Making Magic for the Planet: Fun Facts About Disney’s Earth Day Impact
Hey there, Earth enthusiasts and Disney fans! Since Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22nd, let’s dive into some seriously cool stuff that Disney is doing to help our amazing planet. You might know them for the magic of movies and theme parks, but they’re also pretty awesome when it comes to conservation. Get ready for some fun facts that might just surprise you!
Did you know that Disney has a whole bunch of dedicated conservationists and scientists working around the globe? Seriously! They’re not just making animated animals; they’re actively involved in protecting real ones and their habitats. From saving endangered species like sea turtles and elephants to restoring coral reefs, these folks are on the front lines of conservation. It’s like a real-life adventure, except instead of battling villains, they’re tackling environmental challenges.
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Protecting Endangered Species:
- Sea Turtles: At Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, they’ve been monitoring and protecting sea turtle nests for over 20 years. They’ve recorded over 20,000 nests, leading to about 1.5 million hatchlings making their way to the ocean! They also rehabilitate injured sea turtles at Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion and release them back into the wild. Over 300 sea turtles have been helped this way.
- Elephants: The Disney Conservation Fund has supported elephant protection in Africa and Asia since 1995. The elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has even contributed to research on elephant communication and behavior, which helps conservation efforts in the wild.
- White Rhinos: Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a successful white rhino breeding program. In 2006, two rhinos born at the park were even transferred to a sanctuary in Uganda as part of a reintroduction effort – the first of its kind for white rhinos in that country! They celebrated their 13th rhino birth at Walt Disney World in November 2021.
- Butterflies: Disney supports the conservation of butterfly species, including raising and releasing threatened ones in partnership with the University of Florida. They also have pollinator gardens with native plants across their properties to support various butterfly species – over 70 have been recorded!
- Coral Reefs: Disney teams are actively involved in restoring coral reefs in Florida and The Bahamas. They’re growing and replanting corals that are more resilient to threats like disease and climate change.
Habitat Preservation and Restoration:
- Disney Wilderness Preserve: This 12,000-acre preserve in central Florida is a real success story. What was once a cattle ranch is now a thriving wetland ecosystem, home to over 1,000 species of plants and animals, including rare birds like bald eagles and endangered Florida panthers. They actively restore the habitat by removing invasive plants and using controlled burns.
- Reforestation: Disney has supported forest projects in places like the Amazon, the Congo, and the United States to protect ecosystems and help with climate change. For the movie “Monkey Kingdom,” they even planted a tree in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest for every person who saw it during opening week – that’s 2.7 million trees!
- Pollinator Habitats: Beyond butterfly gardens, Disney is creating large-scale pollinator habitats at their solar arrays to support bees and other important insects.
Sustainable Practices in Parks and Resorts:
- Reducing Waste: They’ve eliminated single-use plastic straws and polystyrene hot beverage cups at all their owned and operated parks and resorts worldwide. They’re also expanding the use of reusable dishware and using more sustainable cutlery and packaging. Their goal is to achieve zero waste to landfill for their wholly-owned and operated parks, resorts, and cruise line by 2030.
- Conserving Water: They’re working to reduce potable water consumption through various efforts, like switching irrigation systems to reclaimed water and even using collected rainwater to refill attractions.
- Renewable Energy: Disney is investing in and developing renewable electricity projects, including large-scale solar power at their parks and resorts in various locations like Orlando, Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The Mickey-shaped solar facility near Epcot is a notable example.
- Sustainable Materials: They’re increasing the use of recycled polyester in their plush toys and using sustainable paper, wood, and palm. Even Cast Member costumes are being designed with recycled content!
Education and Inspiration:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: This entire theme park is dedicated to celebrating the natural world and inspiring conservation. It’s home to hundreds of live animals, and they actively engage in research and conservation efforts related to the species in the park.
- Conservation Station: Located in Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom, this area gives guests an in-depth look at animal habitats and the veterinary care the animals receive. You can even meet characters like Timon and Rafiki!
- The Animation Experience at Conservation Station: This unique experience teaches guests how Disney animators bring characters to life by drawing inspiration from real animals, connecting art with nature and conservation.
- Disneynature Films: Through their Disneynature films, they bring the beauty and wonder of the natural world to a wide audience, inspiring appreciation and a desire to protect it.
These are just some of the many ways Disney is working to make a positive impact on the environment. They partner with numerous conservation organizations and empower their guests to get involved too!
Credit: Disney
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