“Let’s Keep Our Oceans Amazing,” The Walt Disney Company’s global initiative, was launched in conjunction with the premiere of Avatar the Waterway, to support The Nature Conservancy in its work to protect our oceans, including marine species and their ecosystems, including 10 that inspired the new aquatic world featured in the film.
Disney selected animal and plant species found in waters around the world that are classified as threatened, vulnerable, or endangered to protect and support the work being done by the global organization The Nature Conservancy.
Many of these select species share qualities with the Pandora creatures and habitats featured throughout the hit Avatar sequel. A new corner of the planet Pandora surrounded by the surrounding seas is revealed in the story, where the Metkayin community lives.and where captivating animal and plant species live.
How can you support the purpose of protecting these 10 marine species? The initiative invites users to enter the site “Let’s keep our oceans amazing”where they can create their own Avatar-inspired ocean creature, through July 31, 2023. For every creature created in Pandora’s Virtual Ocean, Disney will donate $5 to The Nature Conservancy, up to $1 million, to achieve their global goal of protecting 10% of the ocean by 2030.
With a mission to conserve the Earth and the waters on which all life depends, the organization has already protected more than 930,000 km2 of oceans in the last 40 years. Check here the ten species to protect through the campaign.
Blue whale
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It is the largest animal on the planet and is in danger of extinction. It migrates from regions such as Alaska to Costa Rica, and its populations reside in the northern Indian Ocean, as well as just outside Australia and New Zealand. Whales are important to a productive and healthy ocean, as they distribute nutrients through the waters as they feed and migrate.
Beluga whale
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It is under great threat of extinction. It inhabits northern waters, including those off Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. They are highly social creatures that communicate vocally. and generally live in small groups known as “pods”.
Tortuga carey
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Critically endangered, it can be found in the tropical and subtropical coastal waters of 82 nations around the world. The largest population centers are in the Caribbean Sea, the Seychelles, Indonesia, and Australia. Although this turtle lives part of its life in the open sea, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs.. They eat sponges that create space for corals to grow. They keep jellyfish populations in check and feed on many invertebrates. It is one of the oldest creatures on Earth, since the turtle has existed for more than 100 million years.
Sea cow:
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All three species of manatees – the African, the American and the Amazon – are endangered. They inhabit shallow marshy coastal areas and rivers in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin, and in West Africa. Manatees are long-lived mammals and are closely related to the elephant, anteater, and little rock hyrax, resembling a gopher.. They feed on a wide variety of submerged, emergent, floating, and coastal vegetation.
Mantarraya:
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The reef manta ray species is in a state of vulnerability and the oceanic manta ray is in danger of extinction. They are found throughout the world, in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. Manta rays are filter feeders, which means they swim with their mouths wide open, attracting plankton and krihe. They have the highest brain-to-body ratio of all living fish and exhibit high cognitive function, also present in dolphins, primates and elephants.
Parrotfish:
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Several of the many species are facing localized extinction. They are found on the reefs of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Parrotfish are colorful tropical creatures that live in coral reefs. They feed on algae and corals. Parrotfish’s digestive system, which includes more teeth inside their throats, breaks down chunks of coral into white sands that form beautiful beaches. This bioerosion process helps control algae and creates new surfaces for baby corals to attach to and grow on.
Sea lion:
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There are multiple endangered species. Sea lions can be found along coasts and islands, from the subarctic to tropical waters.particularly enjoying the sandy shores or rocks by the ocean.
Whale shark:
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It is endangered and common aggregation areas include the Mesoamerican Reef, the East African Coast, the Gulf of California, and the Coral Triangle. The whale shark is the largest shark and the largest living fish today. Despite its gigantic size, it is often referred to as a “gentle giant”. It feeds on plankton and travels long distances. to find food and maintain its enormous size. Its coloration with white spots makes it easy to distinguish. Whale sharks are a big draw for tourists and are popular with divers where they congregate.
Missing:
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They are endangered ecosystems, composed of approximately 70 species. Mangrove forests once covered more than 32 million hectares of coastline, but only 13.8 million hectares remained in 2016. They can be found in more than one hundred countries and territories in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.. Mangroves provide habitat and refuge for more than 3,000 species of fish, can store 3-5 times more carbon per area than upland tropical forests, and provide livelihoods for more than 120 million people.
staghorn coral
It is critically endangered in the Caribbean. This branching stony coral varies from a few centimeters to more than two meters in length and height. Like most corals, the staghorn has a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, providing it with a protected living space and the compounds necessary for photosynthesis in exchange for nutrients. They are one of the most important corals in terms of their contribution to reef growth and fishery habitat.
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