Chester Zoo launches 5,000-mile challenge to protect tigers

Chester Zoo has launched a major fundraising campaign calling on supporters across the UK to collectively cover 5,000 miles and raise £10,000 to help protect tigers.

The month-long Earn Your Stripes challenge has been announced to mark International Tiger Day on 29 July and will run from 29 September until 29 October.

Chester Zoo launches 5,000-mile challenge to protect tigers — Credit: Chester Zoo

It is the first appeal of its kind organised by the conservation and education charity.

Participants will set their own distance targets, which will contribute towards the campaign’s overall 5,000-mile goal.

The distance was chosen to reflect the size of the Terai region in India, one of the last remaining strongholds for wild tigers and an area where Chester Zoo supports conservation projects.

Money raised through the challenge will support the zoo’s involvement in an international tiger breeding programme, as well as work to protect wild tiger populations in India.

Supporters can complete their chosen distance by walking, using a wheelchair, cycling or rowing. Other activities, including swimming and dancing, can also be adapted to represent a distance travelled.

Participants will be able to record their progress through the Earn Your Stripes fundraising page.

Adam Thomas, Individual Giving Assistant Manager at Chester Zoo, said:

“The zoo’s popular one-day Run for Nature event – a running event through our grounds – is already a fixture for local runners and conservation supporters, but this new fundraiser is designed to be accessible and allow participants to go at their own pace, in their own place.

“Tigers are stunning animals but sadly they are endangered and face serious threats in the wild due to habitat loss and human-tiger conflict. By signing up for Earn Your Stripes, people will have a direct impact on tiger conservation and help prevent the species becoming extinct.”

Chester Zoo is part of a European conservation breeding programme for tigers, which aims to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of the species in zoos.

The programme saw twin tiger cubs Raya and Alif born at Chester Zoo in 2023. The cubs have since moved to other European zoos, where they are expected to contribute to future breeding efforts.

Conservation breeding is regarded as an important safety net for tigers as populations in the wild continue to face pressure from habitat loss and conflict with people.

The zoo said it costs more than £400 a month to feed a breeding pair of tigers. That figure does not include the cost of keepers, veterinary care, habitat maintenance or enrichment.

Alongside its breeding work, Chester Zoo supports tiger conservation in India’s Terai region, which covers almost 5,000 square kilometres. Less than half of the area is legally protected.

As tiger habitats shrink, the animals are increasingly coming into contact with communities, leading to livestock losses, injuries and deaths involving both people and wildlife.

Chester Zoo works with local communities, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, the Wildlife Trust of India and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to manage encounters with big cats and maintain support for tiger conservation.

In 2025, the zoo launched its Wild Scouts education programme in the region.

The initiative has so far worked with 161 young people across three schools, raising awareness of human-wildlife coexistence and promoting safe behaviour in areas where tigers live.

Mayukh Chatterjee, Regional Field Programme Senior Manager for India at Chester Zoo, said:

“Wildlife and human coexistence is vital for the future of communities and tigers, but conservation is complicated and costly. Every donation will make a real difference to tigers, whether it helps train volunteer teams in India to de-escalate interactions, or supports the care of tigers at Chester Zoo.”

Members of the public can sign up for Earn Your Stripes here.