Worth More Alive

"If you happen to see pictures of a Bengal tiger jogging adjacent to the London's Houses of Parliament, don't be surprised or alarmed. It is merely a training run for the London Marathon as well as a shameless promotion of the tiger's plight" says award-winning UK wildlife photographer, Paul Goldstein.

The cost of a single tiger pelt can go for as much as $140,000 in China, Indonesia and Sumatra. Their bones and penises are used in 'traditional medicine' to inflate the flaccid libidos of the rich and the misguided. Buyers for the body parts, be they teeth, penises or bones come from various circles, and they believe the tigers' symbols of strength, charisma and power can be replicated by digesting these body parts. It is this delusion that leads to rampant poaching.

Giving local people in successful reserves a protective ownership of their four legged neighbors means there is light at the end of the tunnel. "I want to raise thousands with my marathon attempt. The money will go to helping ensure Bandhavgarh remains a tiger stronghold for years to come. As I train on wet and cold pavements in south London there is not a moment that I do not think of crossing that finishing line, suited and delirious, not only with fatigue but also with the thought of just what this money can do".

"Tigers need tourism and most importantly our projects need money. They do not need d-list celebrities crying crocodile tears over them in gushing documentaries. They need passion and payment, which is what hundreds of Exodus clients have already shown. The generosity so far has been overwhelming. This money will buy solar lamps for the park, more patrol vehicles and crucially, if there is enough, a new bus to enable 'buffer-zone' villages to make regular excursions into the park, so they do not feel disenfranchised. This will all have a benefit for the local population, the tourists and by default the tiger."

What you can do

If you would like to sponsor Paul's marathon effort, please visit his Just Giving page

Tours that visit and support the India's National Parks:

Paul Goldstein is an award-winning wildlife photographer, conservationist, author and presenter and a frequent guest guide on our Exodus wildlife programs.