May 15, 2015 Joe Kleiman Attractions, News, Theme Parks, Zoos & Aquariums Comments Off on Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Celebrate Endangered Species Day
Tampa, FL, USA (May 15, 2015) – Today is the 10th Anniversary of Endangered Species Day and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks are working with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) to highlight species threatened with extinction.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are partnering with AZA, as well as AZA-accredited facilities around the country, to raise awareness for the Saving Animals From Extinction, or SAFE, program on Endangered Species Day. This new collaboration builds on the existing conservation efforts by the nation’s 229 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.
In 2015, SAFE will focus on 10 species, including the sea turtle, sharks, African penguins, cheetahs, Asian elephants, black rhinoceros, gorillas, vaquita porpoises, western pond turtles and whooping cranes.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens together maintain one of the largest zoological populations in North America — more than 89,000 animals — and are directly working to help protect eight of these 10 species.
Efforts include species display, education and awareness, species breeding programs, and financial support through the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. The parks also are encouraging their many fans to follow the online conversation on social media through posting new content and by using the hashtag #savingspecies.
The eight species directly helped by the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks include:
At Busch Gardens today, in addition to regular “keeper talks,” guests will have the opportunity to learn specifically about cheetahs and African penguins and hear how they can help sustain these endangered species:
Since its inception, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has contributed over $300,000 and supported nearly 30 cheetah conservation projects across the globe. Additionally, Busch Gardens recently welcomed two cheetah cubs as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered, species populations within AZA-accredited facilities. Busch Gardens’ participation helps create genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations to guarantee the long-term future of these animals.
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund also has contributed more than $116,000 to support several African penguin conservation initiatives in South Africa. The conservation and education work continues back at Busch Gardens with the addition of a brand new habitat, as well as three penguin hatchlings since December 2014, as part of the park’s participation in the AZA SSP.
SAFE harnesses the collective power and infrastructure, along with additional funding and resources, to target specific endangered species and save them from extinction by restoring healthy populations in the wild. Through SAFE, AZA and its members will convene scientists and global stakeholders to identify factors threatening species, develop Conservation Action Plans, collect new resources and engage the public.
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund was established as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation in 2003, and initially provided resources for a wide variety of conservation programs worldwide that aligned with four key areas: animal rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection and species research. Since its creation, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has awarded over $11 million in conservation grants to over 800 organizations. Currently, the Fund provides over $1 million each year to conservation programs. For more information, visit swbg-conservationfund.org.
Comments Off on SeaWorld San Diego introduces Sesame Street drive-thru experience
Comments Off on SeaWorld Orlando kicks off 2021 with return of Inside Look
Comments Off on SeaWorld San Antonio returns to year round operation
Comments Off on ProSlide: Slides of the times
Jan 22, 2021 Comments Off on Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team
Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Mad Systems announces addition of Toni Losier to business development team
Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Museums Evolving conference goes virtual for second year in a row due to COVID-19 pandemic
Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Whitney Hines joins Luci Creative as Senior Project Manager
Dec 29, 2020 Comments Off on Cedar Fair seeks Corporate Director, Communications
The position will lead strategy development and execution...Dec 28, 2020 Comments Off on Pursuit seeks Financial Analyst, FP&A
This role will focus on all aspects of financial planning...Dec 26, 2020 Comments Off on AOA seeks Show Set Designer
There will be a great deal of freedom, which will be...Dec 09, 2020 Comments Off on Visualization firm THE THIRD FLOOR has openings for a variety of positions
THE THIRD FLOOR is currently seeking Postvis Generalists,...Dec 09, 2020 Comments Off on CineVenture seeks 3D character animator
CineVenture develops high-end content for the global...