Walt Disney always believed in the conservation of nature. That’s why the Disney Conservation Fund exists; the majesty of nature has been an intrinsic part of the Disney landscape since its very inception. Snow White and her love for woodland animals – or Bambi, taking his first steps through the forest, the backdrop of mother nature has always been a part of the magic of the Walt Disney Company. For nearly a century, the magic of nature has been a building block of Disney storytelling, from the wide expanse of the ocean to the African savanna, from forests to fjords, there is no Disney storytelling without borrowing from the world around us.
This year, the Disney Conservation Fund celebrates 30 years of working to protect the magic that makes Disney so unique – the magic of nature, of being able to explore the world around us and use it to better understand ourselves and each other through the power of storytelling.
Theme Park Shark has covered the Disney Conservation Fund in the past, from stories about [Disney’s breeding program supporting endangered species] to the [Protect the Pride] program recently re-launched globally. So much good news has come out of the Disney Conservation Fund in recent months, and now Disney and Theme Park Shark are celebrating all of the good that has come from these efforts.
(Photo by Joe Tuck, feat. in Disneynature’s SEA LIONS OF THE GALAPAGOS)
Since 1995, the year of the Disney Conservation Fund’s inception, more than 132 million dollars have been raised to help 600 nonprofits across the world protest, restore, and study the world around us. Over 1,000 species of wildlife across half of the countries in the world and all five oceans have been impacted by these funds, which allow Disney and its partners to better understand animals, how they (and we) interact with the land, and to help support vulnerable species through expert conservation and zoo programs.
Families and children worldwide have been able to discover and learn about the world around us through the efforts of the Disney Conservation Fund via grants provided to schools, museums, nature programs, and other learning institutions that bring our understanding of nature to our youngest explorers.
Disney has studied – and helped others study – critical information about wildlife behaviors and habitats, benefiting butterflies and other pollinators, coral reefs, sea turtles, purple martin songbirds, and so many more!
“As we reflect on 20 years, we are filled with gratitude for all of those who have been a part of our story,” The Walt Disney Company released in a statement on April 22nd, “Walt Disney started this legacy of environmental stewardship that has been carried forward by so many – our dedicated Cast Members and employees, our supportive Disney guests and audiences, and our valued global conservation community. And in part because of your dedication, we are seeing the positive benefits.”
In addition to these commitments, Disney has partnered with institutions like the Global Penguin Society and Conservation International to support conservation projects across Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and the Galápagos Islands. The Disney Conservation Fund also recently awarded a grant to the [Jane Goodall Institute] to inspire young leaders to take action in conservation efforts worldwide and locally.
You can learn more about Disney’s commitment to wildlife [here], and take a look at the commemorative video that Disney has released, celebrating 30 years of their partnership with nature, provided by the Walt Disney Company:
Check back soon, as Theme Park Shark will continue to report on the Disney Conservation Fund, as well as theme park news from Disney, Universal, and theme parks from all across the world!
