“Running for tigers - Tiger belongs to nature” is the sixth consecutive marathon of marathons to raise money for wildlife protection activities in Vietnam.

In addition to many individuals registering to participate, this year's event also gathered many teams from agencies and businesses such as the Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam, Hong Ngoc General Hospital, Equipment Company. Nhat Minh Health - KARL STORZ, Unilever International Vietnam Co., Ltd, PEAK DMC Vietnam. In particular, Miss Vietnam 1994 Nguyen Thu Thuy participated in the race for the first time. This is also the second consecutive MC MC Trang Trang of Vietnam Television participated in this run.

Mr. Jody O’Dea, representative of Red River Runners, was delighted to share: “We are very proud of the participation and enthusiastic response of individuals and organizations. This is how the community expresses interest and desire to protect tigers. Hopefully, the spirit of the race will continue to spread to help protect this rare animal from extinction. ”

The demand for tiger products has been the reason for the decline in the population of tigers in Vietnam and other countries in the region in recent decades. Some scientists estimate that Vietnam currently has less than 5 tigers in the wild. The biggest threat to tigers in Vietnam is illegal hunting and trade as well as habitat loss. Tigers are traded primarily to get bone for making tiger bones.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, Deputy Director of ENV said: “We cannot continue to lose a rare animal anymore. The extinction of the one-horned rhino in Vietnam in 2010 was a great loss. It's time we need to shift from awareness to action to protect this mighty creature before it's too late. ”
Ms. Dung called upon the community to contribute to the protection of tigers by not using tiger products, and to notify the authorities about tigers to the authorities or the free wildlife protection hotline of ENV 1800-1522 .

In contrast to the serious decline in the wild, the number of tigers kept in captivity has increased rapidly in recent years, with about 241 individuals in 17 zoos and other private facilities across the country. Over the years of investigating and monitoring tiger farms, ENV found that some facilities, including zoos, showed signs of illegal tiger trade as well as related networks. illegal wildlife trade.

“The best way to protect tigers is to let them live in the wild. This is also the message that this year's marathon to convey to the community, ”Dung emphasized.

Ms. Dung called on the authorities to take strong measures to strictly control and prevent the rapid increase in the number of tigers in captive farms because tiger farming activities as at present there are almost no conservation value. In addition, local authorities need to be proactive and aggressive in handling cases of illegal tiger confinement in households, especially in Nghe An - a hot spot for tiger trade. illegal. Ms. Dung also asked the authorities to conduct an investigation to arrest, prosecute and imprison prisoners of illegal captive and trade in tigers in this locality. In addition, owners of zoos and lawful tiger breeding facilities will also need to be severely punished if they are found to have been trafficked illegally.

ENV would like to thank the Red River Runners and Sporting Republic for hosting this event. ENV would also like to thank the volunteers in ENV's network of wildlife protection volunteers who enthusiastically participated in supporting the event.
Please see the details of the activities ENV has been doing to stop illegal tiger trade here.