Washington, DC – September 9, 2013 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s President and CEO Cristián Samper today issued a statement following a White House Forum to Counter Wildlife Trafficking. At the event, Samper was named one of eight members of the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking. The council was established by a Presidential Executive Order in July. It is tasked with making recommendations to the administration and providing it with ongoing advice and assistance on the issue...

UN-REDD and Code REDD to host dialogue on private sector engagement in REDD+18 September 2013, NEW YORK WHAT: On Wednesday 18 September, the UN-REDD Programme, in collaboration with Code REDD, Wildlife Works and the Wildlife Conservation Society, will convene leaders from the private, public and civil society sectors to discuss synergies for delivering REDD+ at a scale for sustainable development, and to reflect on five years of the UN-REDD Programme.This “REDD+ Talks: NYC” event will provi...

Two sea lions rescued in Oregon debut at Queens Zoo Two sea lions stranded along California coast make a big splash in Prospect Park Zoo Sea lion pup born at Bronx Zoo  B-Roll of Bronx Zoo sea lion pup available here >> New York, N.Y.  —  September 3, 2013 — The Wildlife Conservation Society’s zoos are welcoming the arrival of five new California sea lions. Four of the five were rescued from the wild and the fifth was born at the Bronx Zoo. “We are happy to provi...

New York, N.Y. – Aug. 28, 2013 - Gus, the much-celebrated polar bear at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo, has died. He was 27 years old.Gus was euthanized yesterday while under anesthesia for a medical procedure conducted by WCS veterinarians. Gus had been exhibiting abnormal feeding behavior with low appetite and difficulty chewing and swallowing his food. During the procedure, veterinarians determined Gus had a large, inoperable tumor in his thyroid region. A necropsy wi...

Prize Officials Encourage People to Take Action as More Species are at Risk of Extinction INDIANAPOLIS — Thirty-nine conservationists who have dedicated their lives to saving the Earth’s endangered species have been nominated to receive the biennial Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. The winner of the Prize will receive an unrestricted $250,000 cash award and the Lilly Medal. Five other finalists will each receive $10,000. The nominees’ work spans the globe...

Their name makes them sound tough, but Eastern hellbenders are in need of protection in New York State. The salamanders are facing population decline due to habitat destruction, disease, and pollution.

WCS-led study examines overlooked role fruit-eating crocodilians may play in forest regeneration Berries, legumes, nuts, and grains consumed by crocs and alligators New York, N.Y. — August 21, 2013 — It turns out that alligators do not live on meat alone. Neither do Nile crocodiles. A new study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society says that the American alligator and a dozen other crocodile species enjoy an occasional taste of fruit along with their normal meat-heavy diets of mammals, birds...

Bronx Zoo collaborates with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Buffalo Zoo to save one of the largest salamander species in the world WCS helps re-establish Eastern hellbenders to New York State Watch an underwater video of the release >>Bronx, N.Y. — August 21, 2013 — The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is working to save the Eastern hellbender, one of the world’s largest species of salamander, and has re-introduced 38 animals into streams in western Ne...

In a blog post following her recent trip to Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park, where she observed elephants and met with WCS staff, Chelsea Clinton writes on the urgency of ending the poaching crisis.

A new study shows that Blakiston's fish owls are a clear indicator of the health of the forests, rivers, and salmon populations in Russia’s Far East.