More than 1,000 runners took part in “Run Wild for the Orangutans,” a 5-kilometer race that was the centerpiece of the Birmingham Zoo’s 4th annual Zoo Run that was staged May 16 to benefit the Orangutan Conservancy.

The race, which wound through the zoo grounds in central Alabama, was organized by the Birmingham Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK).

“It was a huge success and we are very happy to be able help the Orangutan Conservancy,” said chapter president Patti Frazier, a primate keeper at the Birmingham Zoo. “We are pleased to be able to make a direct link to this conservation effort and engage the Birmingham Zoo’s public.”

Funds raised by the Zoo Run will go to support the Orangutan Conservancy’s work in Borneo and Sumatra, where a variety of programs work to protect orangutans and their rainforest habitat.

“The Orangutan Conservancy is delighted to receive this support from the Birmingham Zoo,” said Norm Rosen, president of the 10-year old group. “We have worked hard to create meaningful partnerships between the Orangutan Conservancy and zoos, museums, and research institutions, and it pays off in events like the Zoo Run.”

In addition to the “Run Wild for the Orangutans” 5K, shorter races for children included the Zebra Zip, the Cheetah Challenge, and the Chicken Cha-Cha. All winners received medals that featured orangutans.

The Orangutan Conservancy was established in 1999 to support projects that focus on wild orangutan protection; reintroduction; education; and research. The Orangutan Conservancy is a partner of the Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP). For more information, please visit the Orangutan Conservancy website or contact click to email.

(Source: OC Staff)