'Twas a wild affair on Thursday, June 8th, when the Wildlife Conservation Society hosted its 2017 gala on the gorgeous grounds of the Central Park Zoo. More than 500 guests gathered in their black tie best to support the preservation of the world's majestic big cats. According to the WCS, wild tigers have gone from 100,000 to a mere 3,400 in the past century, and only some 30,000 lions remain in the wild today. Those numbers should be chilling for anyone, but for the attendees of this philanthropic soiree, they were numbers that needed to be changed.

During a luxe dinner, attention was turned to the night's honorees, Julian Robertson and George Schaller, who have both dedicated their lives to the conservation of wildlife and the environment. The moving ceremony was followed up with dancing, dessert, and of course, drinking. Matcha cocktails glowed green under the lights of neighboring high-rises and partygoers let loose on the two(!) dance floors until the wee hours. Click through for an inside look!

[Photo by Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com]