World-renown Animal Conservationist George Schaller, Ph.D., to Speak at Patagonia Headquarters
International icon tells stories of his wildlife adventures
INDIANAPOLIS --- The world’s pre-eminent field biologist and recipient of the 2008 Indianapolis Prize, George Schaller, Ph.D., will share his stories of animal conservation throughout the world to a private audience at Patagonia headquarters in Ventura, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Schaller will speak about his visit back to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a trip made possible by Patagonia. Fifty years ago, Schaller assisted conservationists Olaus and Mardy Murie with research that helped create the refuge, which is now home to more than 45 species of land and marine mammals.
Schaller will also discuss his ongoing research on the Tibetan plateau. Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia’s vice president of communication and environmental initiatives, played a key role in Schaller’s work on the plateau. Ridgeway led a team of mountaineers and researchers to complete Schaller’s mission of finding the calving grounds of the western herd of Tibetan antelope.
Schaller’s talk is part of the 2008 Indianapolis Prize lecture series. Schaller was awarded the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation – a $100,000 prize – for his numerous successes, including the development of 15 wildlife reserves around the world, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Chang Tang Wildlife Reserve in Tibet, and an international peace park in the four corners of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Tajikistan, where war has harmed wildlife conservation efforts. He is the author of more than 220 popular and scientific articles and 16 books.
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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 Prize educational programming is sponsored by Cummins Inc.