FROM HARBOR BRIDGE TO HABITAT: TEAM ELEPHANT SYDNEY 2026
This past August 30th, Team Elephant took on the streets of Sydney for the second year running. A pack of dedicated runners tackled the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon, trading their comfort zones for 42.195 kilometres (26.2-mile), all in the name of protecting the wild places and species that need us most. Here's how the day went, and the milestone their miles helped us reach.
2026 marked the second year Team Elephant ran in the Sydney Marathon, and what a year it was. A huge thank you to every runner who laced up to help us do the work we do for wildlife and conservation; your miles matter more than you know!
Watching Team Elephant grow with each marathon has let us hit some huge milestones, including passing $1 million raised over the years by our incredible runners. Every dollar of that, and every bit of awareness it brings, goes directly toward purchasing and protecting land for conservation, rewilding degraded habitat, and ensuring everyone, including our rangers and Green Mambas, has the equipment they need to do their jobs safely and well. Each of our Sydney Marathon runners raised a minimum $3,500, and this year our team of 5 runners together raised $9,250 to support Wild Tomorrow's conservation projects in South Africa.
Just a few kilometres into the race, runners crossed the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, later passing The Rocks, Circular Quay, Moore Park, and Centennial Park, before finishing on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic finish lines in the world, and a pretty fitting place for Team Elephant to cross for wildlife.
We are so proud and grateful for our five runners and their dedication to protecting wildlife through running. Congratulations to Carissa Gallo, Eduardo Vizuet, Douglas Dorward, Marco Zamblera, and Shilen Patel for an amazing effort for wildlife and wild places!
Marathon training asks a lot of runners. Those who choose to make their miles mean more and run for charity, the effort is even greater. For Team Elephant, that effort becomes something bigger: land purchased, habitat restored, rangers equipped to do their work. Whether they ran to protect habitat, elephants and giraffes, the Suni Antelope, Ukuwela’s diverse of bird species, or simply because they love nature, our runners helped move the needle for wildlife and a more promising future. This is only the second year Team Elephant has run in Sydney, and already the impact speaks for itself.
If you’re inspired by Team Elephant, Sydney, click here to learn more about Team Elephant and discover how you can contribute to protecting wildlife by running, cycling or joining us for a volunteer trip in South Africa (or both!)