Friendly football match held at Manang's high altitude to promote tourism

KATHMANDU, Sep 15:Experts and players have said that raising awareness about the implications of climate change is essential, as are coordinated efforts to promote tourism.

Experts and national players in this field highlighted the occasion of a friendly football tournament arranged at a high altitude in the Himalayan district of Manang to promote tourism and create public awareness through the game.

A friendly football match was organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society-Nepal(BIOCOS-Nepal), Ant Foundation, and Wild and Free Foundation, with cooperation from several local levels in Manang district and promotion from the Nepal Tourism Board.

From September 11th to 13th, three local teams Manang, Kajinsara Yak, Pisang Yak, and Manang Yak  played a friendly football match at Timang, Pisang, and Manang Mungji in Manang. The game featured notable Nepalese artists and players.

The competitions were held at elevations ranging from 2800 to 3600 meters above sea level. The Himalayan Snow Leopard won the match at Timang after scoring four goals against Team Kajinsara Yak.

Similarly, on the second day in Pisang, the Himalayan Snow Leopard defeated the Pisang Yak team by three goals to one, and on the third day in Manang Mungji Bhraka, the Himalayan Snow Leopard defeated the Manang Yak team by two goals to one.

All three contests were won by the Himalayan Snow Leopard.

Shuprabha Khanal Dhungel, the Chief District Officer of Manang, stated that Manang has enormous tourism potential. She told me that this type of game will help to prevent conflict between humans and wild animals while also encouraging tourism by enlightening people about the effects of climate change on the Himalayan region.

According to Paras Bikram Singh, director of BIOCOS-Nepal, the friendly game was planned with the goals of safeguarding Himalayan snow leopards and yaks, promoting and promoting Eco tourism, and raising public awareness about climate change.

Similarly, Prashant Tamrakar, the founder and chairman of the organizer Ant Foundation, stated that the program is expected to aid in the conservation of the endangered snow leopard and other wild creatures, as well as the promotion of sports tourism/ecotourism.

Kancha Ghale, Chairman of Manang Chisyang Rural Municipality, stated that the program arranged in Manang will tremendously contribute in the promotion of tourism in Nepal.

There are approximately 12 to 15 endangered snow leopards in the area. Due to the increasing rate of extinction of the snow leopard's main diet Naaur, specialists studying in this subject insist that the conservation of Naaur is also vital for the protection of snow leopards and yaks.