Amitabh to promote ‘Save our Tigers' initiative

The Hindu , Friday, March 26, 2010
Correspondent : Madhur Tankha
The Bollywood icon will lend his face and voice for a series of campaigns by NDTV

Actor Amitabh Bachchan signs on a banner, watched by NDTV Executive Chairperson Prannoy Roy (right), during the “Save Our Tigers” campaign in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday announced that he would lend his face and voice to save the majestic tiger from becoming extinct.

As ambassador of the “Save our Tigers” campaign initiated by NDTV and Aircel, Mr. Bachchan will use his charisma and popularity to drive home the message to save tiger.

Mr. Bachchan said: “The tiger is symbolic of our country's wildlife wealth and is in danger because of rampant poaching and the ineffectiveness of our systems to stop its killing.”

“Collective action is the need of the hour. It is for the government, wildlife experts, the media and the public to come together and effect a change. It is our responsibility to not only initiate a public movement but also to ensure that it gains momentum across the nation.”

The campaign will enable all stakeholders to take affirmative action for tiger conservation in each State, based on the common agenda.

When Mr. Bachchan received a call from NDTV's Executive Chairperson Prannoy Roy about the campaign to save the tiger, he immediately agreed as the cause concerned “our nature and environment.”

“If my face and voice can be used to impress people about a national cause then I am all for it. I liked the fact that the electronic media has started this campaign as its penetration is more. It was important that awareness to save this beautiful animal was propagated across our country,” added the senior actor at a press conference here.

Pointing out that the tiger was our national entity, Mr. Bachchan said: “We should leave the tiger alone so that it doesn't feel entrenched. In the coming months if I can convince even one person about the need to follow this righteous path then I will be extremely happy. As artistes our faces are used to endorse products that attract consumers and if they can be converted into supporting a national cause then I will be extremely gratified.”

Mr. Bachchan, who flew in from Mumbai, said he had gone to the NDTV studio to shoot for a succession of campaigns that would hopefully be aired soon.

Dr. Roy said that when he explained what the campaign was all about, Mr. Bachchan didn't take a second to give his nod. He was inundated with so many such requests but he took out a great deal of his time for the tiger campaign.

“Two years ago, we were the first ones to draw the attention of citizens and the government to the rapid decline of the tiger population in India. Our signature campaign, ‘Save the Tiger,' led to the formation of a Special Tiger Protection Force by the Prime Minister.”

WWF India secretary-general and CEO Ravi Singh said the campaign was centred on creating awareness about the present status of tigers in India. As a principal issue, the tiger needed all the help that could be focused at this juncture.

 
SOURCE : http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/26/stories/2010032665000800.htm
 


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