Disney's Butterfly Conservation At Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney Company is committed to outstanding environmental stewardship and using their efforts to help reverse species declines around the globe. Stewardship starts at home though, and through partnerships with other conservation organizations they are making an impact. One such effort include the Disney Butterfly Conservation that guests may notice going on across Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.


Disney's Butterfly Conservation


Walt Disney World is proud of its long-standing work with the native atala butterfly that has already had significant impact in returning a population that was once thought to be extinct. A founding member of Florida's Butterfly Monitoring Network, and in conjunction with the Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the University of Florida, Disney's Conservation Team developed a system to help raise these rare native insects. Some cast members, with the help of the Animal Husbandry team, even keep climate-controlled butterfly terrariums on their desks to care for the animals as they undergo metamorphosis.


Flowers In Bloom Support Important Pollinators


The National Wildlife Federations' Butterfly Heroes campaign is another great campaign that Disney supports. Butterfly Heroes encourages families to plant and tend native plants in butterfly gardens that help monarch butterflies. "Reverse the Decline, Increase the Time" is the campaign's motto, and it's all about increasing butterfly populations while getting kids outside in nature exploring.

For those who keep their eyes open, great examples of taking small spaces and turning them into butterfly gardens can be found dotted around Walt Disney World and marked with the Disney Butterfly Conservation sign. The patch of garden pictured below at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside along a walkway helps to demonstrate how a few plants can make a big impact.


Butterfly Garden At Port Orleans Riverside


In addition to the everyday activities, each year guests look forward to the Butterfly House at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. That garden is planted with lush landscapes of passion flower, coral honeysuckle, lantana, butterfly bush, blue porterweed, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.

Have you been inspired by Disney to planet a butterfly garden? Leave a comment and let us know what you think about the conservation efforts.