Animals in need and endangered species around the world will benefit from more than $1 million in grants awarded this year by the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. The Fund approved grants to more than 100 wildlife protection projects. Here are a few of the efforts.
Big Cats in Big Trouble
The big cats of the world are disappearing. There are fewer than 12,000 cheetahs throughout Africa and less than half the number of lions that were there only 50 years ago. The Fund is supporting seven conservation organizations around the world that work to stop the decline of big cats and identify conservation strategies, including ways to reintroduce cheeths to the wild, for their future.
Penguins in Crisis Of the world’s 17 species of penguins, 12 are rapidly declining due to a combination of changing weather patterns, overfishing, pollution and other factors. The Fund is playing a significant role in helping preserve these species, from supporting efforts to hand-raise hundreds of abandoned African penguin chicks to funding research that will help plan effective conservation efforts.
Saving Sea Turtles All sea turtle species are endangered or threatened. The Fund supports many initiatives that protect sea turtles including protection from poachers.
One Ocean When the ocean’s health is compromised, so is the health of both animals and humans. No matter where people live, the ocean is a life support system and provides much of the food, water and oxygen needed to survive. The Fund is supporting several initiatives that will help preserve or restore oceans and fragile coasts for future generations.
Since its creation eight years ago, the Fund has granted more than $8 million to protect wildlife and wild places