The 2015 Whitley Awards were held on 29th April at the Royal Geographical Society where winners were presented with their awards by HRH The Princess Royal.
DICE alumnus Arnaud Desbiez was the winner of the Whitley Award donated by the Garden House School Parent’s Association for his work in Brazil with Giant armadillos. This prestigious award celebrates Arnaud’s work in setting up the Giant Armadillo Conservation Project in Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world. The successful project has now expanded to the Cerrado where the giant armadillo is facing considerable threat from rapidly decreasing habitat making them more susceptible to extinction at a local level.
The Whitley Awards recognise outstanding nature conservationists around the world, celebrating conservation leaders, projects and community involvement. Winners of a Whitley Award are granted prizes of up to £35,000.
Visit the Whitley Fund for Nature website to find out more about the awards, Arnaud and to hear his acceptance speech.
Featured image is courtesy of the Whitley Fund for Nature and shows The Princess Royal and 2015 Whitley Awards recipient Aranaud Depbiez, Brazil at The Royal Geographical Society, London, 29th April 2015