Appel Gift Shop

Show your support of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and the AZA SAFE species program with this organic cotton tote. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Saving Animals From Extinction (AZA SAFE) program focuses the collective expertise within our 230 accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages the massive zoo- and aquarium-going audiences to save species. We chose organic because conventional cotton used for clothing and textiles is usually combined with synthetic fabrics such as acrylic, fleece and polyester. Research shows that during washing, these synthetic fibers are released into our waterways, in the form of microfibers. Approximately 1.7 million tons of microfibers enter the ocean each year, threatening marine species and sensitive coral reef ecosystems.