The organizers of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race have announced plans to raise $20,000 to run a project that aims to help protect the critically endangered Huemul, the national emblem of Chile.
The race, which is recognized as the world’s toughest and wildest race and is run to help protect the wilderness region of Chilean Patagonia, will run its ninth edition next February and organizers aim to raise the funds in time to launch the project in March 2011.
“The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race takes place in one of the most remote wilderness regions on the planet but many of its animal inhabitants are in danger of extinction and we want to do all we can to help,” said race director and project leader Stjepan Pavicic.
“This global eco-adventure was set up to raise awareness of the need to protect wilderness regions around the world and this year we have decided to put a specific focus on the Huemul as without our fundraising it would not be possible to run this specific project.
“The existence of Huemul in the Peninsular Brunswick region is only really known because of the sightings from competitors in remote regions during previous races and the route of the 2011 race will again travel through this region.
“We are therefore delighted to be raising funds through the race to set up this project and, in collaboration with the University Austral de Chile, help move towards the preservation of this endangered species throughout Chile.”
The Patagonian Huemul, a member of the deer species, is already demonstrating a classic extinction spiral, existing now in only a few small pockets of Chile, with little known about their existence in the Peninsular Brunswick region.
The aim of the project is to determine their population in this area, estimate their conservation status and finally connect with other research from around the country to develop a conservation management plan for their protection within the whole of Chile.
The project will be run by the Institute of Zoology at the University Austral of Chile, with funds raised solely through the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race and collected by race organizers Nomadas Outdoor Services.
