Nicole Auil

Belize Program Manager & Conservation Biologist, Wildlife Trust

Nicole Auil, Belize Program Manager and Conservation Biologist for Wildlife Trust's Edge of the Sea Aquatic Conservation Program, has been studying Antillean Manatees for over 10 years. Auil (pronounced a-will), a native of Belize, began her career by creating the Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Belize Manatee Recovery Plan, both of which she continues to manage successfully.

Auil and her team work with the local community and the Belize government to help raise awareness of the Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary, a hotspot for manatees and their calves. Auil has developed eco-tourism initiatives to educate people about the mammals. Her work has also resulted in the implementation of speed restrictions to protect the herbivorous mammals.

In 2005, Nicole Auil was awarded a prestigious Whitley Award by HRH The Princess Anne. The Whitley Award, often called the "Green Oscar," is the UK's top conservation prize. Auil has gained international recognition for her work to conserve Belize's threatened Antillean manatees.

Auil's current projects focus on threatened coastal species, such as turtles as well as manatees, and their habitats, with a goal of integrating scientific research into sound management and planning decisions.

Working closely with local grassroots organizations, Auil is building the capacity to better manage specific protected areas in Belize. As a member of the Belize Audubon Society's Board of Directors, she helps shape sustainable development policy and has become a voice for conservation advocacy. Auil has also been a principal consultant on manatee research and tourism projects for the Gulf of Honduras and in Niger, West Africa.