This was the 12th edition of the annual “Run for Tigers”, aiming to raise funds for activities to safeguard the wildlife in Vietnam.
Along with individuals and teams from various organisations, agencies and companies, including the European Union Delegation to Vietnam and Unilever Vietnam, Miss Vietnam 1994 Nguyen Thu Thuy also joined the event which was jointly held by the Red River Runners Club, Sporting Republic Company and the Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV).
Jody O’Dea of the Red River Runners Club said that he is delighted at the support of the runners to the event, which shows public attention and desire to protect tigers.
Demands for tiger-related products are the reason behind a shrink in natural tiger herd in Asia in the recent decades.
In Vietnam, there are only about five tigers living in the nature under the threat of illegal hunting and trading.
Meanwhile, the number of caged tigers has increased rapidly to about 241 at 17 zoos and other private-owned facilities.
ENV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung said that the extinction of one-horned rhino in Vietnam in 2010 was a great loss, stressing the need to take actions to protect tigers before it is too late.
Dung called for the community to join the efforts by not using any product from tigers and report violations to authorised agencies or the hot line for wildlife protection 1800 1522.
She also underscored the need for strict measures to control and prevent the rise in caged tigers and handle illegal caging of tigers among households, especially in the central Nghe An province - a hot spot of illegal tiger trading.
Source: VNA