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To create awareness and involve the masses in the effort to conserve tigers and forests, Sanctuary Asia's Kids for Tigers will organise a 'Tiger Rally' that will see the participation of schoolchildren and civic officials on Saturday.
One of the aims of the rally is to make the public appreciate the role played by forest guards and others working to save tigers in the wild on a daily basis.
The state is home to four Project Tiger Reserves, namely Melghat, Pench, Tadoba and Sahyadri forests, but the destruction of wetlands and hills is still happening, the striped big cats are being driven to extinction and water sources are getting compromised.
To counter this, Kids for Tigers and Kirloskar-Vasundhara International Film Festival will take the voice of young students to the government to encourage it to protect forests that are home to the tiger and the many rivers flowing through these.
"Though children today are aware of the imminent threat to tigers from poachers and from the loss of the forests, it is necessary to remind adults to protect and preserve this vital heritage for generations unborn," said Jayesh Paranjape, coordinator of the rally.
This will be the third time a tiger rally is held in the city, where Sanctuary Asia has taken extensive efforts by visiting several schools for over a month-and-half to create awareness among students.
Competitions at rally
>> Placard and slogan designing: Participants will be expected to carry their decorated placards with their slogans written on it in the rally
>> Fancy dress: The theme for the competition is Indian biodiversity. Participants will have to come dressed as any of the several creatures that are found in the country
>> Face painting: A team of two children will paint any wild animal that can be seen in an Indian forest with organic vegetable and natural, water-based colours
When and Where
Date: February 25
Time: 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm
Assembly point: Balgandharva Rang Mandir (Jungli Maharaj Road)
Dispersal point: Bangandharva Rang Mandir | 
