Leonardo DiCaprio and Ricky Gervais honoured for animal welfare work

Leonardo DiCaprio and Ricky Gervais have been honoured by bosses at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for their animals rights activism.

The stars have been named among the recipients of the 2015 Genesis Award, a prize which is handed out annually to celebrities who raise awareness of animal welfare issues, along with director Kathryn Bigelow, documentary maker Morgan Spurlock and TV hosts Jon Stewart and Bill Maher.

DiCaprio was specifically recognised for producing the documentary Virunga, about endangered gorillas in the African national park, while Gervais was honoured for raising awareness of animals issues through social media.

Gervais writes in a post on Facebook.com, "I am touched and honoured to have won a 2015 Genesis Award for my online animal campaigning. Thanks Humane Society."