The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is proud to support the Horniman Museum and Garden’s “Project Coral” – a breakthrough project in South London, UK which may hold a vital key to saving threatened reefs.
Coral reefs play a massive part in ocean health, yet they are one of our most fragile ecosystems. With shocking statistics on the destruction rate of the ocean’s coral reefs showing that 60% will die in the next 20 years, it is clear that preservation efforts need to be made.
But, just what is Project Coral?
Project Coral is an innovative coral reproductive research project led by the Horniman Aquarium with international partners. The project aims to develop techniques to stimulate coral sexual reproduction, with great success so far. Project Coral was the first programme in the world to predictably induce broadcast coral spawning as well as carrying out the first successful in-vitro fertilisation of captive corals in the UK.
This breakthrough of controlled captive coral spawning - allowing natural breeding patterns to be overridden - will support future coral research all over the world, by opening up opportunities to examine the effects of climate change, aid restoration of the reefs and support sustainable livelihoods. Other potential applications of the research include breeding ‘super corals’, better able to thrive in places where corals cannot; and cultivating colour strains of coral, which would alleviate the demand for wild collection to supply aquaria.
We’re helping by funding this vital work with money raised through the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s UK donation program, which launched in 2015. $2 from every sale of SeaWorld Parks Extras pre-purchased in the UK goes towards the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, but specifically for UK charities.
SeaWorld Parks Extras include quick queue tickets, behind the scenes tours and dining packages. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has been established since 2003 and has funded more than 800 projects worldwide. Stay tuned for news about future projects!
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