Tis the season for giving. And giving and giving. Or so it can seem. But there are lots of people, and animals too, in need and deserving of our help around this time of year. The Tennessee Aquarium is reaching out to the giving side in all of us by putting out its holiday gift list.

The wish list was created by Sara Carlson, manager of behavioral husbandry at the nonprofit Aquarium. She is in charge of ensuring the animals mental well-being; just like humans, they can get bored and need stimulation. “It’s anything we do to make the animals lives a bit more exciting,” Carlson said. “It’s really considered an integral part of animal welfare,” she said.The wish list for the aquarium is available at Amazon.com and includes over 300 items. And many of the gifts on the aquarium’s wish list will probably make you do a double take and wonder if this is a gift list for animals or kids. Some highlights from the gift list include: a ‘connect four’ board game for the owls and crows; rubber ducky’s for the octopus and fish; one gallon of bubbles for the bubble machine for the penguins and a color rotating disco lamp for the parrots.

Make no mistake, these animals are not ungrateful for their generous friends. On the amazon wish list is a note from the animals at the aquarium which reads: “We are the various turtles, snakes, lizards, geckos, frogs, alligators, and salamanders who call the Tennessee Aquarium home. Please remember to include your name and mailing address if you would like us to send you a “Thank You” note. ” MORE