The Wildlife Conservation Society

Jessica AndersonOctober 15, 2003

     

                                  

                                      

                                       

                 

                      

        

                               

       

                                

What does the WCS do?• Manages wildlife parks • Campaigns for laws to protect wildlife• Sponsors wildlife studies around the world• Funds academic research• Educates people about wildlife

endangerment

    

                                   

                                      

              

                         

    

                                   

History of the WCS

• The society began on April 26, 1895• Founders: Andrew H. Green

Henry Fairfield Osborn • William Hornaday studied decline of

animals in the U.S. and began a campaign to protect the wildlife

• William Beebe began field research abroad

More history…

• Fairfield Osborn brought field biology to the WCS after World War II

• The WCS began working in Africa, Asia, and South America in the 1950’s

• William Conway developed a breeding program for endangered species in the 1960’s

The Bronx Zoo

• Headquarters for WCS since 1895• Opened on November 8, 1899• Accomplishments:

– Reestablishment of the American Bison– First veterinary department (1901)– Species Survival Plan (1903)– First zoo education program for public

(1929)– Congo Gorilla Forest

        

                               

      

                                 

New York Aquarium

• Oldest operating aquarium in the U.S.• Opened on December 10, 1896 in lower

Manhattan• WCS began managing aquarium in 1902• Aquarium contains 350 species and over

8,000 specimens• Mission: increase public awareness of

issues concerning wildlife in the ocean

   

                                    

         

                              

WCS also manages…

• The Central Park Zoo– Under direction of the WCS in Manhattan

since August 8, 1988

• The Queens Zoo– Existed since 1968, but renovated and

reopened by the WCS on June 25, 1992

• Prospect Park Zoo– Existed since 1800’s, but renovated and

reopened by the WCS on October 5, 1993

         

                              

   

                                    

*Read handout on how and why you can support the WCS