Safari Club International and Hunters Helping the African Lion

From the outside looking in, a non-hunter might find it hard to comprehend. What needs to be understood is that hunters have a deep care and passion for the animals they pursue to ensure that a healthy population of that resource remains.

Hunters commit a large amount of resources and time to help promote species of game to sustainable levels to be able to pursue them for hunting.

The impact of hunters on the African lion has become a hot button issue, to say the least, over the past few years. What should be a discussion based on science has turned into an emotionally charged topic.

Hunting has proven to bring large amounts of money to many African countries. These hunters not only help support the local economies, but also help protect and promote local wildlife. In the Keeping the Lions Share Report, from 2008 to 2011, hunters generated $75 million for Tanzania’s economy alone.

But when it comes to the African lion itself, hunters have again stepped up to the plate to continue to conserve them with science based management and on-the-ground efforts with antipoaching.

Since 2007, Safari Club International has spent over $1.1 million in research efforts, including lion population surveys in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Studies conducted also researched genetics and health of local wildlife populations. Providing key information to wildlife officials and biologists is essential to ensure science-based decisions are made in conservation.

At the 2013 SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention, hunters showed their support for the African lion by raising $1.4 million. Through the SCI Foundation, the money raised for African lions will help deal with illegal poaching, mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and support ground-breaking research.

Funding for SCI’s efforts comes primarily from their Annual Hunters’ Convention, the Ultimate Hunters’ Market. This year’s 42nd Annual Hunters’ Convention will have every possible hunting expedition, safari, fishing excursion and fine firearm on display for sportsmen and women of every interest level. Six continents of adventure and wonder are under one roof at SCI’s Annual Hunters’ Convention. There are dozens of informative and educational seminars designed to provide attendees the opportunity to learn new hunting techniques or refine old ones on countless topics that appeal to the hunting sportsman.

The 2014 Convention runs from February 5-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information, to join or register, visit www.showsci.org or call 1-888-746-9724.

Safari Club International

Protecting hunters’ rights and promoting wildlife conservation, SCI’s two areas of focus, historically has been the interest of hundreds of individuals long before SCI was established. But how did SCI as an organization begin?

Forty years ago, there were many safari clubs across the country made up of local, unaffiliated groups of hunters. One such was Safari Club of Los Angeles, which was formed in April 1971 by forty-seven individuals. In early 1972, an out-of-towner from a similar club in Chicago attended one of the monthly Wednesday night meetings, and it was decided that the L.A. club should attempt to combine with the one in Chicago to make it an affiliated chapter. The founder of Safari Club of Los Angeles, C.J. McElroy, went to the Windy City and instituted the new chapter.

Eleven months after the formation of Safari Club of Los Angeles, on March 9, 1972, the name was changed officially to Safari Club International. SCI continued to reach out to other independent safari clubs throughout the United States in an effort to combine them into a single overall organization.

Today, interest in SCI’s two primary missions has grown a worldwide network. Subsequent involvement and promotion of these missions is rooted in each of our 55,000 members, supported through each of our 190 membership chapters found across the globe, and put into action by government representatives and personnel both nationally and internationally.

In this way, we can encourage an appreciation for nature and wildlife so that conservation efforts remain strong, while also fighting to protect our rich hunting heritage. Big changes can be achieved through the endeavors of many who are united in a mission – the mission of Safari Club International.