(Bangalore, India (05/18/17) –Spatial capture-recapture model analysis is often used to estimate tiger abundance. A new study led by Dr. Robert Dorazio of the United States Geological Survey, and co-authored by WCS’s Dr.Ullas Karanth, however, finds that dates and times of animal detections are often not factored into the analysis. This is despite the fact that this data is available when using “continuous-time” recorders such as camera-traps.

May 17, 2017 – WCS scientists have discovered a refuge for corals where the environment protects otherwise sensitive species to the increasing severity of climate change. The bad news is that the reefs are showing signs of being overfished and weak compliance with local fisheries laws needs to be reversed to maintain the fish that help to keep reefs healthy. 

May 17, 2017 – Recent WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) Queens Zoo surveys of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), translocated to Belize’s Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 25 years ago reveal that the effort has been a great success, with monkeys now thriving throughout the reserve after going locally extinct 40 years ago.

Coney Island, NY – May 16, 2017 – The votes are in and the people have spoken! The three winning designs for the new Education Hall mural along the Coney Island Boardwalk have been chosen. Each will install their mural on the boardwalk during the week of World Oceans Day, June 8.

WASHINGTON (May 15, 2017) – WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) raised concerns about a Department of the Interior order last week that could reopen offshore seismic testing for oil and gas in parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The directive follows an executive order that encouraged increased offshore oil and gas development, including seismic surveys, and reverses an Obama Administration order in January that denied such survey permits.

(Bangalore, May 15, 2017) A new WCS study finds that leopards are abundant in tea-garden landscapes in north-eastern India, but that their mere presence does not lead to conflicts with people. 

BRONX, NEW YORK – May 12, 2017 – Six American bison calves have been born at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Bronx Zoo and four of them are now on exhibit on the zoo’s Bison Range. The calves will help the Bronx Zoo further bison conservation efforts. The calves were born to a herd of seven females and one male that arrived at the zoo from Ft. Peck, Montana in November 2016. The herd was an historic gift from the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes and was significant because the Fort Peck bison are from the Yellowstone National Park bloodline, and are among the few pure bison remaining. The vast majority of present-day bison have trace amounts of domestic cattle genes, a reflection of past interbreeding efforts when western ranchers tried to create a hardier breed of cattle. 

KAMPALA, Uganda (May 11, 2017) – Scientists in Uganda studying the behaviors of the country’s famous tree-climbing lions have found that the home ranges of lion prides in the study areas have increased over time as they search farther for diminishing numbers of prey animals.

 

Sre Ambel, Koh Kong Province (May 10, 2017) – After being protected for three months, nine new Cambodian Royal Turtles have successfully hatched and were taken to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, Koh Kong Province for feeding, raising, and possibly breeding in the future.

MAY 10, 2017 – A new elite team of WCS-trained wildlife rangers in Tanzania graduated on May 6th and will be deployed in the Ruaha-Katavi Landscape, which harbors East Africa's largest elephant population. Ruaha-Katavi now has three such elite units to fight poachers.