At a ceremony held at Poema del Mar aquarium, attended by more than 250 guests and presided over by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the President of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling, Her Majesty Queen Sofía was recognised for her exemplary lifetime commitment to the protection of nature.
Her Majesty Queen Sofía received the Gorilla Award, the highest distinction bestowed by Loro Parque, on Thursday during a solemn and moving ceremony held at Poema del Mar in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. More than 250 guests — including public authorities, scientists, institutional representatives and Foundation partners — witnessed an event marked by symbolism and environmental commitment.
The event was presided over by the President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, and the President of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling, who accompanied Her Majesty on an evening that underscored the essential role of conservation as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
In his address, President Clavijo stated that the Gorilla Award “represents the understanding that nature conservation is not a distant or abstract task, but a shared responsibility requiring commitment, perseverance and cooperation.” He further emphasised that recognising Her Majesty Queen Sofía “highlights a lifetime characterised by steadfast support for science, environmental education and wildlife protection,” adding that her example “has helped to place biodiversity conservation at the heart of public debate and collective awareness.”
Clavijo highlighted the role of Loro Parque and the Loro Parque Foundation, emphasising that ‘they have successfully managed to combine science, outreach and action in the service of conservation, becoming an international benchmark in the protection of biodiversity’. In this context, he stated that the Canary Islands ‘are a land with unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystems, and protecting the environment is not an option, but an obligation’. He explained that the regional Government is currently updating its Climate Change and Energy Transition legislation and preparing a forthcoming Canary Islands Biodiversity Act, aimed at advancing “a model that integrates environmental protection with sustainable development and guarantees opportunities and wellbeing for future generations.”
Wolfgang Kiessling, President of Loro Parque, recalled the origins of the project alongside his wife Brigitte more than five decades ago and the company’s evolution into an internationally recognised institution. “Today, 54 years later, we all know that Loro Parque has succeeded and is an integral part of the tourism industry,” he remarked, underlining that the group fulfils all the expectations of a modern accredited zoological institution: conservation, education, scientific research, animal welfare, biodiversity and nature protection.Kiessling highlighted that since 1988 the group has placed particular emphasis on environmental protection and, with the support of Loro Parque Fundación since 1994, has promoted decisive projects for the survival of endangered species. “Today marks the culmination of my professional life, presenting our Gorilla Award to Her Majesty Queen Sofía, my dear friend from our youth in Salem, who honours us with her presence,” he said with emotion.
Christoph Kiessling, President of Loro Parque Fundación, described the ceremony as “one of the most significant moments in our Foundation’s history” and expressed profound gratitude for the presence of Her Majesty, “which lends this occasion exceptional significance.”
He recalled that Loro Parque Fundación has supported more than 300 projects in 53 countries, with investment exceeding 30 million US dollars, contributing to saving 18 species from extinction. He further highlighted the Foundation’s scientific leadership in studying the impact of climate change in Macaronesia and announced the launch of the SOFIANet project (Sensing Ocean Frequencies through Integrated Acoustic Network), an initiative designed to strengthen cetacean protection in the Strait of Gibraltar through an integrated acoustic monitoring network, in collaboration with the Queen Sofía Foundation and the University of La Laguna.
Created in 2003 at the initiative of Wolfgang Kiessling, the Gorilla Award recognises individuals who demonstrate exemplary commitment to biodiversity and respect for animals. This year’s award honours the distinguished trajectory of Queen Sofía, whose consistent support for scientific initiatives and animal protection has been a defining feature of her life.
The ceremony concluded with a prolonged ovation and an atmosphere of contained emotion, on a stage in the Deep Sea main hall — a setting symbolising the beauty and fragility of the oceans. The evening reaffirmed the shared commitment of institutions, the scientific community and civil society to placing biodiversity protection at the centre of collective action.
Her Majesty Queen Sofía, Gorilla Award 2024
Her Majesty Queen Sofía has demonstrated unwavering dedication to environmental protection and animal welfare, a vocation dating back to her childhood and consistently reflected throughout her public life. A pioneer in the royal sphere for her involvement in these causes, her institutional agenda has for decades shown sustained support for initiatives aimed at preserving endangered species and protecting marine ecosystems from pollution.
She has actively promoted environmental awareness campaigns, repeatedly stressing the importance of education in reversing the impact of waste, especially plastics, on the ocean and the food chain.
Through her Foundation, established in 1977, she has sponsored and supported numerous environmental and animal welfare initiatives: from agricultural landscape restoration projects to backing organisations combating abuse and abandonment, as well as wildlife conservation efforts, including the protection of emblematic and threatened species. In recent years, her focus has increasingly centred on marine conservation, closely linked to her personal connection with the sea.
Through her distinguished trajectory, her ability to foster alliances, her steadfast support for conservation projects and her public example in favour of nature, Her Majesty Queen Sofía embodies the values that inspire this distinction and the very purpose of the Gorilla Award: to recognise those who leave a positive legacy in the preservation of the natural world.
