NFWF Announces Release of Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program 2017 Request for Proposals
Washington D.C. (June 9, 2017) — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the release of the 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program (KWRCP).
The program, which was launched in 2015 with significant support from SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., is dedicated to studying and protecting killer whales in the wild. This year, KWRCP welcomed a new corporate partner, as the program received $250,000 in support from Shell Oil Company.
KWRCP grant proposals are due July 14, 2017, and the full RFP can be found here. Awards are anticipated by December, 2017.
KWRCP focuses on three strategies: increasing prey availability, improving habitat quality and strengthening management through crucial research. In the first two years, the program has awarded nine grants totaling more than $1 million. These grants leveraged more than $1.4 million in matching support from grantees, generating a total conservation impact of more than $2.5 million. The grants span all three of the priority strategies for the program and summaries are provided here.
Several of the projects funded by KWRCP were highlighted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s recent release of the Species in the Spotlight Action Plan.
Competitive grants are reviewed by a public-private committee of government and academic experts, and funding decisions are based on the ability of the applicant to implement strategies that achieve the program priorities and result in measurable conservation outcomes.
Major funding for the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program is provided by SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., Shell Oil Company and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional information about the program can be found here.
About NFWF
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.8 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.
About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 30,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.
The company owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States. The company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company. Visit www.seaworldentertainment.com for more.
About Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future.
Environmental stewardship is one-way Shell has continued to share benefits with communities over the past 100 years. Since 1999, Shell has focused our partnerships with many organizations in the U.S. to protect more than 13 million acres of wetlands, clean and remove 600,000 pounds of debris from shoreline, and conserve more than 1.8 million acres of critical habitat.
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