Wild Run 2026 – summary

2026-10-09

The Wild Run charity race has concluded.

For the tenth time in its history, the Wild Run charity race took place at the Wrocław Zoo on the first Sunday of October—an event organized by ZOO Wrocław, Foundation ZOO Wrocław – DODO and the Association Pro-Run Wrocław. It was an occasion marked by physical exertion, great fun and sunny weather.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved in this year’s Wild Run, which aimed to support ten different animal species in the wild. All proceeds from the race will go to organizations running conservation projects:

The tenth run was dedicated for ten endangered animal species. Funds raised during this year’s Wild Run will go to organizations that conduct conservation projects:

  • European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) – Polish Society for Nature Conservation SALAMANDRA in Poland, Europe
  • Turkmenian kulan (Equus hemionus kulan) – Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in Kazakhstan, Asia
  • Silver-backed chevrotain (Tragulus versicolor) – Re:Wild in Vietnam, Asia
  • African manatees (Trichechus senegalensis) – African Aquatic Conservation Fund in Senegal, Africa
  • Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) – HUTAN in Borneo, Malaysia,
  • Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) – Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in India, Asia
  • Palawan hornbills (Anthracoceros marchei) – Katala Foundation in the Philippines, Asia
  • African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) – SANCCOB in South Africa, Africa
  • blue geckos (Lygodactylus williamsi) – Kimboza Forest Gecko Project in Tanzania, Africa
  • pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) – Polish Society for Nature Conservation SALAMANDRA, Europe.

Running as the animals

We kicked off the Wild Run with a contest rewarding the best animal costumes. Everyone who gathered by the stage received a prize. That’s why we had tigers, a wolf, a peacock, a ladybug, a gigant rat and even a dinosaur among the runners. Wonderful prizes were provided by our sponsors: ZOOplus, Pol-Vending, and ZOO Wrocław.

At 3:45 PM the youngest participants—children aged 8 and under—set off on a symbolic 100-meter run. They were accompanied by giant mascots: a dodo, a penguin, and a sea turtle. All the children received small gifts from the sponsors.

At exactly 4:00 PM, young runners (aged 9–16) lined up for the 1 km race. The winners completed the course in under three minutes. During the awards ceremony, prizes were presented to the three fastest girls and the three fastest boys by sponsors ZOOplus, Pol-Vending, Lody Wanda, Café DODO, and ZOO Wrocław. There was also time for photos and congratulations.

Next, Marta Kruk—a personal trainer from Codziennie Fit—took the stage to lead the warm-up for participants in the main 10 km race.

The runners—a record-breaking 1,142 of them—had 90 minutes to complete the course. As in previous years, the route was winding and featured varied terrain. Along the way, passing by animal enclosures, exhibits, and pavilions, runners encountered cheering spectators as well as animals from the Wrocław Zoo—including tigers, brown bears and monkeys—rooting them on. The fastest competitors completed the Wild Run in just 35 minutes. During the awards ceremony, prizes for the top three women and top three men were presented by sponsors: ZOOplus, MPWiK, Pol-Vending, JBL, Zwierzenia Grzebienia, Codziennie Fit, ZOO Wrocław, Decathlon, and Café DODO.

The Wild Run also features a virtual edition. This version is designed for those who could not be present at the Wrocław Zoo on race day but wish to support the event’s charitable cause. We extend our sincere thanks to all the virtual Wild Run participants across Poland, in several European countries and in the USA. This year, the virtual run had been representing by TEAM from HUTAN—a Malaysian organization dedicated to protecting Bornean orangutans—and from representatives of Re:wild in Vietnam, an organization leading a conservation project for the silver-backed chevrotain. There was also a participant from the African Aquatic Conservation Fund, an organization that protects African manatees.

The Mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, has assumed honorary patronage of the race.

Sponsors and Partners. Sincere thanks to our sponsors and partners for their tremendous support.

For the tenth consecutive year, the reliable Bistro Laguna served delicious post-race meals to the Wild Run competitors.

Likewise, for ten years, Wild Run has enjoyed the support of Orfin—a manufacturer of canvas bags featuring the race logo. Every participant in this year’s 10 km and 1 km races received one of these canvas bags in their race pack—this time featuring a running Dodo bird.

As part of the “Drink Tap Water” campaign, and thanks to a partnership with MPWiK Wrocław, Wrocław’s tap water once again served as the official water for the Wild Run.

In the race place, runners could visit booths hosted by ZOOplus, ZOO Wrocław, the ZOO Wrocław – DODO Foundation, and the “Salamandra” Polish Society for the Protection of Nature; there, they had the opportunity to meet Urszula Eichert, who coordinates conservation efforts for the Northern lineage of the European hamster—one of the beneficiaries of the Wild Run. A “Drink Tap Water” bar was also available.

Following the excitement of the race and the awards ceremony, we once again asked participants to return their race bibs. The “Give Your Bib a Second Run” initiative has been well-received. The bibs will be reused in future Wild Run events, and a prize draw was held for participants, featuring rewards from sponsors and partners: Zegarki.pl, The Bridge Hotel Wrocław, ZOOplus, Codziennie Fit, Pol-Vending, Lody Wanda, and ZOO Wrocław.

The financial sponsors of this year’s Wild Run are ZOOplus, ProfiSerwis24, Cullian.eu, SelfiBox and Horizont Global.

Prizes in kind were provided by Zegarki.pl, The Bridge Hotel Wrocław, Pol-Vending, JBL, Zwierzenia Grzebienia, Codziennie Fit, Lody Wanda, Café DODO, and ZOO Wrocław.

As with previous editions of the race, the Pro-Run Wrocław Association was responsible for professional timing, while emergency medical service ambulances ensured medical safety.

For the fifth consecutive year, students from the “Husarz” Main Military Secondary School in Wrocław volunteered to help organize the Wild Run at Wrocław Zoo. We were also joined by students from the Volunteer Club at School Complex No. 8 in Wrocław, as well as numerous friends of the ZOO Wrocław – DODO Foundation, Wrocław Zoo staff and members of the Association ProRun Wrocław.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the runners, partners and volunteers for joining the Wild Run 2026 initiative. We are still tallying the funds raised during the run, but we are already inviting everyone to take part in the eleventh Wild Run – save the date: October 3rd, 2027.