CONCERT LONDONIEN GEANT CE JOUR POUR LE TIGRE D'INDE CENTRALE. MANIFESTATION DANS LA STATION DE METRO ST PANCRACE JUSQU'AU 21 MARS (Times of India, ce jour).
Voir aussi la page sur le site St Pancras international :
http://stpancras.com/tigertracks/
LONDON: The fast depleting Royal Bengal tiger has found two very influential friends with powerful voices. In the major concert on March 1, to open the world's
largest tiger conservation event, legendary guitarist and songwriter of the iconic rock band Queen Brian May has joined hands with the first lady of West End Kerry Ellis — the voice
behind this year's Oscar nominated
film Les Miserables — to perform classics
and raise funds to save India's majestic cat.
The unique event, kicking off in London on Friday will see the historic St Pancras railway station — heritage building and one of Europe's most famous railway stations , play host to the world's biggest
ever save the tiger programme . Interestingly the whole station has been taken over from March 1-21 to host programmes and raise money for the Born Free foundation, to implement targeted tiger conservation
initiatives. The event will culminate on March 21 with an exclusive black tie champagne reception and gala dinner to be attended by Britain who's who. Majority of the money raised will go towards financing tiger protection
programmes working in and around six tiger reserves in Central India.
May said, "This is part of a lastditch attempt to save these magnificent wild animals. We will pitch ourselves into the Gothic public space in St Pancras International
and hopefully make an impact on commuters. Tigers are on the verge of extinction — our grandchildren may never have the chance to see one. This is a real chance to gather support, address the
issue, and avoid an imminent tragedy."
With one million visitors a week coming through the station, organizers feel it will give a fantastic platform to build awareness and raise urgently required funds for
the plight of the wild tiger. Kerry Ellis said, "I think we all feel desperately sad that we are perilously close to losing these magnificent creatures forever. I think
St Pancras International will be rocking on Friday night for the rush hour crowd and we are hoping everyone will get behind us and help save the wild tiger."
Organizer Simon Clinton said, "There are an estimated 3,500 tigers left in the wild. If we do nothing , wild tigers could be extinct within 10 years." The Born Free Foundation who will invest the
proceeds in the Satpuda forests of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra said, "Tiger range throughout India, Indo-China , and Southeast Asia is now 40% smaller than it was in 1951 and today tigers
occupy a mere 7% of their historical territory. On the Indian subcontinent, where the largest tiger population persists, only 11% of their original habitat remains in an increasingly fragmented
and often degraded state."
It added, "The Satpuda forests offer perhaps the best hope for India's remaining 1,700 wild tigers. Constituting several Tiger Reserves connected by forest corridors , this is the largest viable
block of tiger habitat in India."
