Conicet biologist and researcher Juan Pablo García Borboroglu won today the 9th Indianapolis Prize for his work in the investigation, care and protection of penguins, an award that is considered the “Nobel” for animal conservation, announced today the Indianapolis Zoological Society, becoming the first South American to receive the award.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to have been named the winner of the 2023 Indianapolis Prize. This prestigious award will be instrumental in supporting efforts to protect penguins and their habitat,” said Garcia Borboroglu, who founded the Global Penguin Society in 2009, of which he is currently president and with which he protected 32 million acres of marine and terrestrial habitat for penguins.
The biologist pointed out that “needing sea and land, penguins face unprecedented threats that require large-scale changes; through this award, we hope to inspire and encourage people around the world to take decisive action to protect the environment; only Through our collective efforts we can ensure that our environment and its wildlife can thrive.”
The story of Garcia Borboroglu
García Borboroglu studied biological sciences at the University of Patagonia and completed his doctorate in biology at the National University of Comahue, he is currently a researcher at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) and affiliated professor at the University of Washington and spent more than three decades studying penguins and leading conservation efforts on four continents.
The same year he founded the Global Penguin Society, he discovered just six pairs of baby penguins in the El Pedral colony on the eastern coast of Argentina; In this context, he worked to designate that area as a refuge for wildlife and reduce human impacts: the area is now home to 4,000 pairs.
The researcher also led the efforts to create “Blue Patagonia”, a Unesco biosphere reserve, which covers 200 miles of coastline and 7.6 million acres of land and ocean and protects 40% of the global population of Magellanic penguins; It is the most biodiverse area in Argentina with 67 species of animals, more than 120 species of birds and almost 200 species of marine invertebrates. In addition, García Borboroglu coordinated the development of management plans for eight protected areas since 1998 in Chile and Argentina.
In creating these plans, he focuses not only on the penguins, but also on supporting local communities. Protected areas drive ecotourism and sustainable development, leading to job creation. He is also responsible for an educational program at the Global Penguin Society in which more than 200,000 students from all over Latin America participated.
“Dr Pablo Borboroglu is responsible for major achievements in understanding penguin behavior and ecology. He has preserved millions of acres of critical penguin habitat, which is an amazing achievement. He is a powerful, optimistic and expert voice for animal conservation and is highly deserving of this year’s Indianapolis Prize,” said Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.
The history of the Indianapolis Prize
García Borboroglu is the ninth winner of the Indianapolis Prize and the first from South America. Founded in 2006, the Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have made significant progress in saving an animal species, or species, from extinction.
Winners receive an unrestricted $250, the world’s largest prize money supporting conservationists; the awards gala will be on September 30, when the inaugural winner of the Emerging Conservationist Award will also be announced.
