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Wildlife Wednesdays: Disney’s Animal Kingdom is All Abuzz on Pollinator Day

Bees, butterflies and other pollinators are the focus during the Pollinator Day celebration June 5 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is All Abuzz on Pollinator Day, June 5 at Walt Disney World Resort

At Rafiki’s Planet Watch on Pollinator Day, guests can view live bees (very safely, of course!) and learn about the important role they play in pollination. Afraid of bees? Elephants are too! Guests can find out how this fear is being put to use to protect both elephants and people. Guests also can try on a pair of insect wings, follow the paths different pollinators take in a fun game, and learn how to create a pollinator garden.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is All Abuzz on Pollinator Day, June 5 at Walt Disney World Resort

Fun facts about pollinators:

  • About 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices and medicines depend on pollinators to grow. In fact, an estimated one-third of all foods and beverages is dependent on pollinators.
  • Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as butterflies, bees, beetles and wasps. About 1,000 pollinators are vertebrates, such as birds, bats and small mammals.
  • You can help pollinators by reducing pesticide use and by creating a pollinator-friendly garden with native flowering plants that supply pollinators with nectar, pollen and homes.
  • The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) helps pollinators through a variety of projects around the world. Through support from the DWCF, a new species of butterfly was discovered in Myanmar, a country in southeast Asia.

Upcoming 2013 events for connecting families with nature (as always, dates subject to change):

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom –

  • July 25: Tiger Day
  • August 1: Primate Day
  • August: Cotton-Top Tamarin Month
  • September 5: International Vulture Awareness Day
  • September 26: Elephant Day
  • October 31: Bat Day
  • November 12: Rhino Day

At The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot –

  • June 8: World Ocean Day
  • September 7: International Manatee Day

Destinations: Walt Disney World Resort

Comments

  • If there is a worthy cause for the DWCF, it is to help bees, who account for the lion’s share of pollination in the US and who have, for some years now, been severely afflicted by Colony Collapse Disorder. Bravo, thank you Disney!!

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