WASHINGTON (June 20, 2012) — Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Programs approved an FY13 appropriations bill that would slash critical funding for some of the world’s most threatened species, including rhinos, tigers, elephants, great apes, and marine turtles. The subcommittee mark up of the bill recommends a cut of 21 percent below the FY12 enacted level for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) programs. Among the conservation programs that wo...

“Alternative B” Best Protects Fragile Wildlife Habitats around Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok River Uplands and Other Key Areas NEW YORK (June 19, 2012) – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) delivered public comments to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on its Draft Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska (NPR-A).In the comments, WCS recommended “Alternative B,” which balances the need for ...

No elephants are immune from increased poaching in the Republic of Congo. WCS advocates doubling the number of guards monitoring the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and surrounding areas, one of the few safe havens where elephant numbers have remained stable.

NEW YORK (June 7, 2012)—The loss of 5,000 forest elephants to poachers in northern Republic of Congo over the past five years makes protected areas for Africa’s dwindling wildlife more important than ever, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Conservationists recommend that guard strength in northern Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, where elephant numbers have remained stable, should be doubled immediately to protect the park’s estimated 2,300 individuals. In addition, protecti...

Gland, Switzerland, 5 June, 2012 (IUCN) — Increasing alarm for the fate of the two rarest rhinoceros species, and growing concern over the increased illegal hunting of rhinos and demand for rhino horn affecting all five species, has prompted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia to declare 5 June 2012 as the start of the International Year of the Rhino. President Yudhoyono took this step at the request of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and other conservation orga...

Flushing, N.Y. – June 4, 2012 – Look out Wile E. Coyote – the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo is now home to a greater roadrunner, an avian species known for having the fastest running speed of any flighted bird. “It is very exciting to announce the arrival of this amazing animal," said Scott Silver, Director of the Queens Zoo. “This is a very popular exhibit here at the zoo for the many people who grew up watching the famous Roadrunner cartoon. Seeing an actual roadrunner in person ...

Cultural organizations, including The Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, are economic engines for NYC Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium face a cut of 58% in city funding Video: “A Bronx Zoo Monkey Gets an iPad” features a tiny monkey urging people to support restoration of funding View the full video at: http://youtu.be/HXtM97uQtAo Visit www.wcs.org/cityhall to sign the petition New York – June 1, 2012 – The Wildlife Conservation Society released a homemade video called “A Bronx Zoo Monk...

Coquerel’s sifaka and collared lemur join the Bronx Zoo’s Madagascar! exhibit View the videos at: http://youtu.be/psckL953QZM (sifaka) http://youtu.be/YbX1XGC5_UE (collared lemur) Bronx, NY – June 1, 2012 – ATTACHED PHOTOS: A Coquerel’s sifaka, born this spring, clings to its mother’s back as she perches on a branch in the Madagascar! exhibit at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. A collared lemur, also born this spring, curls up to its mother as...

Coalition Launches Campaign to Make North American Bison the National Mammal of the United StatesSenator Michael Enzi and Senator Tim Johnson introduce the National Bison Legacy Act Public urged to take action at www.votebison.org BOZEMAN, MT (May 25, 2012)— The Wildlife Conservation Society, Intertribal Buffalo Council, and National Bison Association today announced the launch of a campaign to make the North American bison the national mammal of the United States. The announcement coincides ...

More Than 10 Million Sold Since September Debut Stamps May Be Purchased at Post Offices Nationwide and USPS.com Fiscally Responsible Bill Supported by Senate International Conservation Caucus Co-Chairs WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2011) – The Wildlife Conservation Society applauded today’s Senate introduction of a bill to reauthorize the Save Vanishing Species postage stamp.The stamp features an illustration of a tiger cub and supports efforts to save species like elephants, tigers, and great ape...