Wild about wallabies? Fond of flamingos? Then the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) has the answer ? adopt a ?wild child?! The new programme provides a fun way to get involved and help care for the animals at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

The programme is open to everyone with a wild side including members of the public and companies.

Marketing co-ordinator, Nicola Lucas, said schools across the Island had been invited to join in BZS?s animal conservation efforts by participating in the new programme.

?Several schools are already on-board, starting to raise money towards their adopted animal.?

Schools include Gilbert Institute, Orange Valley School and East End Primary who are having a coin drive to raise funds.

Ms Lucas said East End students planned to bring different coins to school to sort, count and make graphs of and would incorporate this fundraising exercise into their maths lessons in order to adopt their chosen animal, the nurse shark.

She said they were starting off small, with a list of ten animals and six different levels of adoption available.

?We hope the community can become involved and learn more about the animals in our care,? she said.

Included in the adoption package is an invitation for the adoptive parents to attend the Wild Child parent day held annually in October.

Ms Lucas said this special event included behind-the-scenes tours, animal feedings, and keeper talks and this one-year sponsorship helped to provide for the care and feeding of all animals at BAMZ.

?Adoptive parents can however not take their adoption animals home, they will remain at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo under the care of our professional staff,? she added.

She said adoptions were valid for one year from the date of purchase and donations would help contribute towards the welfare of species in their care.

Animals available for adoption include the parma wallaby, golden lion tamarin, ring-tailed lemur, grouper, nurse shark, Asian small clawed otter, matschies tree kangaroo, green turtle, peacock flounder and American flamingo.

There are various adoption levels with a minimum donation of $50 to become a Caring Parent, $100 a Proud Parent, $200 a Supporting Parent, $500 a Nurturing Parent and $1,000 an Outstanding Parent. Young Parent adoptions are available at $75 per class for schools participating in the programme.

For more information, visit www.bamz.org