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Help save the animals of the wild

In the SANDLÖPARE collection, you will meet fascinating animals with incredible abilities that help them to survive on the hot and sometimes hostile African savannah. Like the fast cheetah whose claws act as spikes on running shoes, or the meerkat with black spots under its eyes to reduce the sun’s glare. But despite their superpowers, many of them are still at risk of extinction.

This collection has been developed in close collaboration with Nordens Ark, a non-profit wildlife conservation centre, to raise awareness about endangered wildlife and inspire change.

A collection of SANDLÖPARE soft toys in a savannah setting.

IKEA donates 10,– for every soft toy you buy

Fortunately, a lot of conservation efforts are being made to improve the lives of endangered animals. That’s why, for every soft toy you buy between October 13 and November 30, IKEA donates 10,– to the non-profit foundation Naturvernforbundet and their important work in giving endangered animals a future. 

Together we can make a difference.​

Get to know the savannah

The savannah covers approximately 20 % of the Earth’s surface and is found in warm climates between desert and forest in Africa, Australia, South America and Asia. It is characterised by grassland with trees where the canopies do not close and where most of the rain falls in one season.

Every animal and plant on the savannah plays an important role in maintaining this delicate ecosystem. The plants sustain the herbivores, who trim the grass and, by migrating, prevent the land from turning into a desert. The herbivores, in turn, become prey for the carnivores and the dung beetle collects dung from all of them and buries it in the ground, creating fertiliser for new plants to grow.

The swinging but sensitive chimpanzee

Chimpanzees share 98 % of the same genes as us humans. Like us, they can get emotional and give hugs to show affection.They also like pranks and communicatewith gestures, sounds and facial expressions. With opposable thumbs as well as toes, they are able to use tools and grasp things.

Although it’s illegal to hunt chimps, bushmeat is still the main source of protein in some regions in Africa. Chimpanzees are also sensitive to the same infectious diseases as us, such as the Ebola virus and respiratory diseases. Too much tourism can risk harming them.

Four SANDLÖPARE chimp soft toys hanging around a tree in front of a sunset.

The fast but fragile cheetah

The cheetah is the fastest land-living animal in the world and Africa’s most endangered big cat. It has a beige coat covered with solid black spots. With its long legs and slim body, the cheetah can reach a speed of up to 110 km/h, in just over 3 seconds.

As humans take over their hunting land for farming, the cheetah population is decreasing. As their living space becomes smaller, they also suffer from competition with other predators who attack their cubs and steal their prey.

Cheetah cub/beige SANDLÖPARE soft toys outside in a savannah setting.
Close-up of a SANDLÖPARE cheetah soft toy.
A small child in a bed is hugging a cheetah soft toy.
A group of beige SANDLÖPARE soft toy cheetahs and cheetah cubs are playing and sleeping in a sunlit savannah landscape.

Cheetah cubs follow their mother’s tail to find their way

The tall but targeted giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest animal on the planet. You probably recognise it by its long neck and yellow and brown spotted coat. It can reach the highest branches of the acacia trees and the 50 cm long, tough, black/blue tongue ensures that it doesn’t get hurt by the thorns. The giraffe is also very important to the ecosystem as it helps prune the trees and spread seeds.

Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, the number of giraffes in the wild has declined by almost 40 % due to loss of grazing space.

Three SANSDLÖPARE giraffe soft toys in a sunlit savannah landscape.

The clever but climate-sensitive meerkat

Meerkats are considered food for many other animals, that’s why they’re always on the lookout for danger. If they see a predator, they use different warning calls depending on whether it’s coming from land or sky. This tells the rest of the clan how to react: if it’s a bird the best defence is to go underground, but if it’s a snake, they all need to come together and drive it off.

Meerkats are not considered threatened or endangered. But their homes and livelihoods depend on the climate. Drought and burrow-flooding rainstorms can greatly affect their survival.

Two meerkat soft toys laying in striped duvets in a sunlit savannah landscape.
A small child examines meerkat soft toys with a magnifying glass.

Curiosity for conservation

The animals in the wild might feel far away but there is a lot you can do to help them, even from your own home. And you have already taken the first step by learning more about the animals and understanding their struggles. Here are some other examples of how you can help:

Protect nature: Make sure to take care of nature and never leave behind trash that could harm the animals. 

Let the wild remain wild: Wild animals are not ours to keep. They have their own families and homes to return to and should not be cuddled with. That’s what we have soft toys for.

Volunteer at your local nature conservation center: Find out what you can do to help wildlife in your hometown. 

A textile basket filled with animal soft toys in a children's room.

Are you curious to learn more about the wildlife of the savannah?

Read more about the animals and insects, the challenges they face and what we can do to protect them in the SANDLÖPARE book of facts. 

The SANDLÖPARE book of facts