Conservation Heroes

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a wildlife veterinarian recognized globally for her work protecting endangered mountain gorillas in East Africa. Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka promotes conservation by cultivating an understanding of how humans and wildlife can coexist in protected areas in Africa. She is the founder of Conservation Through Public Health, an organization promoting biodiversity conservation by enabling people and wildlife to coexist by improving health and livelihoods in and around Africa’s protected areas

Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas is a scientist, conservationist and educator working closely with orangutans in their natural habitat in Borneo Indonesia. Dr. Galdikas is an orangutan researcher who first documented the long orangutan birth interval and recorded more than 400 types of food consumed by orangutans, providing unprecedented detail about orangutan ecology. Galdikas has contributed to the release of more than 1,000 rehabilitated orangutans into the wild and has rescued and relocated an additional 200 wild orangutans into the wild. She serves as president and is the co-founder of Orangutan Foundation International, an organization dedicated to protecting wild orangutans in Borneo and their rainforest habitat.

Dr. Karen Eckert specializes in international biodiversity management, conservation and policy with a focus on sea turtles. Dr. Eckert promotes the recovery and sustainable management of sea turtle populations in more than 40 nations and territories. Eckert has helped protect six species of endangered sea turtles and mobilized community and government support in Caribbean nations to fully protect sea turtles. She serves as the executive director of WIDECAST, an organization that facilitates the recovery and sustainable management of sea turtle populations across the globe.

Dr. Pablo Borboroglu is a protector of ocean and coastal habitats for penguins in several countries including Argentina. Dr. Borboroglu works to improve penguin colony management through the creation of large, protected areas, including 32 million acres of ocean and coastal habitat. He is the co-founder and leader of the Global Penguin Society, an international conservation coalition for the world's penguin species. Borboroglu is also the founder and co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission(SSC) Penguin Specialist Group.

While working in the Arctic, Dr. Steven Amstrup, chief scientist of Polar Bears International, discovered something disturbing — the sea ice polar bears rely on for traveling, hunting and raising their young was disappearing. Regarded as the most influential scientist working on conservation efforts for the iconic bears and determined to create a better future for them, Amstrup and his team of international researchers provided the data needed to list the animals as a threatened species.

When ornithologist and co-founder of the International Crane Foundation Dr. George Archibald first met a female whooping crane named Tex, who had imprinted on humans, his goal was simple: form a bond strong enough that she would lay an egg. His unique approach, which included dancing alongside her, created a remarkable relationship, produced a successful chick and helped make a future for the species a reality.

A warming world has Dr. Joel Berger traveling the Arctic tundra in search of answers about animal migration for flagship species like muskoxen. You may even find him dressed up like a polar bear — his creative approach to observing relationships between predator and prey — studying the impacts of climate change on animals.

On the coast of Argentina, Dr. Dee Boersma is always up for the task, from health evaluations to hauling the lava rock vital for artificial penguin nests. Magellanic penguins — about 400,000 of them — have her to thank for their thriving colony. She has spent more than 30 years protecting them from oil spills, habitat loss and road construction planned through nesting sites. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Dr. Christophe Boesch fights to ensure a safe future for chimpanzees. Christophe has uncovered the effects of rapid deforestation across Sub-Saharan Africa, promoted new areas for protecting the remaining chimpanzee populations in Guinea, and studied chimpanzees to better understand culture, hunting, tool use, and the species’ similarities to humans. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Dr. Markus Borner dedicated his life to the protection of endangered species and sustainable development of protected areas. He is particularly well known for his impact on the one place on earth that would not be sustainable without his long-term efforts: the tremendous wilderness of the Serengeti ecosystem, which includes the animals that have been his focus for more than 40 years — the increasingly rare black rhinoceros. Borner was part of the world's largest reintroduction project for the species and also pioneered research on the Sumatran rhino.

Dr. Gerardo Ceballos is at the forefront of groundbreaking research and animal conservation in Mexico, acting as a key proponent in the passage of the country's Act for Endangered Species, which now protects more than 40,000 animals. Developing successful conservation strategies for a wide variety of species, including the jaguar and the black-footed ferret – the most endangered mammal in North America – Gerardo approaches conservation in a way that is broadly applicable and undeniably impactful. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Credited with paving the way for much of today’s elephant research and current conservation practices, Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the famed species for his decades-long studies of their movements and social behaviors. His investigations led to the first worldwide conservation about the ivory poaching crisis and was instrumental in bringing about the world ivory trade ban. Douglas-Hamilton pioneered GPS tracking survey techniques and since founding Save The Elephants in 1993 has nurtured a new generation of researchers and conservationists within northern Kenya and around the world.

Holly Dublin is an international wildlife conservationist who has devoted her professional career to maintaining Africa's wildlife, most particularly elephants. She served as the chair of the IUCN's Species Survival Commission, its largest and most important network of scientists and researchers working to preserve endangered species.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, also known as "Her Deepness," is a trailblazer for the world's oceans. Her research continues to create a global network of marine protected areas she calls "hope spots." This living legend has spent more than 7,000 hours underwater, led an all-female research expedition in 1970 that led to a White House reception, and still holds the record for the deepest untethered walk on the sea floor. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

In his tireless efforts to save the mysterious and endangered snow leopard, Dr. Rodney Jackson spends six months each year in Central Asia’s high mountains, tracking the cats over dangerous terrain by foot, truck, horse and even camel. Jackson helped lead an international team in the first-ever range-wide genetic assessment of snow leopards, and as their classification has improved from endangered to vulnerable, he continues to create solutions to sustain their populations.

There may be no other conservationist credited with saving as many species as Carl Jones. As a pioneer, leader and hero for the natural world, he has truly changed the fate of animals on the brink of extinction. Much of Jones’ work has focused on the species of Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, recognized as a global center of avian diversity. As a chief scientist for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and scientific director of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, he developed and led programs that resulted in some of the most striking animal population recoveries in the world, including the Mauritius kestrel — once the world’s rarest bird ­— echo parakeet and pink pigeon. He helped develop the first national park in Mauritius and championed the idea of “ecological replacement,” a conservation tactic in which species outside their historic range act as analogues to fulfill important ecological roles once held by extinct species.

Senior conservation scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society and premier tiger expert, Karanth is pre-eminent among the new generation of India's conservationist. He has championed the cause of tigers through his groundbreaking work in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Karanth believes that the future of tigers depends on the rigorous protection of wildlife reserves. In India, roughly 115,000 square miles of forest remain for tigers to live and breed, and fewer than 2,000 of the big cats exist today, down from 40,000 just a century ago. Yet Karanth remains optimistic about the future of tigers and uses his scientific studies on behavior, ecology and demography to propel their conservation.

A California native and founder/executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Marker was nominated for leading a conservation program from humble beginnings in rural Namibia to an unparalleled model for predator conservation. Marker's 35 years of genetic, biomedical, reproductive and behavioral research has produced an integrated approach to both captive and wild cheetah conservation programs to ensure the survival of these magnificent big cats.

Mech is regarded as the world's leading authority on wolves, serves as a wolf population recovery specialist and is the founder of the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. With hundreds of scientific articles, ten books and more than a hundred articles in the popular press to his credit, Mech stands alone as the leading conservationist for these complex and misunderstood apex predators.

Whether he's wading through piranha-infested waters, catching Goliath frogs, or producing agreements between international corporations, Dr. Russell Mittermeier makes conservation happen. In his quest to save biodiversity hotspots and high biodiversity wilderness areas, he's described 21 species new to science and an additional are named in his honor. He has done fieldwork in more than 30 countries, with special emphasis on Suriname, Madagascar and Brazil.

As founder and president of the Ocean Alliance, Payne has devoted more than 50 years to the study and protection of whales and the oceans they call home. He discovered that whales sing and that their songs propagate across oceans. His whale song recordings became immensely popular and helped launch the "Save the Whales" movement, which led to a moratorium on whaling from the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Since then, he has worked with the IWC to crate whale sanctuaries throughout the world.

Dr. John Robinson is a leader in using field-based scientific research to make pivotal changes for wildlife worldwide. John helped establish terrestrial and marine protected areas for tigers, gorillas, forest elephants, coral species and more. As the Chief Conservation Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Society, he has focused much of his work on watching over the world’s natural resources. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Inspired by fishing as a child, Dr. Carl Safina is a crusader for oceans and their creatures. An ocean restoration pioneer and author of seven captivating novels, he brings species' stories to life. His work also extends to dry land, exploring the way animals like elephants and wolves think and feel.

Known as one of the founding fathers of modern wildlife conservation and relentless in his pursuit to save endangered species across the globe since 1952, Dr. George Schaller’s successes are vast and span the animal kingdom. He has worked tirelessly to help lions in the Serengeti, gorillas in central Africa, tigers in India, jaguars in Brazil and giant pandas in China, and now focuses efforts on big cats as vice president for Panthera. Schaller has inspired countless field biologists, notable in their own right, and while advancing beyond 80 years of age, shows no signs of slowing down.

With areas of expertise in species extinction, biodiversity assessments and environmental sustainability, Dr. Simon Stuart has notably sparked conservation efforts throughout the world. A champion in the preservation of threatened animals, it's thanks to the alarms raised by Stuart on the threats to amphibians that action plans to preserve species and habitats were put into place over the years.

Among the first to study seahorses underwater, Dr. Vincent helped put the world’s 47 species on the global conservation agenda. Initiating the first seahorse conservation project, 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 venture, iSeahorse. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Finalist: 2012 Winner: 2014 Dr. Patricia Wright’s love of primates, particularly lemurs, goes beyond basic conservation. Her love of the people of Madagascar shows her true character, and her passion for making a difference has led to a successful road map for future generations to follow. Wright rediscovered a species of lemur thought to be extinct for more than 50 years, in addition to discovering a new species — the golden bamboo lemur. Perhaps most significant, however, are her efforts to create collaboration between scientists, local communities and the government to save lemurs and sustain their unique ecosystem on the island of Madagascar, including helping lead the establishment of Ranomafana National Park and creating Centre ValBio.