The World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity as an Aid to their Survival (WCBESCAS) is the world's first and one of the most prestigious conferences on Captive breeding. Started by the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, due to efforts by the famous naturalist and pioneer of captive breeding Gerald Durrell, the first conference was held in 1972 at Jersey (on the basis that Gerald Durrell's Jersey Zoo - one of the few zoos of the world to practice captive breeding at that time - was located in Jersey). The conference provided a common scientific meeting ground for Captive breeding issues for the first time. The conference has been held at :

• 1st WCBESCAS; Jersey, 1972
• 2nd WCBESCAS; London, 1976
• 3rd WCBESCAS; San Diego, 1979
• 4th WCBESCAS; Harderwijk, 1984
• 5th WCBESCAS; Cincinnati, 1988
• 6th WCBESCAS; Jersey, 1992
• 7th WCBESCAS; Cincinnati, 1999

References

• Jeremy J.C. Mallinson; The Evolution of the World Conference Series on Breeding Endangered Species, 1972-1999; International Zoo News, Vol. 46/5 (No. 294); July/August 1999