·       Celebrations held for Global Tiger Day
The Central Government is committed to maintain environmental balance and achieve development. Forests and wildlife play a vital role in maintaining the eco-system and it is the duty of people to protect and conserve them, said Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on Friday.
The management of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve organised a programme in Forest Academy at Chandrapur on Friday as part of celebrations of the Global Tiger Day. Ashiwini Kumar Chaubey, Union Minister of State, Â Kishor Jorgewar, Legislator, S P Yadav, Secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, Delhi, Vibhash Ranjan, Addl Director General (Wildlife), Sunil Limaye, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Maharashtra, were the guests of honour.
Bhupender Yadav further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government was undertaking various measures for tiger security, tribal safety, biodiversity protection, water resources/conservation etc in cooperation with locals for achieving desired results for nature protection. Out of a total population of tigers in the world, 75 per cent big cats are safe in India. Of the 52 tiger reserves in the country as many as 17 parks obtained international standard. The credit goes to forest officers, field staff and local communities, he pointed out.
Chaubey in his address mentioned that it was a good sign that the number of tigers is increasing in the country. The government always gave stress on protection/conservation of tigers and adopted strict action against poachers. Three Ts in Tiger, T-Garden and Taj Mahal gave a special identity to the country, he added.
On the occasion, the guests felicitated forest officers from different places in the country in appreciation of their outstanding services and gave them cash prizes and certificates.
At the outset, jawans from Special Tiger Protection Force took out a parade in hour of the guests. Sunil Limaye made introductory remarks while Shweta Shelgaonakr conducted the programme. Amit Malik proposed a vote of thanks. Ajay Gulhane, Collector, Chandrapur, Arvind Salve, Superintendent of Police, Praveen Lonkar, CCF, Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Field Director, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, G Guruprasad, Deputy Director, Jitesh Malhotra, Dy Conservator of Forest, forest officers, staff and prominent citizens were present.
Similarly, Pench Tiger Reserve also celebrated Global Tiger Day at nature interpretation centre, Amaltas, Sillari, on Friday. An event ‘Run for Tiger’ was also held in Pench while the run was for seven km from Sillari gate to Paoni gate in which around 150 youths, including 30 girls, from adjoining villages participated.
Yogesh Kumbhejkar, Chief Executive Officer, Nagpur ZP, was the chief guest while Ajinkya Bhatkar, Honorary Wildlife Warden, was the guest of honour. Dr Prabhu Nath Shukla, Deputy Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, presided over the function.
In his address, Kumbhejkar appreciated frontline staff members for their contribution in protection and conservation of the big cats while Dr Shukla dwelt with various activities carried out for livelihood development on west side of the tiger reserve, Van Adhyapak Scheme and other aspects.
Atul Deokar, Asstt Conservator of Forest, Pench, made introductory remarks. Mangesh Tate, RFO, conducted the programme while Sanjay Parekar, Round Officer, proposed a vote of thanks. Rahul Shinde, Abhijit Ilamkar, Sanjay Mohod, Vishal Chavan, all RFOs, and others were present.
Ashish Jaiswal, MLA, Ramtek, flagged off the run and said the people from his constituency are proud to have around 50 tigers in this tiger reserve. Vicky Raut won first position while Kalyani Tonge was first among females. The winners were felicitated by presenting cash prizes and certificates.
Moreover, Satpude Foundation also celebrated the Global Tiger Day with school students and teachers in buffer area of Sawara village in Pench Tiger Reserve with audio-visual presentation, lecture and interactive discussion session. Bandu Uikey, Conservation Officer, explained on the efforts made during the past two decades resulted in increasing the number of tigers in India. The school students volunteered to paint colourful pictures on tiger, its prey and habitat, informed Mandar Pingle.
Similarly, Transit Treatment Centre, Seminary Hills, Forest Department and Widllife Research & Training Centre celebrated the Day at Harisingh Hall on Friday. Dr Bhagat Singh Hada, Dy Conservator of Forest, who was the chief guest, appreciated activities of the centre and assured to extend help for saving wildlife, treatment and research. Kundan Hate, Member, State Board for Wildlife, explained on care to be taken on the field while rescuing tiger and maintaining co-ordination between the department ts concerned.
Dr Mayur Pawse conducted the function in which Surendra Kale, ACF, Vijay Gangawane, Ghadge, Reena Rathod, Sarika Admane-Vairagade, All, RFOs, Sunil Akulwar, Superintending Engineer, MIDC, Kanshiram Barhanpure, PRO, veterinary students, forest staff and workers were present. Maharajbag zoo also celebrated the Day by undertaking plantation of 100 bamboo saplings in the premises. Dr Sunil Bawaskar, In-charge Officer of the zoo, Dr Abhijit Motghare, Jaikumar Darwade, Mahesh Pande and staff members were present.
