WCS International Program

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild lands. We do so through sound science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. WCS was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. At present, WCS has over 100 PhD conservationists and 100 research fellows working on more than 400 projects throughout the world, and has the largest field staff of any US-based international conservation organization.

WCS’s strategy is to support comprehensive fieldwork to understand wildlife needs, train local conservation professionals, and work with in-country staff to protect and manage wildlife populations for the future. Familiarity with local conditions allows WCS conservationists to effectively translate data from the field into conservation actions and policies. WCS has helped establish more than 120 protected areas around the world, totaling more than 52.6 million hectares.

The field programs of WCS benefit from the technical support of specialists based at the Society’s Bronx Zoo headquarters in New York. The Living Landscapes Program provides guidance to issues related to conserving critical species and ecosystems across landscape. The Wildlife Institute provides analytical assistance for complex scientific problems and addresses and facilitates communications among conservation scientist on a range of issues. The Field Veterinarian Program is the first of its kind, sending health experts around to globe to help treat wildlife,and train local veterinarians. WCS’s curatorial staff serves as advisors to field programs. The Education Department writes school curricula that address conservation issues, and hosting teacher training workshops around the world.