April is Earth Month! Since 1970, this month was intended to raise environmental awareness around the issues facing our planet today, the beautiful nature we strive to protect, and how humans can better interact with the world around us. As an influential global figure, the Walt Disney Company took some time today to spotlight some facts about Animal Kingdom at The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
The first of four images shared on Disney’s Twitter page shows safari Mickey and Minnie under a box that reads “More than 8,000 acres of Walt Disney Resort are set aside for Wildlife conservation.” In 2009 The Walt Disney Company partnered with The Conservation Fund to help protect Northern Californian forests. Some goals include safeguarding habitats and preventing deforestation.
A field of solar panels arranged in the shape of Mickey Mouse says, “Solar facilities are helping to power the magic at Walt Disney World and can generate enough renewable energy to power two of its four theme parks annually.” These 500,000 solar panels take up 270 acres. That’s half the area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom itself, which is 580 acres. By the way, Magic Kingdom is only 107 acres!
Next to flamingos bathing under the Tree of Life, a box reads “400 Million+ plants, trees, and grasses were planted during construction of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.” Because of Disney Parks’ dedication to improving its habitat for one struggling species of flamingos, innovators discovered the prosperous use for baseball clay in their habitat. Now more chicks are being born to the species of flamingo whose numbers were threatened because of destroyed habitats in the wild!
Lastly, they claim “Kilimanjaro Safaris’ vehicles operate on alternative fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” and that “compost made from Walt Disney World Food Waste fertilizes plants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”
Disney has taken other steps to be more environmentally clean, but critics are skeptical of the company’s dedication to green initiatives. So far, Disney has installed light bulbs that consume less energy in their parks, strived to offer sustainable seafood, promoted recycling on their properties, and avoided unnecessary plastic. Solar panels in the parking lots are also an avenue to more reusable energy.
A Disney page dedicated to environmental sustainability states, “The Walt Disney Company is committed to taking meaningful and measurable action to support a healthier planet for future generations as we operate and grow our business.”
Check out the full Twitter post here:
https://twitter.com/disney/status/1644044803930222617?s=12&t=8EVrXu7VI5fD_HfrcGKhdg
