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The Rare Species Fund traveled to Washington D.C. recently to talk to politicians about wildlife conservation and the importance of wildlife ambassadors in educating the public. The congressional briefing was held in the hearing room of the Committee on Natural Resources within the U.S. Capitol complex. Proving to be one of the most successful meetings to date, several hundred federal employees joined the Rare Species Fund for this event.
Pictured above, Dr. Bhagavan Antle and Moksha Bybee of the Rare Species Fund talk to politicians in the U.S. Capitol building's sub-committee room on Natural Resources. "Doc" Antle spoke about the plight of endangered species.
Below, Dr. Antle discusses wildlife conservation and the importance of wildlife ambassadors with Congressman Don Young and Congresswoman Dina Titus. Doc is photographed here holding a tiger cub during the specially convened congressional briefing.
The Rare Species Fund (RSF) also participated in the annual International Conservation Caucus Foundation Gala on the National Mall. The animal ambassadors of RSF met with political ambassadors from around the world. The event was attended by many high-ranking government officials, including the President of Tanzania. Robert Johnson is pictured below with members of the Tanzanian parliament at the Gala. 
Robert Johnson brought Ahren, an African fish eagle, with him as a wildlife ambassador for the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) Gala in Washington D.C. The ICCF is perhaps the world's most influential conservation organization with membership comprised of Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers and policy makers from around the world.
The topic of discussion at the ICCF Gala was the need for further steps in African wildlife conservation. For example, the poaching of rhinos has escalated to historic proportions. This influential conservation organization is reaching out to industry leaders, various non-governmental organizations, and other conservation groups to assist in saving wildlife throughout Africa. The ICCF has the distinction of being the only organization that includes nearly one third of all Congressmen and Congresswomen as members.
In the early 1900's, over 500,000 rhinos lived across the continents of Africa and Asia. Today, this number has fallen to just 29,000 rhinos living in the wild. Despite these heartbreaking statistics and the continuing threat of poaching, rhinoceros population numbers are slowly increasing due to the high-level discussions and increased conservation efforts by organizations like the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.
Learn more about conservation efforts for chimpanzees, lynx, elephants, tigers, ligers, orangutans, gibbons, apes and more through the Rare Species Fund. To see these amazing species up close and personal, visit www.myrtlebeachsafari.com/signup to get started on your own interactive tour!
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