WCS-led satellite tracking study charts humpback whale movements and identifies overlap with offshore ocean industries Half of monitored animals unexpectedly travel north of coastal Gabon, perhaps toward an unknown breeding ground for humpbacks NEW YORK (February 5, 2014)—Scientists with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Oregon State University, Stanford University, Columbia University, and the American Museum of Natural History have found that humpback whales swimming off the coast of western...

Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Executive Director of Conservation Policy, spoke today at the special civil society session of the United Nation’s Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals: “The Rio+20 ‘The Future We Want’ outcome document, in para. 203, recognizes the economic, social and environmental impacts of trafficking in wildlife, and the importance of effective international cooperation among relevant international organizations. The SDGs can now help turn that into reality...

Every two years, the Indianapolis Prize is awarded to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to conservation. This year, WCS’s Joel Berger is one of six finalists for his conservation work for large mammals, like the muskoxen pictured above.

Six Heroes Now Vie for Quarter of a Million Dollars in World’s Leading Award for Animal Conservation (INDIANAPOLIS-January 30, 2014)— Joel Berger, Ph.D., is one of six exceptional conservationists advancing as a finalist for the 2014 Indianapolis Prize, the world's leading award for animal conservation. Selected from a group of 39 nominees, Berger is in the running for $250,000 along with Gerardo Ceballos, Ph.D.; Carl Jones, Ph.D.; Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D.; Carl Safina, Ph.D.; and Patricia ...

WCS congratulates Hong Kong’s Government for sending strong anti-poaching message NEW YORK (January 28, 2014) – The Wildlife Conservation Society congratulates Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department’s Endangered Species Advisory Committee for announcing last week they will destroy their stockpile of approximately 30 metric tons of confiscated ivory. The announcement is seen as a major step in the effort to protect elephants from the ravages of ivory poaching. Hong Kong ...

The U.S.’s confusing web of ivory trade laws remains easy to manipulate—and helps keep New York City as one of the world’s largest ivory markets.

WCS applauds appropriations bill that grows key conservation funding accounts and will help address elephant poaching crisis Support for USAID, GEF, and Dept. of the Interior programs is preserved Washington, DC – January 17, 2014 – The Wildlife Conservation Society hailed the omnibus Fiscal Year 2014 spending bill passed this week by Congress, which maintains key conservation accounts and creates a new funding source to combat wildlife trafficking while ensuring budgetary stability over the ne...

January 16, 2014 Good afternoon. My name is Elizabeth Bennett. I am the Vice President for Species Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today regarding the plight of African elephants due to demand for ivory, and the actions that New York State can take to improve their conservation status in the wild. My background is that I have spent 30 years working in wildlife conservation, from long-term field research on wildlife and h...

WCS applauds the Parliament’s wide-ranging wildlife crime resolution condemning illegal elephant killing and other illegal trafficking activities Resolution calls on E.U. Member States to introduce moratoria on all trade in ivory products until wild elephant populations are no longer threatened by illegal killing Brussels – 15 January, 2014 – The European Parliament took powerful action against illegal elephant killing through the passage of a groundbreaking resolution on wildlife trafficking th...

Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation Will Examine Effectiveness of New York Restrictions on Ivory Sales Hearing will take place Thursday, January 16, in Manhattan New York is the largest market for ivory in the U.S. 96 Elephants are killed every day by ivory poachers NEW YORK (January 14, 2013) – The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation announced a public hearing on ways to improve the effectiveness of the state’s laws and regulations prot...