The Hubbard medal is named after National Geographic Society's first president, Gardiner Green Hubbard. With the recognition, Dr. Schaller will join past recipients such as Charles Lindbergh, Jane Goodall, Jacques Piccard and James Cameron in receiving the Society's highest honour that recognises lifetime achievement in exploration, discovery and research. His book on mountain gorillas The Mountain Gorilla: Ecology and Behavior in 1963 brought awareness of the species and their intelligence and gentleness. In The Year of the Gorilla, Dr. Schaller also recorded his two-year study on mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park in the late 1950s.
Panthera's CEO Dr. Alan Rabinowitz congratulated Dr. Schaller, “George is a conservation legend and true champion for wild animals and places everywhere. As one of the world's foremost wildlife biologists, he helped to carve and create the field of wildlife conservation. Armed only with a notepad, George courageously charted untouched territories in search of wildlife, and continues to do so even today. He continues to inspire generation after generation of young wildlife enthusiasts to dedicate their lives to conserving our planet's biodiversity."
