Who would you vote for? 2016 Indianapolis Prize

Who would you vote for? 2016 Indianapolis Prize

The 2016 Indianapolis Prize marks a decade celebrating true heroes in the field of animal conservation and endeavors to sustain the planet's wild things and wild places. Recognized as the world's leading award in animal conservation, the biennial Prize shines a spotlight on the victorious men and women who are solidifying the future for millions of people and animals.

These inspiring individuals have turned values into accomplishments, obstacles into successes and have dedicated their lives to courageous efforts across international borders. Twenty-eight nominees for the 2016 Indianapolis Prize now join the ranks of recognized conservationists making strides to save species.

With work that spans the globe, these individuals represent an incredible range of species from the sky to the sea, including snow leopards, orangutans, swans, sea horses, cheetahs and many more.

"The 2016 Indianapolis Prize Nominees represent many of the most significant and accomplished wildlife conservationists in the field today," said Michael Crowther, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, which initiated the Indianapolis Prize as part of its core mission. "They are protecting species and creating successful conservation methods that ensure future generations will live in a flourishing and sustainable world. We applaud their accomplishments and encourage individuals, organizations, companies, and governments to join them in advancing animal conservation."

Internationally renowned professional conservationists and local representatives make up a Nominating Committee and Jury who will select six finalists and determine a winner, respectively. These finalists will then be honored at the next Indianapolis Prize Gala presented by Cummins Inc., to be held Oct. 15, 2016.

The winner of the Prize will receive an unrestricted $250,000 cash award while the five finalists will each receive $10,000. In addition to the monetary award, the winner will receive the prestigious Lilly Medal, a cast bronze medal showcasing the relationship between people and the natural world, a fitting remembrance to the individuals creating positive outcomes for species. The commemorative piece reflects the commitment of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, which has provided funding for the Indianapolis Prize program since its inception.

In alphabetical order, the nominees for the 2016 Indianapolis Prize are:

Timothy Becker: (ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park) Dedicated naturalist at the forefront of captive rearing strategies and reintroduction for the regal fritillary butterfly.

Joel Berger, Ph.D.: (Wildlife Conservation Society, Colorado State University) Distinguished scientist leading projects on pronghorn antelope migration corridors, impacts of energy development on wildlife in Greater Yellowstone, climate change on musk ox in the Alaskan Arctic, and saiga antelope conservation in Mongolia. Finalist for the 2014 Indianapolis Prize.

P. Dee Boersma, Ph.D.: (University of Washington Department of Biology) Conservationist dedicated to the study of global warming's impact on penguins; successful in stopping harvesting and development of oil tanker lanes through penguin colonies as director of the Center for Penguins as Ocean Sentinels.

Sheila Bolin: (The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc.) Advocate for humane treatment and veterinary care for swans worldwide through conservation, research, veterinary medicine, education and swan-related product development.

Lincoln Brower, Ph.D.: (Sweet Briar College, University of Florida) Dedicated to researching the conservation of endangered biological phenomena and ecosystems, overwintering, mimicry, chemical ecology and migration biology of the monarch butterfly; field work throughout the species migratory routes, including pioneering work in the discovery and protection of nesting grounds in Central Mexico.

Gerardo Ceballos, Ph.D.: (Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) Champion for jaguars in Mexico, conducting the first country-level jaguar census; developed successful conservation strategies for endangered mammals in North America, including the black-footed ferret; a key proponent in the passage of the country's Act for Endangered Species. Finalist for the 2010 and 2014 Indianapolis Prize.

Lisa Dabek, Ph.D.: (Papua New Guinea Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Woodland Park Zoo) Founder of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program; responsible for the first Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea; used Crittercam© technology for the first time on arboreal mammals, allowing scientists to record animal behavior through mounted video cameras and transmitters.

Tim Davenport, Ph.D.: (Wildlife Conservation Society Tanzania Program) Focused on African wildlife conservation; discovered the kipunji, one of the 25 rarest primates on the planet and the first new genus of primate discovered in Africa in more than 80 years. Helped to establish Kitulo National Park and the Rungwe Nature Reserve to protect core habitat for the species.

Joseph Duff: (Operation Migration) Co-founder and lead pilot for Operation Migration; devised protocol for guiding migratory birds with ultralight aircraft, including endangered whooping cranes.

Dante Fenolio, Ph.D.: (San Antonio Zoo) Committed to bioinventory efforts worldwide studying population ecology, trophic dynamics and conservation status of amphibians and subterranean salamanders; projects include developing and managing the Chilean Amphibian Conservation Center.

Biruté Mary Galdikas, Ph.D.: (Orangutan Foundation International) More than 35 years of advancing research on wild orangutan ecology and behavior; established rehabilitation and release programs and saved millions of acres of tropical rain forest in Borneo.

Glenn Gauvry: (Ecological Research Development Group) Founded Ecological Research Development Group to conserve the world's four species of horseshoe crabs.

John Halas: (Environmental Moorings International, INC) Created an anchor and mooring system to prevent damage to coral reefs and the sea floor that is now implemented worldwide.

Rodney Jackson, Ph.D.: (Snow Leopard Conservancy) Conducted in-depth radio-tracking studies of snow leopards since the 1980s; dedicated to building local communities' capacity as key players in conserving the species. Finalist for the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Indianapolis Prize.

Christopher Jenkins, Ph.D.: (The Orianne Society) Founder of the Orianne Society, dedicating numerous years to snakes, one of the most vilified and persecuted group of animals in the world.

Carl Jones, Ph.D.: (Mauritian Wildlife Foundation) Biologist who pioneered the techniques of applied population management to reverse the decline of highly endangered species; instrumental in the creation of the first national park in Mauritius; involved in the recovery of five bird species coming from populations of less than ten specimens. Finalist for the 2012 and 2014 Indianapolis Prize.

Peter Knights: (WildAid) Founder of WildAid; created the Active Conservation Awareness Program, aimed at reducing demand for endangered species products by forging an approach of conservation through communication.

Laurie Marker, Ph.D.: (Cheetah Conservation Fund) Founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund, leading a conservation program from humble beginnings in rural Namibia to an unparalleled model for predator conservation. Finalist for the 2008 and 2010 Indianapolis Prize.

Charudutt Mishra, Ph.D.: (Snow Leopard Trust & Nature Conservation Foundation) Conservation biologist working to protect threatened species and habitats throughout Central Asia, with a focus on the charismatic and endangered snow leopard.

Russell Mittermeier, Ph.D.: (Conservation International) Visionary leader able to motivate every level of conservationist to support the greater good of many species; one of the first academic primatologists to become concerned with the welfare and conservation of primates. Finalist for the 2012 and 2014 Indianapolis Prize.

Peter Pratje, Ph.D.: (Frankfurt Zoological Society) Conservationist focused on protecting Sumatran orangutans; led the building of a rehabilitation complex in the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape and implemented guidelines for rehabilitation and reintroduction, including the first release of a zoo-born orangutan.

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D.: (Panthera) Advocate for wild cats; helped create the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, the world's first jaguar sanctuary; generated the first scientific research on Indochinese tigers, Asiatic leopards and leopard cats leading to the World Heritage designation of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.

Carl Safina, Ph.D.: (Blue Ocean Institute) Brought ocean conservation into the environmental mainstream by using science, art and literature to inspire a "sea ethic." Finalist for the 2010 and 2014 Indianapolis Prize.

Joel D. Sartore: (National Geographic Magazine) Renowned photojournalist with mission to give vanishing species and habitats a voice before they're gone forever; co-founder of The Grassland Foundation.

Jigmet Takpa: (Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India) Focused on evidence-based landscape-level conservation programs in Ladakh northern India, resulting in population recovery of snow leopard, Tibetan argali, gazelle and antelope, lynx, Pallas' cat, Tibetan and black-necked crane; introduced projects and technologies for local communities to regard wildlife as assets rather than threats.

Fernando Trujillo, Ph.D.: (Foundation Omacha) Conservationist dedicated to South America's pink river dolphins and affected change for unsustainable fishing practices that threaten two of the largest river systems in the world – the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

Amanda Vincent, Ph.D.: (The University of British Columbia) First person to study seahorses underwater, document extensive trade and initiate a seahorse conservation project, Project Seahorse. Finalist for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize.

David Western, Ph.D.: (African Conservation Centre) Field biologist devoted to monitoring ecosystems and habitat in Kenya'sAmboseli region; established Amboseli Ecosystem Trust and the African Conservation Centre to protect wildlife, educate children and develop infrastructure.

A History of Indianapolis Prize Winners

The Indianapolis Prize was first awarded in 2006 to Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation. The 2008 winner was George Schaller, Ph.D., known as one of the founding fathers of wildlife conservation, and both a senior conservationist for the Wildlife Conservation Society and vice president for Panthera. In 2010, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Ph.D., founder of Save the Elephants, received the Prize for his pioneering research in elephant social behavior and for leading the way in the fight against the poaching of African elephants. Steven Amstrup, Ph.D., chief scientist for Polar Bears International, received the 2012 Prize for his work promoting the cause of the world's largest land carnivore. Last year, Dr. Patricia C. Wright, founder of Centre ValBio, became the first woman awarded the Indianapolis Prize for her dedication to saving Madagascar's famed lemurs from extinction.

Multimedia content to accompany this story may be found here.

The Indianapolis Prize was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. This biennial award brings the world's attention to the cause of animal conservation and the brave, talented and dedicated men and women who spent their lives saving the Earth's endangered animal species. The Indianapolis Prize has received support from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation since its inception in 2006.