JERANTUT, Dec 15 — An ecotourism resort plans to raise greater awareness on the importance of conserving Malaysia’s national icon, the Malayan Tiger, besides promoting Taman Negara’s ecotourism attractions by organising the Taman Negara Tekoma Marathon here on December 31.
The event will comprise a 42 km marathon and a 21 km half-marathon, which will take participants through Taman Negara’s lush rainforests that are said to be more than 130 million years old to promote the splendour of the country’s rich forest landscape, said organising chairman Louis Oui.
“There is so much that our rainforests can offer to promote Malaysia to the world,” said Oui, who is also the chief executive officer of Tekoma Resort here.
He said the event was part of his resort’s contributions towards raising funds and awareness on the conservation of the critically endangered Malayan Tiger, which has dwindled to around 150 from 3,000 in the last 100 years.
Oui said proceeds from the entry fees would be used to help save the Malayan Tiger through various initiatives undertaken by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan).
These include enriching tiger habitats with greater food sources, tiger breeding, increasing patrols and enforcement against poachers, rehabilitating and releasing tigers into the wild, and promoting the adoption of tigers at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
The Malayan Tiger plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance in the forest ecosystem in terms of balancing the food chain.
He said the event had received the support of Perhilitan, Tourism Malaysia and the Office of the Commissioner of Sports.
Participation is via online registration with the technical support team’s website at www.pacerssport.com. The closing date is December 25.
— Bernama
