What to know about the Indianapolis Zoo’s 2026 Uproar Conservation Challenge voting, funding and events
A new public voting program tied to conservation grants
The Indianapolis Zoo is running the Uproar Conservation Challenge, a public, bracket-style online vote intended to increase attention on threatened wildlife and channel funding to conservation work. The Zoo describes the initiative as a new program built with international conservation partners and focused on species that are considered at risk, including animals, plants and fungi.
Voting is scheduled to run from March 16 through April 3, 2026. During that period, the public can vote in head-to-head matchups as species advance through rounds toward a single overall champion.
How the money is distributed
The Zoo has stated it will distribute more than $50,000 in conservation funding tied to this year’s challenge. A key feature of the structure is that “no species leaves empty-handed,” meaning the represented species are connected to funding support beyond only the eventual winner.
One species will be named the Uproar champion and is expected to trigger a $10,000 grand prize directed to the relevant Species Specialist Group working on that species’ conservation.
When and where the in-person finale happens
The challenge is set to culminate with an on-site “Celebration for Conservation” event at the Indianapolis Zoo on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m., on the Zoo’s Colts Plaza. The Zoo has said the event is free for Zoo members and included with general admission.
Noon: The event begins, with games listed to include basketball, corn hole and bucket toss.
2–3 p.m.: The Zoo plans a live announcement of the winning species.
5 p.m.: The Zoo closes and the event concludes.
The Zoo’s stated goal is to “spark curiosity, inspire learning and mobilize action” around lesser-known species that play important ecological roles.
Which species are included and why the list stands out
The 2026 lineup spans a broad range of life, reflecting the Zoo’s framing that conservation priorities extend beyond charismatic megafauna. The published roster includes mammals and birds such as the African penguin, mountain tapir and vaquita porpoise, as well as reptiles and amphibians such as the Javan rhino and Nubian flapshell turtle. It also includes invertebrates, fungi and plants—examples include lichens, slime molds, beetles and specialized plants.
Two Indiana-connected entries are included: the Hoosier cave fish and the Indiana sooty-spored freshwater fungus, placing local biodiversity alongside global species.
Practical takeaways for Indianapolis-area residents
The core participation mechanism is online voting during the March 16–April 3 window.
The April 4 finale is structured as a public, family-oriented event within regular Zoo admission policies.
The funding component is built into the competition’s design, with a defined grand prize and additional support tied to all participating species.