Where will all these tigers go?: Randeep Hooda raises concern over shrinking habitats

Mumbai: Actor Randeep Hooda marked International Tiger Day on Tuesday by sharing a powerful message on social media, urging greater awareness and action for tiger conservation. Known for his deep commitment to wildlife and environmental causes, the 'Jaat' actor posted a series of striking photographs featuring tigers and reflected on his personal experiences observing them in the wild.

“I’ve had the good fortune of witnessing tigers in varied habitats across our beautiful country. I can tell you personally that there is no view as majestic and as primal as a tiger in nature,” he wrote.

In his caption, Hooda emphasised the broader ecological significance of tiger conservation, stating, “International Tiger Day is not just about the tiger. The presence of a tiger on any land basically means that millions of species of flora and fauna are thriving there. India leads the world in tiger conservation and the number of tigers has increased, but the habitats are shrinking due to diversion of land for other purposes. Where will these increased number of tigers go? To protect the tiger is to protect the habitats, the planet, and in turn, protect us… let’s save ourselves.”

International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is observed every year on July 29 to raise global awareness about the plight of tigers and the urgent need to preserve their natural habitats. The initiative was first launched in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia, where representatives from 13 tiger-range countries committed to the “Tx2” goal, an ambitious pledge to double the population of wild tigers by 2022. Randeep Hooda’s post served as a timely reminder of the critical role tigers play in maintaining balanced ecosystems and the need for sustained efforts to protect them.

IANS inputs