From the WCS Instagram:

On April 26, 1895, 125 years ago today, WCS was founded as the New York Zoological Society. Today, we celebrate over a century of successes at saving wildlife and wild places, powered by the expertise and science in our zoos, aquarium, and global conservation program.

We mark our anniversary with heavy hearts, as our world suffers from a pandemic tearing apart our communities. With much hope, we will continue to use our mission to help prevent future pandemics.

Watch a video about our history via this link.

Today we join the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Since 1970, WCS has been marking the day by advocating for the conservation of wildlife and wild places. The first year included the Bronx Zoo’s first “graveyard” of extinct animals, lectures and film screenings for Bronx Zoo visitors,  and an all-day teach-in at the New York Aquarium.  Shown here is the Bronx Zoo Children’s Zoo in 1970.  For more on this history, check this link.

Over on WCS’s photo blog Wild View, check out a post from WCS Staff Photographer Julie Larsen Maher on WCS’s history of helping in times of need. Shown is the American Red Cross set up in the Bronx Zoo Lion House during World War I.