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Indianapolis Zoo Press Release about George Archibald
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Indianapolis Zoo Press Release about George Archibald Originally published 2008-01-24 Award-winning Conservationist Sets Record - 2006 Indianapolis Prize winner George Archibald fights for cranes' survival INDIANAPOLIS --- The winner of the first Indianapolis Prize credits the award with helping him reach some important milestones in his work to save endangered cranes in 2007. Dr. George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and winner of the inaugural Indianapolis Prize in 2006 for animal conservation, celebrated several extraordinary achievements in 2007, including a record number of whooping cranes that began their first-ever migration last fall. Twenty-seven chicks were released, adding to North America's newly established migrating flock of 59 whooping cranes. In addition, ICF began diverse field programs around the world, made possible in part by the $100,000 Indianapolis Prize award. "The Indianapolis Prize gave global attention to the achievements of the International Crane Foundation. The prize money was donated as a challenge grant to our board and members and effectively doubled its financial impact on ICF, benefiting several major conservation initiatives in North America, Asia and Africa," Archibald said. "From a personal viewpoint, the award confirmed that optimism and hard work are effective." ICF's collaborative approach to conservation produced other notable achievements in 2007. ICF launched a new education program, Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World, linking students in the USA, Russia and China with the crane flyways in eastern North America and East Asia. In Kenya, 25 participants from eight countries developed an action plan to save Africa's crowned cranes from the growing threat of illegal trade. Local people in the village of Phu My, Vietnam, were taught to weave marketable baskets from an aquatic plant, resulting in a lasting interest in conservation of a wetland vital to wintering Sarus cranes. Efforts to save the critically endangered Siberian crane were bolstered when nine countries committed to conserving a network of wetlands vital to cranes and other water birds in the Western and Central Asian flyways under the CMS MOU for the Siberian crane. The 2008 Indianapolis Prize winner will be announced this summer. More information about the Indianapolis Prize is available by clicking here. The Indianapolis Prize was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to inspire local and global communities to celebrate, protect, and preserve our natural world through conservation, education and research. This biennial award 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. Indianapolis Zoo 1200 West Washington Street P.O. Box 22309 Indianapolis, Indiana 46222-0309 317.630.2711 ph 317.630.5153 fx For a pdf of this document, click here. |
