11 Facts About Idelisa Bonnelly

Idelisa Bonnelly de Calventi was a Dominican marine biologist who is considered the "mother of marine conservation in the Caribbean".

Idelisa Bonnelly was the founder of the study of biology in the Dominican Republic, as well as the founder of the Institute of Marine Biology and the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research.

Idelisa Bonnelly was instrumental in the creation of the first Humpback Whale Sanctuary of the North Atlantic and has won numerous awards, including induction into the UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour, UNESCO's Marie Curie Medal and the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella.

Idelisa Bonnelly Peralta was born on 10 September 1931 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Idelisa Bonnelly went on to attain a master's degree from New York University in 1961.

In 1974, Idelisa Bonnelly founded the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic and began publishing works which became widely influential for those managing and concerned with conservation of marine resources.

Idelisa Bonnelly became a Professor Meritorious at in 1990 and in 1991 she created the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research, an institution which coordinates the marine management plan, studies marine life and the coral reef, and manages the Marine Mammal Sanctuary.

That same year, Idelisa Bonnelly joined the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World and served in the First General Assembly.

Idelisa Bonnelly continued publishing and her works have been utilized for influencing marine and coastal Environmental Law.

Idelisa Bonnelly was made an academic laureate of the Academy of Sciences in 2007, received a National Ecology Award from the Fundacion Corripio in 2008, and was awarded the Marie Curie Medal from UNESCO in 2009.

Idelisa Bonnelly died on 3 July 2022 at the age of 90.