Celebrating Wildlife and Children’s Birthdays Year-Round
Credit: (Facebook posts) San Diego Zoo Celebrates panda bday, Zoo Atlanta celebrates World Gorilla Day
More Than a Birthday Wish
Every child loves a birthday—the balloons, cake, the joy of being celebrated.… oh yeah, birthday presents! But what if that celebration could be shared with the animals they love?
At Wild in Color, we love gifts that spark connections, not just between people but with things people love. That’s why we love celebrating wildlife awareness days with everyone as if they are animal birthdays.
From International Tiger Day to World Gorilla Day, these days are a chance to spotlight species we love and offer meaningful ways for kids and adults to celebrate animals through gifting and storytelling. While zoos and aquariums may have some birthday enrichment for their animals, we get inspired to celebrate them through product drops or starting new designs.
Every Animal Has Its Day
There are dozens of international wildlife observances that can feel like birthdays for the wild, we’ve listed some here:
- National Bird Day – January 5 - extra special because Wild in Color’s founder shares her birthday with the animals she loves and the “cherps” that often settle her.
- World Hippo Day – February 15
- World Wildlife Day – March 3
- International Tiger Day – July 29
- World Oceans Day – June 8
- World Elephant Day – August 12
- World Gorilla Day – September 24
Each awareness day is a chance to celebrate the story and survival of so many species and take a moment to think of our encounters with them – in person, in a book or unwrapping your Wild in Color shirt, hoodie, or bodysuit. Just like any good birthday, there’s room for celebration and gifting.
Our Favorite Way to Celebrate? Gifting with Meaning
Sure, you could give your child another toy they’ll forget by next week. But what if you’re gift could inspire or support a life-long love with the wild world? It’s not that we think our precious tote bag collection featuring otters, giraffes, gorillas and more is the only way, but it is a great gift bag that encourages reusing!
Maybe you can pair it with other great gifts that give back, including a few ways we think you can celebrate or honor a loved one and every animal in the wild kingdom:
- Adopt an Animal at your favorite or childhood zoo (or the World Wildlife Fund)
- Donate a brick, leaf or other small symbol at a conservation organization in the US or worldwide (one of our favorites is the Center for Great Apes)
- Buy an aquarium or zoo membership (we just got one at Zoo Atlanta)
As Wild in Color grows, we’re looking forward to some cool ways to invite you to celebrate the animals you love and find a gift that gives at home and for the wild.
Fun Ways to Celebrate With Wild in Color
Now, if it comes down to it, and you want to visit a zoo or aquarium to celebrate, especially on a day like AZA’s Party for the Planet, we’ve got some wildlife merch ideas for you too:
- Pair a Wild in Color shirt with a plush toy to bring the animal to life
- Share a story of a real animal—like Fiona the hippo or Winter the dolphin
- Buy a matching family set like our Wild Faces collection for a zoo trip or themed birthday party
When We Celebrate Animals, We Help Protect Them
Wildlife awareness days aren’t just fun moments to post animal pics—they’re meaningful reminders that these creatures are worth celebrating and saving.
So go ahead. Celebrate the birthday of someone you love and support the wild while you're at it.
