The recipients have set foot in a wide range of fields, from the frosty expanse of Siberia to the harsh deserts of northwest China. They have interacted with the nomads of the Niger and observed the endangered Bactrian camel. These explorers share a sense of adventure and a passion for preserving the wonders of our planet.
Dr. Laurie Marker, a renowned cheetah expert, has worked to protect the endangered animal for 30 years. She was honored with a title “Hero for the Planet” by Time Magazine in 2000. While in Namibia, she conducted research on the health conditions, genetics, and reproduction of the cheetah.
With cooperation from the local government, Marker helped local villagers to protect their poultry from being harmed by wild cheetahs by putting trained dogs on guard duty. Villagers, cheetahs, and chickens alike benefited from the efforts of this dedicated scientist. Marker’s next move will be to visit China in the effort to help protect wild tigers.
John Hare is a British explorer who has formed a bond with wild camels while exploring deserts all over the world. Over the last decade, he has gone from northwest China to Mongolia and the Sahara looking for wild camels and studying their natural habitats. He has helped establish biosphere reserves in hopes that the remaining 1,000 wild camels will be able to survive and reproduce.
In 1997, Hare founded the the Wild Camel Protection Foundation and set up a reserve for wild camels in the Gobi desert. In 2004, he established another reserve for artificial breeding of wild camels, with the hope of preserving the animal species for the future.
The Explorers Club has a history of 106 years. Many of its members have executed record-breaking feats. Prominent club members have included those who were the first human beings to reach the North and South poles, to walk on the moon and to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Lorie Karnath is the current and the first female president of the club. The organization started admitting female members in 1981. Six women received the Lowell Thomas Awards on Sunday.
