Nominees Announced for World’s Leading Animal Conservation ... · ensure future generations will...
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 12, 2017 Nominees Announced for World’s Leading Animal Conservation Award Wildlife Heroes Vie for Top Honor and $250,000 INDIANAPOLIS – As 2,200 zoological professionals from around the world descend on the Circle City for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) annual conference, Indianapolis Prize officials announced 32 global leaders in the field of animal conservation as Nominees for the 2018 Indianapolis Prize. Regarded as the world’s leading award for animal conservation, the biennial Prize spotlights the stories and accomplishments of brave men and women whose work not only saves species of this generation, but shapes future populations and ecosystems. “The 2018 Indianapolis Prize Nominees represent many of the most significant and accomplished wildlife conservationists in the field today,” said Michael Crowther, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, which initiated the Indianapolis Prize as part of its core mission. “They are protecting species and creating successful conservation methods that ensure future generations will live in a flourishing and sustainable world. We applaud their accomplishments and encourage individuals, organizations, companies, and governments to join them in advancing animal conservation.” Nominees hail from countries across the globe, focused on both iconic and unique animals, from primates and marine mammals to reptiles and birds. This year brings a more significant collection of individuals studying species of Asian ecosystems, including critically endangered orangutans, snow leopards, tigers and slow lorises. “The Indianapolis Prize elevates today’s leading conservationists by providing well-deserved recognition. This year's nominees have dedicated themselves to saving critically endangered species, putting science into action, transforming the improbable into the possible, and inspiring each and all of us to help save animals from extinction,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Internationally renowned professional conservationists and local representatives make up a Nominating Committee and Jury who will select six Finalists and determine a Winner, respectively. These Finalists will then be honored at the next Indianapolis Prize Gala presented by Cummins Inc., to be held Sept. 29, 2018. The Winner of the Prize will receive an unrestricted $250,000 cash award while the five Finalists will each receive $10,000. In addition to the monetary award, the Winner will Media Contacts Melanie Laurendine Conservation PR Specialist 317-630-3265 [email protected] Judy Palermo PR Senior Manager 317-630-2010 [email protected] Emily Brelage VOX Global 317-454-8035 [email protected]
Transcript of Nominees Announced for World’s Leading Animal Conservation ... · ensure future generations will...
FORIMMEDIATERELEASE Sept.12,2017
NomineesAnnouncedforWorld’sLeadingAnimalConservationAward
WildlifeHeroesVieforTopHonorand$250,000
INDIANAPOLIS–As2,200zoologicalprofessionalsfromaroundtheworlddescendontheCircleCityfortheAssociationofZoosandAquariums’(AZA)annualconference,IndianapolisPrizeofficialsannounced32globalleadersinthefieldofanimalconservationasNomineesforthe2018IndianapolisPrize.
Regardedastheworld’sleadingawardforanimalconservation,thebiennialPrizespotlightsthestoriesandaccomplishmentsofbravemenandwomenwhoseworknotonlysavesspeciesofthisgeneration,butshapesfuturepopulationsandecosystems.
“The2018IndianapolisPrizeNomineesrepresentmanyofthemostsignificantandaccomplishedwildlifeconservationistsinthefieldtoday,”saidMichaelCrowther,presidentandCEOoftheIndianapolisZoo,whichinitiatedtheIndianapolisPrizeaspartofitscoremission.“Theyareprotectingspeciesandcreatingsuccessfulconservationmethodsthatensurefuturegenerationswillliveinaflourishingandsustainableworld.Weapplaudtheiraccomplishmentsandencourageindividuals,organizations,companies,andgovernmentstojointheminadvancinganimalconservation.”
Nomineeshailfromcountriesacrosstheglobe,focusedonbothiconicanduniqueanimals,fromprimatesandmarinemammalstoreptilesandbirds.ThisyearbringsamoresignificantcollectionofindividualsstudyingspeciesofAsianecosystems,includingcriticallyendangeredorangutans,snowleopards,tigersandslowlorises.
“TheIndianapolisPrizeelevatestoday’sleadingconservationistsbyprovidingwell-deservedrecognition.Thisyear'snomineeshavededicatedthemselvestosavingcriticallyendangeredspecies,puttingscienceintoaction,transformingtheimprobableintothepossible,andinspiringeachandallofustohelpsaveanimalsfromextinction,”saidDanAshe,presidentandCEOoftheAssociationofZoosandAquariums.
InternationallyrenownedprofessionalconservationistsandlocalrepresentativesmakeupaNominatingCommitteeandJurywhowillselectsixFinalistsanddetermineaWinner,respectively.TheseFinalistswillthenbehonoredatthenextIndianapolisPrizeGalapresentedbyCumminsInc.,tobeheldSept.29,2018.
TheWinnerofthePrizewillreceiveanunrestricted$250,000cashawardwhilethefiveFinalistswilleachreceive$10,000.Inadditiontothemonetaryaward,theWinnerwill
Media Contacts
Melanie Laurendine Conservation PR Specialist 317-630-3265 [email protected]
Judy Palermo PR Senior Manager 317-630-2010 [email protected]
Emily Brelage VOX Global 317-454-8035 [email protected]
receivetheprestigiousLillyMedal,acastbronzemedalshowcasingtherelationshipbetweenpeopleandthenaturalworld,afittingremembrancetotheindividualscreatingpositiveoutcomesforspecies.ThecommemorativepiecereflectsthecommitmentoftheEliLillyandCompanyFoundation,whichhasprovidedfundingfortheIndianapolisPrizeprogramsinceitsinception.
Inalphabeticalorder,theNomineesforthe2018IndianapolisPrizeare:
SriSuciUtamiAtmoko,Ph.D.(NationalUniversity)—Naturalistwithaprofoundunderstandingoforangutans,havingstudiedreproduction,populationandconservationofthespeciesfornearly30years.Withfieldwork,filmadvisingandecologicalmonitoringexpertise,sheisrecognizedasoneofthemostcitedIndonesianorangutanresearchersandamajorinfluencerfororangutanandforestconservationpolicychanges.
PurnimaDeviBarman,Ph.D.(Aranyak)—RenownedenvironmentalistfocusedoneffortstoconservegreateradjutantstorksinIndia;creditedwithcreatingacampaigntoensurethesurvivalofthebirdsandbringpridetovillagesthatarehometothespecies,changinganoutlookthatonceviewedthebirdsasabadomen.
JoelBerger,Ph.D.(WildlifeConservationSociety;ColoradoStateUniversity)—Distinguishedscientistleadingprojectsonpronghornantelopemigrationcorridors,impactsofenergydevelopmentonwildlifeinGreaterYellowstone,climatechangeonmuskoxintheAlaskanArctic,andsaigaantelopeconservationinMongolia.Finalistforthe2014and2016IndianapolisPrize.P.DeeBoersma,Ph.D.(UniversityofWashington;PenguinSentinels)—Conservationistdedicatedtothestudyofglobalwarming'simpactonpenguins;successfulinstoppingbothharvestingandthedevelopmentofoiltankerlanesthroughpenguincolonies.
ChristopheAlainBoesch,Ph.D.(MaxPlanckInstituteofEvolutionaryAnthropology;WildChimpanzeeFoundation)—Primatologistdedicatedtoprovidingalternativestobushmeatandapplyingnewtechnologytogreatapeconservation,decreasingstrainonwildchimpanzeepopulations.
SheilaA.Bolin(TheRegalSwanFoundation,Inc.)—Advocateforswansworldwidethroughconservation,research,veterinarymedicineandeducation.PresidentandCEOoftheRegalSwanFoundation,Inc.,authorandmemberofIUCN’sSwanSpecialistGroup.
GerardoCeballos,Ph.D.(InstituteofEcology,NationalAutonomousUniversityofMexico)—ConductedthefirstjaguarcensusinMexico;developedsuccessfulconservationstrategiesforendangeredmammalsinNorthAmerica,includingtheblack-footedferret;akeyproponent
inthepassageofthecountry’sActforEndangeredSpecies.Finalistforthe2010and2014IndianapolisPrize.
ColinChapman,Ph.D.(McGillUniversity)—ScientistandhumanitarianwholedchimpanzeefieldstudiesandestablishedsuccessfulecotourismsitesforUganda’sKibaleNationalPark;startedahealthandconservationclinicandmobilehealthclinictoaddresspublichealthchallengesinremotecommunitiesnearthepark.
LisaDabek,Ph.D.(PaupaNewGuineaTreeKangarooConservationProgram;WoodlandParkZoo)—FounderoftheTreeKangarooConservationProgram;responsibleforthefirstConservationAreainPapuaNewGuinea;usedCrittercam©technologyforthefirsttimeonarborealmammals,allowingscientiststorecordanimalbehaviorthroughmountedvideocamerasandtransmitters.
ScottDowd(NewEnglandAquarium,ProjectPiaba)—FieldbiologistwhoseresearchonAmazonfisheriesformedthebasisforsoundfisheriesmanagement,sustainabilityandbenefitstoruralcommunities.Co-founderofProjectPiaba,anNGOsupportingfieldworkwiththeBraziliangovernmentwiththegoalofsocioeconomicandenvironmentalimpact.
SylviaEarle,Ph.D.(DeepOceanExplorationandResearch;MissionBlue;SEAlliance)—Oceanographer,authorandfounderofDeepOceanExplorationandResearch,Inc.,MissionBlueandSEAlliance.Focusedonresearchingoceanecosystems,developingnewexplorationtechnologiesandcreatingaglobalnetworkofmarineprotectedareas.Ledmorethan100expeditionsandloggedmorethan7,000hoursunderwater.
RickHudson(TurtleSurvivalAlliance)—Dedicatedadvocateforreptileconservation,includinggroundbreakingworkwiththeJamaicaniguanaandthecoordinationofthelargestturtlerescueeventinhistory,seizingmorethan7,000AsianturtlesandtortoisesinHongKong.
RodneyJackson,Ph.D.(SnowLeopardConservancy)—Conductedin-depthradio-trackingstudiesofsnowleopardssincethe1980s;dedicatedtobuildinglocalcommunities'capacityaskeyplayersinconservingthespecies.Finalistforthe2008,2010,2012and2016IndianapolisPrize.
HarveyLocke(HarveyLockeConsulting)—RecognizedforhisworkinCanada’snationalparkcreationandmanagementandconservationoflargelandscapes;photographer,writerandco-foundertoboththeYellowstonetoYukonConservationInitiativeandNatureNeedsHalfmovement.
LaurieMarker,Ph.D.(CheetahConservationFund)—FoundedtheCheetahConservationFund,leadingaconservationprogramfromhumblebeginningsinruralNamibiatoan
unparalleledmodelforpredatorconservation.35yearsofgenetic,biomedical,reproductiveandbehavioralresearchhasproducedanintegratedapproachtobothcaptiveandwildcheetahprograms,includingraisingKangallivestockguardiandogs.Finalistforthe2008and2010IndianapolisPrize.
DeborahMartyr(Fauna&FloraInternational)—AjournalistbytrainingandkeyplayerinestablishingthefirstTigerProtectionandConservationUnitsinAsia.IdentifiedpracticaltrainingtouncoveractiveandemergentwildlifecrimeandneedsforgovernmentofficersandlocalNGOstoreducethreatstotheirhabitat.
WilliamMcLellan(UniversityofNorthCarolinaWilmington)—Cetaceannecropsyexpertwhohasconsultedonandrespondedtowhaleandmarinemortalityeventsworldwide.Workedtodevelopformalpost-mortemprotocolsthatleddirectlytotheimplementationofUSfederalregulationstoreducespeedforlargevesselsenteringandleavingportstoavoidfatalcollisionswithrightwhales.
DavidMech,Ph.D.(USGeologicalSurvey;UniversityofMinnesota)—Leadingauthorityonthewolf;supportswolfrecoveryandecologicalmanagementinmanycountriesthroughouttheworldbyradio-telemetry,physiologicalassessment,samplingandgeneticanalysis.Finalistforthe2006IndianapolisPrize.
CharuduttMishra,Ph.D.(SnowLeopardTrust)—ConservationbiologistworkingtoprotectthreatenedspeciesandhabitatsthroughoutCentralAsia,withafocusonthecharismaticandendangeredsnowleopard.AssistedwiththelaunchofProjectSnowLeopard,anationalIndiangovernmentpolicy;helpedestablishsnowleopardNGOsandnationalparkanti-poachingprograms.
RussellMittermeier,Ph.D.(ConservationInternational)—Visionaryleaderabletomotivateeverylevelofconservationtosupportthegreatergoodofmanyspecies,includingsakimonkeysandotherneotropicalprimates;oneofthefirstacademicprimatologiststobecomeconcernedwiththewelfareandconservationofprimates.Finalistforthe2012and2014IndianapolisPrize.
AnnaNekaris,Ph.D.(OxfordBrookesUniversity;LittleFirefaceProject)—Headedstudiesontheecologyandrangeoftheslowloris(nocturnalprimates)asdirectoroftheLittleFirefaceProject;conductedsurveys,radiotracking,andecotourismandreforestationeffortsforgibbons,orangutans,macaques,langursandsmallcarnivores.
PeterPratje,Ph.D.(FrankfurtZoologicalSociety)—ConservationistfocusedonprotectingSumatranorangutans;ledthebuildingofarehabilitationcomplexintheBukitTigapuluhLandscapeandimplementedguidelinesforrehabilitationandreintroduction,includingthefirstreleaseofazoo-bornorangutan.
LenteLidiaRoode(HoedspruitEndangeredSpeciesCentre)—EstablishedtheHoedspruitEndangeredSpeciesCentre,anonprofitorganizationthatprovidesasafehavenfororphanedandsickanimals,completewithaneducationcenter,rescueunitandbreedingprogram.
CarlSafina,Ph.D.(TheSafinaCenter)—Broughtoceanconservationintotheenvironmentalmainstreambyusingscience,artandliteraturetoinspirea"seaethic."Establishedasustainableseafoodprogram,connectingscience-basedcriteriawithconsumers;ledeffortstobanhigh-seasdriftnetsandreformfederalfisherieslaws.Finalistforthe2010,2014and2016IndianapolisPrize.
JoelSartore(NationalGeographicPhotoArk)—Renownedphotojournalistwithmissiontogivevanishingspeciesandhabitatsavoicebeforethey'regoneforever;founderoftheNationalGeographicPhotoArkandco-founderofTheGrasslandFoundation.
ClaudioSillero,Ph.D.(EthiopianWolfConservationProgram)—FounderandexecutivedirectoroftheEthiopianWolfConservationProgramme,keepingwatchoverAfrica'srarestandmostendangeredcarnivore.Trialedfirstinterventionmethodsandrabiesvaccinationsforat-riskpopulations.
IanSingleton,Ph.D.(SumatranOrangutanConservationProgramme;PanEco-YEL)—ResponsibleforgroundbreakingecologicalfieldstudiesonSumatranorangutans;AsprincipalconservationadvisorforPanEcoFoundation,ledconservationactivitiesforNGOs,includingtheSumatranOrangutanConservationProgramme,focusedonhabitatandspeciesprotection,education,lawenforcement,rehabilitationandreintroduction.
JigmetTakpa(GovernmentofJammuandKashmir,India;DepartmentofWildlifeProtection)—Focusedonevidence-basedlandscape-levelconservationprogramsinLadakhnorthernIndia,resultinginpopulationrecoveryofsnowleopard,Tibetanargali,gazelleandantelope,lynx,Pallas’cat,Tibetanandblack-neckedcrane;introducedprojectsandtechnologiesforlocalcommunitiestoregardwildlifeasassetsratherthanthreats.
AdrianTreves,Ph.D.(NelsonInstituteforEnvironmentalStudies;CarnivoreCoexistenceLab)—FounderoftheCarnivoreCoexistenceLabwhereresearchfocusesonthebalancebetweenhumanneedandwildlifeconservation,measuringbehaviorofproblemcarnivoresusingpredictivemodelsandhumanresponsetoconflicts.
AmandaVincent,Ph.D.(ProjectSeahorse)—Firstpersontostudyseahorsesunderwater,documentextensivetradeandinitiateaseahorseconservationproject,ProjectSeahorse.Finalistforthe2010and2016IndianapolisPrize.
RobWilliams(OceansInitiative)—Oceanconservationistwhoseinstrumentalworkconvincedpolicymakersthatawhale’shabitatisacoustic;providedevidencethatprotecting
marinespeciesrequiresreducingoceannoisebyslowingships,improvingwhalewatchingguidelinesandcreatingquietermarineprotectedareas.
KerriWolter(VulPro)—FounderandCEOofVulPro;managedvultureresearchondiseaseandnutrition,facilitatedbreedingcensusacrosscoloniesandcoordinatedwildcapturesfortagging;managedrehabilitationandcaptivebreedingcenterwithmorethan150non-releasablebirds.
AHistoryofIndianapolisPrizeWinners
TheIndianapolisPrizewasfirstawardedin2006toDr.GeorgeArchibald,theco-founderoftheInternationalCraneFoundation.The2008winnerwasGeorgeSchaller,Ph.D.,knownasoneofthefoundingfathersofwildlifeconservation,andbothaseniorconservationistfortheWildlifeConservationSocietyandvicepresidentforPanthera.In2010,IainDouglas-Hamilton,Ph.D.,founderofSavetheElephants,receivedthePrizeforhispioneeringresearchinelephantsocialbehaviorandforleadingthewayinthefightagainstthepoachingofAfricanelephants.StevenAmstrup,Ph.D.,chiefscientistforPolarBearsInternational,receivedthe2012Prizeforhisworkpromotingthecauseoftheworld’slargestlandcarnivore.In2014,Dr.PatriciaC.Wright,founderofCentreValBio,becamethefirstwomanawardedtheIndianapolisPrizeforherdedicationtosavingMadagascar’sfamedlemursfromextinction.Lastyear,Dr.CarlJonesreceivedthe2016IndianapolisPrizeforhisspeciesrecoverysuccessontheislandofMauritius,includingtheechoparakeet,pinkpigeonandMauritiuskestrel.
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ABOUTTHEINDIANAPOLISPRIZETheIndianapolisPrizerecognizesandrewardsconservationistswhohaveachievedmajorvictoriesinadvancingthesustainabilityofananimalspeciesorgroupofspecies.WinnersreceivetheLillyMedalandanunrestricted$250,000award.RemainingFinalistseachreceive$10,000.TheIndianapolisPrizehasreceivedsupportfromtheEliLillyandCompanyFoundationsinceitsinception.MEDIANOTEImagesthataccompanythisstoryareavailablefordownloadontheIndianapolisPrizewebsitehere.ConnectwiththePrizeonFacebookandTwitter.
