CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PARIS 2026 MARATHON TEAM

On April 12th, 40 incredible runners took to the streets of Paris in support of wildlife in the 26.2-mile challenge through one of the world’s most historic cities. This marked our largest Team Elephant Paris team and we couldn’t be more proud. 

We are deeply grateful for their passion for wildlife protection and their commitment to supporting Wild Tomorrow’s conservation initiatives. Get to know these inspiring individuals in the blog below. 

Congratulations to our amazing Team Elephant Paris runners! What an unforgettable way to experience this iconic city—running not only for personal achievement, but for the protection of wildlife and wild spaces. The course carried runners past landmarks like the Place de la Bastille and the stunning Notre-Dame Cathedral, alongside the Eiffel Tower, and through the scenic Bois de Boulogne, before finishing near the Arc de Triomphe. 

 Together, our 40 runners raised an incredible $53,000. We are immensely proud and thankful for this year’s Paris Marathon team. Every dollar raised supports the protection of endangered species, including African elephants, and helps restore critical habitats in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

The best part was the incredible team camaraderie and friendships they built along the way. Our runners came from all over the world, London, US, SA, Belgium, Chile (+ Bella our community development lead in Europe, who came from Lisbon to support the team!) 

They also ran together with 3 runners from Team Rhino, who dedicated their marathon to our friends at Wildlife Defense, a US wildlife conservation charity dedicated to training rangers. We partner together to provide specialized wildlife CSI skills rangers in our region, with an upcoming program to be hosted in South Africa at our Wild Tomorrow Conservation Center this October.

Our Paris 2026 Team Elephant (and Team Rhino!) showed up not just as runners, but as a community driven by a shared mission. Running through the breathtaking streets of Paris only added to the magic. This team reminded us that while medals and times may fade, the bonds we build and the memories we create along the way are what truly last. 

We are beyond grateful to each runner for their dedication to Wild Tomorrow’s mission. Every mile completed fuels conservation on the ground—proving that when passion meets purpose, real impact follows. 

Feeling inspired? Visit www.wildtomorrow.org/teamelephant to learn more about Team Elephant and upcoming races.