Today, we’re celebrating you, our guests, for helping us reach an important and meaningful milestone in the ‘Connect to Protect’ program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests of Pandora – The World of Avatar have used their adventures and their votes to unlock the first of ten $100,000 contributions from Disney Parks.
Since opening in May, Pandora – The World of Avatar has provided unique opportunities to explore and experience the otherworldly landscape of the Mo’ara Valley while connecting with conservation efforts here on Earth. Through the Connect to Protect program, guests use Facebook Messenger to communicate with “Fits,” a digital scientist, and participate in interactive missions that connect them with the local animal and plant life on Pandora.
When guests complete these missions, a $10 contribution is unlocked from Disney Parks through the Disney Conservation Fund to support the conservation project of their choice on Earth, helping one of 10 categories of at-risk animals: apes, elephants, butterflies, coral reefs, cranes, monkeys, rhinos, sea turtles, sharks & rays, and tigers. Each animal can receive up to $100,000 for a total commitment of $1 million from Disney Parks to protect and restore the habitats critical for their survival. This first donation will help protect habitats for elephants in Kenya.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect park for families and friends to celebrate and connect with nature, and we are so pleased to offer you a way to have fun together, learn more about the Disney Conservation Fund and help make a difference for wildlife, people and the planet. With an estimated 96 elephants lost each day due to threats like habitat loss and poaching, our efforts are more important than ever. This grant will provide critical support to the Wildlife Conservation Society to restore forest habitat and create wildlife corridors, enabling elephants to safely move throughout their range in East Africa.
Now is a great time to visit Pandora and take part in your own Connect to Protect adventure. By simply striking up a conversation with Fits, you’ll be doing a lot to help protect wildlife around the globe, all while getting a unique look at the details and immersive environment of Pandora.
So which animal will be helped next with a Connect to Protect donation? It’s up to you!
This post, Guests Unlock $100,000 Contribution for Elephant Conservation Through ‘Connect to Protect’ in Pandora first appeared on the Disney Parks Blog.
