| The Indianapolis Prize | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | "Extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts" |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Indianapolis Zoological Society |
| Reward(s) |
|
| First awarded | 2006 |
| Website | www |
The Indianapolis Prize is a biennial prize awarded by the Indianapolis Zoo to individuals for "extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts" affecting one or more animal species. [1]
The Indianapolis Prize was established by the Indianapolis Zoo to recognize and reward individuals who have achieved significant successes in the conservation of animal species.
Every two years, nominations of deserving individuals for the Indianapolis Prize are accepted. From those nominations, a group of conservation experts from around the world select six finalists. A second group of conservation experts, aided by representatives from the Indianapolis Zoo and the city of Indianapolis, serve as jurors to review the work of the six finalists and select the winner. [1]
From 2006 through 2012, winners received an unrestricted cash award of US$100,000, which was increased to US$250,000 for 2014 and subsequent years. In addition, beginning in 2023, the five other finalists each receive a US$50,000 unrestricted cash award. [1]
Many renowned conservationists and scientists have served on the nominating committee and jury, including E.O. Wilson, John Terborgh, Peter Raven, and Stuart Pimm. New nominating committee and jury members are chosen each two-year prize cycle.
The Eli Lilly and Company Foundation provides funding for the prize. In addition to the US$250,000 award, the winner also receives the Lilly Medal. The obverse of the Lilly Medal features a shepherd surrounded by nature and the rising sun. On the reverse is inscribed a quote from naturalist John Muir, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." [2]
The winner and finalists are celebrated at the Indianapolis Prize Gala held in downtown Indianapolis. It is designed to inspire guests to care more about animal conservation and place these dedicated heroes on the pedestal usually reserved for sports and entertainment stars. [3]
Additionally, the Indianapolis Prize created the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award to recognize advocacy, outreach, and contributions of public figures who use their platform to support the natural world. The award is named in honor of actor and conservationist Jane Alexander, winners of the Ambassador award lend a credible public voice for the sustainability of wildlife.
The inaugural Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award was presented to its namesake in recognition of her decades-long commitment as a voice and champion for species. She has been involved with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Audubon Society, and Panthera.[ citation needed ]
2016 Winner Sigourney Weaver has been an advocate for the mountain gorillas of Rwanda since her starring role in the 1988 film Gorillas in the Mist and serves as honorary chair of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. [4]
In 2018, Harrison Ford received the honor for his support of Conservation International, where he is on the Executive Committee and active in the organization's design and growth. He gave voice to the Nature Is Speaking film The Ocean and helped secure the protection of more than forty million acres (16,000,000 ha) on three continents as part of the Global Conservation Fund. [5]
In 2021, ocean conservationist and philanthropist Prince Albert II of Monaco received the honor for his dedication to protecting the world's oceans; he established the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2006 to address the planet's alarming environmental situation. Under his leadership, Monaco is the official proponent for action by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) on behalf of seahorses – a flagship species that is indicative of ocean health. [6]
Wildlife photographer Joel Sartore received the award in 2023 for his portrait photography of at-risk species. Sartore and National Geographic founded the Photo Ark project in 2006 to inspire people to protect threatened and endangered species through documentary photography and videos. [7]
In 2022, the Indianapolis Prize Committee created a new award recognizing conservationists early in their careers and under the age of 40 years of age with the drive to make a significant impact on a species or group of species. The goal of the award is to encourage talented individuals who dedicate their lives and careers to saving species.
Similarly to the Indianapolis Prize Award, the Emerging Conservationist is chosen through a two-stage selection process. The Winner receives a US$50,000 award to further their conservation work. [8]
In 2023, Peruvian primatologist and anthropologist, Fanny M. Cornejo was named the inaugural Winner of the Emerging Conservationist Award for her work dedicated to the conservation and research of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. She also serves as Executive Director of Yunkawasi, an organization that works with Amazonian and Andean communities for the conservation of threatened species through sustainable economic development and a protected area management approach. [9]
 |
| Year | Finalist | Animals Studied | Organization | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Holly Dublin | endangered species | International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) | |
| 2006 | Iain Douglas-Hamilton | African elephants | Save the Elephants | |
| 2006 | L. David Mech | wolves | International Wolf Foundation | |
| 2006 | Roger Payne | whales | Ocean Alliance | |
| 2006 | Simon Stuart | amphibians | Amphibian Survival Alliance | |
| 2008 | Iain Douglas-Hamilton | African elephants | Save the Elephants | |
| 2008 | Rodney Jackson | snow leopards | Snow Leopard Conservancy | |
| 2008 | K. Ullas Karanth | tigers | Wildlife Conservation Society | |
| 2008 | Laurie Marker | cheetahs | Cheetah Conservation Fund | |
| 2008 | Roger Payne | whales | Ocean Alliance | |
| 2010 | Gerardo Ceballos | jaguars, black-footed ferrets | Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico | |
| 2010 | Rodney Jackson | snow leopards | Snow Leopard Conservancy | |
| 2010 | Laurie Marker | cheetahs | Cheetah Conservation Fund | |
| 2010 | Carl Safina | marine species, orcas, wolves, elephants | The Safina Center | |
| 2010 | Amanda Vincent | seahorses | Project Seahorse | |
| 2012 | Markus Borner | African species, rhinos | Frankfurt Zoological Society | |
| 2012 | Rodney Jackson | snow leopards | Snow Leopard Conservancy | |
| 2012 | Carl Jones | birds, reptiles | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation | |
| 2012 | Russ Mittermeier | primates, turtles, tortoises, biodiversity hotspots | Global Wildlife Conservation | |
| 2012 | Patricia Wright | lemurs | Centre ValBio | |
| 2014 | Joel Berger | muskox, huemul | Wildlife Conservation Society | |
| 2014 | Gerardo Ceballos | jaguars, black-footed ferrets | Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico | |
| 2014 | Carl Jones | birds, reptiles | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation | |
| 2014 | Russ Mittermeier | primates, turtles, tortoises, biodiversity hotspots | Global Wildlife Conservation | |
| 2014 | Carl Safina | marine species, orcas, wolves, elephants | The Safina Center | |
| 2016 | Joel Berger | muskox, huemul | Wildlife Conservation Society | |
| 2016 | P. Dee Boersma | penguins | Ecosystem Sentinels | |
| 2016 | Rodney Jackson | snow leopards | Snow Leopard Conservancy | |
| 2016 | Carl Safina | marine species, orcas, wolves, elephants | The Safina Center | |
| 2016 | Amanda Vincent | seahorses | Project Seahorse | |
| 2018 | Joel Berger | muskox, huemul | Wildlife Conservation Society | |
| 2018 | P. Dee Boersma | penguins | Ecosystem Sentinels | |
| 2018 | Sylvia Earle | marine species | Mission Blue | |
| 2018 | Rodney Jackson | snow leopards | Snow Leopard Conservancy | |
| 2018 | Carl Safina | marine species, orcas, wolves, elephants | The Safina Center | |
| 2020 | Caroline Blanvillain | birds | Ornithological Society of Polynesia | [10] |
| 2020 | P. Dee Boersma | penguins | Ecosystem Sentinels | |
| 2020 | Christophe Boesch | chimpanzees | Wild Chimpanzee Foundation | |
| 2020 | Gerardo Ceballos | jaguars, black-footed ferrets | Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico | |
| 2020 | Sylvia Earle | marine species | Mission Blue | |
| 2020 | John Robinson | terrestrial species | Wildlife Conservation Society | |
| 2023 | Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka | mountain gorillas | Conservation Through Public Health | |
| 2023 | Biruté Mary Galdikas | orangutans | Orangutan Foundation International | |
| 2023 | Karen Eckert | sea turtles | Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network | |
| 2023 | Christophe Boesch | chimpanzees | Wild Chimpanzee Foundation | |
| 2023 | Gerardo Ceballos | jaguars, black-footed ferrets | Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico |
| Year | Winner | Animals studied | Organization | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | George W. Archibald | Cranes | International Crane Foundation | [11] [12] |
| 2008 | George B. Schaller | Multiple species | Wildlife Conservation Society | [13] |
| 2010 | Iain Douglas-Hamilton | Elephants | Save the Elephants | [14] [15] |
| 2012 | Steven Amstrup | Polar bears | Polar Bears International | [16] |
| 2014 | Patricia Wright | Lemurs | Centre ValBio | [17] [18] |
| 2016 | Carl Jones | Birds, Multiple species | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust | [19] |
| 2018 | Russell A. Mittermeier | primates, turtles, tortoises, biodiversity hotspots | Global Wildlife Conservation | [20] |
| 2020 | Amanda Vincent | seahorses | Project Seahorse | [ citation needed ] |
| 2023 | Pablo Garcia Borboroglu | penguins | Global Penguin Society | [ citation needed ] |
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the sixth oldest zoo in the United States, founded in 1873 and officially opening in 1875. It is located in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It originally began with 64.5 acres (26.1 ha) in the middle of the city, but has spread into the neighboring blocks and several reserves in Cincinnati's outer suburbs. It was appointed as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Bristol Zoo was a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission was to "maintain and defend" biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world".
Brookfield Zoo, also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, is a zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. It houses around 450 species of animals in an area of 216 acres (87 ha). It opened on July 1, 1934, and quickly gained international recognition for using moats and ditches instead of cages to separate animals from visitors and from other animals. The zoo was also the first in America to exhibit giant pandas, one of which has been taxidermied and put on display in Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. In 1960, Brookfield Zoo built the nation's first fully indoor dolphin exhibit, and in the 1980s, the zoo introduced Tropic World, the first fully indoor rainforest simulation and the then-largest indoor zoo exhibit in the world.
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just east of the city's downtown and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighborhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive, and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River pathway. A large portion of the zoo is located on St. George's Island in the Bow River.
Russell Alan Mittermeier is a primatologist and herpetologist. He has written several books for both popular and scientist audiences, and has authored more than 300 scientific papers.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, that aims to conserve the world's largest wild places in 14 priority regions. Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS), the organization is now led by President and CEO, Monica P. Medina, who replaced long time President and CEO Cristián Samper in 2023. WCS manages four New York City wildlife parks in addition to the Bronx Zoo: the Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo. Together these parks receive 4 million visitors per year. All of the New York City facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Fauna & Flora is an international nature conservation charity and non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the planet's threatened wildlife and habitats. As the world’s first international conservation charity, Fauna & Flora has been shaping best practice in community-focused conservation for over 120 years. Today, the charity works closely with local conservation partners in almost 50 countries to protect habitats, revive the ocean, reduce extinctions, stop illegal wildlife trade, combat climate change and influence global policy and corporate sustainability.
The Indianapolis Zoo is a 64-acre (26 ha) non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The current zoo opened in 1988 at White River State Park near downtown Indianapolis. It is among the largest privately funded zoos in the U.S.
Jeremy John Crosby Mallinson was an English conservationist and author associated with the Durrell Wildlife Park and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, where he was director emeritus.
Patricia Chapple Wright is an American primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist. Wright is best known for her extensive study of social and family interactions of wild lemurs in Madagascar.
Eugène Rutagarama is an environmentalist from Rwanda. He was awarded the "Goldman Environmental Prize" in 2001, for his efforts on saving the population of mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park at Virungas mountains, during the war and recent conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Michael I. Crowther is a retired American zoological conservationist. He was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Zoo in 2002 and retired in January, 2020. He was previously president and chief executive officer of the New Jersey State Aquarium. Crowther is known as creator of the Indianapolis Prize, an award for animal conservation. The Indianapolis Prize is widely regarded as the world's leading award in the field of animal conservation. The Michael I. Crowther Conservation Forum is a part of the biennial Indianapolis Prize programming and features a moderated discussion with both the most recent Indianapolis Prize winner and the winner of the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award.https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/prize/events/
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a Ugandan veterinarian and founder of Conservation Through Public Health, an organisation dedicated to the coexistence of endangered mountain gorillas, other wildlife, humans, and livestock in Africa.
George Beals Schaller is an American mammalogist, biologist, conservationist and author. Schaller is recognized by many as the world's preeminent field biologist, studying wildlife throughout Africa, Asia and South America. Born in Berlin, Schaller grew up in Germany, but moved to Missouri as a teen. He is vice president of Panthera Corporation and serves as chairman of their Cat Advisory Council. Schaller is also a senior conservationist at the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.
Amanda Vincent is a Canadian marine biologist and conservationist, one of the world's leading experts on seahorses and their relatives. She currently holds the chair of the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group and is the marine representative on the IUCN's International Red List Committee as well as being the chair of its Marine Conservation Committee. She previously held the Canada Research Chair in Marine Conservation at the UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada from 2002 to 2012. Vincent co-founded and directs Project Seahorse, an interdisciplinary and international organization committed to conservation and sustainable use of the world's coastal marine ecosystems. In 2020 she became the first marine conservationist to win the world's leading prize for animal conservation, the Indianapolis Prize.
William Gaylord Conway was an American zoologist, ornithologist and conservationist.
Laurie Marker is an American zoologist, researcher, author, educator, and one of the world's foremost cheetah experts, who founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990. As executive director of CCF, among many endeavors, Marker helps rehabilitate cheetahs and reintroduce them to the wild, performs research into conservation, biology and ecology, educates groups around the world, and works toward a holistic approach to saving the cheetah and its ecosystems in the wild. Before her work with CCF, Marker's career started to take off at the Wildlife Safari in the U.S., where her interest with captive cheetahs began.
Markus Borner was a Swiss zoologist and conservationist. He was a head of the Frankfurt Zoological Society’s Africa program for over 20 years. He worked at Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Africa for over 40 years. There among others he studied wildlife migration patterns as well as was engaged in wildlife conservation activities.