WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Started in 1895 (as the New York Zoological Society), WCS has a long history of ocean conservation and exploration, from its role in the first international wildlife treaties of the 1910s, the earliest deep-sea dives in the 1930s, the first land-sea parks of the 1950s, to the discovery of whale song in the 1970s. Today, the WCS Global Marine Conservation Program supports the conservation of coastal seascapes, coral reefs, mangroves, and iconic marine species, such as sharks, rays, and marine mammals, in the waters of 24 countries around the world. WCS focuses on protecting areas with the greatest biodiversity and aggregations of marine wildlife, as well as important habitats and fisheries on which coastal communities depend. WCS is based at the Bronx Zoo, and operates the four zoos and the New York Aquarium in New York City, collectively visited by 4 million people annually.
