Imagine spending decades studying an animal that much of the world fears.
Now imagine continuing that work after surviving a life-threatening encounter while trying to better understand and protect that very species.
For Mexican marine biologist Mauricio Hoyos Padilla, that commitment has defined much of his career. It is also one of the reasons he was recently recognized as a recipient of the 2026 National Geographic/Buffett Award for Leadership in Conservation. Announced by the National Geographic Society in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the award honors conservation leaders working in Africa and Latin America who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to protecting biodiversity, mentoring future conservationists and inspiring environmental stewardship within their communities and beyond. This year’s recipients are Dr. Mauricio Hoyos Padilla and Nigerian conservation ecologist Dr. Iroro Tanshi; while their work focuses on very different animals and ecosystems, both scientists share a common goal: protecting species that are often overlooked while building stronger relationships between science and the people most connected to those environments.
For Hoyos Padilla, that journey began with a fascination for sharks. “As a child, I was profoundly influenced by the movie Jaws. However, instead of seeing an
oversized animal portrayed as a serial killer of humans, I became fascinated by the
creature itself,” he explained via e-mail. “That mechanical shark, which only vaguely resembled a real white shark, sparked my curiosity about the remarkable design that nature had achieved in creating a marine animal perfectly adapted to be the ultimate predator. I began learning everything I could about sharks using the resources available to me at the time (toys, books and magazines). Gradually, that fascination evolved.” Over the last three decades, he has become one of the most influential shark researchers and conservation advocates in Latin America. As co-founder of Pelagios Kakunjá and chief scientist of Fins Attached, he has led shark-tagging expeditions throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean and helped reveal new insights into shark behavior. Among his most notable contributions is research documenting deep-water hunting behaviors in sharks that were previously unknown to science. These discoveries have helped researchers better understand how sharks use their environment and interact with marine ecosystems. His work has also resulted in more than 100 scientific publications, management manuals for marine protected areas and a comprehensive book focused on great white sharks.
But scientific discoveries alone rarely save species. One of the most important aspects of Hoyos Padilla’s career is his recognition that conservation requires more than data — it requires communication, collaboration and public trust. Throughout his career, he has delivered hundreds of public lectures and appeared in numerous documentaries, helping audiences see sharks as more than just “mindless predators.” “Thanks to advances in technology and scientific research, we have gained a far better understanding of sharks and moved away from the misconceptions that once defined them,” he said. “We now know that sharks are the ones under threat, that many species face serious conservation challenges, and that their role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems is essential.” Sharks sit near the top of marine food webs and by influencing the behavior and abundance of other species, they help maintain ecological balance throughout ocean ecosystems. When shark populations decline, the effects can ripple through entire food webs in ways scientists are still working to fully understand. At a time when biodiversity loss continues to accelerate across the globe, stories like this one remind us that conservation is ultimately a human endeavor.
In September 2025, Hoyos Padilla’s dedication became especially clear when he survived a life-threatening incident during a scientific dive. “That day, my objective was to tag a large female Galapagos shark. As soon as I spotted her, I deployed the tagging device, and she reacted by biting me on the head, severing my air hoses and damaging my mask. Without air and unable to see, I remember that what ultimately kept me alive was the overwhelming realization that I could become part of the narrative that portrays sharks as man-eating killers,” he recounted. “I held on to the small chance of survival and drew upon all my love and passion for these animals as I swam toward the surface. If sharks truly became uncontrollably aggressive at the sight of human blood, I would have been the easiest possible prey. I could not see, and I was swimming in a straight line toward the surface. Yet the female shark did not pursue me. After a single bite — which I believe was a defensive response — she simply let me be. In that moment, I realized how different sharks are from the image we have created of them.” For many people, such an experience might have marked the end of a career. But this experience only reinforced his belief that understanding sharks is the key to overcoming fear
and protecting them.
And it felt a bit like a full-circle moment for him when he received the e-mail saying he had been awarded this honor in the exact location where he survived this life-threatening encounter with a shark. “It was a huge challenge to get back into the water and ‘get back on the horse.’ But I did not want to develop PTSD related to the incident, so I wanted to face the situation as soon as possible. Before the dive, I experienced a mild panic attack, but my love for sharks gave me the strength to jump in. That night, I checked my email and, when I saw the subject line, I initially thought it was some kind of spam.”
The National Geographic Society has spent more than a century supporting explorers, scientists and storytellers who help people better understand the world around them. By recognizing leaders like Hoyos Padilla and Tanshi, the organization is reminding us that protecting the future of wildlife requires investing in the people willing to fight for it. That is especially true for researchers in countries that science has labeled as “developing.” “Scientists from Latin America often bring a perspective shaped by working directly in regions where biodiversity is exceptionally rich, but where resources for research and conservation can be limited. This reality fosters creativity, adaptability, and a strong ability to find solutions with fewer resources while still generating impactful science,” he says. “Another perspective that is sometimes overlooked is our close connection with local and coastal communities. Conservation in Latin America often depends on building trust and collaboration with people whose livelihoods are directly linked to the ocean, like fishermen and tourism operators. As a result, many Latin American scientists learn to integrate scientific knowledge with local experience, cultural traditions, and community needs.”
Hoyos Padilla says winning this award brings much-needed awareness to the fundamental role sharks play in sustaining marine ecosystems, and awareness is the catalyst for decisive action. He also hopes it inspires Latin American students: “I hope Latin American students understand that if I was able to achieve this, they can too. I do not possess extraordinary abilities that set me apart from others.”
He believes that the next generation of scientists will have to contend with significant human induced impacts that will influence how they assess the natural behavior and distribution of many species. As environmental conditions continue to shift, distinguishing between natural patterns and those driven by human activities will become increasingly challenging. But he also believes that the ocean will teach them what it has taught him: patience, humility, resilience, discipline, adaptability, and respect. “In many ways, sharks embody those same qualities. Their success over more than 400 million years is rooted in their strength, adaptability, resilience, and ability to evolve with changing conditions. Perhaps their greatest lesson is that to survive you must keep moving forward.”
