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News: SeaWorld & Busch Gardens support panda breeding program

By Alex Westerman

Aug. 18th, 2008 -- Orlando, Fla. -- (August 2008) -- The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is making a difference with grants in support of two important wildlife conservation efforts in China.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding – Chengdu, Sichuan, China: The May 12th earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province measured 7.9 on the Richter scale, and was one of our planet’s most devastating natural disasters in recent history. The principal areas affected were in the Qionglai and Minshan mountain ranges, home to incredible biodiversity and the principle remaining habitat of giant pandas. Almost 90 percent of remaining wild giant pandas live in the regions most impacted by the quake. The Fund recently granted a $10,000 Animal Crisis Grant to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to help with veterinary costs and care of the rescued giant pandas after the earthquake and help rebuild infrastructure of the region’s nature reserves.

Shanshui Conservation Center – Beijing, China: Visitors to this year’s Olympics in Beijing may encounter the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund during their stay. The Fund recently granted $10,000 (discretionary grant) to the Shanshui Conservation Center, a China-based extension of Conservation International. The grant will help produce and distribute 20,000 Fund-branded “Green Dining Cards” to restaurants and hotels throughout the city. Clearly identifying menu items to avoid, the cards were produced with the goal of advancing public awareness of the health, safety, ecological, scientific, and legal issues surrounding wild animal consumption. The issue of illegal wildlife trade and bushmeat intended for high-end markets are among the most pressing wildlife conservation challenges of our time.

In addition to these Fund-supported cards, many high-profile Chinese athletes and other well-known individuals are also helping raise awareness about these issues. Specifically, our own Julie Scardina, joined by a tiger and several other animal ambassadors, appeared this week on the Today Show to celebrate some of China’s most spectacular animals and ways that Beijing Olympics visitors can help protect wildlife throughout the region.

For more information on all of the Fund’s efforts, visit www.swbg-conservationfund.org.