Big B bats to save big cat population

Megastar Amitabh     Bachchan, who     has been appointed as Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for tigers, has appealed people to save the big cat’s rapidly dwindling population. Beginning the endeavor, the 72-year-old actor took a jungle safari in Sanjay Gandhi National Park in suburban Mumbai last evening along with ministers and politicians. “I will consider myself worthy as a brand ambassador when tiger preservation and securing their safety becomes successful. If my voice or face can provide anything good to this initiative, I will pledge myself for it,” Bachchan told reporters here at the event. The Piku star took jungle safari and he had a great time. “I have been in Mumbai for 65 years. But the safari showed me images that I have never seen before. And these are the things that makes me work for it. What makes me proud is that in the middle of the city, there is a national park which is a miracle and we have to save it.” Bachchan revealed Maharashtra is home to the largest number of tigers in India.
“When we were moving from 19th to 20th century, the tiger count was 40,000. In 2008, it reduced to 1411. The movement that started after that has made it reach 2226 in number,” he said. On the occasion, Big B launched two Safari buses at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The event has been organised as a part of ‘Wildlife Week’ celebrations and it was attended by Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. (PTI)