@thewcs

What precisely is the maximum speed of a cheetah? We still don't know for sure, says WCS's Luke Hunter. "When I took this photo in 1993," he writes on , "the most accurate recording was one made in 1965." That was 63.7 mph. . Since then, other efforts have estimated it from anywhere between 58 and 61 mph. But for Hunter it is still an open question. . "Seeing a cheetah at full speed on the open grasslands of East Africa is so spectacular, so utterly breathtaking," he writes, "that it's not hard to image it exceeds 68 mph." . Read the full story via our bio. . .

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of humpback sightings off , writes the Associated Press this week. . Our WCS Ocean Giants team snapped this pic recently of a humpback whale lunge feeding, with a mouth full of Menhaden (their prey). . Read more via our bio. . .

26 young scarlet macaws were released into the Maya Biosphere Reserve recently by @WCS_Guatemala. . The released macaws were “low weight” chicks, or third or fourth eggs removed from nests and raised in labs by conservationists. In the wild, these chicks typically do not survive. After the chicks mature, they are placed in flight cages, which are left open to allow them to fly into the forest. . The release is part of ongoing efforts by WCS and Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) to bolster macaw numbers in the reserve, estimated at approximately 300 individuals. . Scarlet macaws are increasingly threatened by poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, along with habitat loss, largely driven by intentional forest fires, cattle ranching, and the expansion of human settlements. . Read more via our bio. . . #

One of the cornerstones of conservation law in the United States is under attack. The Administration has taken another step to weaken one of the most successful tools in the history of wildlife conservation: the Endangered Species Act. . A new rule under consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would severely limit the Service's ability to designate critical habitat areas that are essential to the recovery of threatened and endangered species. This change could impede the restoration of endangered species to their former habitats. . Speak out with us via the link in our bio. . .

Every year during the dry season, giant South American river turtles migrate in groups to nesting beaches. There they are vulnerable to illegal consumption. . @wcsbrasil is using drones to monitor their behavior at this time and gather data to help protect them. . Watch more via our bio. . .

Make way for an extremely rare duckling. On a camera trap, WCS Cambodia captured this precious moment, when an endangered white-winged duckling left the nest (with mom closely in toe, of course). . The duckling is believed to be 1 of 5 fledglings conservationists have been tracking in Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. These ducks prefer to nest in cavities of mature trees, unfortunately these same trees are highly sought after for the illegal timber trade. . WCS, in collaboration with the Provincial Department of Environment and other partners, has been working with local people in this area to provide long-term protection. . More via our bio. . .

Watch this one to the end! This WCS Cambodia video shows the team attempting to rescue a wild boar from an illegally-set snare. . Once the boar is free, look out! Wild boars have a powerful bite and can be extremely dangerous. . Snares are a major threat across Cambodia, killing wildlife indiscriminately. To reduce this threat, a WCS anti-snare team, supported by the USFWS Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, patrols key wildlife hotspots, destroying and removing snares. . Around 10,000 snares have been removed from this one wildlife sanctuary over the last 10 years. . .

Great news! Uganda's Parliament has rejected the plan to build a hydroelectric dam at Murchison Falls. As you may recall, the project would have been a significant blow to a biodiverse national park and to the tourism industry so important to Uganda's economy. . .

We're still grappling with the impacts of , but we can't be shortsighted. The world is facing the threat of further deadly, zoonotic pandemics if we don't act to reduce risks, including ending the commercial trade in live wildlife for human consumption (particularly in mammals and birds). . The numerous wildlife species that are brought together as part of this trade create the potential to shed and share viruses for long periods of time. Viruses that can then be passed along to people. . Today, a new, bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. has the potential to help us address this. . Help us speak out in support of the Preventing Future Pandemics Act via the link in our bio. . .

Even 135 yrs after Louis Pasteur successfully vaccinated against rabies, this preventable but deadly viral disease remains one of the most neglected in the developing world. . This , its greatest burden continues to fall on poor rural communities, especially children, in Africa and Asia. . Since rabid domestic dogs are the cause of 99% of global deaths from rabies in humans, dog vaccination, coupled with education and control of feral dog populations, is the key to fighting this devastating disease. . Since rabies also severely affects endangered wildlife species such as the Ethiopian wolf and African wild dogs (like these pictured), vaccination of domestic dogs at the landscape level by veterinarians also contributes to the conservation of these unique animal species. . Recognizing the increasing threats to health and conservation posed by domestic dogs, WCS scientists from 6 continents and multiple disciplines are collaborating to address these complex challenges across the landscapes where we work. . .

Six years ago, 8 tribes and first nations made history by signing the Buffalo Treaty. Today, the treaty is the largest modern treaty in North America with over 30 signatory nations. . It's an agreement dedicated to cultural preservation and ecological restoration. The buffalo, the tribes write, is “the essence of our holistic ecocultural life-ways.” . Part of the anniversary celebration today is a new website. Check it out at buffalotreaty.com. . . @wcsrockies #

Today is . Today we celebrate these strong, smart, playful creatures—some of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. . But habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and infectious disease have spurred the decline of nearly all species of apes worldwide. . WCS has the largest ape conservation footprint of any organization, and our programs protect nearly 75% of the world’s remaining ape species. . Help us defend them and other vulnerable wildlife. Donate today via our bio. In honor of gorillas, we’ll match your gift amount so it goes 2x as far. . .