Adopting animals from zoos. Support our suricat Fela and help save endangered species

Animal adoption is a topic that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Everyone has probably heard of adopting a dog or cat. But adopting - even a symbolic one - a giraffe, an elephant or a purple platypus is, for many, a complete novelty. We can find such an offer in most zoos in Poland. Is it worth helping and which animal have we decided to take care of?

Adopting animals from zoos is an extremely worthwhile initiative for many reasons. First and foremost, it offers the chance to provide better care for the animals, which is particularly important in the case of endangered species. Many zoos are working to protect fauna through breeding programmes, scientific research and environmental education. Adoption, albeit in a symbolic form, can contribute to these activities. Moreover, adoption programmes offer the chance for direct environmental education. Adopting an animal is an excellent opportunity to learn more about a species, its habits and the threats it faces in the wild.

Fela - our adoptive ward

We are delighted to announce that our environmental education portal has taken over the adoptive care of Fela, a suricat from the Poznan Zoological Garden, since April 2025. Felka, although small, is an extremely interesting representative of her species. Suricates are social animals that live in large groups in their natural habitat, and their interactions are full of wisdom and constant vigilance. Felka is one such unique individual who is very much loved by keepers and zoo visitors alike.

What is worth knowing about puricas?

Suricates are predators of the mangrove family. They are distinguished from other members of the mangrove family by their lightness of movement, their thin, relatively long limbs and their black-tipped, long tail. Their bodies are covered with soft and long, dense fur. One of the most recognisable features of puricas is their posture - they often stand on their hind legs, upright, with their tail raised. This position gives them the ability to better observe their surroundings, which is especially important when they feel threatened. Suricates have excellent eyesight, which allows them to recognise predators from a great distance. In addition, they have an excellent sense of smell, which helps them in their search for food. Interestingly, it enables them to recognise individuals in a group, as well as the boundaries of their territory.

Suricates are omnivorous, but their diet consists mainly of insects, small vertebrates and also plants. In hunting, their agility and dexterity are very important, as they are able to make excellent use of their strong front paws for digging, as well as reacting instantly to danger. Their food is often termites, scorpions and sometimes small vertebrates such as lizards.

Adopting animals from zoos - how can you help?

If you would like to join our action and support other animals, we invite you to take a look at the adoption programmes organised by zoos all over Poland. Of course, the adoption is symbolic - the support is mainly about financially supporting specific species rather than actually caring for the animals. You can symbolically adopt an animal, help maintain its living conditions, and participate in educational events. Remember that every support, even the smallest, makes a difference to animal welfare.

Adopting animals from zoos is a great opportunity to get closer to nature and understand the importance of conservation. With our suricat Fela as an inspiration, we feel obliged to further involve our readers in helping animals. The future of our planet depends on us - each and every one of us, including our small adoptive steps.