The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A passion for ‘shooting’ tigers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A passion for ‘shooting’ tigers

Staff Reporter

Ace photographer Venkat and AICC leader Digvijay Singh hold exhibition

— PHOTO: P. V. SIVAKUMAR

FRAMED: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy going around the photo exhibition at the State Art Gallery on Wednesday. Digvijay Singh and Venkat are also seen.

HYDERABAD: Shooting tigers is a crime that begets heavy punishment, isn’t it? But wait, Diggy Raja goes on a tiger-shooting spree once a year and manages to get away with it too. Instead of him, it is the tiger that gets ‘imprisoned’ for the awed admirers to gawk at.

This was evident at the wildlife photo exhibition held jointly by veteran photographer Venkat and All India Congress Committee general secretary and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who also happens to be an amateur wildlife photographer, at the State Gallery of Fine Arts in Madhapur on Wednesday.

‘Save the Tiger’

Named ‘Save the Tiger’ and inaugurated by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the exhibition displayed blow-ups of the big cat in a variety of moods, predominantly caught with its prized hunt.

Also on display were a few other wild animals such as the ready-to-charge female pachyderm, a jungle cat rarely seen in daylight and many barasinghas. “I spent my childhood and adulthood roaming in the jungles and am interested in wildlife conservation. I met Dr. Venkat for the first time in Kanha. His association led me towards wildlife photography,” Mr. Digvijay Singh said.

Underlining the necessity to leave something for posterity, he noted how the number of barasinghas had improved phenomenally in Kanha and Bandhavgarh wildlife reserves with the District Magistrate’s intervention. Commending the patience and perseverance of wildlife photographers, the Chief Minister said that the exhibition spoke of the passion with which Dr. Venkat worked. He also congratulated Mr. Singh for taking interest in wildlife conservation. Calling upon people to protect forests, Dr. Reddy said he had planted lakhs of trees in his private lands.

Also present at the exhibition were Chief Advisor K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, PCC in-charge G. S. Rao and a host of MLCs and political leaders. The exhibition was sponsored by Maytas Infra Ltd.

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