Two Africans are this year again among the finalists nominated for awards by the Whitely Fund for Nature.
Inaoyom Imong from Nigeria has been nominatedfor the Whitely prize for his work toprotect Cross River gorillas in the Mbe Mountains.
Dr Dino Martins from Kenya will also be awarded a special Gold Award for his work on the relationship between pollinators and the use of harmful agricultural pesticides, which has led to new legislation to protect bees as well as more sustainable and productive farming practices that benefit both people and pollinators in East Africa.
he Whitley Awards are prestigious international prizes which honour exceptional individuals who, through their outstanding conservation work in developing countries, are redefining the way people engage with the natural world in the 21st century.
Selected from a field of 174 applicants from all over the world, the seven wildlife conservationists shortlisted this year for the chance to win an award and a share in project funding worth £245,000 are:
- Arnaud Desbiez (Brazil; giant armadillos);
- Rosamira Guillen (Colombia; cotton-top tamarins);
- Panut Hadisiswoyo (Sumatra; orang-utans);
- Jayson Ibañez (Philippines; Philippine eagles);
- Inaoyom Imong(Nigeria; Cross River gorillas);
- Ananda Kumar (India; Asian elephants);
- Pramod Patil (India; Great Indian Bustard).
The charity’s patron HRH The Princess Royal will announce the final results at a special evening ceremony hosted by television presenter Kate Humble and attended by Sir David Attenborough on Wednesday 29 April at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
HRH The Princess Royal will also present an additional prize, the Whitley Gold Awardworth up to £50,000 in project funding, to Dr Dino Martins, whose work on the relationship between pollinators and the use of harmful agricultural pesticides has led to new legislation to protect bees as well as more sustainable and productive farming practices that benefit both people and pollinators in East Africa.
Well done to Inaoyom and to Dr. Dino for their outstanding accomplishments.
