'Raise your voice to protect wildlife'

Wildlife filmmaker Shekhar Dattatri urged everyone to raise their voice to save wildlife.

Renowned wildlife film maker Shekhar Dattatri on Saturday made an impassioned appeal to the people to draw the attention of the Centre and states to the importance of protecting forests and wildlife by raising their voice.

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"The only way wildlife can be protected is by people making a big noise and forcing the Government to sit up and do something concrete about protection of forest and wildlife," Dattatri, a national award and Rolex Award winner, told reporters after launching the 'Wild Macaw Club' here.

Stating that except for some voices in the wilderness being raised, protection of fauna and flora was not a priority for most adults and children, who considered making a living and going to school the only priorities.

Pleading with the people "to wake up today before it is too late," Dattatri, who claimed to have spent about a quarter of a century in forest areas, said "people must act now if they want the rivers and forest wealth tomorrow."

Earlier, Dattatri screened two short documentary films on wildlife, forests and forest fires for selected viewers, including students of Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan and answered their questions on the habits of Bengal tigers.

The objective of the club, which has tied up with organisations like WWF, is to cultivate outdoor travel as a habit and create an innovative experience.