The Face and Spirit of Safari Ltd® and now ToyTopia too!
Bernie the Gator is named after the founder of our parent company, Safari Ltd®, and he embodies the spirit of nature conservation by creating Toys That Teach®.
Bernie is no ordinary alligator and he’s certainly no ordinary spokesgator. In fact, his journey is one that spans the globe and inspires kids across this big, beautiful planet to love and learn about nature, wildlife, and even their own imaginations.
The year was 1921, and the forces of nature, brought Bernie to life in the countryside of Germany. Though this is not normally a favorable habitat for swamp-loving gators, Bernie thrived here as he grew up, and so did his curious spirit.
Bernie took his curious spirit and sailed off for America. He landed on the bustling streets of New York City and quickly learned that the big city was no place for a gator! Bernie longed to experience the swampy wetlands he’d read about in books – a place filled with so many gators, that it was actually called the “Home of the Alligator”.
In Florida, Bernie began handcrafting Toys that Teach®. Things started small, but the dream grew! Now, kids all over the world use these toys to learn about conservation, wildlife, sea creatures, and even mythical and magical beasts!
The legacy of Bernie the Gator lives on, teaching generation after generation. With the addition of ToyTopia, Bernie's legacy has expanded to brick and mortar!