LES AND SHELLI FLAUM SUPPORT WCS TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND NATURE

Growing up, Les Flaum frequently walked a mile from his grandparents’ house to the Bronx Zoo to spend time with the giraffes, lions, and other animals he loved.

Fast forward 60 years: After Les and Shelli married, had fruitful careers, and retired, they began spending much of their free time at the zoo once again—though the trip is now more than 50 miles.

During their visits, they learned more about WCS’s conservation impact in New York and beyond and decided to increase their support. “To me, nature is everything,” says Shelli. “We have no children or grandchildren, and we’d like to leave behind what we have to do some good for animals and nature.”

Shelli’s background as a veterinary assistant sparked the Flaums’ interest in meeting WCS’s health experts and supporting the zoological health team’s work. “It’s amazing to be part of that,” says Shelli, describing WCS’s use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to find endangered species, uncover illegal wildlife trade activity, detect wildlife disease risks, and conduct biodiversity surveys in remote locations, such as on Mount Everest.

“We’ve traveled the world and seen incredible wildlife firsthand. Protecting nature is more important than anything. We support WCS because with them, we see results.”