A new initiative involving 20 of the world’s leading conservation organisations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, today issued an unprecedented joint declaration to the G20 calling for urgent action to invest in nature to protect biodiversity, reduce the risk of future pandemics, and safeguard the long-term well-being and security of current and future human generations.

The following statement is from John F. Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President for Public Affairs of the Wildlife Conservation Society in support of the Global Wildlife Trade Biosecurity Act.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) zoos and aquarium today announced plans to reopen the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo on Friday July 24, after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 16. From July 20 to 23, there will be special preview days for WCS members only.

A new study found that animals sampled in the wildlife-trade supply chain bound for human consumption had high proportions of coronaviruses, and that the proportion of positives significantly increases as animals travel from traders, to large markets, to restaurants.