George Archibald Wins Indianapolis Prize!
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George Archibald Wins Indianapolis Prize!
Originally published 2006-08-21

Indianapolis Prize Honors Hero of Animal Conservation with the World's Largest Animal Conservation Award Dr. George Archibald receives the inaugural $100,000 Indianapolis Prize for his work with cranes!

WASHINGTON D.C. (Aug. 22, 2006) – In honor of more than 30 years of dedication to saving endangered crane species, the Indianapolis Zoo announced today that George Archibald, Ph.D., is the recipient of the inaugural $100,000 Indianapolis Prize, the largest international monetary award given to an individual for conservation of an single animal species. Archibald's work includes everything from dancing with human-reared cranes to enhance fertilization to promoting a program to reestablish a migratory flock of Whooping Cranes in eastern North America by teaching juvenile cranes to follow ultralight aircraft from Wisconsin to Florida.

"George is an icon in animal conservation," said Michael I. Crowther, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, which administers the Indianapolis Prize. "With his revolutionary work and dedication to the preservation of cranes, there is absolutely no question that the population is stronger because he is their champion. He is a true hero and we are honored that he is the first recipient of the Indianapolis Prize."

The announcement was made at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Archibald will receive the check and the accompanying Lilly Medal in Indianapolis on Sept. 30 at a gala ceremony presented by the AES Corporation and hosted by Jane Alexander.

Archibald co-founded the International Crane Foundation, located in Baraboo, Wis., in 1973 when cranes were in a perilous situation and many of the 15 remaining species were on the brink of extinction. Today, several species have made remarkable turnarounds, most notably the North American Whooping Crane. Down to only 21 birds in 1944, the population today numbers over 350 in the wild.

"I am humbled by this honor and proud to be recognized among the world's leading conservationists," said Archibald. "This award is a privilege not only for me and the team of which I am a part, but for the cranes we work to save. They depend on us and look to us to be their voice. It's a great honor to have that voice heard."

Archibald and his colleagues have pioneered several techniques to rear cranes in captivity, including having human handlers wear crane costumes to avoid human imprinting – the impact of human interaction with cranes can shift's the species ability to reproduce. Archibald spent three years with a highly endangered Whooping Crane, Tex that was imprinted on humans. He courted her for two months each spring to induce her to lay eggs. Through this dedication and use of artificial insemination, Tex eventually laid a fertile egg and "Gee Whiz" was hatched.

Archibald also has entered some of the world's most hostile territories, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Russia and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, to protect the watersheds and grasslands where cranes live.

"Zoos throughout this country play a significant role in the worldwide effort for animal conservation," said Jim Maddy, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). "The Indianapolis Prize is an outstanding addition to the cause of preserving the world's endangered animals, and it's a prime example of a single zoo's ability to increase awareness of and spur action toward conservation of the natural world."

To learn more about the Indianapolis Prize, click here.
 
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