Amitabh Bachchan, who is the tiger ambassador of Maharashtra, has flagged off a motorbike rally in the state that will pass through four tiger reserves in the State.
The seven-day rally is aimed at promoting conservation of the big cat and eco-tourism in the State.
Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said 23 bikers, belonging to the group ‘Riding Knights’ and working in the corporate sector, will take part in the tiger conservation rally that started from Bachchan’s ‘Janak’ office in suburban Juhu at 7am.
“The bikers will visit villages located near tiger reserves. They will interact with the people living in the vicinity of these reserves and explain to them the importance of forests and conservation of wild animals,” Mungantiwar told PTI.
The rally participants will also take feedback from villagers on the kind of development they want for these reserves and areas surrounding them, he said.
“We will collect their suggestions, their thoughts about the future of these forests and then take appropriate steps,” the Minister said.
“These bikers, who all hold executive positions in the corporate sector, had themselves approached us and told us they have heard about our mission of tiger conservation and that they want to contribute towards the good work being done by the Forest department,” Mungantiwar said.
As per as 2014 census, Maharashtra is home to 190 tigers. The State has recorded a steady rise in tiger count – from 103 in 2006 to 169 in 2010 and 190 in 2014.