Photograph documents first record of an oncilla in Madidi National Park NEW YORK (November 29, 2012) — A photograph taken by Wildlife Conservation Society scientists of a little known Bolivian cat species called an oncilla has won a BBC Wildlife camera-trap photo competition. The photo, which won the New Discoveries category, documents the first-known occurrence of this extremely rare spotted cat in Madidi National Park. The Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) occurs across the Amazon and al...

Department of Wildlife and National Parks and WCS  spearhead effort to protect remaining elephants on peninsula Workshop to be held at the Institute of Biological Diversity, Krau Wildlife Reserve: November 29—December 1, 2012 NEW YORK (November 28, 2012)—Saving the Asian elephant in Malaysia will be the focus of an upcoming workshop at the Institute of Biological Diversity in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Malaysia (from November 29-December 1, 2012), accordi...

Turtle populations evaluated in New York City’s only freshwater riverSurvey and assessment is a collaboration with WCS, the Bronx River Alliance, New York Botanical Garden, and the NYC Parks DepartmentBronx River research is made possible by continued support from Congressman José E. Serrano and funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationVideo available here: http://youtu.be/ewzcGNdBsAs Bronx, NY – Nov. 28, 2012 – Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Z...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted an event on wildlife trafficking, with a panel moderated by WCS CEO, Dr. Cristián Samper. Dr. Samper also released a statement reiterating the need to advance initiatives that will halt wildlife trafficking.

Farmers in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia grow vegetables with a rural development model linking agriculture and local markets to natural resource management. WCS's COMACO business model rewards farmers with increased commodity prices for adopting improved land management and farming practices that can sustain higher food crop yields while reducing potential conflicts with natural resources.

Nov. 2, 2012CONTACT: MARY DIXON, mdixon@wcs.org, 347-840-1242 (texts and emails are best) From Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquarium, Director of the Bronx Zoo:We have restored power to three-quarters of the exhbits and holding quarters at the aquarium. Work progresses in restoring power to the last large exhibit building at WCS’s New York Aquarium, Explore the Shore. Progress to restore this power is slower than we anticipated due to the adverse conditions and extensive...

WCS and partner organizations have issued a new report emphasizing paramount threats to wildlife in Southern Africa. Illegal hunting, the bushmeat trade, and unselective snaring are compromising already-fragile species.

Lions, cheetah, leopard, and wild dog particularly vulnerable Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states take first steps to tackle looming conservation crisis View the report>> JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (October 25, 2012) – A recent report says illegal hunting of wildlife in South African Development Community (SADC) states can lead to the eradication of many species across extensive areas a...

Hatching of bird species is a significant husbandry success Fewer than 40 crested couas live in U.S. zoos Bronx, NY – Oct. 22, 2012 – ATTACHED PHOTO: A rare crested coua chick is hand-reared in an off-exhibit area at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo. The chick displays the markings on the inside of its mouth as it prepares to receive food from its caretaker. These markings are unique for each individual chick and fade as the bird matures. The marki...

First range-wide study of bowhead whale genetics finds much genetic diversity lost during age of commercial whaling Canadian pack ice no barrier to ice-savvy bowheads crossing between oceans NEW YORK (October 18, 2012)—Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, City University of New York, and other organizations have published the first range-wide genetic analysis of the bowhead whale using hundreds of samples from both modern populations...