A PROFESSOR at Oxford Brookes University has been nominated for the prestigious Indianapolis Prize 2018 for her pioneering conservation work and research.

Regarded as the world’s leading award for animal conservation, the Indianapolis Prize recognises and rewards conservationists from around the world who have achieved major victories in saving the lives of endangered and threatened animals.

Anna Nekaris, Professor in Primate Conservation and Anthropology, is a pioneering researcher who is responsible for much of the knowledge of Asia’s secretive, nocturnal primates – the slender and slow lorises.

Slow lorises, the world’s only venomous primate, are found in areas of southern and south-eastern Asia and are endangered due to habitat loss and being hunted for both the illegal pet and traditional medicine trades.

Prof Nekaris said: “Trying to make the public and the scientific community aware of the plight of the slow loris has been a monumental task.

“When I started my work, the threat to these small brown nocturnal primates was virtually unrecognised. This nomination makes me realise our efforts have been a success.”

The winner will be announced on September 29, 2018.