Disney Announces New Earth Month Initiatives to Protect and Rewild Critical Habitats

Disney Unveils 2026 Earth Month Projects to Safeguard Migratory Species

As Earth Month approaches, The Walt Disney Company is gearing up for a monthlong celebration of conservation and sustainability, culminating on Earth Day, April 22. For over three decades, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has been a global powerhouse, blending philanthropic grants with Disney’s unique expertise to safeguard wildlife and restore vital ecosystems.

This year, the DCF is supporting 25 organizations across 16 countries, pushing its total lifetime investment to more than $141 million since 1995. These efforts are a cornerstone of Disney Planet Possible, the company’s commitment to taking measurable action for a healthier planet.

Today, Disney is highlighting five of its newest grant recipients. Their mission? To protect, restore, and rewild over 120,000 square miles of habitat corridors—an area nearly twice the size of Florida!

“The Disney Conservation Fund embodies our Disney Planet Possible commitment to take meaningful and measurable action for a healthier, happier planet,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, vice president of environmental sustainability at The Walt Disney Company. “These projects were selected for their ability to connect critical spaces for people and wildlife, backed by strong science and collaboration with local communities. This ensures that rewilding efforts deliver real benefits for the people who depend on them today and for generations to come.”

Safeguarding the Heart of the Savanna 

The African elephants on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom do more than just wow guests—they bridge the gap between the parks and critical wild habitats. Through the Disney Conservation Fund, that connection reaches all the way to Kenya, where Disney is supporting Save the Elephants in a high-stakes mission.

This year’s grant helps establish a Community Conservancy bordering Tsavo East National Park. This 12.5-square-mile corridor—which includes a vital railway underpass—allows elephants to migrate safely through rapidly developing landscapes. Beyond protecting wildlife, the initiative provides the local community with sustainable livelihoods, employment, and long-term management strategies, proving that a healthier planet benefits both people and the animals who share it.

Nighttime Pollinators with a Powerful Role 

Beyond the impressive flying foxes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s conservation reach extends to protecting the vital “nectar corridors” of the U.S. Southwest and Mexico. Through the Disney Conservation Fund, Bat Conservation International is embarking on a two-year mission to restore 675 miles of migratory pathways for threatened nectar-feeding bats.

By planting nearly 140,000 native agaves and implementing sustainable farming across eight key stopover sites, this initiative creates a climate-resilient habitat for essential pollinators like the greater long-nosed bat. These efforts do more than just save a species; they strengthen land health and support local livelihoods, proving that whether it’s a flying fox in the park or a long-nosed bat in the wild, these animals are key to a healthy, thriving planet.

Keeping the Ocean in Balance

While the sharks at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT often surprise guests with their grace, these powerful predators are actually the silent guardians of a healthy ocean. Beyond the aquarium, the Disney Conservation Fund is taking action to protect one of the sea’s most iconic and critically endangered species: the great hammerhead shark.

In partnership with the Ocean First Institute, Disney is supporting high-tech research in the Florida Keys using satellite tagging and underwater video systems. Over the next two years, this team will work to safeguard 60 nautical miles of vital marine corridors within the Upper Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. By connecting offshore reefs to inshore nurseries, this project ensures these misunderstood giants can continue their essential role in keeping our global marine ecosystems in balance.

Small Wings, Far-Reaching Impact 

Butterflies may be small, but their impact on our planet is massive. At the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, guests can get up close with these delicate pollinators at Butterfly Landing in World Nature, where hundreds of monarchs and educational displays bring their incredible life cycle to light.

Beyond the festival, the Disney Conservation Fund is taking flight with the Monarch Joint Venture to restore 15 miles of critical migratory habitat across California’s Bay Area and Central Valley. Over the next two years, this initiative will provide 6,000 native plants to everyone from farmers to students, creating community-led corridors that ensure these iconic travelers have a safe path for generations to come.

Tiny Primates, Critical Protection 

The tiny but mighty cotton-top tamarins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are more than just a fan-favorite family; they are ambassadors for one of the most endangered primates on Earth. Watching these energetic families move together reminds guests that even the smallest creatures are vital to a healthy ecosystem.

That connection extends directly to the wild through the Disney Conservation Fund. This year, Proyecto Tití and the Wildlife Conservation Network are expanding protected habitats in Colombia by approximately 6 square miles. This is a critical step toward a 20-mile regional forest corridor that will link two essential survival zones. By combining forest restoration with community education and sustainable agriculture, this decades-long partnership is ensuring a brighter future for both the tamarins and the people who share their forest home.

For a complete list of the most recent DCF grant recipients and more about Disney’s global commitment to conservation, visit disney.com/conservation.