Support the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy
As a leader in conservation and species survival, your Toronto Zoo is actively engaged in the fight against extinction. Our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive and your participation in this year’s Oasis ZooRun will bring us one step closer to our vision becoming a reality.
With it being the Year of the Tiger, participation in this year’s run is also an important opportunity to celebrate tigers and the important work your Toronto Zoo is doing to save the critically endangered Sumatran and endangered Amur tiger.
Your Toronto Zoo is currently home to Sumatran tigers, Harimau Kayu (Hari) and Kemala, as well as Amur tigers, Mazyria (Mazy), Vasili and Mila, and is an active participant in the Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP)®. The SSP Program oversees population management within Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited member institutions and coordinates the Tiger Conservation Campaign, linking zoo tigers with their wild counterparts.
Our beloved Amur tiger, Mila, was born to Mazy and Vasili on Friday, April 30th 2021 after being paired by the Amur Tiger SSP, which ensures the ongoing genetic health of the Amur tiger population in human care, safeguarding genetic diversity that may have been lost in the wild during the 20th century.
Over the years, the ZooRun has raised over $573,000 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.
With a goal of $40,000, funds raised from this year’s event will continue to support your Zoo’s conservation breeding and reintroduction programs. In addition, a portion of the funds will also support the construction of a 10-foot climbing structure, a 12-foot feeding pole and a zip line in each of the outdoor Sumatran tiger exhibits. These installations were recommended by the Tiger SSP Care Manual to stimulate species-appropriate behaviors and provide enriching opportunities for the cats.
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 directly during registration, or go one step further and share your fundraising page with friends and family to collect pledges.