WCS and partners recommend focusing on carcasses rather than live animals for samples NEW YORK (May 16, 2012)—Response efforts to outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Africa can benefit from a standardized sampling strategy that focuses on the carcasses of gorillas, chimpanzees, and other species known to succumb to the virus, according to a consortium of wildlife health experts. In a recently published study of 14 previous human Ebola outbreaks and the responses of wildlife teams collecting...

A study finds evidence that bushmeat (including these straw-colored fruit bats) illegally imported into the country by air can contain and spread pathogens from wildlife to humans, and establishes the importance of tracking diseases associated with the illegal wildlife trade at U.S. ports.

Experts from UC Berkeley, the Harvard University Center for the Environment, and the Wildlife Conservation Society find powerful connection between wildlife access and prevention of critical childhood nutritional deficiencies in Madagascar NEW YORK (November 21, 2011) —For the first time, researchers have uncovered a powerful connection between loss of access to wildlife and micronutrient deficiencies in children, according to a recently published study by the University of California-Berke...

NEW YORK (May 12, 2011)—The Wildlife Conservation Society and other organizations released a new study recommending a disease screening program for farm-raised caiman in ranching facilities in Argentina to ensure the safety of people and wildlife alike.   The recommendations focus on two crocodilian species, the yacare caiman and broad-snouted caiman, both of which are reared in caiman ranches for sustainable harvest. The research team sought to assess the presence of potentially harmful bacter...

From understanding Ebola in Central Africa to using medicinal plants in Bolivia, local communities are emerging as key partners in fighting diseases shared by humans and wildlife WCS health officials presented findings at this week’s OIE Global Conference on Wildlife: “Animal Health and Biodiversity—Preparing for the Future” PARIS, FRANCE (February 25, 2011)—Wildlife health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said they are increasingly relying on th...

SAVE THE DATE: February 23-25, 2011 Conference addresses management approaches to health risks to humans and animals Who:   Dr. Robert Cook, Executive Vice President and General Director of WCS’s Living Institutions. Dr. Cook will discuss the role of zoological conservation organizations in the health of wildlife.   Dr. Alain Ondzie, Field Veterinarian, WCS-Global Health Program. Ondzie will discuss efforts to monitor and mitigate the threat of Ebola viruses to wildl...

Save the Date: February 14-16, 2011 Event Promotes Human/Animal Health and Global Survival Who:   Dr. Steven Osofsky, Director of Wildlife Health Policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society; Dr. Osofsky will discuss how current international policies related to livestock disease control and trade constrain southern Africa’s new vision for transboundary wildlife conservation, and will explore ‘win-win’ policy solutions.    Where:Melbourne Convention Centre1 Convention Cent...

WCS helps launch an open-access database that will enable governments and health agencies to track emerging diseases around the globe.

Open-access website uses technology to merge wildlife and human health surveillance NEW YORK (February 9, 2011)— Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston, the University of California at Davis, EcoHealth Alliance, and other members of PREDICT have publicly launched a web-based, open-access map to help governments and health agencies track emerging infectious diseases across the world. Announced at this week’s International...

For a quarter century, the WCS Wildlife Health Center has provided healthcare for all animals within WCS’s New York City parks and served as headquarters for our wildlife health work in countries across the globe.