Trammell S. Crow and EarthX host the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Ambassador Cheetah Winspear from the Dallas Zoo
Event sponsored by EarthX, Dallas Zoo and Cheetah Conservation Fund
EarthX founder Trammell S. Crow hosted the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and Ambassador Cheetah Winspear from the Dallas Zoo at a reception in his home inviting everyone to be a CATalyst for Conservation.
Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director, Cheetah Conservation Fund, welcomed the crowd and thanked Trammell for his generous hospitality in hosting the event. She introduced Winspear and shared information about the fastest land mammal in the world and the serious threats facing them in Africa. Populations have dwindled to less than 7,000 individuals in Africa mainly due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. She said CCF has many partners and collaborators across the world – these are organizations that have contributed significantly to the fund’s mission to save the cheetah in the wild. She stressed that land conservation in Africa is the future of wildlife and that CCF deals with all aspects of cheetah survival, including helping and educating the African community about wildlife management. Stressing that everyone can help – no matter where they live – everyone’s support has an impact.
Gregg Hudson, President and CEO of the Dallas Zoo, said the Zoo is honored to be a partner with CCF and EarthX. The Zoo is dedicated to creating a better world for animals and is working hard every day to make that happen. With the help of cheetah Winspear, the Zoo is able to introduce children and adults to Africa’s most endangered cat, and get them to care while there’s still time. As an ambassador species, Winspear travels across North Texas to schools, hospitals and more, educating the public about the plight of the wild cheetah.
Nita Hudson, Director of Wildlife Conservation at EarthX, dressed up her young daughter and two friends to participate in this event. During the event, beanie-toy cheetahs were sold by these three adorable girls (Claire Hudson, Phoebe Rupp and Alexis Moody-Dahlberg) dressed in cheetah outfits for a chance to win a door prize.
Prizes included an original artwork depicting a running cheetah by James Garde. Winners were drawn after the presentations.
Showing their support for EarthX, Cheetah Conservation Fund and the Dallas Zoo were Trevor Ahlberg, Alex Arellano, Diane Brierley, Jean-Patrick Bonny on behalf of EarthX; Darryl Griffin on behalf of the Dallas Zoo along with Kari Streiber; Jan Raines, Henry Raines, Cindy and Jack Waldrip, Lori and Chuck Whitten, Courtney Kennebeck, Chris Hudson, Lane Britain and more.
Find out more about the Cheetah Conservation Fund at www.cheetah.org; EarthX at www.earthx.org and the Dallas Zoo at www.dallaszoo.com
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About EarthX:
EarthX is an international environmental nonprofit organization founded by Trammel S. Crow to provide a platform for connecting a global community to create a sustainable world for all life and future generations. The annual EarthX event is held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas and is the largest environmental expo, film festival, and conference in the world, attracting over 137,000 attendees over a weekend centered around Earth Day. EarthX 2019 will be held April 26-28, 2019.
EarthX is rapidly becoming the leading global connector and environmental forum, providing a platform to positively impact our world for a sustainable future. www.earthx.org
About the Cheetah Conservation Fund:
Founded in Namibia in 1990, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the global leader in research and conservation of cheetahs. CCF is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild.
The vast majority of wild cheetahs are outside protected areas, in areas populated by humans. Saving this magnificent animal from extinction requires innovative conservation methods that address the welfare of both cheetah and human populations over large landscapes. CCF has developed a set of integrated programs that work together to achieve this objective. CCF’s programs have effectively stabilized and even increased the wild cheetah population in Namibia.
CCF’s mission is to be the internationally recognized center of excellence in the conservation of cheetahs and their ecosystems. CCF will work with all stakeholders to develop best practices in research, education, and land use to benefit all species, including people.
CCF is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Namibia, with operations in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom, and partner organizations in several other nations. www.cheetah.org
About the Dallas Zoo:
The Dallas Zoo is dedicated to creating a better world for animals. Named one of the nation’s Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, it is the largest zoological experience in Texas. The zoo has been accredited continuously by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums for 33 years, and features a 106-acre park, thousands of animals, and an education department that offers programs for all ages. The zoo is located at 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35 at Marsalis) and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit DallasZoo.com or call 469.554.7500.
Photos by Daniel Driensky.