WCS’s New York Aquarium Launches a Joint Venture with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to Better Understand and Minimize Threats to Whales in New York Bight.

By analyzing DNA, scientists from a number of organizations, including WCS, have discovered two distinct blue whale populations in the southeastern Pacific. This information could eventually help inform the most effective protection plan for this endangered species.

(Big Sky, MT – December 18, 2014) –Santa’s helpers are making early deliveries to the Big Sky community, and Big Sky’s bears will wake to find it’s time to adapt to a new diet—namely the berries, grasses, and insects they find in the wild. As part of an effort by Bear Smart Big Sky , a project coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society to reduce human-bear conflicts, deliveries of bear-resistant trash cans were initiated this week and will continue in...

NEW YORK (December 17, 2014) –The Board of Directors of the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas (MCFA) has approved $1 million in support to be granted over the next 5 years to WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) for its Amazon Waters initiative, a major participatory watershed and natural resource management initiative in Amazonas State, Brazil, and Loreto Department, Peru. Amazon Waters aims to protect fisheries, wildlife, and habitats in two major Amazonian watersheds ...

Young seals make move to Manhattan from Brooklyn Harbor seals return to zoo after three years Species can be found in waters surrounding New York City WCS’s New York Seascape Program works locally to save marine species New York, NY – Dec. 16, 2014 – Two young harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) have made their public debut at WCS’s Central Park Zoo. It is the first time since 2011 that the species has been exhibited ...

Hawksbill turtles nesting success jumps more than 200 percent Poaching reduced by 80 percent Anti-poaching and community conservation efforts are paying off NEW YORK (December 10, 2014) – A WCS team in Nicaragua reported today a dramatic increase in nesting of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles including the highest nest counts since a conservation project began there in 2000. The total nest count for hawksbill turtles in the project area in Nicaragua’s P...

European Medicines Agency Will Soon Make Recommendation to European Commission on Use of Diclofenac in Livestock Diclofenac Use is Shown to Endanger Fragile Vulture Populations The Current Approach to Risk Assessment of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals is Flawed BRUSSELS (December 5, 2014) – The use of the veterinary pharmaceutical diclofenac in Spain is placing Europe’s vulture populations at risk and should be banned, according to a paper published by a tea...

NOTE FOR EDITORS: In the U.S., WCS is urging continued federal support to fight wildlife trafficking including a U.S. Senate proposal to direct $55 million from the U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the cause. This is a $10 million increase over a U.S. House proposal to maintain funding at $45 million. WCS also urges President Obama to include the congressionally directed funding, at $55 million, in his FY16 budget request. Take action: Tell your l...

WCS holiday toy drive continues through December 31 Bronx, N.Y. – Dec. 4, 2014 – Animals at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo will receive treats hidden inside holiday-themed enrichment items each weekend in December during the annual Presents to the Animals. *The schedule at the WCS Prospect Park Zoo is: Weekends in December: Dec. 6/7: dingoes-11 a.m.; Pallas’ cats -2:30 p.m. Dec. 13/14: North American river otters-11 a.m.;...

Ice carving week: Friday, Dec. 26 – Wednesday, Dec. 31 Holiday fun includes wildlife ice carving competition, professional carving demonstrations; interactive ice play area; ice displays; and more Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Competition: Sunday, Dec. 28 Bronx, NY – Dec. 4, 2014 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo will be the highlight of the holiday season with the return of the Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Week, presented by Canon. The week-long...