For the first time in its history, the Dallas Safari Club will grant more than $1 million for conservation, education and hunter advocacy efforts worldwide for 2012.
Many species of animals will benefit from the grants, including research on lions and lion hunting in Africa, conservation efforts for Siberian snow tigers, and study of wolf interactions with elk in New Mexico. There is continuing work for polar bears, white-tailed deer and bobwhite quail.
Education and hunter advocacy efforts in Zambia, British Columbia, South Africa, Wyoming, Tanzania, Alaska, Montana and Washington D.C. also will receive DSC funding.
It’s the first time that DSC’s annual grant budget has topped the million-dollar mark. The 2012 figure represents a 27 percent gain over 2011.
DSC’s record commitment follows major growth in its annual convention and expo. The 2012 event, held Jan. 5-8 at the Dallas Convention Center, set records for event size, attendance and total fundraising.
“Supporters of Dallas Safari Club have raised the bar again,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “Together, our convention exhibitors, attendees, members and volunteers continue to drive our club’s amazing growth. This trend is something very special for DSC itself, but even more importantly, for the causes of wildlife and habitat conservation around the world.”
More than $67,000 in DSC grants will support homegrown Texas Parks and Wildlife Department initiatives such as desert bighorn sheep restoration, Operation Game Thief and other law enforcement programs, Hunters For The Hungry, hunter education courses and more.
Finally, funding also will support DSC’s own mission delivery programs, such as the Dallas Ecological Foundation’s popular Outdoor Adventures program, which is expanding conservation curriculum in Texas schools.
DSC’s total funding commitment for 2012 is $1,002,411.
