Back to Blog Home

10 Ways SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day (+ 3 Ways You Can Too!)

April 22, 2020
Today the world is marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but at our SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Parks we strive to celebrate and care for the planet every day.

Today the world is marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but at our SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Parks we strive to celebrate and care for the planet every day. From eliminating plastic shopping bags and single use plastic straws and coffee stirrers to water conservation measures to ocean health; protecting animals and the wild wonders of the world depends on all of us working together. Check out these amazing stories from our parks and join us as we celebrate earth day each and every day!

Rhino

That Papaya Tree Came from Where?

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Jody is a 31-year-old rhino at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay who loves papaya, and her love of this seeded fruit was very evident in the rhino poop that is a part of Busch Gardens’ composting efforts. In fact, over 3 million pounds of manure is recycled at the park’s state-certified composting site annually.

In 2018, animal care experts noticed a small papaya plant growing in the compost area. The seedling was relocated closer to Jody’s habitat, in the hope that it would one day grow into a fruit-bearing tree. 

Two years later – the tree is thriving, offering Jody a delicious and nutritious snack!

Learn More


Mulching with recycled wood chips 

Using Real Christmas Trees as Mulch

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Horticulture teams at Busch Gardens Williamsburg reuse the 1,400 real trees that adorn the park during the holiday season. Come January, the trees are transformed into hundreds of square yards of wood chips, used to mulch and nourish the park’s award winning landscaping. Many cities and towns around the country host similar “mulchfests” after the holiday season.

Did you know for 29 consecutive years Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted the World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA).

Read More


Bees 

Using Honey to Help Heal Rescued Animals

SeaWorld Orlando

Florida’s beautiful year round flowers and sweet, sticky theme park treats provide the perfect haven for bees. Beginning in 2014, horticulture experts at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove began managing bees in a very different way, relocating them offsite, away from guests, team members and animals. These rescued bees now work to produce more than 400 pounds of raw honey each year, which veterinary teams use to help heal rescued animals, many which are threatened or endangered.

Honey has long been heralded for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, both for human and animals. It boasts antimicrobial properties, high levels of antioxidants and, when applied to the surface of a wound, it releases hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria. Holistic practitioners consider the sticky stuff one of nature's best all-around remedies.

Read More


Turtle Trek at SeaWorld San Antonio

First-of-its-kind Biofiltration Aquarium System

SeaWorld San Antonio

In 2019, SeaWorld San Antonio unveiled Turtle Reef™, a 126,000-gallon coral reef-themed environment, featuring a biofiltration process that creates a near natural, environmentally based recirculating filtration system that attracts wildlife and reduces water and energy consumption in the park.

The biodynamic, multi-species environment is inhabited by rescued and non-releasable sea turtles in SeaWorld’s world-class care, including endangered green sea turtles, and Big Mama, a 250-pound loggerhead sea turtle rescued offshore in the Gulf of Mexico after sustaining significant injuries to her front and back flippers. Multi-colored fish also share this unique space.

This is the first time sea turtle species have been featured at SeaWorld San Antonio, giving guests the opportunity to learn more about some of the challenges facing sea turtles, and what we can all do to help protect them and their ocean home.

Read More


Yellow Tang Fish at SeaWorld San Diego

Rising Tide Conservation

SeaWorld San Diego

Inside SeaWorld San Diego, a research support aquarium is helping protect the world’s coral reefs one school of salt water fish at a time. How? Through its work with Rising Tide Conservation, which is dedicated to making breeding and rearing of marine tropical fish economically viable so as to encourage healthy coral reefs and their adjacent communities. Rising Tide Conservation has supported the successful aquaculture of nearly 30 species of marine ornamental fish and supports aquaculture research to develop techniques for raising marine ornamental fish for both public displays and aquarium hobbyists. These methods promote conservation and sustainability by providing relief to stressed reefs and the compromised fish populations that live there.

A team of aquarists at SeaWorld San Diego use techniques pioneered by Rising Tide Conservation to develop healthy and robust fishes that support the aquaculture of marine ornamental fish, including yellow tang.

Read More


Reusable bags replace paper and plastic bags

Good-bye Plastic Bags and Straws

All 12 Parks

Starting In 2011, SeaWorld Parks began eliminating the use of plastic shopping bags in the park’s gift shops. Plastic bags are a huge problem for certain species of sea turtles, especially leatherbacks, which sometimes mistake the bags for jellies. Guests can purchase either a paper bag or reusable bag when purchasing items from the gift shops.

Read More


Plates from recycled materials

Shift from Styrofoam Dinnerware Products

All 12 Parks

In 2019 SeaWorld Parks furthered its commitment to protecting the environment by removing polystyrene foam dinnerware products, including bowls, plates and trays from the dining operations at all 12 of its parks and replaced it with products made from 100% recycled material. With millions of meals served in the parks each year, the removal of polystyrene foam products, which are not biodegradable, helps keep them out of local landfills, as well as in the ocean ecosystem.

Read More


Food at SeaWorld sourced from sustainable sources.

Responsible Food Sourcing

All 12 Parks

SeaWorld is committed to providing guests with sustainably-sourced food, including cage-free eggs, certified organic coffee, locally sourced produce and sustainable seafood. The parks have also expanded the number of plant-based offerings on menus across our parks.

Read More


SeaWorld Rescue Team nursing a baby manatee

Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation

The celebration of Earth Day is 50 years old, but our parks have been helping animals in need for more than 55 years. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are leaders in animal rescue, with a legacy of rescue work benefiting more than 36,000 ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned animals. Working in partnership with state, local and federal agencies, our Rescue Teams are on call 24/7, with a goal for every rescued animal to successfully be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

Learn More


African Elephant

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is a nonprofit foundation that has granted over $17.5 million in support of wildlife research, habitat protection, animal rescue and conservation projects around the world. Since its founding in 2003, the Fund has supported over 1,200 projects around the world. The Fund commits 100 percent of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation.

Learn More


Gardening at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Looking for ways you can celebrate Earth Day in your home?

We've gathered a couple of ways that you can help show your love for our planet with some hands-on activities and more.