A Look at the Sad Gifts We’re Giving Animals This Year (PHOTOS)

Ah, the holidays! A time where friends and family all come together and show one another how much they care by exchanging gifts. Finding the perfect gift that encapsulates both your gratitude and love for the many people in your life can be quite the trying task. We’ve all experienced the awkwardness that ensues when you receive a gift that you really don’t want. You tear open the package with such enthusiasm and gusto … only to find an embroidered vest that looks like it is straight out of a bad 90s sitcom … then comes the high-pitched “thanks, it’s so … unique!”

Well, this gift-giving season, we are thinking about more than just the gifts we’re sending too our friends and family – we’re thinking about the presents going to the world’s animals. You might not think about it, but everyday your actions influence the animals of the world, in one or another. So, you might be the world’s best gift-giver when it comes to your human friend group, but are the gifts you’ve given to animals this year really that awesome? We hate to say it, but not so much …

Gift for Tigers: “Sorry for chopping down your home to make post-its … but just check out how pretty this wrapping paper turned out!”

Wikimedia Commons

Gift for Polar Bears: “Well, we would have started to eat less meat and helped to slash our carbon footprint as your gift … but figured we could fix the problem by just giving you these instead!” 

Wikimedia Commons

Gift for Orangutans: “We know your friends are going extinct because of palm oil … but trying to cut the stuff out of all our consumer goods would be too tough – so maybe this guy can help make you feel better!”

_paVan_/Flickr

 Gift for Elephants: “Sorry about your herd-mates, but look at this cool ivory tusk we decorated. You can hang it on your mantle!”

Brian Ralphs/Flickr

We Can Do Better

No one wants to be a bad gift-giver, but the good news is you don’t have to wait to give animals better presents this year. Being more compassionate for the world’s animals and looking at how your daily consumption habits and actions impact animals is the best gift you can give. Protecting these creatures from habitat destruction and poaching is key to giving these animals a happy holiday season – and hopefully, many more for years to come!

Check out these articles to learn more:

• 5 Reckless Consumption Habits and the Animals They Endanger
• Change Your Consumption Habits to Benefit Endangered Species