The Himalayan district of Manang is currently bustling with excitement as a friendly football match is being held to promote the conservation of snow leopards and yaks. The high-altitude event is the second of its kind, organized by Biocos Nepal (Society for Biodiversity Conservation) and the Ant Foundation, to raise awareness about wildlife conservation, promote eco-tourism, and encourage coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Vinod Gurung, President of the Manang Tourism Entrepreneurs’ Association, stated that the match was organized to inspire locals to conserve snow leopards, yaks, and other wildlife. The event also aims to inform the public about the effects of climate change on Himalayan regions and promote sustainable eco-tourism.
The first match is being held at Timang, which is situated at an altitude of 2,600 meters, from September 19 to 23, while the second match is scheduled to take place on September 22 at Munji, which sits at an altitude of 3,500 meters, according to Dr. Paras Vikram Singh, Director of Biocos Nepal.
“We are using sports to spread awareness about the conservation of Manang’s biodiversity. Snow leopards and yaks are deeply connected to our lives, and without them, our ecosystem would suffer greatly. This event is helping raise awareness and promoting tourism at the same time,” said Dr. Singh.
The friendly football competition features two teams: Himalayan Snow Leopards, which consists of national-level athletes, celebrities, singers, and pageant winners, and the local teams Kanjisara Yak and Manang Ngisyang Yak, composed of local youths. Prashant Tamrakar, founder of the Ant Foundation, confirmed that the Kanjisara Yak team has already played, and the match featuring Manang Ngisyang Yak will take place today.
The Himalayan Snow Leopards team includes well-known personalities such as actor Prashant Tamrakar, Menuka Pradhan, Sushil Shrestha, Reshma Pun, and Asusen Lama. Additionally, football players Anil Gurung, Asmita Ranpal, Rajendra Lama, and Binod Dangol will participate. The team also features Miss Nepal World Asmita Kumari KC, Mr. Nepal Santosh Lokusum, mountaineer Maya Sherpa, and TV director Aman Pratap Adhikari, along with conservationist Dr. Paras Vikram Singh and eye specialist Dr. Kishore Pradhan.
The friendly matches are organized in collaboration with the Chame and Manang Ngisyang rural municipalities, with support from the National Nature Conservation Fund, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Conservation Area Management Committee, Manang District Football Association, and Namaste Manang. Lokendra Bahadur Ghale, Chairperson of Chame Rural Municipality, expressed his belief that the event is raising awareness among locals about the importance of wildlife conservation.
“Last year’s friendly match helped locals realize the need to protect snow leopards, yaks, and other wildlife that are closely connected to our lives,” Ghale said.
This initiative aims to promote awareness about biodiversity conservation through sports, and local authorities have noted an increase in consciousness about wildlife protection. Some local governments have even allocated special budgets for wildlife conservation. The friendly football matches are being played under the slogan “Together for Snow Leopards and Yaks,” with several matches taking place across various locations in the district.
