"ilovethewhales:  amusementalmanac:  SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Grants $1.1 million to Wildlife Research and Conservation Since it began the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has donated more than $9 million to protect animals and their natural habitats. This years grants worth over $1.1 million will go toward 88 different research and conservation projects around the world. Some of these projects include conserving wild polar bears, helping researchers fix a dramatic decrease in the endangered rockhopper species of penguin and also to restore populations of wild puffins. Along with this fund the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks provide a helping hand with zoological staff that works with researchers on these projects. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens together have one of the world's largest animal collections with over 60,000 animals and 200 endangered species. Rescue teams from the parks have helped rescue over 20,000 orphaned, ill or injured animald. All grant funds go toward helping animals and their habitats from natural or human caused catastrophes. To read more on the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Fund, visit their official Facebook page by CLICKING THE PICTURE ABOVE  one of the reasons SeaWorld is fucking awesome.  SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund is highly praised by the park's supporters.  How much of a priority is conservation to the multi-billion dollar corporation? The easiest way to find out is to look at the financial report for SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund and to inquire about where the money is going.  The 2009 annual report for the SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund is as follows:  Charity events contributed $33,703 Blackstone Entertainment Corporation contributed $109,126 Merchandise contributed $182,734 Park guests contributed $99,806 Institutional contributions totaled $232,310 Internet contributions totaled $88,058 Interest contributions totaled $2,621 Other contributions totaled $33,163 The total amount contributed to the SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund was $782,372. Blackstone Entertainment corporation donated a measly 22% of the total fund. For a bit of perspective, the corporation reported a revenue of $1.4 billion in that same year.  Where does the money go? The SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund website states the following, ""A 501, non-profit private foundation, the SeaWorld & Busch Garden's Conservation Fund focuses its resources in four strategic areas: Species Research, Habitat Protection, Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation, and Conservation Education. Since its launch, the Fund has granted over $6 million to more than 500 projects in countries around the world."" The majority of the money that SeaWorld receives goes to organizations other than it's own. Out of $8 million donated to the fund since it's beginning, $6 million has been given to other parks. This leaves a measly $2 million to fund SeaWorld's own conservation efforts.  On top of all of this, many of the conservation funds that SeaWorld donates to are questionable at best.  For example, the majority of the funds going to the Ocean Adventure park come from SeaWorld's very own SeaWorld and Busch Garden's conservation fund. Unfortunately on the Ocean Adventure park's website it states the following, ""Ocean Adventure is home to several species of dolphins, all of whom are rescued animals. Some came from the drive fishery in Japan where they were literally hours away from being slaughtered."" If you'd like to know more about how funding such marine parks stimulates dolphin slaughter you can read my article here. How does SeaWorld and Busch Garden's fund compare to other organizations? Here's a look at the 2009 World Wildlife Fund's annual report: Government grants contributed $33.3 million Foundation contributions totaled $17.9 million Corporate contributions totaled $11.2 million Individual contributions totaled $91.7 million In-kind and other revenue contributions totaled $54.9 million  World Wildlife Fund revenue contributions totaled $12.4 million The total amount contributed to the World Wildlife Fund was $221,354,818. The majority of the money that is donated to the World Wildlife Fund goes directly to protecting and preserving wildlife across the world through their own organization, not to other questionable conservation programs.  If you wish to read examples on instances in which SeaWorld has went against conservation efforts please read these articles: SeaWorld Supports Subsistence Hunts and Captures Wild Penguins, SeaWorld Sells Seafood, SeaWorld Pollutes Mission Bay, SeaWorld's Connection to Cetacean Slaughter, and SeaWorld's Concern for Conservation. After you read some of these articles and consider the information, let me know if your mind has changed about SeaWorld and their Conservation fund being ""awesome."""
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