To raise awareness about red panda conservation, an international marathon is set to be held on Ashwin 5, coinciding with Red Panda Day. Organized by the Himalayan Conservation Forum, the marathon will require participants to cover a distance of 48 kilometers.
Ramesh Rai, Program Coordinator of the Himalayan Conservation Forum, expressed expectations that the marathon will significantly contribute to red panda conservation efforts. The marathon route has been established in the Pathibhara area, a crucial habitat for red pandas. The course will begin at the Phungling market and include a 24-kilometer uphill trek to the Pathibhara shrine, located at an elevation of 3,794 meters. Participants will then descend the same distance back to the Phungling market, completing the 48-kilometer journey.
The event, which is already in the preparatory stages, aims to boost tourism and biodiversity in the Taplejung region, according to Rai. The marathon will be supported by the Red Panda Network and the Phungling Municipality. Red Panda Day, celebrated annually on September 21, will feature this marathon as a special event to enhance local awareness about the importance of red panda conservation.
Field Coordinator Sushma Dangi announced that the top winner of the marathon will receive NPR 100,000. The first, second, and third-place finishers in the men’s and women’s categories will be awarded NPR 50,000, NPR 30,000, and NPR 20,000, respectively. Additionally, extra prizes will be given to runners from Taplejung, Panchthar, and Ilam, with the top three receiving NPR 15,000, NPR 10,000, and NPR 5,000, respectively.
International participants will face a registration fee of USD 100, while Nepali runners will be charged NPR 3,000. Runners from Taplejung, Panchthar, and Ilam will have a reduced registration fee of NPR 1,000.
The Red Panda Network will contribute NPR 1 million towards the marathon, and the Phungling Municipality has allocated NPR 500,000. Chirring Lama, Chief of the Taplejung District Coordination Committee, believes that the marathon will help establish Taplejung as a global center for conservation and tourism. The organizers hope that the marathon will serve as a campaign to educate locals about the importance of preserving the red panda’s natural habitat.
