In OO terms your exported sub the_mascot() ('-' isn't valid in a perl indenntifier :), is a class method.

However, you want this class method to return instance data. And that is a non-sequitous requirement.

Unless this is a singleton class, which is a fancy term for global, in which case you could store the handle ($self) to the one instance into $data and then use $data->{ANIMAL} in the here-doc and you would achieve what you want.

Then you would have to arrange to update $data with the object handle of the lastest incarnation of the singleton everytime new was called.

That's not to say it is the correct way, or the best way to do it, but it would work.

The problem is, if there can be more than one instance of your class, which value of ??->{ANIMAL}, ie. from which instance, should your exported function use?