Professor Carl Jones has won the prestigious 2016 Indianapolis Prize for conservation. Originated from Carmarthen in Wales, the 61-year-old has rescued at least nine animal species and saved them from definite extinction.
Prof. Jones is the chief scientist of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and scientific director of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. This prize is recognition of his work which includes saving rare breeds of bird like the echo parakeet and pink pigeon among other species during his four decades of work in Mauritius. Prof. Jones also expanded the number of Mauritius kestrels from just four in the wild to more than 300 in a decade. He also helps to the revival of six birds that were on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as a result of conservation initiatives. These birds would have had the same fate as the Dodo, which became extinct in the late 17th century. According to IUCN, “without Prof. Jones, the natural world today would be a significantly poorer place. Several plant and animal species would today be extinct, and far fewer people would have been encouraged to take up the conservation cause, had it not been for Prof. Jones”.
He stayed 20 years in Mauritius as of his conservation efforts. Now he went on the Indian Ocean Island for four months every year to continue his work. A dad-of-two, he possesses MSC and PhD in endangered birds. “I have always been conscious of conservation and interested in helping in any way I can. I lived in Mauritius to learn more and raise awareness. I saw what was happening there and I knew I had to help. When you lose species from the world you are simplifying the world and it’s becoming a duller place,” he told the South Wales Evening Post.
He added that the planet has become such a customized place where there are very few regions in their natural habitat remaining. “I want to live in an interesting world which is diverse. Even if I do not get to see them, then I want to know there are polar bears in the Arctic or blue whales in the ocean. People are very pleased to devastate the earth, but if you want to save it then you have to be prepared to take bold action.”
The cash prize of £170,000 ($250,000) and Lilly Medal was presented to the professor at the Natural History Museum. Jones will be officially honoured at the 2016 Indianapolis Prize Gala in Indianapolis Oct. 15, 2016. Five other finalists for the award will receive $10,000 each.
