Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Names 2014 Disney Conservation Heroes

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has recently honored 19 individuals with the Disney Conservation Hero Award for 2014.

Claudia Perla studies the endangered black-handed spider monkey

The award recipients were recognized for their dedication to wildlife conservation and received a medal and $1,500 to share with the nonprofit organization that nominated them.

The recipients work tirelessly to protect endangered animals including gorillas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, black-handed spider monkeys in Nicaragua, snow leopards in Russia, and diamondback terrapins in New Jersey.

This year's recipients of the Disney Conversation Hero Award are:

• Aimee Rasoanasolo, nominated by Conservation Fusion
• Ken Nedimyer, nominated by the Coral Restoration Foundation
• Juliette Velosoa, nominated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
• King Geoffrey Nzito, nominated by Fauna & Flora International
• Berdiyar Jollibekov, nominated by Fauna & Flora International
• Sue Robertson, nominated by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association
• Etty Rahmawati, nominated by Health In Harmony
• Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, nominated by the Houston Zoo and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center
• Daniel Leturesh, nominated by the International Fund for Animal Welfare
• Lovemore Mungwashu, nominated by the International Rhino Foundation and the Lowveld Rhino Trust
• Devender Singh Chauhan, nominated by the International Snow Leopard Trust
• Daudet Andriafidison, nominated by the Lubee Bat Conservancy
• Claudia Perla, nominated by Paso Pacifico
• Martha Gruber, nominated by Tampa Bay Watch
• Mergen Markov, nominated by The Altai Project/Earth Island Institute
• Thulani Thusi, nominated by The Barry and Patricia Wakeman Education Foundation and the Wildlife ACT Fund Trust
• The Storm Drain Terrapin Rescue Team, nominated by The Wetlands Institute
• Rupali Ghosh, nominated by the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation
• Abdullahi Ali, nominated by the University of Wyoming

To learn more about the 2014 Heroes and read their stories visit www.disney.com/conservation.

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