WCS Applauds Afghanistan's Declaration Establishing Entire Wakhan District as the Country's Second National Park New Conservation Area Will Protect Rare Wildlife, Including Snow Leopards, And Provide Livelihoods for Some of the World’s Poorest Communities Living in the Park Local Communities Will Play a Key Role in Co-Managing the Park Huge New Protected Area is About 25 Percent Bigger Than Yellowstone National ParkNew York (April 2, 2014) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the Afghan...

After many years of hard work and trial and error, real successes are being seen in snow leopard conservation, in the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan and in northern Pakistan, among other places, as communities come together to manage their land and wildlife, and neighboring countries find ways to cooperate across borders. WCS Asia Program deputy director Peter Zahler and George Schaller, WCS senior conservationist and Panthera VP, explain.

Dainty but tough, demoiselle cranes add a touch of elegance to the zoo’s rugged outdoorsBrooklyn, N.Y. – Jan. 8, 2014 – ATTACHED PHOTO: A demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo) takes in his surroundings at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo. The Prospect Park Zoo is now home to three demoiselle cranes, a migratory bird native to eastern Asia and northern Africa. French for “young lady,” demoiselle was the name given to these birds by Queen Marie Antoinette, who described the sp...

Twins are on exhibit in Allison Maher Stern Snow Leopard ExhibitDownload b-roll video here: HD Snow Leopard Cubs at Central Park Zoo.movNew York – Nov. 4, 2013 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo is debuting a pair of snow leopard cubs (Panthera uncia). These are the first snow leopard cubs ever born at the Central Park Zoo and the second snow leopard birth at a WCS zoo this year.The cubs, a male and a female, born this summer, weigh about 30 pounds but are expected to reach b...

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...

A famous snow leopard produces his first offspring at the Bronx Zoo. The rambunctious cub serves as living proof of the positive influence wildlife conservation can have in the world of diplomacy. 

Cub is on exhibit at Himalayan HighlandsLeo’s rescue result of partnership between Pakistan and U.S. GovernmentsCub is genetically important to zoo populationSee the video >>Bronx, N.Y. — August 27, 2013 — The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is debuting a snow leopard cub sired by Leo – the snow leopard which became famous when he was rescued as an young orphaned cub after being found in the high mountains of northern Pakistan. Leo has been serving as an ambassador for Pakistan...

Snow leopard, wild yak, Tibetan antelope, gazelles, and other species impacted NEW YORK (July 24, 2013) — A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Snow Leopard Trust reveals a disturbing link between the cashmere trade and the decay of ecosystems that support some of the planet’s most spectacular yet little-known large mammals. The study finds that as pastoralists expand goat herds to increase profits for the cashmere trade in Western markets, wildlife icons from the Tibeta...

A new study by WCS reveals that the proliferation of the cashmere garment industry poses dangers to wildlife, including snow leopards, wild yak, Tibetan antelope, gazelles, and kiang, pictured here.

WCS recently celebrated a groundbreaking achievement: collaring snow leopards for the first time in Afghanistan. USA Today reports on this effort--documented by National Geographic--and the larger challenges facing big cats around the world.