Castillo Award for Crocodile Conservation

A gift of a handsome handmade silver pitcher was made to the Crocodile Specialist Group by Mrs. Lily Castillo and her family of Guerrero and Mexico City in 2001. The Castillo family have been prominent artisans and artists in metals for three generations and their work is widely sought by collectors. Their pieces include a fishing award for US President Lyndon Johnson, chalices used for the Pope’s visit to USA in 1987 and a silver cross and frame in the Vatican. Their work combines traditional silver work and pre-Hispanic motifs.

The pitcher donated to the CSG is 21 cm high, with a 20 cm base, and with a handle shaped as a crocodile. After consultation with Mrs. Castillo it was agreed to award this pitcher at each biennial CSG Working Meeting as a prize for significant contributions to crocodilian conservation. Nominations for the prize are sought from members of the CSG Steering Committee for consideration by the CSG Executive Committee, prior to announcement of the winner at each Working Meeting.

Recipients of the Castillo Award to date are: John Thorbjarnarson (Gainesville, USA, 2002); Jenny Daltry (Darwin, Australia, 2004); Merlijn van Weerd (Montelimar, France, 2006); Zilca Campos (Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2008); Robinson Botero-Arias (Manaus, Brazil, 2010); Matt Shirley (Manila, Philippines, 2012); Steve Platt (Lake Charles, USA, 2014); Alison Leslie (Skukuza, South Africa, 2016); Proyecto Yacare (Santa Fe, Argentina, 2018); Jeff Lang (Chetumal, Mexico, 2022); and, Ruth Elsey (Darwin, Australia, 2024).