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Parks and Resorts Makes Conservation Strides |
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Monday, March 03, 2008 |
The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Conservation and Environmental Sustainability team, along with Disney's Animal Programs, has been involved in several recent efforts to preserve wildlife around the globe.
Cast Members release rescued sea turtles
About 200 onlookers gathered at the Indialantic Beach on Florida's east coast early Feb. 24 to watch Disney Cast Members and Florida Fish and Wildlife representatives release several green sea turtles back into the Atlantic Ocean.
The adolescent turtles were among dozens found along the shore in December infected with algae caused by a red tide bloom. About 40 had already died, and the survivors were moved for rehabilitation to a variety of safe havens around the state, including The Seas at Epcot.
The mood was jubilant as Dr. Jackie Ogden, vice president of Walt Disney World Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives, joined other Walt Disney World leaders to release the energetic turtles back into the sea.
"This is so exciting," Jackie said. "We have rehabilitated at least 250 turtles as part of this program, and today we get to release seven more."
Erin Wallace, senior vice president of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort, was also on hand.
"I'm always proud of our teams at Walt Disney World, and particularly our Animal Programs teams at The Seas in this case for doing such a great job in rehabilitating these turtles. For me, it's just a moment of pride..."
Disney steps in to protect endangered species in Africa
The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund evaluation team recently approved a Rapid Response Fund request from the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya for rhinos, zebras and a host of other indigenous African wildlife.
Lewa employs a security team to patrol its 68,000 acres and monitor endangered black and white rhinos, which might otherwise fall prey to poachers. The conservancy draws more than half its revenues from tourism, an industry that has been decimated by recent political turmoil and violence in Kenya, and has been forced to severely cut its budget. The DWCF donated a $5,000 grant to help ensure the security team can stay at work to protect these endangered species.
The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund was established in 1995 as a global awards program for the study and protection of the world's wildlife and ecosystems. Since its inception, the DWCF has supported 650 projects with more than $11 million in grants to organizations and individuals working in 110 countries. Additional information on the DWCF can be found here.
Disney makes major donation to amphibian protection program
The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund announced a $250,000 donation Feb. 29 to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amphibian Fund.
The Leap Day gift helped kick off of a campaign to educate people about the amphibian conservation crisis sponsored by more than 100 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America and their counterparts around the globe. The DWCF's donation will support the urgent need to house and care for hundreds of amphibians threatened with extinction.
"The AZA has declared 2008 the Year of the Frog, and with good reason," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. "A fungus that kills 80 percent of exposed frogs, toads and salamanders has spread to every continent. Disney's conservation leadership will enable zoos and aquariums, partnered with international conservation organizations, to respond on an unprecedented scale."
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation. For more details, please click here. Information on the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund can be found here.
Source: Johntheinsider
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