playfully realistic stuffed marmot by Hansa right here and help contribute to tapir conservation at the same time. You might also want to check out our other plush wildlife by Hansa.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hansa Stuffed Birds Back in Stock!

You've been waiting for these, and so have we! Our beloved and much-cherished dodo bird, kiwi, and vulture are back in stock and ready to go home with you!

Above is the dodo bird. Sadly, the real dodos are extinct, but they can be remembered and loved with this adorable plush replica. It's amazingly soft and feathery, and you can see it on this page.

This delightful stuffed kiwi bird is also among our most popular items. The kiwis are back in stock and ready to travel! Kiwis don't fly, so we put them in a box and make sure they reach your doorstep!

I've posted photos of our very popular stuffed vulture from two different angles. It has a charming and lovable face, and the feathers on the back are simply beautiful in their design and pattern. You can see the stuffed vulture's very own page here. Our plush stuffed vulture is quite a softie!

You can see all of our Hansa stuffed animals including these birds on the Hansa section of our Stuffed Animal Page. Order now - the Hansa products sell quickly!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

What to Do with a Plastic Panda

Laurel just posted some very cute pictures of Teagan in boxes, and in this case he is also showing us how to use . . . TA-DAAAA . . . his soft play PLASTIC PANDA (which, by the way, he can locate in the toy box if you ask him where the panda is . . . so cute; no, I am not a proud grandma).

You can look at the panda and learn that the panda has a FOOT, just like you do. (Or in this case would it be a HAND? Or a foot and a hand?)

You can bi . . . uh . . . I prefer to think that Teagan is thoughtfully giving the panda mouth-to-snout resuscitation. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Cute multi-colored plastic lobster - back in stock at a new low price!

Come visit our multi-colored floating plastic lobster and all of his ocean-going friends!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

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.