Koebus Möller, a wildlife artist from Zimbabwe, Africa, has been named the 2010 Conservation Artist of the Year by the Safari Club International Foundation. Möller received the honor for his oil painting of a white rhinoceros entitled "Disturbed Mud Bath." The painting will be auctioned at the 2010 SCI Convention in Reno, Nevada, on January 20-23, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be dedicated to wildlife conservation efforts.

Wildlife art has been an integral part of SCI auctions at its annual Hunters' Convention and through the years, the sales of artwork has funded dozens of local and international conservation programs. In 2006, the Safari Club International Foundation created the Conservation Alliance in an effort to recruit original paintings from world-renowned artists.

Through the program, an original painting was donated and auctioned at the SCI Convention with the proceeds invested in SCIF wildlife conservation efforts. It also provided free, numbered prints of the original painting to local SCI chapters. The chapters used the prints as auction items at banquets and fundraising activities to support local conservation efforts.

In 2007, the Conservation Alliance evolved into the Conservation Artist of the Year Program and $90,000 has been raised from auctioned originals. The program has provided continuing funding for wood bison restoration projects and African lion research studies and programs.

For information, please go to safariclub.org - Jay Cassell