By: Natalia Trita Agnika

Early in the morning, three people wearing tiger T-shirts with #Run4Tigers written on them ran energetically among other runners at the Titan Run in Alam Sutera, Serpong on Saturday (06/08). The run was one of a series of runs conducted as part of the #Run4Tigers #DoubleTigers campaign.

The #Run4Tigers #DoubleTigers campaign is a movement supported by WWF-Indonesia to echo the message of tiger conservation through marathon running or similar activities. This movement is open to all people who have a concern for tiger conservation efforts. The more people who contribute, the wider the chance for tigers to survive in nature.

In this campaign, there are people who have concerns about Sumatran tiger conservation issues. They are referred to as Team Tigers. Activities are not limited to running. Cycling, swimming, or other activities can be done to support Sumatran tiger conservation. However, the first step to promote #Run4Tigers is the running activities that Team Tigers has done at the LBRN x Run for Tigers running event in Riau (July 15, 2016) and Titan Run (August 6, 2016). The team is also preparing to take part in the Bali Marathon on Sunday (28/08).

Ahead of the Bali Marathon, around 30 Team Tigers runners have made various preparations to run on behalf of #Run4Tigers. Pambudi Bayuseno, Jamaica Café personnel who is also an Honorary WWF Supporter is one of the members of Team Tigers. He was very excited to be able to train with friends from Riau and experience running in the "home" of the Sumatran tiger. "When we were about to land in Pekanbaru, when we were still on the plane and saw the forest, as far as the eye could see, it was all palm trees. Therefore, we must protect tigers, elephants and orangutans immediately because their forests are almost gone," he said when met at the Tiger Papier Mache exhibition at Senayan City some time ago.

Rafselia Novalina is also part of Team Tigers. The woman who lives in Pekanbaru, Riau and often visits Rimbang Baling, one of the Sumatran tiger habitat enclave conservation areas, has her own reasons for joining #Run4Tigers. "When I was a child, my parents told me to respect the Sumatran tiger in Minangkabau. Inyiak which has always been respected, now there are only 371 individuals left in nature. It's sad and heartbreaking to see that fact," he explained. Therefore, he wants to do more and take real action for the preservation of Sumatran tigers. "By running, I am able to introduce Sumatran tigers to people around me directly through a chat or through social media accounts," he added.

Together with Rafselia and Bayu Jamaica Café, you can also join Team Tigers. You can run or do other activities in your respective cities when the Bali Marathon takes place on Sunday (28/08). Share your moments of support through social media with the hashtag #Run4Tigers #DoubleTigers.

Beyond running, Team Tigers can also help raise funds by becoming a fundraiser through the www.kitabisa.com/partners/doubletigers page. Those of you who are already running, actively promoting your support on social media, and helping to raise funds, can send your details (name, email, phone number) via email to dsetyorini@wwf.id. 20 lucky runners will receive 20 limited edition jerseys from Team Tigers. (Email can be sent no later than August 27, 2016).

Rafselia hopes that with her participation in the run, more people will recognize Sumatran tigers and forests and do good to nature. The more people who echo the conservation message for the preservation of Sumatran tigers, then this charismatic animal of Indonesian pride will have a higher chance to live sustainably in its habitat.

Let's join Team Tigers!