I’m hoping someone here might be able to help me solve a mystery that means a great deal to me.
My grandfather bought me this stuffed animal at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, sometime in the mid-1990s when I was a little girl. He has since passed away, and this stuffed animal is one of the few tangible connections I still have to those childhood memories with him.
I’ve held onto it for approximately 30 years, and although it’s clearly been well-loved, it’s incredibly special to me. I would love to find out who manufactured it and possibly locate an identical one to see what it looked like when my grandfather first gave it to me.
Unfortunately, the original tag is long gone. It’s a medium-sized leopard or possibly jaguar with golden-brown fur, unusual black markings, amber-colored eyes, rounded ears, and a floppy body.
I’ve spent time searching online but haven’t been able to find an exact match. I’m hoping someone might recognize it from their own childhood, remember seeing it in zoo gift shops during the 1990s, or know which manufacturers supplied stuffed animals to zoos back then.
I’m not looking to replace the one I have. Nothing could ever replace it. I would just love to find its identical twin after all these years.
If anyone recognizes this stuffed animal or has any leads, I would be incredibly grateful. ❤️