Gabriela Mastromonaco, a reproductive scientist and the Toronto Zoo’s senior director of wildlife science has been nominated for the Indianapolis Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Animal Conservation.” This award, presented every two years by the Indianapolis Zoo, honours remarkable contributions to the sustainability of animal species and offers a reward of US$250,000 (C$338,560) to the winner.

Mastromonaco works with over 50 species annually, but her primary focus is the wood bison, a near-threatened species. She is dedicated to developing tools for both natural and assisted breeding. Her achievements include facilitating the first birth of wood bison calves from sperm that had been frozen for 35 years and managing Canada’s most diverse living cell bank for wildlife species.

“Reproductive science is one of the foundations of species sustainability,” she said in conversation with CBC Toronto. If they don’t reproduce, then we don’t have the next generation of the animals here to do the conservation with.”

Forty-three other conservations from around the world have also been nominated for the award.  If awarded the Indianapolis Prize, Mastromonaco would receive US$250,000 (C$338,560), while five finalists and an “Emerging Conservationist” would each receive US$50,000 (C$67,700). The winner will be announced in September 2025.