Download - Nominees Announced for World’s Leading Animal …projectpiaba.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2018...ensure future generations will live in a flourishing and sustainable world. We

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.

###

ABOUTTHEINDIANAPOLISPRIZETheIndianapolisPrizerecognizesandrewardsconservationistswhohaveachievedmajorvictoriesinadvancingthesustainabilityofananimalspeciesorgroupofspecies.WinnersreceivetheLillyMedalandanunrestricted$250,000award.RemainingFinalistseachreceive$10,000.TheIndianapolisPrizehasreceivedsupportfromtheEliLillyandCompanyFoundationsinceitsinception.MEDIANOTEImagesthataccompanythisstoryareavailablefordownloadontheIndianapolisPrizewebsitehere.ConnectwiththePrizeonFacebookandTwitter.