Bottlenose dolphins have long called the warm waters of the Indian River Lagoon in central Florida home. However in recent years this area has become a hotspot of concern for those interested in protecting the much-loved mammals.

With less than 670 individuals left in the wild, the Rothschild’s giraffe is a rare breed indeed. Although their presence was once plentiful across Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the Rothschild’s giraffe now only exists in a few small, isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda.

In the ocean coral reefs provide safe havens for many species of beautiful exotic fish. But this beauty can have ugly consequences. Many of their colorful inhabitants are collected for home aquariums and displays in ways that are not environmentally friendly.

SeaWorld’s “Rising Tide” initiative is funding marine fish breeding research that will provide a sustainable tropical fish population and lessen the dependency on coral reefs for home aquariums.

The park’s annual community outreach event also benefits wildlife

At SeaWorld and Busch Gardens our commitment to conservation has been a core value for more than five decades. From helping rescue and rehabilitate injured animals to adopting environmentally-friendly business practices, we strive to help preserve the world we share.

This Earth Day, a select group of teens were awarded for being the best in the country in regard to their stellar environmental efforts. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have announced the 2010 winners of their annual Environmental Excellence Awards.