Join the Indianapolis Zoo Uproar Conservation Challenge

It is tournament time across the country, and the Indianapolis Zoo wants your help in a bracket that really matters.   

Nearly 50,000 species face extinction due to climate change, habitat loss and overexploitation.  The threat is real. The timeline is urgent. But together, we can act.  

 The Uproar Conservation Challenge presented by T-Fiber is a new initiative from the Global Center for Species Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo and the IUCN Species Survival Commission that is designed to spark curiosity, inspire learning and mobilize action for the planet’s most vulnerable species. Voting is live now at UproarChallenge.com.

"Conservation is not only for field scientists. Conservation is a worldwide effort that applies to everyone," said Indianapolis Zoo Vice President for Conservaton and Education and Director of the Global Center for Species Survival Dr. Nico de Bruyn. "The Uproar Conservation Challenge is a great entry point for people to learn about species they may have never heard of before, which hopefully opens their eyes to the impact they can make on the world, no matter where they live."

For the next three weeks, the public is invited to make their voices heard in an online, head-to-head voting challenge, helping species advance round by round toward a single champion. Participation is free!  Through this initiative, the Zoo will distribute more than $50,000 in conservation grants to support conservationists and their efforts behind every species represented. No species leaves empty-handed; every species will receive some conservation funding. 

In partnership with conservationists around the world, the Zoo has identified 64 at-risk animals, plants and fungi—many lesser-known, yet critically important to the health of their ecosystems and the planet. One species will rise above the rest and be crowned the Uproar champion, earning a $10,000 grand prize directed to the IUCN Specialist Group working to safeguard its future.  

Celebration for Conservation 

The challenge will culminate on Saturday, April 4 at a Celebration for Conservation event at the Indianapolis Zoo, with music, games and a live announcement as the final votes are counted and the champion is revealed.