Roaring for the Wild: GENCF’s “Jungle Chimes” Celebrates International Tiger Day 2025
By Sneha Chaudhuri
On July 29, 2025, GENCF celebrated International Tiger Day with a powerful event titled “Jungle Chimes”, a heartfelt tribute to the guardians of the forest and a rallying call for conservation. Hosted by Exploring Nature, the program brought together wildlife experts, conservationists, photographers, and enthusiasts, all united by a shared love for nature and a deep concern for the survival of one of Earth’s most iconic species.
The session opened with a warm welcome to distinguished guests including Swetashree Purohit, a zoologist from Bhuma; Subrato Sengupta, GENCF’s newly appointed Director of Film Productions; and active contributors Shiva Kumar, Dipanwita, Sneha, and Divyansh Jhunjhunwala. The team expressed their excitement over the unveiling of the latest edition of their wildlife magazine, a project that reflects GENCF’s vision of storytelling rooted in science, emotion, and community. Conservationist G Shaheed lauded the magazine as a significant step forward, calling it a publication with the potential to shape wildlife narratives in India. He also drew attention to Vietnam’s groundbreaking decision to ban tourism in critical habitats to protect the critically endangered langu monkeys, describing it as a global model for decisive conservation action supported by vigilance and technology.
During the event, Exploring Nature also introduced Whispering Wilds, GENCF’s new digital magazine dedicated to giving nature a voice and celebrating the spirit of conservationists across the globe. The magazine, which covers eco-travel, indigenous wisdom, wildlife research, and human-nature stories, aims to build a vibrant community where ideas and experiences converge to inspire real change. Abhita Nandy, the Managing Editor, shared her personal journey from engineering and banking into the world of conservation, emphasizing that the publication seeks to spark conversations, shift perspectives, and unite people who care about the planet.
Adding depth to the celebration, Mithilesh Dutta Dwivedi, Chief Zoologist at GENCF, delivered an insightful talk on the ecological significance of tigers as keystone species and their vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Drawing from his experiences in the Palamu Tiger Reserve, he reflected on India’s long-standing commitment to tiger protection through initiatives like the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger, which have led to encouraging growth in tiger populations. Yet, he also urged caution, highlighting persistent threats such as poaching, habitat fragmentation, human encroachment, and territorial conflicts. Presenting recent data from 2024–2025, he underscored the urgent need for continued vigilance, community engagement, and policy support to ensure the tiger’s survival.
The event culminated in the much-anticipated announcement of the Roars 2025 Photography Competition results, an annual celebration of wildlife photography now in its third year. The top 20 photographs, each capturing a unique story of wilderness, were unveiled, and winners were recognized across categories such as Best Habitat, Best Behavior, and Best Portrait. Every frame stood as a testament to the beauty, strength, and vulnerability of the natural world, reminding all present that conservation begins with awareness and empathy.
As Jungle Chimes drew to a close, the air was filled with hope and determination. GENCF’s celebration of International Tiger Day 2025 was not merely an event but a reaffirmation of its mission, to educate, inspire, and empower people to protect the wild. It reminded everyone that saving the tiger means saving entire ecosystems, preserving balance, and securing a future where humans and nature coexist in harmony. In the words that echoed through the gathering, “When we save the tiger, we save the forest — and in turn, we save ourselves.”
