Indianapolis Prize winner Jones to speak Oct. 17 at Lynn Hall

Professor Carl Jones, winner of the 2016 Indianapolis Prize and scientific director of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 17 in Lynn Hall, Room 1136. Arranged through a collaboration between the Indianapolis Zoo and Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine, his talk is open to students, faculty and staff.

During more than 40 years of working in Mauritius, the island home of the extinct dodo bird, Jones has led efforts to save and restore populations of the pink pigeon, echo parakeet, Rodrigues warbler and the Mauritius kestrel. At one time, only four of the kestrel's species were on Earth. The kestrel now has a population nearing 400.

In his talk, titled "Lessons From the Dodo: Saving Species and Rebuilding Ecosystems in Mauritius," he will offer insights on restoring a number of species, including birds, reptiles and mammals, in addition to the ecosystems of Mauritius.

Jones also is chief scientist of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. He has helped establish the first national park in Mauritius, championed innovative conservation techniques and trained more than 800 conservation and biology professionals.

Established in 2005 by the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indianapolis Prize is an internationally recognized animal conservation award and program. Awarded biennially, the prize recognizes individuals who have made "extraordinary contributions to the sustainability of wildlife." It is the largest international monetary award given to an individual for conservation efforts. In addition to a monetary award, the winner also receives the Lilly Medal.