PUNE: In celebration of International Tiger Day today, the Pune-based Jungle Belles hosted a special awareness session for school students under their initiative ‘Supermom of our Forests’ at B.V.B. Paranjape Vidya Mandir K.M. Munshi Kaladalan, 4th Floor, Kothrud, Pune, to introduce children to the remarkable lives of tigresses and to foster a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation.

Paranjape Vidya Mandir’s Secondary Headmistress, Smita Ranjekar, Primary Headmistress, Abhijata Chavan, Teachers of 5th and 6th standards of  Paranjape Vidya Mandir, Hemangi Vartak, founder of Jungle Belles, Sanjay Deshpande, Madhulika Tijare, Saurabh Chavan, Parth Salunke, Siddhesh Sonawane were present at the occasion.

Hemangi Vartak, through stories, visuals, and interactive discussions, brought to life the struggles and strength of the tigress, the top predator and arguably the most powerful mother in the forest.

She introduced the audience to some of India’s most iconic tigresses, including Chhoti Tara and Maya from Tadoba, Junabai from Tadoba Buffer, Mataram from Pench, Mausi Ma from Sanjay Gandhi National Park, K-Mark from Kolara, and others like F2 and Fairy from Umred Karandla. Students were shown photographs of these tigresses and learned fascinating facts about their lives, territories, and cubs.

She explained that a tigress usually lives for about 14 years. In her lifetime, she gives birth to 4 to 5 sets of cubs, with 1 to 5 cubs each time. Her pregnancy lasts around 3 months, and she takes care of her cubs for nearly 2.5 years. She raises them all on her own, without help from the male tiger. The tigress hunts, protects, and feeds her cubs by herself. This is why she is truly a ‘supermom’. She survives and raises her family using only her instincts and strong willpower.

The session also shed light on the conservation efforts of the Indian government, particularly Project Tiger, which has been active since 1973. Vartak explained how modern tools like GPS collars, mobile apps, and camera traps are now used to monitor tiger movements and ensure their safety. She also discussed measures such as forest patrolling, the creation of safe buffer zones, and community education in villages near forests.

Students participated eagerly, asking questions about tiger behavior, conservation, and how they could contribute to protecting wildlife. The session concluded with a message of hope and responsibility: that every young person can be a part of preserving the majestic tigress and her home in the wild.

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Starting in 2017, Westend Tiger Trail has emerged as a key aspect of the mall’s CSR initiatives, aimed at fostering tiger conservation, promoting tiger tourism, and encouraging wildlife photography.

The event will feature a captivating exhibition of stunning tiger photographs submitted by wildlife photographers from across India. To engage the community further, the mall will also host a drawing competition on the theme ‘Save the Tiger’ for school children, along with a quiz for mall visitors. The event will culminate in an awards ceremony where renowned wildlife photographers such as Shivang Mehta, Rahul Sachdev, Sudhir Shivaram, and Sushil Chikane will judge the entries and recognize the top talents.

Over the years, Westend Tiger Trail has garnered immense support from various brands and organizations such as Panna Tiger Reserve, Guard Board, RESQ, Greeto Resorts Wildcraft, Woodland, Helios, and others. This year promises to be even bigger and better. The latest edition in 2023 attracted over 350 participants and more than 1000 images, with the Chief of the Forest Department gracing the event and commending the efforts.

Join us in celebrating the event and showing our support and efforts in promoting wildlife conservation. The “Westend Tiger Trail” promises an engaging and educational experience for all attendees.

Event Details-

• When: 27th July to 29th July 2024
• Location: Nexus Westend Mall, Pune
• Time: 12 pm – 8 pm

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MUMBAI: The Aurika, Mumbai Skycity, set the stage for a grand gala dinner hosted by Shri Sudhir Sachchidanand Mungantiwar, the esteemed Cabinet Minister for Forests, Cultural Affairs, and Fisheries in the Maharashtra Government. The event highlighted the Government’s “Save the Tiger” Campaign.

The Miss World team was enthralled by a mesmerizing performance of dancers, donning majestic tiger costumes. The captivating presentation served as a stark reminder to preserve these magnificent creatures and their habitat.

Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, Ms. Julia Morley CBE said, “As ambassadors for positive change, we are proud to be invited to a gala that advocated such a strong message. Tigers are not just symbols of beauty and strength; they are vital to maintaining the ecological balance of our planet. Being driven by purpose, we are glad to see the efforts that are ensuring a sustainable future for these iconic animals.”

Shri Sudhir Sachchidanand Mungantiwar said, “The remarkable increase in tiger numbers from 3,890 in 2016 to 5,575 in 2023, with India and Nepal leading the charge by doubling the figures, is a testament to our collective dedication to preserving these magnificent big cats. Given the global influence of the Miss World team, hosting them seemed instrumental in taking the continued success of tiger conservation global, so that they can thrive in the wild for generations to come.”

The campaign aims to shed light on the imminent threats faced by tigers due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

Successful Tiger count increase is the outcome of strategies of the government promoting coexistence among the communities around forests and wildlife. We are organizing the “Tadoba Festival” in Chandrapur, the tiger capital of the world from March 1 to 3, 2024 to celebrate this success as well as to take these coexistence strategies global for the conservation of our wildlife for future generations. I extend my invitation to the Miss World team and contestants to visit the Tadoba Festival and Tadoba Safari during the Tadoba Festival next week.

The grand finale on March 9, 2024, at Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app. 

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