Gatorland partners with Conservation Florida for Earth Month highlighting remaining wild spaces in Florida

Collaboration between Gatorland and Conservation Florida educates the public on the critical role that swamps play in Florida ecosystem.

 

In recognition of Earth Day April 22 and Earth Month all April long, Gatorland, “The Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland Global, and Conservation Florida are joining forces to highlight Florida’s rapidly disappearing wild landscapes and the urgent need to protect what remains.

At Gatorland, visitors can step into one of those last remaining preserved environments through the park’s immersive Swamp Walk, a protected wetland ecosystem that offers a rare glimpse of the wildlife and habitats that once thrived across much of the state.

First opened in 1978, Gatorland’s 2,000-foot scenic Swamp Walk boardwalk meanders through ecologically rich Florida wetlands. Today, it is also home to bobcats, snakes, otters, deer, and turtles — revealing what Florida’s wild habitats looked like before widespread development.

To honor this legacy and educate visitors, Gatorland has revamped signage throughout the Swamp Walk, incorporating information from Conservation Florida about the importance of protecting Florida’s natural landscapes and the critical role that swamps have in Florida’s ecosystems. 

The new Gatorland Global Swamp Walk signage explains how swamps protect us from storm surges, provide a home to wildlife and even filter the water we drink. At Gatorland, you will take a walk through a real, untouched swamp and see what Florida used to look like and learn also about the early conservationsits who worked hard to make sure swamps were protected.

Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places – the places that make Florida home.  Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has sved roughly 45,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education and advocacy.  Every $1 donation to Conservation Florida is turned into $36 of wild Florida Saved.

“Florida’s wild spaces are vanishing fast, and our Swamp Walk is a living reminder of what we stand to lose,” said Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland. “Through this partnership with Conservation Florida, we want Gatorland visitors to not only experience Florida’s amazing animals up close but also understand the critical work being done to preserve these lands — and what they can do in their daily lives to help.”

Discover the latest news and updates from the attractions in Central Florida, including Fun Spot America, Gatorland, Island H2O Water Park, WonderWorks Orlando, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Crayola Experience, ICON Park, Wild Florida, Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, and more.

Tips for everyday land conservation action include:

• Reducing personal footprint on natural spaces by following “Leave No Trace” principles.

• Educating friends and family about Florida’s endangered ecosystems.

• Participating in local clean-up and conservation volunteer opportunities.

• Respecting wildlife and natural habitats by observing from a distance and never feeding wild animals.

• Supporting conservation efforts by donating to organizations like Conservation Florida and Gatorland Global.

“Our Gatorland family will be spending Earth Day and Earth Month reflecting on the beauty of our park, how fortunate we are to experience Florida Wildlife up close every day, and how incredibly blessed we are to provide refuge and a beautiful home to so many Florida creatures,” added McHugh.

This Earth Month, Gatorland, Gatorland Global, and Conservation Florida invite guests to explore the Swamp Walk, witness Florida’s living history, and join the effort to protect the state’s remaining wild spaces for generations to come.

For more about Gatorland, go to www.gatorland.com or call 800-393-JAWS.

Stay updated on everything happening in Orlando with our coverage of the latest events and things to do across Central Florida. Get the Latest Orlando News now!

Contact Us:

You can contact us here. To advertise with us, click here. To list your upcoming event, submit it here.

Newsletter:

Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest news from Central Florida delivered daily to your mailbox.

Social Media:

Join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, plus, for extended coverage, catch the latest on our YouTube channel.