A wildlife campaigner is nearing the end of a 1,000-mile walk across Britain with a nine-foot tiger on his back. Paul Goldstein, a wildlife guide and photographer, is 826 miles into the challenge and is due to cross into Cornwall this weekend.
The walk is part of the 2 Legs for 4 campaign, raising funds for frontline tiger conservation in India and Bhutan through the UK conservation charity Explorers Against Extinction.
Goldstein started at Holyhead, Anglesey, on July 7 and completed the first 500 miles at Southend-on-Sea at the end of July. He resumed the challenge on August 20 after a pre-arranged wildlife guiding expedition in Alaska, and is due to finish at Land's End on Saturday, September 12.
Paul and the tiger have completed more than 50 marathons together, including the Everest Marathon in 2022, but he maintains this is by far their most gruelling challenge.
Since reaching the south coast over the Bank Holiday weekend, he has battled driving rain, 35-knot headwinds and punishing coastal terrain, while managing an increasingly painful lower back with anti-inflammatory painkillers and physio.
Despite the punishment, Goldstein has passed the 800-mile milestone and raised more than £36,000 towards his £50,000 target.
As the challenge entered the South West, TV presenter and adventurer Simon Reeve joined his friend on the trail, walking a half marathon with him between Bridport and Beer. Reeve backed Goldstein to complete the challenge despite the increasingly punishing conditions.
He said: “Paul will see this through to the end. Even with broken claws, I sense he will make it.”
“The world is in a tricky state and there’s a lot of beautiful, magnificent life out there that needs passion and fury to care for it and protect it – and I’ll tell you what, Paul’s got both.”
Paul is due to cross into Cornwall tomorrow (Sunday, September 6), with just six days remaining before the finish at Land’s End.
Campaigner Carries Nine-Foot Tiger on 1,000-Mile Trek to Cornwall