Digital adoptions are available to download from the order confirmation email sent to the purchaser. We do not send digital adoptions directly to the recipient. This is so you can control how and when you gift the adoption. In your order confirmation, you can download a plain certificate or a gift certificate that can be personalised.

If you have given us the recipient’s email address and permissions to email them, we will add the recipient’s email to our database at the beginning of the following month. For example, if you order an adoption in July, we will add the recipient to our database at the beginning of August. This allows you to order an adoption in advance, making the recipient less likely to have their surprise spoiled. If you want us to add them at an even later date, please add a note to the order or email [email protected], and we will try to accommodate where we can.

If the recipient is under 18, please specify their birth year on the product page. We collect this information to ensure that we are appropriately contacting our supporters. Anyone under 18 will not receive our monthly eNewsletter but will receive our species-specific adoption emails if opted-in. 

They can unsubscribe by using the links at the bottom of our GCT emails or by emailing [email protected]. They can also update their preferences here.

Don’t worry, all our digital adoptions are available to download immediately from your order confirmation. 

All the postal adoptions also come with the digital adoption pack, so you can print or email a digital certificate to the recipient while you wait for the postal pack.  

If you need your order to be dispatched quicker, please email [email protected] and we will see what we can do, but this cannot be guaranteed. 

In the Galapagos species postal adoption pack, there is a folder containing a personalised certificate, fact-file, postcard, welcome letter and colouring sheet. Our whale shark, hammerhead shark, penguin, tortoise and sea lion adoptions come with a soft toy. Our Floreana mockingbird adoption comes with a pin badge. Our Marti the Hammerhead Shark and Tessa the Giant Tortoise adoption packs come with a storybook, leaflet, A3 poster, personalised certificate, postcard, stickers and a bookmark.

Our Galapagos species digital adoption pack includes a downloadable fact– file and two digital certificates – one that can be personalised at home and one that can be sent on or printed as is. The Marti the Hammerhead Shark and Tessa the Giant Tortoise digital adoption packs contain a downloadable PDF storybook, leaflet, A3 poster, personalised certificate, postcard, and a bookmark. 

Our adoptions are symbolic and aim to raise awareness of the threats to particular Galapagos species rather than individual animals. Our adoptions are a vital fundraising tool and help support projects where we feel it is most needed. Therefore, we don’t give updates on individual animals but instead send exciting emails about your chosen species with links to resources, activities and more information on the threats they face and how we’re working to conserve them.

Currently, we offer our adoptions as a one-off purchase through our shop. At the end of your one-year adoption period, we invite you to repurchase another adoption. If you want to support us regularly, a really valuable way is to become a member. Becoming a member comes with benefits such as our bi-annual Galapagos Matters supporter magazine and an exclusive pin badge. 

Standard second-class postage in the UK is £3, or £1.50 for selected smaller items. All international parcels (including to the EU) are £15.

Parcels sent in the UK should take 3 working days from the day of dispatch but can take up to 5 working days. International orders should take 7 working days, but some locations can take much longer. Orders are sent out a minimum of once per week. If you need your order to be dispatched quicker or sent first class, please email [email protected] and we will see what we can do (not guaranteed). 

Yes, international shipping is sent tracked. If you wish to know your tracking number, please email [email protected] once you have received confirmation that your order has been shipped.

Please email [email protected] after your expected date, and we can investigate further for you. Please bear in mind, even outside of busy periods, that there can be delays in postage outside of GCT’s control. 

Yes, you may need to pay customs charges for any international orders, including in the EU. This is outside of GCT’s control, and you should check the individual rules for the delivery country before ordering.