Support Polar Bear Conservation at the Toronto Zoo
As a conservation science leader committed to climate action and research to protect Arctic wildlife and their homes, 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 Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause 5K & 1K Run/Walk will bring us one step closer to our vision becoming a reality.
With a goal of $25,000, funds raised from this year’s event will continue to support your Zoo’s conservation, education and research activities to increase wild polar bear populations and inspire people to live in ways that promote the well-being of the natural world.
Fundraise Your Way To Amazing Prizes!
Early Bird Prize – Raise $250 by January 31st at midnight and you will automatically be entered into a draw for a chance to win a polar bear adoption package!
This special package includes a personalized certificate of adoption featuring a photo of a Toronto Zoo polar bear, an adorable polar bear plush toy, a polar bear fact sheet, and a gold embossed certificate holder!
Top Fundraiser – Polar Bear Prize Pack featuring Polar Bear Artwork & MarsQuest Sunglasses!
This year's Top Fundraiser will take home a one-of-a-kind, 16x20” canvas painting created by Toronto Zoo polar bears Aurora and Nikita! The winner will also receive a collectible Toronto Zoo pin, a lanyard, an adorable polar bear plush toy, and MarsQuest sunglasses.
2nd Place – Toronto Zoo sweatshirt, MarsQuest Sunglasses, and 2023 Oasis ZooRun Entry!
3rd Place – Toronto Zoo t-shirt, MarsQuest Sunglasses, and 2023 Oasis ZooRun Entry!
Please note - fundraising totals will be calculated on Friday, February 24th at 5pm ET based on online fundraising pages.
Prizes are subject to change, are not transferable, and can be won by any participant, regardless of finish place or completion.
Personalize your Fundraising Page
It’s easy to get started - simply personalize your fundraising page and send it around to family and friends!
- To customize your page, select Donate to participant, search for your name, and click on Donate next to your profile.
- Sign In to Race Roster if not yet logged in (top right).
- Click Edit fundraising page below the profile image on the right-hand side.
- Specify your fundraising goal, write a personal message, and upload a photo (or keep it as the polar bear!)
- Be sure to scroll down and click Save updated fundraising information.
Donate to a Participant
Click here to search for a participant to sponsor.
Make a General Donation
Click here to make a direct donation to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy.
More Information
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.
Your Toronto Zoo is currently home to 5 polar bears, Aurora, Nikita, Hudson, Humphrey and Juno, who serve as ambassadors for this beautiful Canadian species and the impacts of climate change on their wild counterparts. In 2001, twin sisters Aurora and Nikita were found orphaned in Polar Bear Provincial Park and sent to your Toronto Zoo. Both are still with us today and are part of our polar bear program, contributing to vital research to save this amazing species in the wild.
Unfortunately, over the past few years, more and more polar bear cubs have been found abandoned and orphaned in the wild. While the reason for this is not yet fully understood, research indicates that stress over sea-ice loss could be a factor. Knowing this, the Zoo is no longer breeding polar bears to ensure there is a home at your Toronto Zoo for a cub in need.
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is a dedicated partner with your 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. You can donate directly to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy during registration or go one step further and share your fundraising page with friends and family to collect pledges.
