Actor Randeep Hooda, who is concerned about the growing tiger-human conflict, says, “To actually save the tiger, we need to have non-exploitative economic benefits from the tiger where locals benefit, and not some fancy resort”.

On International Tiger Day, the 44-year-old calls to dispel the misconception that “the tiger belongs to the government”, while emphasising the need to mobilise local people in direct everyday contact with the national animal of the country. “The special day serves as a reminder and homage to this great creation of nature. It is a great day to rehash the conversation around tigers and their importance in our ecosystems,” shares Hooda, referring to the tiger as “an umbrella over millions of species of flora and fauna”.

As per the actor, who is vocal about wildlife preservation and tiger conservation, fast-paced development is cutting into their habitats, leaving them vulnerable. He says it is important to start conversations among people close to the animal. Hooda explains, “We have to stop talking to the converted and look at the bigger picture. We have to reach out to more people who come in direct contact with the tiger, and sensitise them.”

Hooda says the biggest problem that obstructs the mission of protecting tigers is the fact that “it doesn’t vote”. “The tiger doesn’t vote for local issues to be resolved. Somebody says, ‘I’ve built a new road for you guys in the village’. That local change has a global effect. In many cases, such a road goes through a tiger reserve. If they voted, they would be looked after,” says the Extraction (2020) actor, wondering what’s stopping one to take a longer route rather than fragmenting a habitat.

Here, Hooda asserts that he is not against development, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the planet.

“We have a really robust environmental policy made in the 1970s. Due to changing circumstances, those laws are being diluted. It is worrisome, and all of us are responsible for it. For the government, forest land is the easiest to give away. There should be very strict laws for such things,” he says.

Hooda, who uses his camera to capture the beauty of big cats, adds, “We have to constantly check people we have elected and make sure they do not destroy the future of our country and the planet in the name of development”.