Animal themed Elf on the shelf ideas

Looking for some creative Elf on the Shelf ideas with an animal twist? Whether you've got zoo mad kids or just want to add a touch of wildlife fun to this family Christmas tradition, these imaginative poses and themed activities will have the kids super excited to see what the Elf has in store each morning.

There's something for everyone to enjoy -  from safari adventures to jungle explorations and plenty of monkeying around! Get ready for a walk on the wild side with your mischievous Elf.

Elf on the Shelf Poses

Stuck for ways to pose your elf ready to be discovered in the morning? We've got you covered with some fun animal themed ideas:

Camouflaged like a tiger

We all know how much elves love a game of hide and seek but if they really want to be hidden well they need to take some tips from our Amur tiger, Miron, and try out some camouflage. Miron lives in a lush and leafy enclosure here at Whipsnade with lots of trees and foliage to blend into.  Have your elf hide in the leaves of a houseplant, to make it even more effective you can add some stripes to their outfit! 

Hanging around like a monkey

Have you elf scale some of the furniture around your home and hang off of it just like our chimpanzees, or our mischievous red pandas Nilo and Ruby, would do! 

Tall like a giraffe

Elves are know for being small but what if they want to reach something that's high up? Make your elf some stilts (getting crafty with some lolly sticks or paper straws should do the trick!) so that they can be tall like our giraffes. If they are particularly mischievous they might even be caught trying to reach something they aren't supposed to. 

Elf on the Shelf Activities

Having your elf posed in different situations is great fun, but if you need something to keep the kids busier for a bit longer in the mornings how about trying one of these fun animal themed Elf on the shelf activities:

Safari Adventure Hide and Seek

Hide your elf in various places around the house that match different animals habitats. Leave the kids a note from the Elf each morning giving clues to help them work out where in the house would be the best place for that animal to live. 
Here are some example animals and hiding places to get you started:

• Penguins - Did you know that not all penguins like cold and icy environments? The Penguins we have at Whipsnade Zoo come from the warmer climates of Africa, they still love to spend time in the water which helps to keep them cool but they aren't suited to the cold conditions that some other species of penguins love. Emperor penguins, the tallest and heaviest of all the penguin species, live in Antarctica so you could leave a clue mentioning them and the Elf could be hiding in the fridge or freezer.
• Tigers - Tigers can live in the jungle where they are well camouflaged by the plants and trees. The Elf can be hiding in the garden amongst grass and shrubs, or if the weather isn't great they can be hiding in a houseplant.
• Cheetah - Cheetahs can be found roaming sub-desert and dry plains. The Elf could hide out in a sand pit desert or dry mud patch in the garden (if weather permits!)
• Otter - Our Otters live on an island area surrounded by water in Base Camp at Whipsnade Zoo and in the wild Otters live along the banks of rivers,  streams and other waterways. If you've got a pond in your garden, have the Elf hiding in one of the plants around it, or make him a little island to float on!

This is a great activity to organise as it can be spread over a few days. If you want to go one step further you can even dress the Elf up pretending to be that animal.

Zookeeper for a Day

Dress your Elf to look like a zookeeper (give them a little zoo badge, a broom and maybe even a hat!) and leave animal figurines or stuffed animals scattered around the room. Write a note from the Elf telling the kids that they are a Zoo Keeper for the day and need helping to build some enclosures for the animals to keep them safe. 

Homes can be made for the animal figurines and teddies out of all sorts - Lego and building block pens are ideal for housing small animals, while old cardboard boxes are perfect for bigger animals just make sure to make some holes in the sides so they can get in and out!

Wildlife Photographer

Your Elf has been given the job of being a wildlife photographer for the day but they need a bit of help! 
Sit the Elf somewhere with a collection of small animal figurines, a camera (or let them use your phone), and a checklist of animal photos that the Elf needs. Get the children to pose the animals around the house and garden in different habitats, if there isn't somewhere suitable why not make a drawing and use it as a photo backdrop! 

If you want to cover yourself for a Elf pose the next day, print out the images that night and make them into a little Wildlife photo book that the Elf can share with the children the next morning.

Animal Tracking Adventure

That mischievous Elf is hiding somewhere, we'll have to find him by tracking his prints. This Elf is extra clever though, instead of leaving foot prints he's made animal tracks! Create animals tracks around the house to lead to the hiding Elf. Tracks can be made in flour, salt or drawn on paper if you want a less messy option. 

For older kids who might want something a bit more challenging, why not try making a few sets of tracks that all look different (look up different types on animal tracks and prints online for inspiration) and leave a note for them saying that only the tracks that belong to a certain animal will be the ones that lead to the Elf.  

Elf Metamorphosis

Sprinkle some science into your festive countdown and teach the kids about metamorphosis. Wrap the Elf up in a chrysalis (toilet paper works great for this!) and leave a note saying that the Elf has decided they want to try being a butterfly but they need some ideas for bright and colourful wings. 

Get the kids to colour in butterfly wings for the Elf and make sure to leave them nearby the chrysalis. Unwrap the Elf when everyone has gone to bed and attach the wings to its back ready for the big reveal in the morning.  

Animal Costume Party

What kid doesn't love an excuse to dress up? Make a little paper mask for your Elf of an animal and leave a note inviting everyone to an animal themed costume party. Get the kids to make their own animal masks and show the Elf their best animal impression.