When Manta opens next month, one lucky person will get to be one of the first people to ride it - and for a good cause, at that. Earth Day is coming up next Wednesday, April 22, and SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens are inviting guests to celebrate it all month long with special events at both parks and a global online auction - which is auctioning off, among other things, first rides on the new roller coaster at SeaWorld.

By visiting auctionwire.com/savewildlife from now through April 30, guests will be able to find some wild deals and help wildlife at the same time. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund along with American Express is sponsoring a global online auction to raise funds for animal rescue, habitat protection, and conservation education in the US around the world. Every dollar raised during this eco-friendly shopping event directly benefits wildlife and habitats.

Among the special experiences and gifts up for bid are one-of-a-kind paintings by Busch Gardens’ gorillas and orangutans, exotic animal meet and greets, a private lunch for two with Jack Hanna at SeaWorld, and various other items, such as travel packages, tickets to entertainment and sporting events, celebrity memorabilia, and much more. There’s even the opportunity to star in your own reality vacation show filmed by Spectrum Productions.

“Earth Month is a great time to raise awareness of animals, conservation and how we’re all connected,” said Ginny Busch, president of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. “We hope during this time, guests will discover that even the smallest, everyday efforts can have a huge impact on the world we share.”

In addition, for every donation of $100 or more to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the parks will match it dollar for dollar. Guests can make donations online or in person at the parks, where they’ll receive a complimentary eco-friendly tote bag as a thank you.

“With the current economy, all of us tighten our belts. But it’s still incredibly critical to keep protecting at-risk animals, people and places for the health of our environment and planet,” said Jim Atchison, president of Busch Entertainment Corporation. “We’re committed to contributing to conservation and invite our guests and the public to join us this Earth Month.”

As part of the Earth month celebrations, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens will also host fun and activities and events at both parks throughout April. There’ll be new up-close animal encounters, kid-friendly activities, special shows, and more. Wildlife experts Jack Hanna and Julie Scardina will also be making appearances; Hanna arrives at the park on April 26 and May 3.

So if you love the animals at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, make a positive contribution to creatures like them in the wild by bidding on one of the cool park items at the global auction or donating when you visit your favorite Busch Entertainment park. And don’t forget to check out the green fun happening all month long at the parks with SeaWorld tickets and Busch Gardens tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com.