Animal Planet Teams with Ravensburger, Kraft Foods

Discovery Communications has tapped Ravensburger USA to produce Animal Planet-branded jigsaw puzzles to hit retail in September. The deal was brokered by the Joester Loria Group.

The puzzle range will include a 1,000-piece count for adults, a 500-piece count for tweens and a 100-piece count for kids 6 and up. They will feature images of dogs, cats and ocean themes. Ravensburg USA is also planning to develop seven more SKUs for 2011. A portion of the sales from the puzzles will go toward R.O.A.R., which supports animal organizations.

In other Animal Planet news, the network has paired up with Kraft Foods' Lunchables for a sweepstakes to win an all-expenses-paid trip to meet star Jeff Corwin.

Now through May 3, kids can enter the contest at www.lunchables.com and answer an animal-themed trivia question. Ten families will win a behind-the-scenes tour of Boston's New England Aquarium and Franklin Park Zoo, as well as an exclusive welcome dinner with Corwin. The Animal Planet-inspired sweepstakes kicks off a new line of Lunchables sub sandwiches, featuring whole-grain bread, 100 percent white meat chicken and 100 percent turkey breast.