Latest news with #IndianapolisPrizeEmergingConservationistAwardWinner
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- 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
- Science
- 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.
