The words ‘Save Our Tigers…only 1411 left’ stare out at you, accompanied by a picture of a cute little tiger that makes you go ‘Awww….sooo cute!’. In how many places have we seen these hoardings? – Countless probably.
I’ve received many emails too, asking me to ‘pledge my support’. All I had to do was register and voila – I was supporting tigers! A number of ‘celebrities’ (quotes coz I hate that word, many people don’t deserve to be in that category) ‘pledged’ their support. A crop of websites popped up too, to campaign for the issue.
But, will this all help?
I happened to visit the 'Save Our Tigers' website and was aghast at what I saw in the ‘Be Informed’ link. The last update was on August 21, 2009 (!) and the link to the file read ‘66 tigers dead in 8 months’. Well, that is how informed we are on the issue!
It has been almost 9 months since the campaign started…hasn’t there been ANY change in the number of tigers since then? No births or deaths??? Even the brand new banners or websites carry the same message ‘Save our tigers…only 1411 left’ specific to the units place, is it even accurate data?
Hundreds of people have ‘pledged their support’, so what? Is it of any use? What are the activities taken up to ensure that the tiger population thrives? What has been done to save our tigers in the past 8 months???
And the most important question I would like to ask…did everyone suddenly realize the dwindling tiger population only now? I don’t think the number of tigers plummeted from tens of thousands to ‘1411’ in a few days! As far as I know I think the dwindling tiger population has been a problem from not less than 10 years. What were all these people doing all these days? What are they doing now???
I think it’s high time to stop the hype and take action; just ‘pledging support’ won’t help in any way.
Corrupt officials who partake in poaching should be removed…but I know that this idea is too far-fetched (the whole topic of corruption is like a huge dirt pit, too deep and wide to fathom and there’s no end to it).
Maybe from now on each ‘celebrity’ and each organization should adopt a tiger since its birth, sponsor it and be responsible for it and its safety completely - Just like how villages are adopted for development. But who wants responsibility? Everyone wants to just ‘pledge their support’ (I’m beginning to hate this phrase) throw in some money (God knows if this really reaches the right place) and announce to the world that they’ve, well, ‘pledged….’
Let’s just hope that these pledges translate to actions somehow and do save these magnificent creatures from disappearing from our country….and planet.
6 comments:
A very beautiful topic to choose !!! Completely second what you've said !! I really didn't understand how we can 'pledge our support' and how it can actually save the tigers !!! Its all a bit of hype and a gimmick of our people who luv to dirtily discuss a topic till they find a new one !!
Very Well put!! Same thing applies to many e-groups. Every one is willing to subscribe and "pledge" their support if it does not cost a penny. (Recently some one posted a message on my blog asking me to join egroup that is against student suicides. I never understood how it can help. anyways) Especially in tiger case there is hardly anything a common man can do, I dont know if any one wants to adopt a tiger and raise in their own backyard. Instead govt must put stringent laws against hunting them down and provide better nutrition to existing ones in zoos.
Anu. Infact, when a friend of mine was told to SAVE TIGER. He saved the tiger image on his PC :P. J/k
Action is more important than hype. We ourselves cannot do directly anything immediately to increase the population of the Tigers.However, we cannot do much except for keeping ourselves updated and pledging that we will save tiger..... :(
However, I have a point to mention. Awareness is very very important in any issue. Creating awareness solves the issues to larger extent in somany cases. For example, earlier I used to wonder why the hell do people celebrate AIDS days, Cancer Day etc etc...Atleast on this pretext people get to know actual and more info about those diseases or issues. If people don't have knowledge about those issues they have unnecessary myths lingering in their mind and they unknowingly hate the victims of those diseases. Similarly, in this Save tiger campaign, the awareness factor is successful, the next and main step is SAVING TIGER by the Government :)
Yup Anu!!! Right topic and rightly put!! Jus saying that we support doesn't help...Prarthinche pedavulakanna saayam chese chethulu minna!!!This is applicable to each one of us!!
Wow! I am bowled over! quite rightly put! :)
Hey annapurna ..
this is Chepuri Srinivas ( Tarun's friend ) .. !!
So pleasantly surprised meeting you in the blog space .. !!
Read all of your posts .. :)
But, this one interested me the most .. i srsly wonder how these campaigns can actually help ?? how does taking these pledges help ?? how does "joining the roar" help ?? ..
ppl are making money from these campaigns .. thats it no one is actually bothered .. the money they r putting into campaign can be diverted to provide good comforts to those poor animals .. !!
very well put .. !!
btw speaking of the "save our tigers" website .. i jz now tried to open the site but my system found some virus in it nd didnt allow me to get into it .. !! :D .. thats how it is maintained .. !!
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