Elephants at the Topeka Zoo produce hundreds of pounds of feces every week. And thanks to a new project to raise money for conservation at the zoo, people have the opportunity to own a piece of it.

The "My Pet Poo" project is a collaboration between Friends of the Topeka Zoo and the zoo to raise awareness and money for elephant conservation. Zookeepers collect elephant dung and dry it. Then staff members and volunteers are creating pieces of art with the poop by using paint, beads, buttons and other items.

The artwork comes with a special certificate of authenticity, including the name of the piece and its personality.

"If the idea goes well, we're thinking about having a class during the holidays where kids can learn about elephants, their habitat and paint their own," said Kate Larison, FOTZ executive director.

The sale of "My Pet Poo" will begin Sunday at an arts and crafts fair sponsored by FOTZ, Larison said. The fair will be from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Big Gage Shelter House. It will feature about 24 local and regional vendors, said Karen Taylor, a volunteer who has been helping create the "My Pet Poo" pieces.

"We will do special orders," she said.

Other items will include photographs, soap, jewelry, wreaths, textiles, Santas crafted from cypress knees (a structure in the root of a cypress tree) that are hand-painted, and more, Taylor said. Admission is free. People also can stop by the FOTZ booth to receive a half-price zoo admission coupon. The fair benefits the zoo and FOTZ.

So far, staff members and volunteers have made about 10 different poo pieces — ranging from "Fuzzy," a green blob with googly eyes and fuzzy hair, to "Spooky," which features a skull, scary flowers and a crow. There also are pencil holders, photograph holders and a Wildcat.

"We hope to have more," Larison said. "These are fun. They make you laugh. We want to make sure people know we are an organization that focuses on conservation. This is a way for us to give back."

Zoo director Brendan Wiley said he hopes the elephant-themed conservation classes will be a hit. The four-hour classes would teach children about recycling and give participants a chance to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the elephants.

"And they will leave with a personalized memento," Wiley said of the "My Pet Poo" projects.

Everyone from zoo volunteers to Wiley is helping out. Wiley created "Fuzzy" and at least two other pieces.

Prices will begin at $10.

FOTZ also will have other zoo gift ideas, including memberships, bricks, benches, original paintings by elephants Tembo and Sunda, and kisses by Tucker, the Nile hippo, Larison said.

The zoo's "My Pet Poo" pieces also will be sold in the Leopard Spot Gift Shop located inside the zoo.

Ann Marie Bush can be reached at (785) 295-1207 or ann.bush@cjonline.com.