Wildlife Conservation Network

10/14/2026

Thank you for making Expo our favorite time of the year ✨
This year’s event was brimming with excitement, support, celebration, and reunion. Thank you to all the new friends who joined us, and to all the regulars who keep the energy going strong. We saw hundreds of new faces at this year's event, and an amazing outpouring of enthusiasm and support. Thank you 💚 See you next year!

10/09/2026

Just a taste of what you’re going to learn about at Expo tomorrow 🌿
And Expo is livestreamed on YouTube?!?!? Yes.
Your wildest dreams, answered. Tune in tomorrow to a full lineup of incredible conservationists.
Did we mention Maya Higa is our emcee?

10/08/2026

Come join us and our global network of conservationists in San Francisco, CA!

🐾 Hear face to face from frontline conservationists

🐾 Take deep dives into conservation stories

🐾 Network with fellow wildlife enthusiasts

🐾 Learn what it really takes to protect an endangered species.

Last chance to get your tickets! https://hubs.ly/Q04zFmCc0

10/07/2026

Huge congratulations to our colleague Olivier Nsengimana on being named to the TIME100 Next 2026 list!
A decade ago, Rwanda’s wild grey crowned crane population had plummeted to just 300 due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. Refusing to let this iconic species vanish, Olivier founded the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association - RWCA in 2015. Through science, community partnership, and relentless action, Rwanda’s wild crane population has now grown to over 1,400.
Now, with the support of the 2025 Whitley Gold Award, he’s expanding this community-led model across East Africa into Uganda and Tanzania.
Olivier, your work proves what’s possible when local leadership is trusted and communities lead the way. We couldn't be prouder to support you!

Ten years ago, only a few hundred grey crowned cranes were thought to remain in the wild in Rwanda. At that time many of these stunning, stately birds were living in the captivity of hotel gardens and private homes. Over the decade that followed, WCN Partner the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Associat...

09/28/2026

If you’re a student👇🏿🫰🏾
Do you want to connect with ecologists, field researchers, conservation experts, and other wildlife enthusiasts? Looking for a great way to ask your professors for extra credit? Student tickets are 50% off, so you and your friends can come meet new mentors, get career inspiration, or just learn about really cool animals.
Link in bio 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️

09/24/2026

Happy World Gorilla Day!

09/23/2026

This year’s Wildlife Conservation Expo is full of sessions that will take you on deep dives into wildlife conservation. From the coral reefs, to the Savanna, to the Andes.

Swipe to find out more about all the sessions!

Tickets & more info here ✨ https://hubs.ly/Q04wrrmN0

09/21/2026

Thrilled to kick off Sea Otter Awareness Week with this big news!

Big news! 📣 We're partnering on new research. The goal? Eventually bringing sea otters back to Oregon. 🦦

Over 100 years ago, sea otters disappeared from Oregon as a result of the fur trade. So what would happen if sea otters returned to the Oregon coast now? We’re working to answer this question along with Oregon Coast Aquarium, Elakha Alliance and Wildlife Conservation Network's Sea Otter Fund. 🤝

Using scuba divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), our researchers will spend the next three years gathering data on Oregon’s coastline, where sea otters have vanished, and Washington’s coastline, where sea otters were reintroduced in 1970s and have been gradually growing in population since. They’ll compare the two locations to understand how the presence of otters affects the populations of other marine species and the overall condition of the seafloor. 🔎🌊

"When otters are present, kelp forests and eelgrass meadows thrive," says Dr. Shawn Larson, senior conservation research manager at the Seattle Aquarium. "There is more food for other animals in the system, and the system itself is more resilient to climate change. That is what we would hope and expect to see if they are reintroduced in Oregon." 🦦

While a potential sea otter reintroduction would be years away, this research will provide a critical foundation for it. It will also contribute credible, detailed information that will allow for informed and collaborative discussions around reintroduction. 💙

Want to learn more about this exciting new research? Dive into our press release on our website: https://www.seattleaquarium.org/press-release/new-partnership-paves-the-way-for-reintroducing-sea-otters-to-oregon/

09/18/2026

Today, the Indianapolis Zoo announced its nominees for the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation.

Twenty-seven conservationists were nominated across the globe, representing some of the world’s most extraordinary scientists and researchers who work to prevent extinction and shape the future of the planet.

We are proud to extend a HUGE congratulations to four of our Conservation Partners, who are included in this nomination:

Rachel Graham, Ph.D. (MarAlliance, Panama)
Rosamira R. Guillen (Fundación Proyecto Titi , Colombia)
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, DVM (Conservation Through Public Health, Uganda)
Laurie Marker, Ph.D. (Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), Namibia)

Learn more: https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/prize/news/2027-prize-nominees/