TORONTO, ON, Thursday, March 9, 2023:  It was a record breaking year for the Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause 5K & 1K, raising almost $30,000 in support of your Toronto Zoo. This event was hosted at the Zoo on Saturday, February 25th, just a few days before International Polar Bear Day, and 900 participants braved the snow and cold weather to complete their 5K and 1K.

“It was fantastic to have Move Your Paws participants back at the Toronto Zoo, and we are so grateful to those who fundraised or donated towards an individual fundraising goal,” says Beth Gilhespy, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. “Participants and donors have once again shown how much people care about polar bears and their arctic homes, and how that can be translated into direct action to protect them.”

Since the first Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause in 2014, the event has raised over $194,000 to support your Toronto Zoo’s conservation, education and research efforts to save polar bears. Funds raised from this year’s event will continue to support these efforts to increase the population of this nationally threatened species and inspire people to live in ways that promote the well-being of the natural world.

“Canada Running Series was thrilled to be back at the Toronto Zoo for Move Your Paws this year, with record high participant turnout and fundraising achievements,” says Erin Roza, Canada Running Series Manager of Resource Management. “We are incredibly grateful to all those who continue to participate and support the event year after year. We value this unique partnership with the Toronto Zoo and are thankful to all the Zoo and Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy staff for their efforts in making this year's event such a success.”

Photo Credit: Inge Johnson, Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Inge Johnson, Canada Running Series

Currently, polar bears are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to climate change and the melting of sea ice. If things don’t change, their status could quickly be escalated to endangered. For polar bears, sea ice is crucial for their reproduction, hunting, and migration. Without it, their chances of survival are dramatically lowered, putting them at risk for extinction.

“Our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive, and participation in events like Move Your Paws supports our vision becoming a reality,” says Dolf DeJong, Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Zoo. “As a conservation science organization committed to climate action and research to protect Arctic wildlife, your Toronto Zoo is so grateful for your support in our fight against extinction."

The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, Toronto Zoo and Canada Running Series look forward to hosting Oasis ZooRun participants at the Zoo on International Red Panda Day, September 16, 2023.

About the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy: 

The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is a dedicated partner with the Toronto Zoo in the fight against extinction, established in 2019 to secure increased financial resources and support for the wildlife conservation work being done by the Toronto Zoo. Extinction is forever, and the Zoo’s work in fighting extinction – through research, public engagement, and education, breeding and reintroduction programs – is vital to wildlife, to us, and to our world. 

You can donate to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy anytime at wildlifeconservancy.ca or over the phone at 416-392-9107.