[1] In the late 19th century, animal-shaped crackers called "Animals" were imported from England to the United States.

The most recent addition, the koala, was added in September 2002 after being chosen by consumer votes, beating out the penguin, walrus and cobra.

Barnum's Animals Crackers are produced in a bakery at Fair Lawn, New Jersey, by Nabisco Brands.

More than 40 million packages of Barnum's Animals Crackers are sold each year, both in the United States and exported to 17 countries worldwide.

This design change was made in consultation with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), one year after the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus ceased operations.

The current cookies are bear, bison, camel, cougar, elephant, giraffe, gorilla, hippopotamus, hyena, kangaroo, koala, lion, monkey, rhinoceros, seal, sheep, tiger, and zebra.

[7] Stauffer's animal crackers include bear, bison, camel, cow, cat, donkey, elephant, hippopotamus, horse, lion, mountain goat, rhinoceros, and tiger.

Austin Zoo Animal Crackers currently feature bear, camel, elephant, lion, monkey, owl, penguin, rabbit, ram, rhino, turtle, and zebra.

[citation needed] Cadburys Animals are chocolate coated and feature crocodile, elephant, hippo, monkey, lion, tiger, and toucan.

Responding to requests from PETA, in August 2018 Nabisco released new package art displaying the animals roaming free.

Mother's Original Circus Animal Cookies are sprinkled with rainbow nonpareils and a variety of special runs themed for holidays are released annually, such as black cats on Halloween.

Market Square Food Company Inc. in Illinois has also produced its own brand of animal crackers since 1982.