Tigers! Only 1411 left! You kidding me????

I've been seeing the 'Save our Tigers' campaign for over a fortnight now and been thinking of writing something every time the little cub howls over the screen. But then as the ad ends, they would always claim that only 1411 were left and that we should do anything we can to spread awareness about saving them and that would tick me off!

I for one, am not too sure that even 1411 are left now. We all know how the Indian government machinery works. When its a crime scene, they divide the figures by 2 and present it while for something like the national animal going extinct they would surely be multiplying the figure by 2 and presenting it. After all, they don't want to look bad to the public. Its votes after all!

Anyhow, to the subject now. Last year, Mohit and I went to Ranthambore to see tigers in the National Park. We spotted a pair of male and female tiger on our second trip in the park which was denser and more wild than I expected. But when we saw the tigers, it was a feeling beyond any. The wildness seemed to fill up our hearts and we seemed to be braver than before.

There was a thrill like none before. I didn't feel like this even when I met my husband. Now you know the thrill I'm trying to express. The bravado of the big tigers who were in a playful mood seemed to fill the 50 odd crowd that had assembled to sight the majestic animal. Seeing the animal in its natural habitat with a fear of him getting angry and striking you coupled with the elation that his commanding stature presented was a feeling beyond any.

The 30 minute entertainment that the two tigers presented us on Terra fer-ma, aqua pura and hardwood alike was something I cannot comprehend in words. We came back overjoyed with a story to tell to people for the next six months to come.

Later I heard from one of the guides that we were lucky that we got to see two tigers. Most people cannot even see one in their full lifetime. Why? I wondered that time. The ads gave me the answer it. That's because there are only 1411(or lesser) for the whole Billion of us!

Doesn't that solve the mystery! I'm lucky I saw and know what a tiger is! Maybe my kids will think of tigers as we all think of Dinosaurs...Hopefully not...Maybe another tiger safari down the years will greet more and better fed tigers than the ones we saw. Maybe there will be more than the official tiger figures and they never have to say you're lucky that you spotted them.

Amen to that!