BAT EXPERT DR RODRIGO MEDELLIN, OF MEXICO WAS AWARDED BY THE WFN

Bat expert Dr Rodrigo Medellin, of Mexico, tonight became the first winner of a newly-created annual award from the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) honouring an outstanding individual contribution to conservation.

Dr Medellin received his award from the charity’s Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) during a ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society, London, at which grants worth a total of £240,000 were given out. 

The Gold Award comes with £30,000 project funding, donated by The Friends of Whitley Fund for Nature. The remaining £210,000 is shared by the latest seven winners of Whitley Awards for inspirational leadership – an accolade Dr Medellin won in 2004 and which he credits with helping him to set up his conservation non-profit BIOCONCIENCIA.

Photos courtesy by WHITLEY FUND FOR NATURE