The government of Madagascar has officially created Makira Natural Park, the nation’s largest protected area and a haven for lemurs. Having vied for this safeguard for more than a decade, WCS applauds this watershed moment in the country’s history.

Wildlife Conservation Society commends Madagascar for creation of Makira Natural Park  New park contains 20 lemur species NEW YORK (August 17, 2012)—The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the government of Madagascar for recently creating Makira Natural Park, now the island nation’s largest protected area and home to the highest diversity of lemur species on the planet. Makira Natural Park represents an important milestone toward ac...

Groundbreaking to Begin this Fall; Grand Opening Set for 2015  57,000 Square Foot  Exhibit to Feature Sharks, Rays, Sea Turtles and Thousands of Fish August 16, 2012--Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Wildlife Conservation Society President and CEO Cristián Samper today unveiled the design and announced new funding for the New York Aquarium “Ocean Wonders: Sharks!” building. The City’s Public Design Commission approved the design plan earlier this month for the 57,000 squa...

Watch the full video>>With election season in full swing, race to make bison the U.S. National Mammal now a stampede New video shows bison’s unique brand of political stomping Visit www.votebison.org to cast your vote New York – August 16, 2012 – Who says bison can’t vote? The Vote Bison coalition, which is campaigning to make the bison the National Mammal of the United States, has released a homemade video showing that even the candidate itself can cast a ballot. The humorous video ...

The Vote Bison coalition has launched a sweeping campaign to elect the bison as the United States National Mammal. With legislative support gaining traction through the National Bison Legacy Act, the momentum has gone from a race to a stampede. Check out our new campaign PSA and you'll see why. Then, ask your representative to co-sponsor the National Bison Legacy Act.

Mini camps are among programs to choose from Have breakfast with the zoo director and feed the birds Register at:www.queenszoo.com New York – Aug. 15, 2012 –The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo is now accepting registrations for the fall/winter 2012/13 season of educational programming. A variety of programs are available for adults, families, and children of all ages. The line-up of pr...

View the video at:http://youtu.be/Q2lDV0MMrcw Bronx, NY – Aug. 15, 2012 – ATTACHED PHOTO AND VIDEO: A Caribbean flamingo hatchling takes its first steps at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. The chick is helped to its feet by its mother and stands on a nest mound in the pond outside of the zoo’s Aquatic Birds exhibit. Flamingos are hatched with white downy plumage but develop trademark pink coloration from pigments in the algae, crustaceans, and oth...

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) Take the Lead in Making Bison the National Mammal of the United States Sens. Akaka, Blumenthal, Gillibrand, Lieberman, Portman, and Schumer are the Latest to Co-sponsor Bill in the Senate More than 67,000 Letters to Congress Sent through VoteBison.org NEW YORK (August 14, 2012)— The Vote Bison coalition applauded the news th...

MOST IMPORTANT ARCTIC WETLANDS AND CORRIDORS FOR CARIBOU AND MIGRATORY BIRDS WOULD BE CONSERVED "By keeping development and disturbance away from essential wildlife habitat, Arctic wildlife will continue to thrive.” – WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper NEW YORK (August 14, 2012) – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) expressed support for today’s announcement by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar of a proposed plan balancing conservation, subsistence rights for Alaska Nati...

Flushing, N.Y. – Aug. 13, 2012 – Two blue-throated macaws perch on a branch in the historic aviary at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo. These parrots live in the zoo’s geodesic dome aviary among other exotic birds including scarlet macaws, blue and gold macaws, and sun conures. The blue-throated macaws can be recognized by their brightly colored blue and yellow plumage and the blue patches on their cheeks. Not to be confused with the similar blue-and-gold macaw, the blue-throat...