The Indianapolis Prize
Awarded for"Extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts"
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana
CountryUnited States
Presented byIndianapolis Zoological Society
Reward(s)
  • US$250,000 (1st place)
  • US$10,000 (5 runners-up)
First awarded2006
Websitewww.indianapolisprize.org

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]

Overview

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]

Indianapolis Prize Gala

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]

Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award

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.

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]

Emerging Conservationist Award

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]

Indianapolis Prize finalists

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

Indianapolis Prize winners

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
2023 Pablo Garcia Borboroglu penguins Global Penguin Society

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About The Indianapolis Prize". The Indianapolis Prize. Indianapolis Zoological Society. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Lilly Medal Awarded Prize Winners". Indianapolis Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Indianapolis Prize Gala". Indianapolis Prize. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  4. ↑ melanie (2016-07-20). "Sigourney Weaver: Global Wildlife Ambassador". Indianapolis Prize. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  5. ↑ "Global Wildlife Ambassadors". Indianapolis Prize. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  6. ↑ Bowman, Sarah. "Prince Albert II of Monaco has a new title: the Indianapolis Zoo's wildlife ambassador". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  7. ↑ "The Photo Ark".
  8. ↑ "Endowment Support for Wildlife Conservation". Indianapolis Prize. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  9. ↑ "Stony Brook PhD Candidate and Biologist, Fanny M. Cornejo, Wins Inaugural Indianapolis Prize". news.stonybrook.edu. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  10. ↑ "Endangered species have a fighting chance thanks to these Indy Prize nominees". IndyStar. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "The 2006 Indianapolis Prize Winner". The Indianapolis Prize. Indianapolis Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bergquist, Lee (August 22, 2006). "Crane conservationist to receive $100,000 prize". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. B-1.
  13. ↑ "The 2008 Indianapolis Prize Winner". The Indianapolis Prize. Indianapolis Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  14. ↑ "The 2010 Indianapolis Prize Winner". The Indianapolis Prize. Indianapolis Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Elephant protector wins Indy Prize". The Indianapolis Star. June 3, 2010.
  16. ↑ Davenport, Paula M. "Bears on the Brink". University of Idaho. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  17. ↑ Rudavsky, Shari (January 30, 2014). "Indianapolis Prize hopefuls dedicated to saving animals". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2019-05-13. Retrieved March 31, 2014 – via USA Today.
  18. ↑ "Conservation's Indianapolis Prize names finalists". The Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Welsh biologist Carl Jones wins top environmental award". The Guardian. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Renowned wildlife conservationist Russell Mittermeier awarded 2018 Indianapolis Prize". Mongabay Environmental News. 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
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