The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund was designed to offer funds, knowledge and assistance to wildlife conservation efforts across the globe. We believe that by sharing resources and information, we can protect and preserve the world’s most precious resources – its wildlife and wild places. This is rewarding work, and nowhere was this more evident than in the case of Chhouk, the baby elephant.

Australia boasts a wide range of unique and diverse animals. Kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras are just a few of the uncommon animals that make their home in the land down under.

Only one breed of bear calls the dense jungles of South America home – the Spectacled Bear. These shy creatures are rarely seen and have become listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Although population data is sketchy, some estimates suggest that fewer than 3,000 spectacled bears may remain in the wild today. The reasons for their disappearance are many – poaching, destruction of their habitat, and being killed by farmers as agricultural pests.

To many, the Bald Eagle stands as a symbol of long life and great strength – and one facility in Virginia is making sure that this proud predator lives up to its reputation.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the Cahoon Elementary Magnet School of Animal Science have teamed up to provide students with a innovative, year-long program that will challenge children to strategize solutions regarding some of our world’s greatest conservation challenges. The project is called “Conservation Matters” and allows children to apply the abstract knowledge of Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Science directly to real-life conservation challenges.

As you and your family are planning for your Thanksgiving dinner, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens animal experts are doing just the same. However, this is something they do all year long -- preparing nutritious and appetizing diets for the thousands of animals who call SeaWorld and Busch Gardens home.

This Thursday, July 29 catch Julie Scardina on the "TODAY Show" with SeaWorld and Busch Gardens animal ambassadors native to Australia.

Sesame Street's Bert celebrates his birthday on July 26, so Busch Gardens Tampa is hosting a party for him in the new Sesame Street Safari of Fun on Saturday, July 24. Ernie's straight-laced sidekick will be the guest of honor during a breakfast and a lunch dine. Breakfast is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tune in to the Travel Channel July 14 at 10pm to see Busch Gardens Tampa featured in an episode of the network's newest show, "Bert the Conqueror."

Busch Gardens Tampa will go out with a big, rock-style bang on July 3 and 4, when fireworks amp up the park's hot summer show, Kinetix.