Dr. Laurie Marker Nominated for Top Conservation Prize

Staff Reporter

OTJIWARONGO — The Indianapolis Zoo has officially announced Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), as a nominee for the 2027 Indianapolis Prize. Widely recognized as the world’s leading award for animal conservation and frequently referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Animal Conservation,” the biennial prize honors extraordinary scientists who have achieved monumental success in preventing species extinction.
Dr. Marker, who has operated CCF’s International Field Research and Education Centre in Otjiwarongo, Namibia since 1991, was selected from a highly competitive global pool of researchers. Having twice before been named a DeHaan Finalist for the prestigious prize, Dr. Marker’s fresh nomination highlights her lifetime of dedication to preserving the wild cheetah population.
Dr. Marker’s community-focused methodology in Namibia introduced solutions to human-wildlife conflict, including her pioneering livestock guarding dog program, which has placed 800 Anatolian Shepherds with farmers to protect their livestock and prevent cheetahs from being killed.
To prevent permanent extinction, her team pioneered a state-of-the-art cheetah genome bank, creating a high-tech genetic insurance policy for a wild global population that has plummeted to fewer than 7,000. Additionally, CCF has expanded operations to Somaliland to combat black-market cub trafficking, with a rescue center that is currently home to more than 100 cheetahs.
A specialized committee will select six DeHaan Finalists, with the winner receiving a $300,000 award. Dr. Marker is available for media interviews regarding the nomination.
About the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF):
Founded in 1990 by Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF is the global leader in wild cheetah research and conservation, working with communities and governments from its headquarters in Otjiwarongo, Namibia