Indianapolis Prize winner has an eye for finding lost species
Lily-Arison René de Roland, a conservationist with a knack for finding elusive species, is the tenth winner of the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation.
After considering 44 nominees and six finalists, the Indianapolis Zoological Society awarded René de Roland the prestigious award in New York City on Tuesday. He will receive a $250,000 grant for his conservation work in Madagascar.
'Dr. René de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts — they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems,' Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, said in a statement. 'He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner.'
René de Roland has been working to protect biodiversity in Madagascar for over 30 years. He has helped establish wetland and reforestation projects, create national protected areas, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and mentor young conservationists across the country.
'I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo,' René de Roland said in a statement. 'My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people.'
Based in the city of Antananarivo, René de Roland's work has taken him and his colleagues far across the Madagascar wilderness. He's scrambled up steep mountainsides and passed through dense undergrowth, searching for creatures that scientists thought were lost to time.
During an expedition to a remote northern region of the country in 2006, René de Roland and his team spotted a bird that researchers thought was extinct: the Madagascar pochard, a brown and white duck endemic to Madagascar. The discovery led to a captive breeding initiative. In 2018, the program released 21 young ducks back into the wild.
René de Roland, who also found a long-lost songbird and contributed to the discovered of two previously undescribed lemur species, even had a wolf spider (Katableps lilyarisoni) named after him in honor of his contributions to biodiversity conservation.
René de Roland said that his focus after winning the prize will be to continue his work bridging local communities with wetland and reforestation programs in Madagascar.
He isn't new to this kind of work. René de Roland has been working with fishing communities inside Madagascar's rainforests to preserve their local ecosystems. He said fisherman often use big trees to make canoes, but the boats only last for a couple of years. By providing them with fiberglass canoes, René de Roland estimates that they have saved about 2,000 big trees from being cut down across the rainforest.
René de Roland, the five DeHann finalists and the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27 in downtown Indianapolis.
IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Call them fireflies or lightning bugs, but are there fewer in Indiana than in the past?
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022. We are republishing it as part of our summer coverage. Chasing lightning bugs on a summer night is a rite of passage for many young Indiana residents. In fact, Indiana's state insect is a lightning bug. There are about 40 species of what are called Lampyridae, or light-emitting beetles, in Indiana and more than 1,900 types worldwide. They've been around for millions of years, but some Hoosiers say it feels like they're seeing fewer flashes across the night sky than in the past. Lightning bugs or fireflies: What are those glowing insects called? So, are lightning bugs disappearing from Indiana? 'If we go from qualitative assessment alone, they seem to be on the decline,' said Sérgio Henriques, who serves as the Invertebrate Conservation Coordinator for the Indianapolis Zoo's Global Center for Species Survival. Part of the problem, however, is that there isn't adequate data on lightning bugs to speak with specificity. Researchers across the country, like Henriques, are working to gather more information and assess the threat of extinction. 'It's complicated and it depends on the species,' Henriques said of the level of threat. 'But overall, they're not doing great.' There are several reasons why fireflies are at risk. The first is an issue that plagues many struggling species: loss of habitat. Fireflies do well in areas with some moisture and humidity — they often live near ponds, streams, marshes, rivers and lakes or in the margins where these areas meet fields and forests. However, development and climate change are shrinking places where they survive. They also are suffering because of light firefly's light is like a whisper, Henriques said, 'while our lights are really loud in comparison and drown them out.' Fireflies have a lifespan of just a couple months. All the lights at night disorient them and can interfere with their ability to find a mate. Scrub Hub: Is there a good turf grass replacement that's dog-friendly and low- or no-mow? One of the other main threats comes from chemicals: The use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns can wreak havoc on fireflies. Henriques said there are 'little and easy' things Hoosiers can do to help lightning bugs. He suggests reducing lights at night, planting native species or installing a rain garden. Another option: reducing the chemicals you use on your yard or in your house. 'Fireflies are a privilege,' he said. 'It would be such a waste of a treasure if they were to decline or be gone.' IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Are there fewer fireflies in Indiana than in the past?
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Prize winner has an eye for finding lost species
Lily-Arison René de Roland, a conservationist with a knack for finding elusive species, is the tenth winner of the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation. After considering 44 nominees and six finalists, the Indianapolis Zoological Society awarded René de Roland the prestigious award in New York City on Tuesday. He will receive a $250,000 grant for his conservation work in Madagascar. 'Dr. René de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts — they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems,' Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, said in a statement. 'He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner.' René de Roland has been working to protect biodiversity in Madagascar for over 30 years. He has helped establish wetland and reforestation projects, create national protected areas, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and mentor young conservationists across the country. 'I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo,' René de Roland said in a statement. 'My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people.' Based in the city of Antananarivo, René de Roland's work has taken him and his colleagues far across the Madagascar wilderness. He's scrambled up steep mountainsides and passed through dense undergrowth, searching for creatures that scientists thought were lost to time. During an expedition to a remote northern region of the country in 2006, René de Roland and his team spotted a bird that researchers thought was extinct: the Madagascar pochard, a brown and white duck endemic to Madagascar. The discovery led to a captive breeding initiative. In 2018, the program released 21 young ducks back into the wild. René de Roland, who also found a long-lost songbird and contributed to the discovered of two previously undescribed lemur species, even had a wolf spider (Katableps lilyarisoni) named after him in honor of his contributions to biodiversity conservation. René de Roland said that his focus after winning the prize will be to continue his work bridging local communities with wetland and reforestation programs in Madagascar. He isn't new to this kind of work. René de Roland has been working with fishing communities inside Madagascar's rainforests to preserve their local ecosystems. He said fisherman often use big trees to make canoes, but the boats only last for a couple of years. By providing them with fiberglass canoes, René de Roland estimates that they have saved about 2,000 big trees from being cut down across the rainforest. René de Roland, the five DeHann finalists and the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27 in downtown Indianapolis. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Sophie Hartley is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach her at or on X at @sophienhartley. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Madagascar's Lily-Arison René de Roland wins Indianapolis Prize
Indianapolis Star
15-05-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis Prize winner has an eye for finding lost species
Lily-Arison René de Roland, a conservationist with a knack for finding elusive species, is the tenth winner of the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation. After considering 44 nominees and six finalists, the Indianapolis Zoological Society awarded René de Roland the prestigious award in New York City on Tuesday. He will receive a $250,000 grant for his conservation work in Madagascar. 'Dr. René de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts — they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems,' Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, said in a statement. 'He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner.' René de Roland has been working to protect biodiversity in Madagascar for over 30 years. He has helped establish wetland and reforestation projects, create national protected areas, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and mentor young conservationists across the country. 'I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo,' René de Roland said in a statement. 'My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people.' Based in the city of Antananarivo, René de Roland's work has taken him and his colleagues far across the Madagascar wilderness. He's scrambled up steep mountainsides and passed through dense undergrowth, searching for creatures that scientists thought were lost to time. During an expedition to a remote northern region of the country in 2006, René de Roland and his team spotted a bird that researchers thought was extinct: the Madagascar pochard, a brown and white duck endemic to Madagascar. The discovery led to a captive breeding initiative. In 2018, the program released 21 young ducks back into the wild. René de Roland, who also found a long-lost songbird and contributed to the discovered of two previously undescribed lemur species, even had a wolf spider (Katableps lilyarisoni) named after him in honor of his contributions to biodiversity conservation. René de Roland said that his focus after winning the prize will be to continue his work bridging local communities with wetland and reforestation programs in Madagascar. He isn't new to this kind of work. René de Roland has been working with fishing communities inside Madagascar's rainforests to preserve their local ecosystems. He said fisherman often use big trees to make canoes, but the boats only last for a couple of years. By providing them with fiberglass canoes, René de Roland estimates that they have saved about 2,000 big trees from being cut down across the rainforest. René de Roland, the five DeHann finalists and the Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27 in downtown Indianapolis. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
