New York, December 20, 2024 – The Wildlife Conservation Society releases its ten favorite wildlife images of 2024, highlighting amazing wildlife stories.

Five of the images come from WCS’s zoos and aquarium in New York, and five images are from WCS Global taken by WCS staff working around the world.

WCS operates five wildlife parks in New York City, the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo, and works in over 50 countries saving wildlife and wild places.

Visit our website to learn more about our favorite images.

Zoos and Aquarium Cutlines:

Matschie's Tree kangaroo and joey: Here is a Matschie’s tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei) and joey making their first appearance at the Bronx Zoo. The joey, which was born at the end of December, emerged its head from its mother's pouch to make its public debut. This is the second of its species born at the Bronx Zoo and to this female since 2021. Credit: Terria Clay/©WCS

Sea otters: Two female Southern sea otters debuted at the New York Aquarium. Both adults were rescued off the coast of California at young ages and were deemed non-releasable as pups. They have been cared for at other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited aquariums prior to arriving at the New York Aquarium, where they now reside in the Sea Cliffs exhibit. The New York Aquarium has provided a home for 11 rescued sea otters since 1991. Credit: Terria Clay/©WCS

Atlantic puffling: An Atlantic puffin chick hatched this summer has now been fully integrated with the rest of the colony in the Central Park Zoo Polar Zone. The Central Park Zoo is one of seven Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions to exhibit Atlantic puffins. Breeding this species is important to the population's sustainability. Credit: ©WCS

Andean bear cubs: A male Andean bear cub with his/her mom at Queens Zoo. Three 5-month-old Andean bear cubs debuted at the Queens Zoo in June, marking a rare occurrence as Andean bears typically only have one or two cubs at a time. Credit: Terria Clay/©WCS

Red panda: A red panda at the Prospect Park Zoo which reopened to the public on May 25, 2024, after being closed for 239 days due to flooding from Hurricane Ophelia on Sept. 29, 2023. Credit: ©WCS

WCS Global Cutlines:

Elephant: Few forest elephants have names, but this is Pablo, a young adult male with an insatiable curiosity for humans. He regularly roams around Mondika, a gorilla research and habituation site in the heart of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo. He comes to sniff the clothes drying along the river, or simply to observe the researchers who now know him very well. On this particular day, Pablo is attracted by the scent of cooking and wanders under a bush, wading along the banks of the river, which reflects the light of the falling sun onto him. Credit: ©Will Burrard-Lucas/WCS

Cauca guan bird: ​The Cauca guan is native to Colombia where WCS Colombia supports its conservation. This year, Colombia hosted the bi-annual UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in the city of Cali. As a country, Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and it served as an exceptional host, reminding us we need to make ‘Peace With Nature.’ Credit: ©WCS

Tigers: These are tigers photographed by camera traps in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM). There’s been a 250 percent increase in tiger numbers in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex over a 15-year period from 2007 to 2023. Credit: ©WCS

Hippos: These are hippos in Tanzania’s Katavi National Park, the 3rd largest park in the country, marking its 50th anniversary. It features well-developed Miombo Woodland and seasonally inundated pans—areas that provide refuge to spectacular concentrations of hippos and buffalo. Credit: ©Aaron Nicholas/WCS Tanzania

North Atlantic right whale: A North Atlantic right whale in the Hudson Canyon, the largest submarine canyon along the US's Atlantic Coast located about 100 miles southeast of New York City. North Atlantic right whales are considered Critically Endangered and the WCS Ocean Giants Program does extensive research in the NY Bight to provide the science needed to protect this marine species in the area and their habitat. Read more on what we’re doing to protect the Hudson Canyon here. Credit: ©Howard Rosenbaum/WCS Ocean Giants Program/Activities conducted pursuant to NMFS ESA/MMPA Permit No. 27057

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