Grantee Spotlight
Shepherds of Wildlife Society
The Shepherds of Wildlife Society strives to reconnect people with nature and to preserve and protect wildlife and its habitat through the development of educational and motivational materials. Its award-winning film, “Killing the Shepherd,” educates the public on the valuable role of managed hunting to the well-being of indigenous communities and the survival of African wildlife.
Bhejane Trust
The Bhejani Trust is dedicated to protecting the wildlife in Zimbabwe’s national parks. Through a formal partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks Authority, Bhejane assists the country’s parks and the wildlife management teams with anti-poaching efforts, water enhancement and habitat restoration projects, wildlife research, and other conservation activities.
Zambeze Delta Motorcycle Anti-Poaching Unit
The Zambeze Delta Motorcycle Anti-Poaching Unit, an initiative of the Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance, is a key component of the conservation efforts in this 2.7 million acre region of the Zambeze Delta. 2020 grant funds will purchase 2 new motorbikes for the anti-poaching efforts.
Kids Outdoor Sports Camp
Kids Outdoor Sports Camp (KOSC) is dedicated to building youngsters’ outdoor skills by engaging them in a variety of outdoor sports and activities including fishing, archery and hands-on conservation projects. Attendees build strong connections to the outdoors and gain an appreciation for wildlife conservation.
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust advances environmental conservation in South Africa through wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and research, and community outreach and education. Recent grant funds are supporting VFWT’s Lion Conservation Program in northwest Zimbabwe. The project minimizes the negative impacts of wildlife crime on the lion population through the removal of wire snares from wildlife and treating animals impacted by malicious toxin poisonings.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, a California Waterfowl Association program, encourages more women to enter the world of outdoor sports. Participants learn a variety of outdoor skills from fishing, shooting and boating to game preparation, canning and leather-work. Attendees also have the opportunity to earn their hunters safety certification.
iThemba Trust
iThemba Trust provides outdoor education programs for impoverished youth from rural areas of South Africa. Recent grants support the Back2Nature Program for the school’s 50 students. Children explore the natural world and learn about the importance of wildlife and their habitats. Grant funds also support scholarships for iThemba’s Outdoor Adventure Camps and Explorers Program which provide students with outdoor skills and an appreciation of nature. The positive connections the children form with the natural world help cultivate futures generations who will value and safeguard wildlife and their habitats.
Water For Wildlife
Water for Wildlife works to protect and improve the water resources for wildlife that live in the drier western states of the U.S. Supplemental water sources installed by Water for Wildlife benefit a wide range of wildlife species including elk, deer, sheep, fox, bear, mountain lion, and a variety of birds.
Other Recent Grantees
Zimbabwe Leopard Research Program
This five-year research program is providing population data to evaluate the impacts of hunting and other human activities on the Zimbabwe leopard in order to inform future policy decisions. Project activities also contribute to local anti-poaching efforts.
Wildlife Conservation Science Education Seminars
California teachers, many of whom lack the opportunity to teach conservation science in their schools, learn how to effectively use the outdoors as a living classroom through this California Waterfowl Association program. After completing the seminars, teachers bring their learned knowledge of wildlife conservation and effective wildlife management practices back to their classrooms.
Women on Target
Women are the fastest growing segment of the shooting sports. The National Rifle Association’s Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics are designed to engage more women in the shooting sports. These clinics provide introductory firearms safety training in a positive, supportive environment.
Dogs in Defense Against Poaching
Detection dogs are trained to combat the escalating issue of poaching and security in Israel’s national parks and nature preserves. Grants from Mzuri support the purchase and training of additional detection dogs.
Veteran Hunt Program
This California Waterfowl Association program provides no-cost hunting and fishing trips for 350 veterans annually.
Greenwings Youth and Education Programming
The Greenwings Program of Ducks Unlimited cultivates wildlife conservationists among preschool and elementary-aged children through events, fun and engaging communications and other wildlife education materials.
