Serious Fun
It’s true. Your vacation can help save the world. The recent rise of ecotourism
and eco-friendly destinations is testament to that. At the Worlds of Discovery parks,
however, guests have been helping protect wildlife and wild places since the first
park opened in 1959.
It has been these guests who have enabled the parks to contribute more than $20
million to conservation over the past four decades. And the parks continue to create
new ways for guests to do more, know more, and get more involved. From behind-the-scenes
tours to merchandise that makes a difference, park visitors can not only experience
an incredibly fun day at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Discovery Cove, but also play
a real and significant role in protecting at-risk animals and habitats. Here’s a
few of our favorites:
"Saving a Species" Tour
At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, guests can travel aboard an open safari truck through a 65-acre African animal habitat. Led by a professional educator, the "Endangered Species Safari" features up-close encounters with animals such as the endangered white rhino, black rhino, giraffe, and zebra. Plus, a percentage of every tour is donated to the the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
While visiting SeaWorld San Diego, guests can experience a one-hour tour to get up-close with endangered sea turtles, sharks and other at-risk animals, while learning about their plight in the wild and simple, everyday ways they can help protect marine life. From each tour, $1 is donated to the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
Visitors experiencing SeaWorld San Antonio’s "Saving a Species" tour will go behind the scenes in the park’s zoological support areas, to get a first-hand look at how the park cares for and helps protect endangered and threatened animals. During this experience, guests can touch and feed stingrays and even get to touch a bamboo shark. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
Eco-friendly Fare
By early 2009, all seafood served in Worlds of Discovery parks will be certified by either the Marine Stewardship Council or the Aquaculture Certification Council – organizations working to ensure wild fish and farmed fish are harvested in environmentally friendly ways. And the parks also now proudly serve coffee and chocolate certified by the Rainforest Alliance, an organization that works to ensure these crops are grown and harvested in ways that help protect people, places and wildlife.
And a Chance to Make Your Mark...
When Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened their newest attraction in April 2008 – Jungala – they unveiled a 4-acre village that invites guests to discover endangered tigers, orangutans and other extraordinary animals. Celebrating jungles and rainforests around the world, Jungala features unparalleled animal habitats, up-close animal interactions, multi-story family play areas, rides and live entertainment.
Also unveiled at Jungala’s opening was a different kind of donor recognition program. Located in the attraction’s Tiger Lodge, "The Giving Wall" is an unfinished mural featuring a vibrant, colorful rainforest scene, made more vibrant each time a single bead is added to the wall. Guests can purchase the recycled-glass beads for $10, then place the bead on the wall to leave their mark along with thousands of other guests. With 100% of each bead purchase donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, "The Giving Wall" demonstrates how every small action, when multiplied by many, can make a huge difference.
Merchandise that Makes a Difference
Throughout the parks, guests will find unique gifts, clothing and crafts that celebrate animals. And several items go beyond celebrating animals by actually contributing to wildlife conservation. Ranging anywhere from 5% to 15%, a portion of the retail price of several items is donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. This donation gets turned into grant money that is then awarded to wildlife protection efforts in the U.S. and around the world. Who knew a tiger t-shirt could actually save tigers?
In addition, many of the parks offer guests the opportunity to create their very own animal friend, and leave with much more than a souvenir. The "Wild Creations" experience enables guests to pick a favorite animal, stuff it, fluff it, dress it up and receive a customized certificate from the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. With 10% of the purchase price going directly to the Fund, these fluffy friends are helping provide much-needed support to their fluffy, furry, finned, and feathery counterparts in the wild.
