Meet six heroes who are single-handedly saving species
Animal conservation is more important than ever. Our planet has lost nearly a third of all its wildlife since the ’70s, and more than a quarter of all mammal species — the animals that bear the most resemblance to humans — are at risk of disappearing forever.
Fortunately, there are people who have dedicated their lives to protecting animals worldwide from extinction. These heroes have lived in the wild, been shot at by poachers and endured blazing heat, freezing cold and tropical downpours. When others might have given up, they remained committed to the cause.
For their enduring devotion and tremendous hope, these heroes are honored through the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. Every other year, the Indianapolis Prize grants $250,000 to one conservationist who is fearlessly leading the fight for endangered species — and winning battles large and small. With work that spans the globe, these individuals represent an incredible range of species from the sky to the sea, including snow leopards, orangutans, swans, seahorses, cheetahs and many more.
The six Finalists for the 2016 Indianapolis Prize aren’t yet household names, but their work is important and deserving of the title of hero. Read on to meet this year’s Finalists and learn what it takes to be a conservation hero.
Joel Berger
In the Arctic and Tibetan Plateau, climate change advances nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world, and flagship species — particularly muskoxen and wild yaks — are the first to feel the effects. While facing sub-zero temperatures and extreme altitudes, Dr. Joel Berger focuses on migration and population changes to understand what we can do to save large mammals worldwide. His approach engages the public, governments and the private industry to apply science to policy and develop practical solutions to some of the most complex conservation challenges. Click to learn more about Joel.
P. Dee Boersma
Penguins are the sentinels of healthy oceans, and they have no greater champion than Dr. P. Dee Boersma. Considered the world’s foremost expert on penguins, she’s overcome struggles against corporations, governments and the status quo to ensure that these charismatic seabirds thrive and flourish. For more than 40 years, Dee has followed the lives of Argentina’s Magellanic penguins to help strengthen conservation efforts for their colonies and secure marine protected areas. Click to learn more about Dee.
Rodney Jackson
Dr. Rodney Jackson has dedicated his life’s work to snow leopards — an animal he rarely ever sees, but when he does, he catches a glimpse of one of the most amazing species our planet has to offer. He has endured harsh winters and dangerous terrain to track these “ghosts of the mountain” and teach locals how to coexist peacefully with them. Rodney’s work to shift public perception of snow leopards from a potential livestock predator to an economic asset is empowering communities and ensuring these iconic cats have a vibrant future. Click to learn more about Rodney.
Carl Jones
The dodo bird remains one of the most evocative images of animal conservation. Its relatives — species that include the pink pigeon, echo parakeet, and Mauritius kestrel — recently came close to a similar fate, but thanks to the tireless work of Professor Carl Jones, these birds were brought back from the brink of extinction through integrated species restoration programs. To date, he has driven recoveries in seven bird, seven reptile and two mammal species, all of which were globally threatened. Carl lives out the philosophy of his mentor, renowned British conservationist Gerald Durrell, by understanding that all creatures — big and small — serve a vital ecological function and are unquestionably worth saving. Click to learn more about Carl.
Carl Safina
Often called the “Thoreau of the 21st century,” Dr. Carl Safina uses his talents as a skilled scientist and a savvy storyteller to connect humans with wildlife. His impassioned account of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to mobilize advocates for our oceans, and his conservation tactics range from leading campaigns to ban high-seas drift nets to creating a consumer-friendly guide to sustainable seafood. Carl’s new book, “Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel,” challenges our perceptions of animal behavior and finds that we’re not so different from endangered species. Click to learn more about Carl.
Amanda Vincent
Seahorses serve as vivid reminders of the beautiful creatures that inhabit our ocean and inspire us to care about its conservation. As one of the first scientists to study seahorses underwater, Dr. Amanda Vincent helped put the world’s 47 seahorse species on the global conservation agenda. Her programs have led to 35 no-take marine protected areas, the first global export controls for marine fishes and a bold new citizen science project called iSeahorse. Amanda uses drive and creativity to find novel approaches to conservation — many of which have far-reaching impact beyond seahorses. Click to learn more about Amanda.
