Run for the Wild 2026

This year, WCS Run for the Wild is inspired by red pandas. Red panda cubs are born with a very soft, plush light brown coat that eventually becomes more coarse. They reach adulthood at around 18 months, by which time they sport reddish-brown and black coats. This bear-like fur, and their bushy tails, keep red pandas warm in colder climates. They have an adaptation on their wrists that acts much like a thumb and enables them to grasp food items like bamboo as well as tree branches.

Red pandas are listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss caused by deforestation for timber, fuel, and agricultural use. Their population is declining. WCS works in China and Myanmar to save red pandas and other Asian wildlife. We have been supporting conservation efforts in regions where red pandas live since 1910, working with local partners to create and secure protected areas and combat the illegal wildlife trade.

Today, animals are going extinct 10,000 times faster than ever before. Red pandas face threats from human activity. But WCS research has shown that by working with local communities, governments, and responsible business, and with the support of people like you who care about the future of wildlife, we can retain and protect critical resources for red pandas and other species vital to their ecosystems in Asia and around the world.

WCS is working to give wildlife a fighting chance.

WCS Run for the Wild supports WCS's efforts to establish and help manage parks and reserves, safeguarding animals from poaching with active monitoring and patrolling, and inspiring communities to protect their local wildlife. That's where you and I come in. I care about saving red pandas and other species, which is why I'm running on April 25th. With your support, I hope to raise my target. Even $10 would make a big difference for wildlife around the globe.

If you have an animal near and dear to your heart, join me for the run on April 25th. You can register here: wcsrunforthewild.org.

Thank you for your support. I can't wait to tell you about my Run for the Wild!