WCS commends Indonesian Government for adopting new law prohibiting fishing and trade of manta rays NEW YORK (February 19, 2014)—The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the Government of Indonesia for its recent decision to protect the world’s largest ray species, the giant and reef manta rays, from fishing and trade throughout the country. On 28 January 2014, Indonesia’s Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister declared both the giant manta ray and reef manta ray as protected species under I...

Study authors mull solutions for addressing less support for protected areas and species restrictionsTo access the study click here >> NEW YORK (February 19, 2014)—Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and other groups have found that the fishing villages of Madagascar—a country with little history of natural resource regulation—are generally supportive of fishing regulations, an encouraging finding that bodes well for susta...

Local Land-Use Ordinances Lack Key Components FORT COLLINS (February 19, 2014) – A new study from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Colorado State University (CSU) looks at conservation development (CD) regulations in the western United States and evaluates the degree to which CD is permitted and encouraged by county planning agencies. The study finds that despite strong economic incentives and widespread implementation, several issues currently limit CD’s effectiveness for conserving ...

A Global Crackdown on Wildlife CrimeLondon Declaration Sends Strong Message: Wildlife Trafficking is a Serious Crime on a Global ScaleLondon, Feb. 13, 2014 – The following statement was released today by Dr. John G. Robinson, WCS Chief Conservationist and Executive Vice President of Conservation and Science:“We greatly welcome the London Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade, which today sends a strong message across the globe: Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime, on a global scale, and must...

Carbon credit sale will protect Madagascar's most wildlife-rich forest, support local communities, and fight climate change WCS and Government of Madagascar created the Makira REDD+ Project to prevent the release of 32.5 million metric tons of carbon NEW YORK (February 12, 2014) –The Wildlife Conservation Society announced today that the Government of Madagascar has approved carbon sales with Microsoft and its carbon offset partner, The CarbonNeutral Company, and Zoo Zurich. The carbon credit ...

Authors of landmark 2013 study, coordinated by WCS, show that forest elephant poaching continues apace   65 percent of forest elephants lost between 2002 and 2013New information released at United for Wildlife International Wildlife Trafficking Symposium: February 11-12, 2014 at the Zoological Society of London London (February 12, 2014)—New data from the field in Central Africa shows that between 2002 and 2013, 65 percent of forest elephants were killed. They are being...

John Robinson, our chief conservation officer at WCS, joined The Duke of Cambridge today in London at the United for Wildlife symposium at the Zoological Society of London. John made this announcement below from the dais on behalf of all the partners. If you want to talk to John, who is in London for the symposium, email us and we will get him on the phone: mdixon@wcs.org and ssautner@wcs.org. Please note that this event with The Duke occurred on same day we released updated elephant numbers. Se...

February 12, 2014 The Duke of Cambridge will today join the United for Wildlife organisations at a symposium hosted by the Zoological Society of London to discuss the coordinated international effort that is required to combat the illegal wildlife trade. The United for Wildlife collaboration, under the Presidency of The Duke, has an extensive international field presence and a large network of collaborating institutions. It hopes to use this powerful global alliance to a...

Game-Changing: Plan Includes Marshaling All Federal Agencies to Address Wildlife Crime and a Ban on Trade in Elephant Ivory Washington, DC – February 11, 2014 – The following statement was released today by WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper, who also serves as a member of the United States Advisory Council to the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking:“The United States government committed today its full power behind efforts to end the crime of wildlife trafficking. Wildlife crimi...

Anak Pattanavibool speaks at International Wildlife Trafficking Symposium:February 11-12, 2014 at the Zoological Society of London, Regents Park NEW YORK (February 11, 2014)—A systematic patrol system called the “Smart” program has become a vital component in the protection of tigers, elephants, and other wildlife species in the forests of Thailand, according to scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society at a wildlife trafficking symposium in London this week. Implemented in 2005 in Tha...