Maha invokes Big B, God of cricket to save tigers

As part of an initiative to create awareness and promote tiger tourism in Maharashtra, which has six tiger reserves, the BJP-led Government in the State has written to veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, requesting them to contribute to the cause as “Tiger Ambassadors”.

In near identical letters shot off to Big-B and Tendulkar in English and Marathi respectively, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar sought consent from them both to represent Maharashtra as its “Tiger Ambassadors”.

“Considering your stature and following among all sections of society, any appeal made by you to get support of the people in this task of saving the tiger will certainly go a long way in helping us in protecting the species,” stated Mungantiwar.Giving details of the proactive steps taken by the State Government to conserve tiger corridors and landscapes across the State — Melghat was first of the nine tiger reserves in the country that were brought under the “Project Tiger” umbrella — Mungantiwar said the tiger population in the State has gone up to 190 as per the latest census.

“The increase in tiger population in the State from 103 in the year 2006 to 169 in 2010 and now to 190 in 2014, as reported in the tiger estimation exercise conducted every year, is testimony to the fact that the State has consistently focussed on handling the issues related to effective tiger conservation,” said Mungantiwar.“Time has come where tiger conservation should become people’s movement. This is an issue where I seek your personal help,” Mungantiwar stated, as he invited both to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in his home district of Chandrapur in eastern Maharashtra.