Wild Animal Unique Personality Award
World Animal Protection's Wild Animal Unique Personality Award raises awareness that wild animals are sentient beings, not commodities.
Wild Animal Personality Award 2023
Celeste is our Wild Animal Unique Personality Award Winner
Celeste is the 2023 winner of the Wild Animal Unique Personality Award. This award celebrates animals’ personalities, while raising awareness that they should not be objectified and seen as mere commodities. They are all individuals.
A playful spirit
Celeste absolutely loves diving and looking for pieces of wood in the water - but she only does this when she thinks no one is watching. She loves to play with the wooden pieces in her enclosure and play in the water with them.
She is a cub who was separated from her mother, but she still loves to play and learn.
Las Pumas Sanctuary and Rescue Center
Her home is at the Las Pumas Sanctuary and Rescue Centre in Costa Rica. This sanctuary rescues all types of wild animals, and the rescue center assesses the animal's conditions and rehabilitates them for release back into the wild.
If an animal cannot return to the wild due to injury or being domesticated as a pet, they are placed in the sanctuary, where they will have their own natural enclosure to live safely within.
What the award means for Las Pumas Sanctuary
The mission of Las Pumas Rescue Center and Sanctuary is to rescue, rehabilitate, release and guarantee the wildlife in Costa Rica. It was founded in 1989 by a couple who wanted to do all they could for local wildlife, and the team continue to embody their vision.
"We are extremely grateful for this reward and Celeste winning the vote organised by World Animal Protection. We thank all the people who voted, the journalists, and those who shared this contest. All the staff are very happy, and of course, Celeste is very happy too.
The money from the prize will be used for purchasing medical supplies, venue improvements, facility repair, and purchasing equipment to monitor the animals we release in the wild.
Let’s remember that wild animals have unique personalities, and they are not meant to live like pets.
We must guarantee a good life and welfare to those who can’t be released back into the wild, as in this case, Celeste. We need to protect them.
Thank you."
We look forward to seeing the impact the 10,000 USD prize money will have on Celeste, Las Pumas Sanctuary, and all the animals under their care.
Keep up to date with Las Pumas Sanctuary on Instagram
A big thank you to all the venues who took part and showcased exceptional animals with their unique personalities. They truly are all winners in our eyes.
Meet the finalists
We sifted through numerous submissions to shortlist five incredibly fascinating animals with one-of-a-kind personalities. Ready to meet them?
We received applications from all corners of the globe and were blown away by the amazing stories and personalities we encountered.
After careful consideration, we have chosen an exceptional shortlist of five:
Meet Ruby at the Elephant Valley Project
Name: Ruby
Age: 60 years
Sex: Female
Animal: Asian elephant
Location: Elephant Valley Project
Who is Ruby?
Ruby loves to forage in the forest and is the teacher of the herd. She loves teaching other elephants about living in their natural habitat, especially her friend Sambo. She is very sociable and loves sharing and spending time with other elephants.
A natural leader
Due to her old age, Ruby has lost her vision and is now blind. Despite not being able to see, she leads the elephants around her.
Elephant Valley Project
Ruby resides at the Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia. The Elephant Valley Project is part of Elephant Livelihood Initiative Environment (E.L.I.E.), a registered local non-government organisation based in Mondulkiri, Cambodia.
The aim of E.L.I.E is to improve the health and welfare of the captive elephants in Mondulkiri Province, work to conserve the wild elephants' natural habitat, and support the local people who work with these magnificent creatures.
Meet Nico at the Mona Foundation
Name: Nico
Age: 23 years
Sex: Male
Animal: Chimpanzee
Location: Mona Foundation, Primate Rescue Center
Who is Nico?
Nico loves to roam around his new home and is very friendly. He loves his grooming sessions, especially with his friend Coco. He loves cuddles and kisses and, of course, playing. He's also a real foodie and can spend hours foraging for food.
A true survivor
He has a peculiar way of walking as he is a survivor and has overcome several health complications. But this has not stopped him from enjoying his new life to the fullest.
Mona Foundation
Nico resides in the Mona Foundation, Primate Rescue Center in Spain. The Mona Foundation rescues abused chimpanzees and macaques are recovering from their previous lives as circus artists, television actors, and even pets.
The goal is to give these animals the respect and dignity they deserve so that they can live in a nurturing and restorative environment.
Meet Celeste at Las Pumas Sanctuary
Name: Celeste
Age: 1 year
Sex: Female
Animal: Jaguar
Location: Las Pumas Sanctuary and Rescue Centre
Who is Celeste?
Celeste absolutely loves diving and looking for pieces of wood in the water - but she only does this when she thinks no one is watching. She loves to play with the wooden pieces in her enclosure and play in the water with them.
A playful spirit
She is a cub who was separated from her mother, but she still loves to play and learn.
Las Pumas and Rescue Center
Her home is at the Las Pumas Sanctuary and Rescue Centre in Costa Rica. This sanctuary rescues all types of wild animals, and the rescue center assesses the animal's conditions and rehabilitates them for release back into the wild.
If an animal cannot return to the wild due to injury or being domesticated as a pet, they are placed in the sanctuary, where they will have their own natural enclosure to live safely within.
Meet Bolik at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary
Name: Bolik
Age: 16 years
Sex: Male
Animal: Brown bear
Location: Libearty Bear Sanctuary
Who is Bolik?
Bolik weighs an impressive 500 kilos; his favourite toy is a big tree branch. Once he has found one, he won't stop playing. He loves to put his head inside the branch's twigs and roll with it, throw it, take it, chew it, and repeat. Nature is his favourite playground.
Overcoming his fears
He lived locked up for many years and was even afraid to step on the grass, but now he is a very happy and playful bear.
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary
Bolik resides at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania. It is the biggest brown bear sanctuary in the world, home to over 100 brown bears who were living miserably in captivity. Many of them were kept in cages near restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, near cottages and gas stations as tourist attractions.
They now enjoy 69 hectares of coniferous forests located near Brasov and are free to roam and form bonds with fellow bears.
Meet Mocka at Kids Saving the Rainforest
Name: Mocka
Age: 8 months
Sex: Female
Animal: Lesser anteater
Location: Kids Saving the Rainforest
Who is Mocka?
Mocka has an adventurous spirit and uses her tongue - which is over 16 inches long - to look for ants in every crook and crevice she sees. Her favourite thing to do is eat, and she loves her smoothies. Mocka is very playful and enjoys climbing trees, foraging, and exploring.
A true adventurer
Despite being abandoned at a young age, Mocka is a very adventurous, feisty, and strong anteater. Part of her tail had to be amputated, and she has a heart condition, but she doesn't let anything get to her - especially when it comes to finding her ants.
Kids Saving the Rainforest
Mocka resides at Kids Saving the Rainforest in Costa Rica. Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) was founded by two 9-year-old girls in 1999. Their mission is to protect the diverse wildlife of flora and fauna in Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast with conservation projects.
As well as rescuing and rehabilitating animals, KSTR also works to minimise the causes of why animals need to be rescued with their education program, reforestation project and wildlife bridges project. They implement these projects to protect the wildlife in the community by mitigating the major threats to wildlife in the region.
All the animals that have been shortlisted for this year's Wild Animal Unique Personality Award have their own incredible stories and special characteristics. They are all truly winners in our eyes.
Wild animals are all individuals with unique personalities and traits, and by celebrating those with the world, people can grow their compassion and see the challenges animals face worldwide.
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Unique Wild Animal Personality Award 2022
Find out about the winner and finalists of the Unique Wild Animal Personality Award 2022, celebrating the distinctive personalities of wild animals.