Wildlife Conservation Society

Provides competitive grants to U.S.-based nonprofit conservation organizations to implement on-the-ground, landscape-scale climate adaptation actions.

Funds and supports early-career conservationists through competitive fellowship and grant programs, including the WCS Research Fellowship Program, the Conservation Leadership Programme (in partnership with BirdLife International and Fauna & Flora International), the WCS Canada W. Garfield Weston Fellowship Program for boreal research, and the John Thorbjarnarson Fellowship for Reptile Research.

Advocates for the establishment and expansion of protected areas globally, having helped establish over 430 protected areas since 1895, including recent efforts to designate Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary and support for the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act. Also provides scientific and policy expertise to influence international conservation policies and governmental commitments.

Investigates and combats zoonotic diseases that threaten human, domestic animal, and wildlife health using global health expertise.

Reaches over 1.5 million students, educators, and families annually with science education programming focused on wildlife and conservation.

Implements science-based conservation programs in over 55 countries to protect key ecosystems including forests, savannas, and coral reefs by partnering with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, governments, and NGOs. Activities include stabilizing or increasing wildlife populations, reducing deforestation (e.g., 30% reduction in Bukit Barisan Selatan and Makira), rescuing wildlife from illegal trade (e.g., 5,700 songbirds between 2019–2025), and promoting sustainable hunting and fishing practices.

Conducts scientific analyses to guide conservation planning and decision-making in terrestrial and marine environments globally, producing over 350 peer-reviewed publications annually.

Provides care for over 18,000 animals across its zoos and aquarium and offers membership benefits including annual admission, discounts on food and retail, member-only events such as Members’ Evenings, and exclusive items like free t-shirts.

Builds global conservation leadership by mentoring emerging conservationists through scholarship and training programs, including the WCS Graduate Scholarship Program for conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups; the fully funded two-year WCS India Graduate Program (74 graduates to date); and certificate and Masters programs in biodiversity conservation at the University of Buenos Aires for Latin American and Caribbean practitioners.

Operates five zoos and aquariums in New York City — the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium — collectively forming the largest network of urban wildlife parks in the world. These facilities hosted approximately 3.5 million visitors in 2024, with over 3.65 million annual visitors on average.