Toronto, ON, Thursday, October 5, 2023:  Hosted on International Red Panda Day, the 21st annual Oasis ZooRun brought attention to red pandas, a species classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and raised funds in support of your Toronto Zoo's ongoing efforts to save wildlife and wild spaces. This family-friendly event was hosted at your Toronto Zoo on Saturday, September 16th and virtually from September 1st to September 30th, allowing participants the opportunity to complete their 10K, 5K, CubRun or 15K Red Panda Rally at their own speed.

"We are always blown away by the support and enthusiasm of the Oasis ZooRun participants," says Beth Gilhespy, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. "With the run on International Red Panda Day, participants helped us raised more than $73,000, and celebrate red pandas and the vital work your Toronto Zoo is doing to save this endangered species. We are so grateful to those who fundraised or donated, and we can't wait to see participants back next year."

Over the years, the Oasis ZooRun has raised over $650,000 to support the crucial wildlife conservation work being done by your Toronto Zoo in preserving endangered species, breeding and reintroducing endangered animals into the wild and creating opportunities to reconnect people with nature. This year, 5,950 in-person and virtual participants continued to support your Zoo by raising $73,870 for your Zoo’s conservation breeding and reintroduction programs as well as the Zoo’s red panda habitat expansion project.

“We’re so thankful for our community and the support we’ve received to help save this endangered species,” says Dolf DeJong, CEO of your Toronto Zoo. “I do the run each year, and it’s a powerful feeling to look around and know everyone running alongside you is there to help us in our mission to connect people, animals and conservation to fight extinction.”

"Canada Running Series was thrilled to be back at the Toronto Zoo this year, celebrating the event’s 21st edition and International Red Panda Day with a sold-out race and raising over $73,000", says Erin Roza, Canada Running Series Sr. Manager of Resource Management. "We value this unique partnership with the Zoo and are incredibly thankful to all the Toronto Zoo and Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy staff for their efforts in making this year's event a massive success."

The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Canada Running Series look forward to hosting Oasis ZooRun participants at the Toronto Zoo again in 2024!

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 any time at wildlifeconservancy.ca or by calling 416-392-5984.

Toronto Zoo Media Contact:

Rachel McLaughlin
Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy Communications Coordinator
416-392-9113
rmclaughlin@torontozoo.ca

Jackie Gilgannon

Supervisor Strategic Communications

jgilgannon@torontozoo.ca

The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive.

An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.2 million guests each year.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

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