wildlife conservation society.
The Toyota Reef. Keith Ellenbogen June 8 (That's today!) is World Oceans Day. In recognition of the annual event, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Pacific Blue Foundation, Wetlands International, and the Waitt Institute have declared that the Toyota Island coral reef in Fiji is officially "sacred," according to a WCS press release. Toyota's island chiefs traditionally impose fishing bans when fish stocks face threats of depletion, but the most recent such ban was lifted by the island's last chief due to the great commercial benefit provided by fishing. The people of the island had the reef declared sacred today in order to protect its precious resources. "Because the people have an ...
Dr. Jon Beckmann, WCS If a layperson like you or me were to see a bear in the wild, the majority of us would respond a little like this: be amazed at its beauty, start to freak out a little at its size and get the heck out of Dodge (especially if it was a cub, because mama bears are known for protecting their young). But that's not how Dr. Jon Beckmann sees it. His day job is actually tracking bears. And he gets all up in their business for a good reason -- research. As part of an ongoing 13-year study on bear behavior in Nevada by The Wildlife Conservation Society (WLS), Beckmann, along with other field scientists, recently helped microchip three bear cubs who were in a den with their ...
Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society The cold weather sure makes us reluctant to leave the house, but the Bronx Zoo's Magellanic penguins, Danny and Hugo, saw New York City's recent snowfall as the perfect excuse to burn off some energy! Magellanic penguins are native to Southern Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands, where mated, monogamous couples live within large groups. However, commercial fishing and habitat pollution has put these creatures in danger. The Wildlife Conservation Society is working hard to protect breeding sites and manage penguin populations in Coastal Patagonia. If you're looking for a way to help out the penguins, consider signing up for the third ...
The beautiful decorations in the gallery below aren't just a festive treat; the lights help guide guests through the Wildlife Conservation Society's Central Park Zoo during its extended hours on certain weekends in December. Winterfest events include holiday photo opportunities, polar-themed performances by the WCS' Wildlife Theater, live animal encounters in the Zoo Gallery and the chance to watch snow leopards, polar bears, and penguins open some of their presents filled with their favorite treats -- fishsicles and fruit. ...
Getty Images Animals at zoos must have been good this year because many of them are getting spoiled this holiday season. Zoos across the country are holding events where the animals get into the holiday spirit by opening presents. Not only is watching the animals unwrap their gifts entertaining for zoo-goers, it's a fun way to keep the animals' minds active. If you visit Wildlife Conservation Society's Prospect Park Zoo in New York City on weekends in December, don't be surprised if wrapping paper is flying. Each Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., you can see baboons, cats and other critters tear into treat-filled bags and boxes. Animals at Zoo Miami will also partake in the ...
Malayan tiger cubs. Julie Larsen Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society What's cuter than a tiger cub? Half a dozen tiger cubs! Six tiger cubs made their public debut at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo in New York this week, according to to the WCS. The cubs come from two litters and two different subspecies of tiger. Three are Amur tigers and three are Malayan tigers. Their arrival has zoo staff cheering. This is the first litter of Amur tigers born at the Bronx Zoo in more than 13 years. And it's the first time that Malayan tigers have ever been exhibited in the Bronx. The cubs can be seen at the zoo's Tiger Mountain exhibit, in adjacent exhibits that separate the ...