SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund Highlight: Wildlife Alliance

June 24, 2016

For over 50 years, SeaWorld has been a leader in wildlife conservation, research and conservation education. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund provides resources for a wide variety of conservation programs worldwide that align with four key areas: animal rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection and species research. Here is a closer look at one of our partner programs, the Wildlife Alliance.

Since 1995 Wildlife Alliance has been a leader in direct conservation action against deforestation, wildlife extinction, climate change, and poverty by partnering with local communities, governments, and organizations like the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. 

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has partnered with the Wildlife Alliance since 2009 with funds to support the recovery and ongoing care of animals affected by the wildlife trade, like Chhouk. Chhouk was rescued in 2007 after being found wandering alone in the forests of Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia severely malnourished and with a severely injured foot. In 2009, using funds from the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Chhouk was fitted with a prosthetic foot.

Here is his story:

Since Chhouk’s injuries would not allow him to be released back into the wild he has become a global ambassador for Cambodia’s Asian elephant population and resides at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center with a number of other rescued animals, including another elephant named Lucky. 

Lucky was rescued by the government in 1999 as a 6-month-old calf.  It is believed that her mother was killed, so the government brought her to the Wildlife Alliance rescue center where she was hand-raised by the head keeper. Lucky is now 16 years old and doing very well.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has provided more than $200,000 since 2009 to projects in Cambodia to support educational programs like the Kouprey Express, which provides awareness-raising activities to local communities, habitat loss support through the construction of conservation centers at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, and or course the recovery and care of animals like Chhouk.

Click here to learn more about the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.