Over 5,000 runners gathered Saturday for the Bronx Zoo’s 16th annual Run for the Wild event.

Zoo director Jim Breheny says the goal of the run is to fundraise and spread awareness about threats to wildlife. Runners also get to enjoy the unique experience of going through the wildlife conservation.

"The weather is great. The people are pumped up and excited,” he said. “It’s a way for people to come and experience the zoo in a way different than what they expected.”

News 12's Valerie Ryan was there to capture the sights and sounds.