Officials at the Indianapolis Zoo recently announced the 2025 winner of their prestigious Animal Conservation Award. This year’s Indianapolis Prize has been awarded to the renowned Malagasy scientist and conservationist Dr. Lily-Arison René de Roland!
“The 2025 Indianapolis Prize is recognition not just for me but also for my team at The Peregrine Fund, my Malagasy community, and the wildlife we work hard every day to protect.” — Dr. René de Roland
About Dr. Lily-Arison René de Roland
Dr. René de Roland’s contribution to conservation throughout his career has been significant and meaningful.
Discovery of New Species
Dr. René de Roland has led in the discovery of several new species, including the 2006 rediscovery of the Madagascar pochard, a rare duck species that was thought to be extinct since the 1990s. He was also a part of the expedition team who discovered two previously undescribed lemur species in northern Madagascar. Most recently in 2022 Dr. René de Roland led a team to the rediscovery of the Dusky tetraka, a songbird that had eluded ornithologists for 20 years.
Establishment of Four National Protected Areas in Madagascar
These discoveries have led to the establishment of four national protected areas covering over 1,500 square miles of rainforest, dry forests, wetlands and mangroves. This work has also led to the development of community-focused conservation programs with the focus of supporting the lives of local people living close to these endangered and protected species.
“Conservation is not something we can do alone. Working together with local institutions and communities to ensure that people and wildlife can coexist in a balance is my greatest and most rewarding task.”— Dr. René de Roland
The Peregrine Fund’s Madagascar Program
René de Roland earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar’s capital. As a student in 1992 he joined The Peregrine Fund to study Madagascar’s imperiled raptors.
After years of hard work, in 2004, Dr. René de Roland took up the role of the National Director of The Peregrine Fund’s Madagascar Program, where he oversees a team of 48 Malagasy conservationists working to conserve wildlife and landscapes in his home, Madagascar.
“Our efforts to protect birds of prey ecosystems and involve communities in our conservation model have helped Malagasies manage their resources and build better lives for their families, and for that, I am very grateful.“— Dr. René de Roland
Mentoring the Next generation of Malagasy Conservationists
In addition to species conservation Dr. René de Roland’s work has a strong emphasis on mentorship and guidance. Throughout his work he has also helped to shape the next generation of Malagasy conservationists. Dr. René de Roland has mentored more than 100 students at local Madagascar universities, with his mentees earning 90 master’s degrees and 16 doctoral degrees.
“I am also very proud to be working with and mentoring the next generation of Malagasy conservationists—I’ve worked with more than 100 students who have earned advanced degrees, and I know they will continue this work long into the future.” — Dr. René de Roland
About the Indianapolis Prize
The Indianapolis Prize is considered the leading award for animal conservation and is often dubbed the “Nobel Prize” for animal conservation! The award recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the conservation of an animal species or group of species.
Since 2004, the Indianapolis Prize has awarded more than $7.5 million in unrestricted cash awards reaching around 2 billion people. The award supports the work of conservationists through financial support and public awareness. Winners receive $250,000, which is the largest individual monetary award given in the animal conservation field.