Photo: Gaurav and Valmi Shirodkar.The event was held a day after July 29 (Global Tiger Day), when a new global Save the Tiger campaign called Leave Me Alone was launched by Sanctuary Asia and Save the Tiger, the Facebook tiger conservation social media platform with 2.7 million supporters with active support from the Wildlife and Forest Department of Government of Maharashtra.
In his address, Chavan said awareness about the need to protect the tiger has increased tremendously in the state. He reiterated that poaching won't be tolerated in the state and reaffirmed that the tiger will always be provided space and protection in the state.
The Chief Minister announced that he has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the inter-state poaching network. He added that people living around forests have to support the government in their efforts to curb illegal trade.
Photo: Gaurav and Valmi Shirodkar.“Local people have to be involved in conservation so that the tiger has a better chance of survival. At the same time we must ensure that excess commercialisation does not happen. I am sure that we will be able to strike a balance," he said.
He also complimented the efforts of the Maharashtra Forest Department and Sanctuary Asia for taking such an initiative.
Photo: Gaurav and Valmi Shirodkar.Dr. Kadam lit a pyre with tiger and leopard skins and was joined by credible celebrities such as Dia Mirza, Om Puri, Kitu Gidwani and Raj Krishnani of Save the Tigers, who are part of the Leave Me Alone campaign.
“We have made continuous efforts to target the organised poaching syndicate. A lot of effort stills needs to be directed towards it. People have proactively taken part in conservation efforts in Maharashtra and we expect that trend to continue," said Pardeshi.
Photo: Gaurav and Valmi Shirodkar.Officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department who were present at the event were more than eager to lend their voice for the campaign. “I am the voice of the tiger, leave me alone," they said collectively to the camera.
Supporting mud-on-their-boots individuals in their conservation work is one of the primary aims of the Leave Me Alone campaign and the event most definitely gave the campaign a push in that direction.
Photo: Gaurav and Valmi Shirodkar.Source: Sanctuary Asia.
