Post on 06-Jan-2016
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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