Latest news with #IndianapolisPrizeGala
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.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Prize finalists have shot at $250k for their work to save endangered animals
The Indianapolis Zoological Society has named six DeHaan finalists for its biennial Indianapolis Prize honoring animal conservationists from around the world. The finalists have spent their lives working to protect manatees, kangaroos, orangutans and elephants and the critical habitat each species needs for healthy populations. The winner of this year's prize will receive a $250,000 award and will be celebrated at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27. The remaining five finalists and the winner of the society's Emerging Conservationist Award will each receive a $50,000 award. Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, said the six finalists have produced tangible results while protecting threatened species across the globe. 2023 Indianapolis Prize winner: Pablo Borboroglu protects penguins and their habitat in Argentina This year marks the 20th anniversary of the prize, which has awarded more than $7 million since it began. The society established the Indianapolis Prize to bring attention to animal conservation and the people who spend their lives saving endangered animal species. It is the largest individual monetary award for work in this area. Here are this year's DeHaan finalists for the Indianapolis Prize. Alberto Alves Campos founded Aquasis, a nonprofit organization in Brazil that works with endangered species and habitat conservation. His work has improved the conservation status of the Antillean manatee. Lisa Dabek founded the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, where she partners with indigenous communities and local governments to establish conservation plans in Papua New Guinea. Biruté Mary Galdikas is the president and co-founder of Orangutan Foundation International, where she leads the way in orangutan ecology research. Galdikas was also an Indianapolis Prize DeHaan finalist in 2023. Julie Packard is the founding executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and works to uplift the sustainable seafood movement using ecosystem-based science. Lily-Arison René de Roland serves as the national director of The Peregrine Fund's Madagascar program and has helped establish five national protected areas totaling 1,550 square miles. Lee James Taylor White is a field biologist with the Institute for Tropical Ecology Research working with the critically endangered African forest elephant in the countries of the Congo Basin. The society named its 10 finalists for the Emerging Conservationist Award in October last year. The award honors early-career efforts to save animal species. The winner will be honored at the gala in September. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at Follow him on BlueSky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Prize finalists named for work to save endangered animals
