13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Indianapolis prize winner speaks for animals

Indianapolis prize winner speaks for animals

John Stehr/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis- There's no question the winner of the Indianapolis Prize for conservation has made a tremendous contribution to not only saving endangered animals, but increasing public awareness about the dire problems.

George Schaller has studied countless wild animals for decades.

"Animals need people to speak on their behalf," Schaller said.

Over the last four decades George Schaller has spoken up for countless animals. From rare giant pandas roaming the forests in China to mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Schaller is a champion for wildlife conservation efforts around the world.

"What's conservation? It's economics, it's politics, it's culture social life and that's all human life. And to sway human life is extraordinarily difficult," Schaller said.

Schaller is recognized as the world's foremost field biologist.  He's traveled to exotic locations and watched even the smallest movements of the animals from what Tibetan antelope eat to how far a lion walks in a day.

It all helped to understand their nature and made for some exciting close encounters.

" I was particularly happy one day, a female gorilla came and she climbed up on a branch with me, sat next to me and we both looked down on the gorilla group," Schaller said. "It was a wonderful experience if you can be close to an animal and accept it."

Schaller's detailed observations and his intense study of animals and their habitat are what helped him capture this year's prestigious Indianapolis Prize - Recognizing him as a hero of conservation.

Schaller's peers already know the importance of his work.  He hopes others will be inspired to follow in his trail-blazing footsteps.

Schaller will receive his 100-thousand dollar Indianapolis Prize Saturday night.  He and other award nominees will also be at the zoo on Sunday to talk about their work. That event is from 1 until 3 pm.