Local conservationists Laurie Marker and Marlice van Vuuren have been nominated for the prestigious 2027 Indianapolis Prize for their wildlife protection efforts.
Marker is a zoologist, researcher and the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), while Van Vuuren is the co-founder and executive director of the N/a’ankusê Foundation.
The Indianapolis Prize, founded in 2004, is recognised as the highest honour in animal conservation, driving conservation impact around the world through recognition, visibility and financial support.
Van Vuuren was nominated for her work with the N/a’ankusê Wildlife Sanctuary and medical clinic, and for protecting and relocating large carnivores with the goal of reducing human-wildlife conflict.
“For years, Marlice and the N/a’ankusê team have worked at the intersection of wildlife protection and human-wildlife coexistence, turning conservation into action on the ground,” N/a’ankusê says on social media.
The N/a’ankusê Foundation has achieved conservation impact through several initiatives. Its anti-poaching units safeguard 50 000 hectares of land and have patrolled over 30 000km on foot with the help of more than 60 rangers.
The foundation has responded to 441 conflict cases involving more than 1 000 farmers.
“These numbers represent much more than kilometres, hectares and statistics. They represent people working in difficult conditions, wildlife given a second chance, farmers receiving support and communities and animals being given a better chance to coexist,” it says.
“We are incredibly proud to see Marlice and Namibia represented on this global conservation stage.”
‘DEEPLY HONOURED’
Marker was nominated for her community initiatives which introduced livestock-guarding dogs to farmers in Namibia to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
The CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog Programme helps protect livestock while reducing the need to remove cheetahs from their environments.
“I am deeply honoured to be named among the 27 conservationists nominated for the 2027 Indianapolis Prize, one of the world’s leading awards for animal conservation,” Marker says on social media.
“For more than 30 years, my work has been dedicated to understanding and protecting cheetahs, from studying their genetics, biology and behaviour to working alongside communities in Namibia to find solutions that allow people and wildlife to coexist.”
She says she is grateful for the recognition of the important work being done to prevent species from going extinct.
The Indianapolis Prize will narrow the nominees to six DeHaan finalists, with the 2027 winner to be announced next September.
