WINDHOEK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Namibian conservationist Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), has been nominated for the 2027 Indianapolis Prize.
"I am deeply honored to be nominated for the 2027 Indianapolis Prize. For me, this recognition is not only personal; it reflects more than five decades of my work and over three decades of work in Namibia by the Cheetah Conservation Fund, our dedicated teams, communities, farmers, scientists, partners and supporters who have worked together to ensure a future for the cheetah," she told Xinhua on Saturday.
Recognized as the world's leading award for animal conservation, and referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Animal Conservation," the biennial prize honors extraordinary scientists who have achieved monumental success in preventing species extinction.
Marker, who has operated CCF's International Field Research and Education Center in Otjiwarongo, central-north Namibia, since 1991, said global recognition like this helps shine a spotlight on what is happening on the ground in Namibia.
"Cheetahs cannot be saved by protecting the species alone. Their future depends on healthy, connected landscapes, abundant prey, thriving rural communities, and practical ways for people and predators to live together," she said. "If this nomination brings greater attention, partnerships and investment to that work, then it can make a very real difference."
Marker's community-focused methodology in Namibia has introduced human-wildlife conflict solutions, including the pioneering livestock guarding dog program she introduced, placing 800 Anatolian Shepherds with farmers to protect their livestock and prevent cheetahs from being killed.
To prevent permanent extinction, her team pioneered a state-of-the-art cheetah genome bank, creating a high-tech genetic insurance policy for a wild global population that has plummeted to fewer than 7,000.
