WILD

Save the Elephant’s Iain Douglas-Hamilton Honored with Indianapolis Prize

Given every other year to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts involving a single animal species or multiple species, the Indianapolis Prize brings the world’s attention to the cause of animal conservation and the brave, talented and dedicated men and women who spend their lives saving the Earth’s endangered animal species.  This year, this prestigious award recognizes Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton for his life-long dedication to elephants in Africa.

Founder of Save the Elephants, a collaborator with WILD on the Mali Elephant Project, Iain’s work to study and protect elephants has spanned decades and countries and made significant impacts on the health and survival of elephants.  A few quotes from the Prize press release echo his dedication and devotion:

“The plight of the African elephant is intensely personal to Iain. He has studied, named and nurtured thousands of African elephants for generations, and it is this intimate understanding of and love for these magnificent mammals that drives Iain’s forceful efforts to secure a future for endangered African elephants,” said Michael Crowther, President/CEO, Indianapolis Zoo.

“Iain is a one-of-a-kind encyclopedia on elephants. His breadth of knowledge, derived from personal experience, observation, and interactions with managers, politicians, and land owners, is a critical and unique asset to conservation,” said George Wittemyer, assistant professor in Colorado State University’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, a protégé who has worked with Douglas-Hamilton since 1997.

Dr. Douglas-Hamilton will receive $100,000 and the Lilly Medal at a gala ceremony presented by Cummins Inc. on Sept. 25, 2010, at The Westin Hotel in Indianapolis.

Read the full press release >

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