Rideable Tigers And Elephants Provide Kids With Fun At N.J. Malls

Children have been taming giraffes, tigers, and other animals at North Jersey malls recently.

The animals, called “Happy Rides” are akin to old coin-operated kiddie rides only without being bolted to a carousel or a stand-alone metal base, NJ.com reported.

Children, and their parents too, hop on for a short ride on the plush animals and pose for pictures too.

You may have noticed that plush elephants, giraffes and tigers have been invading New Jersey malls in recent months, gradually making their way through retail-filled hallways at what is decidedly not a breakneck pace. With children on their backs, these fanciful motorized rides whir around shopping spaces like merry-go-round horses set free of their rotating bases.

The animals can be seen taking laps around the Paramus Park Mall; the owner of the Paramus business, Hieu Bo, a Louisiana-based company, after seeing them in action at a local fair, the website reported; Bo purchased the scooters from California-based Giddy Up Rides.

It’s not just kids who are having fun with the animals. Parents are hoping on as well.

“They seem to enjoy it too,” Bo said. “Who doesn’t want to ride on an animal?”